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Continuous Inkjet Technology

This method sprays continuous droplets of ink that either reach the paper or wind up in the return gutter. The nozzle uses a piezoelectric crystal to synchronize the chaotic droplets that arrive from the pump. The charging tunnel selectively charges the drops that are deflected into the gutter. The uncharged droplets make it to the paper. The diagram depicts a single nozzle.

Thermal Drop on Demand Method

The thermal drop on demand inkjet technology is very popular. Used by HP, Canon and others, droplets of ink are forced out of the nozzle by heating a resistor, which causes an air bubble to expand. When the bubble collapses, the droplet breaks off and the system returns to its original state.

Drop on Demand Printheads

There are two ways to "jet" the ink in drop on demand systems. The thermal method heats a resistor and expands an air bubble. The piezoelectric method charges crystals that expand.

Letter Size

The majority of desktop inkjet printers support standard letter-size or legal-size paper. This is one of HP's earlier DeskJets, which popularized the inkjet printer and helped bring prices down for the home and small business. (Image courtesy of Hewlett-Packard Company.)

Larger Paper

Many inkjet printers can print on large paper. This earlier unit from Tally handled cut sheets up to 17" wide. (Image courtesy of Tally Printer Corporation.)

The Largest

Wide format inkjet printers such as shown here in VUTEk's datacenter have revolutionized the printing industry, enabling large, attractive graphics to be created one at a time. Such machines support up to eight colors and can print on a variety of media, including vinyl and textiles. (Image courtesy of VUTEk, Inc., www.vutek.com)

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