 |
|
> Time 1. Creation of the high pressure.
The heating element is worn quickly (2 millionths of second) in high temperature (more than 300 ° C) and creates an evaporation of the ink situated in its contact. Enormous pressure, of the order of 125 atmospheres* is going to begin the process of ejection.
* 125 atmospheres : this is the same pressure at 1000 m ocean depth |
| |
|
|
 |
|
> Time 2. Creation of the ink drop
Because the heating rate is so fast, a layer of ink less than 1 millionth of a millimetre thick actually reaches a temperature at which it can no longer exist as a liquid.
At this temperature (330°C), a thin layer of ink begins to vaporise, which pushes the Bubble out of the nozzle. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
> Time 3. Cooling of the chamber
This highly energetic bubble acts like a piston to force out of the nozzle and onto the page at 500 inches per second.
Depending on the instructions of the driver, any combination of the nozzles can fire simultaneously. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
> Time 4. Completion of the chamber
The firing chamber is refilled in less than 100 millionths of a second, then, it’s ready to go again.
Lexmark thermal inkjet printers can fire an ink droplet and cool and reheat the chamber up to 12 000 times per seconds. |
| |
|
|
