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Types and Principles of Inkjet Technology

Release time:

2025-06-24 17:10

Types and Principles of Inkjet Technology

In the digital age, inkjet technology has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. From printing documents in everyday office settings to producing vividly colored large-format posters in the advertising industry; from custom-designed wall paintings used for home décor to precision circuit printing on industrial production lines—thanks to its unique advantages, inkjet technology demonstrates remarkable vitality and broad application prospects. Here, we’ll explore how inkjet technology works and provide a detailed introduction to its various types and operating principles.

Inkjet technology is primarily divided into two major categories: continuous inkjet technology and drop-on-demand inkjet technology.

I. Continuous Inkjet Technology

1. Principle

A piezoelectric actuator applies a constant pressure to the ink in the print head, enabling continuous ink jetting. To generate the printed image, the vibration signal from an oscillator is used to excite the ink stream, thereby forming ink droplets. The size and spacing of these ink droplets are precisely controlled. Printing information, derived from a character generator and an analog modulator, controls the charge on the electrostatic actuators, producing charged and uncharged ink droplets. Subsequently, deflection electrodes alter the flight direction of the ink droplets, guiding those intended for printing onto the paper surface to form characters or graphic images. Ink droplets that are not part of the recording process are collected and recycled via a conduit.

2. Type

(1) Single-channel continuous inkjet: This technology is widely used for high-speed printing applications and supports a broad range of substrate materials. Its main drawback is that the print resolution is lower than that of on-demand inkjet heads. Additionally, since it uses low-viscosity ink and does not incorporate an ink-recycling system, it results in a certain degree of ink waste, leading to relatively higher consumable costs.

(2) Multi-channel Continuous Inkjet Printing: Primarily, charged ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle and, based on the image signal, either land on the substrate or are directed into a recovery system for reuse. Although this technology is mostly used in low-resolution applications requiring high speed, it is also partially employed in mid- to high-end color digital printing systems. The system’s main advantages include high printing speed, broad adaptability, system stability, and longer service life for the inkjet heads compared to thermal or piezoelectric inkjet heads. Additionally, it offers stable print quality and consistent chemical properties. However, the system has relatively high maintenance costs, lower printing resolution, and a narrower viscosity range for the inks used.

II. On-Demand Inkjet Technology

In on-demand inkjet systems, ink is ejected only when printing is required, which is why they are also referred to as on-demand systems. These systems feature a simple structure, low cost, and high reliability. On-demand inkjet technologies mainly fall into two major categories: micro-piezo and thermal bubble.

1. Thermal Bubble Jet Inkjet Technology

Thermal bubble jet inkjet technology excels in speed. Its basic principle involves heating the nozzle to generate bubbles in the ink, which are then ejected onto the printing medium. This technology falls under the category of high-temperature, high-pressure printing.

(1) Principle: Using a thin-film resistor, the ink in the ink-ejection zone is instantly heated to over 300°C, forming countless tiny microbubbles. These microbubbles rapidly coalesce into larger bubbles and expand, forcing ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzle. The bubbles continue to grow for several microseconds before eventually collapsing and returning to the resistor. As the bubbles disappear, the ink in the nozzle retracts. Subsequently, surface tension generates an attractive force, drawing fresh ink into the ink-ejection zone to prepare for the next printing cycle.

(2) Characteristics: Since thermal foam jetting is performed under relatively high-temperature conditions, the ink used in this technology must have a robust circulation system and high surface tension (only water-based inks with high surface tension and low viscosity, using water as the primary medium, can be employed). Organic solvents cannot be used, which means solvent-based inks cannot be utilized for large-format outdoor advertising printing. Moreover, this technology incurs high maintenance and repair costs, and its consumable materials are expensive.

2. Micro-piezo inkjet technology

(1) Principle: The fundamental principle of micro-piezoelectric printing technology is to eject ink droplets from the print head by means of crystal deformation. This technology operates at ambient temperature and pressure. In the working process, numerous tiny piezoelectric ceramics are positioned near the nozzles of the print head. Under the influence of voltage changes applied across their ends, these piezoelectric ceramics exhibit a bending deformation characteristic. When an image signal voltage is applied to the piezoelectric ceramics, their expansion and contraction vibrations will vary in response to the changes in the image signal voltage, thereby enabling the ink in the print head to be ejected uniformly and accurately under stable ambient temperature and pressure conditions.

(2) Features: Compared to foam-based printing technologies, piezoelectric inkjet technology offers several advantages, including regular ink droplet shapes, no splashing, controllable droplet size and jetting speed, precise positioning, the ability to use a wider variety of ink formulations with different chemical compositions, reduced risk of corrosion, and extended printhead lifespan. Moreover, this technology allows the use of pigment-based inks, which effectively prevent discoloration and fading caused by ultraviolet radiation. Inks specially developed for piezoelectric technology possess both excellent solubility and rapid-drying properties, enabling them to quickly penetrate paper without causing fraying or bleeding—particularly on inkjet and glossy papers—resulting in outstanding print quality. Ceramic piezoelectric inkjet systems can print with virtually any type of ink, including water-soluble, solvent-based, and thermally curable solid-state inks. The inks used for ceramic piezoelectric inkjet printing exhibit a broad range of viscosity and surface tension adaptability.

III. Summary

In summary, inkjet technology, as one of the key technologies of the digital age, demonstrates remarkable adaptability and application value across multiple fields thanks to its diverse types and outstanding operational principles. Whether it’s continuous inkjet technology, which strives for high speed and efficiency, or on-demand inkjet technology, which emphasizes precise control and flexible applications, both are continuously driving innovation and development in the printing industry. As technology continues to advance and market demands become increasingly diversified, inkjet technology is bound to usher in an even brighter future, bringing more convenience and surprises to our lives and work.

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