FlatJet Dispensing & FlatJet Dispensing & Printing TechnologyPrinting Technology

Copyright, 2004 © Multimedia Studio Budapest- HUNGARY

FlatJetFlatJet

• Liquid dispensing

• High Throughput Printing

ObjectiveObjective

• The development of the The development of the technology technology is motivated by the is motivated by the gapgap between between production rate of a conventional production rate of a conventional offsetoffset and the and the digital digital systems.systems.

• Other ink-jet developers are Other ink-jet developers are searching solutions to searching solutions to reducereduce the the ejected ink quantity – our aiming ejected ink quantity – our aiming was opposite – the was opposite – the high flow ratehigh flow rate. .

The aimedThe aimedresolutionresolution

• The theoretical limit of the human The theoretical limit of the human eye’s resolution is 1’ angle – it means eye’s resolution is 1’ angle – it means that from that from 3 meter3 meter viewing distance, viewing distance, 1 1 mmmm size details can hardly be size details can hardly be distinguished. distinguished.

• Our basic objective was to find solution Our basic objective was to find solution to produce images for to produce images for large distancelarge distance observation with as high throughput as observation with as high throughput as possible. possible.

HHuman eye’s uman eye’s resolutionresolution

3 mm = 1 mm = 0,1mm !?

The resultThe result

• simple simple robustrobust construction, possibility construction, possibility of low production costsof low production costs

• very low & very low & extremely extremely high liquid flowhigh liquid flow

• Possibility of Possibility of media-widemedia-wide operating operating large-format digital systemslarge-format digital systems

• Individually replaceable printing Individually replaceable printing elements elements

Simple and easy to Simple and easy to manufacturemanufacture

• FlatJet is assembled of a metal plate FlatJet is assembled of a metal plate and tube, and a piezo-ceramic discand tube, and a piezo-ceramic disc

• Simple and relatively robust Simple and relatively robust mechanical constructionmechanical construction

• Conventional materials and Conventional materials and manufacturingmanufacturing

The headThe head

The liquid transferThe liquid transfer

• FFrom rom pico-literpico-liter range ejection range ejection up to up to 5050 microliters/smicroliters/s continuous flow continuous flow

The FlatJet methodThe FlatJet method

ink

Ink droplet

Ink droplet

PrinciplePrinciple

Ink conducting tube

Cylinder

Piston

Ink

A

PrinciplePrinciple

Ink droplets

Ink droplets

Ink

Ink

PrinciplePrinciple

X=0Y=0

y=-a

x=ax=-a

y=a

Piezoceramic transducer(static deformation)

PrinciplePrinciple

Plate resonator with piezoceramictransducer

Piezoceramic transducer(vibrating deformation)

PrinciplePrinciple

Ink conducting and plate resonator

Ink

FlatJethead

PrinciplePrinciple

Tube length

Variation ofthe vibratingamplitude

Dis

pla

cem

en

t

OvertureResonance

Vib

rati

ng

m

ass

PrinciplePrinciple

One dropletcreating cycle

Multipliedroplet creating cycle

Vibrating amplitude

Vibrating amplitude

break-awaythresholdof droplets

break-away thresholdof droplets

Exciting

Exciting

Max %

Min %

Ejected ink Ejected ink beambeam

Ejection processEjection process

Microscopic shot with high speed camera, with shifted exposure phases

Ejection processEjection process

Extent of Extent of deformationdeformationat the tipat the tip

Microscopic shot with stroboscopic backight, shifted phase

Local speed andLocal speed andacceleration at the acceleration at the tiptip• At 200 kHz frequency the periodical At 200 kHz frequency the periodical

speed of the tip surface is about speed of the tip surface is about 6 6 m/sm/s

• The acceleration at the dead point The acceleration at the dead point exceeds the exceeds the 11..000000..000 g000 g

Ejected volume Ejected volume versusversusdriving frequencydriving frequency

ejected liquid quantity with 1 ms excitation around the resonance frequency

0

5

10

15

20

190 192 194 196 198 200 202

frequency [kHz]

volu

me

[nl]

Ejected volume Ejected volume versusversusactivating timeactivating time

Ejected liquid quantity at different excitation time

0

5

10

15

20

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

excitation time [microsecond]

volu

me

[nl]

Pixel structurePixel structure

Pixel Pixel structurestructure

Color modeColor mode

FlatJet Raster color

PiPixels Sizexels Size

Nozle

Ink Spray

Media

m

w

PrinciplePrinciple

Inkconductingtube

Plate resonator

Ink

nozzle Jpiezoceramic

Side View Front View

ink spray

64 64 head head test printing bartest printing bar

Planed Planed media-widemedia-wide printer printer

Application fieldsApplication fields

• Printing on ordinary materialsPrinting on ordinary materials

• Printing on special materialsPrinting on special materials

• Different applicationsDifferent applications– Chemical, Pharmaceutical or Chemical, Pharmaceutical or

Microbiological dispensersMicrobiological dispensers

– MoisturizersMoisturizers

Printing on Printing on ordinary materialsordinary materials

• Industrial media-wide Industrial media-wide large-format ink-jet printinglarge-format ink-jet printing

• Low cost media, low cost inks & low Low cost media, low cost inks & low operating costsoperating costs

• Wide variety of media & inksWide variety of media & inks

• Computer to print technologyComputer to print technology

Printing on Printing on special materialsspecial materials

• CeramicsCeramics

• GlassGlass

• WoodWood

• LeatherLeather

• ConcreteConcrete

• WallpaperWallpaper

• CorrugateCorrugated paperd paper

• PlasticsPlastics

• MetalsMetals

• ……etc.etc.

First IndustrialFirst IndustrialApplicationApplication

• Zimmer GmbH (A) Chromotex Textile PrinterZimmer GmbH (A) Chromotex Textile Printer

First IndustrialFirst IndustrialApplicationApplication

• Zimmer GmbH (A) Chromotex Textile PrinterZimmer GmbH (A) Chromotex Textile Printer

PatentsPatents

(WO)(US)(EU)(DE)(GB)(FR)(AT)(IT)(BE)(NL)(ES)(CH)(CA)(AU)(JP)(CN)(EA)…

Hopes andHopes andExpectationsExpectations

• A NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN SUCCEED A NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN SUCCEED IFIF IT IS IT IS QUICKER OR BETTER OR QUICKER OR BETTER OR CHEAPERCHEAPER

• THE FLATJET CAN BE QUICKER & THE FLATJET CAN BE QUICKER & BETTER & CHEAPERBETTER & CHEAPER

QQUICKERUICKER

• PossiblePossible 1 sq. meter1 sq. meter per second per second printing speedprinting speed

• The printing width can be increased The printing width can be increased without limitswithout limits

BETTERBETTER

• High tone / color resolution High tone / color resolution (possibly (possibly 256 shade256 shade in a pixel) in a pixel)

• High color saturation High color saturation pigmentedpigmented inks inks

• Environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly water basedwater based inksinks

• High tolerance in ink parametersHigh tolerance in ink parameters(viscosity up to (viscosity up to 15 mPas15 mPas) )

CHEAPERCHEAPER

• Low cost Low cost mediamedia

• Low cost Low cost inksinks

• Low Low operatingoperating costs costs

• Quick return of Quick return of investmentinvestment