Importance

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Abstract

The velocity of flying charged ink drops is detected and the ink pressure is so controlled as to make the ink velocity coincide with a predetermined target velocity. A gutter for catching non-printing ink drops is made of a conductive material, while a charge detector circuit is connected to the gutter to generate a signal indicative of a potential change corresponding to impingement of a charged ink drop on the gutter, thereby detecting the flight of a charged ink drop. The pump pressure is varied in response to a difference between the actual and target velocities so that the ink pressure or velocity is adjusted in arithmetic progression reducing a time period required for the actual velocity to converge to the target.

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First Claim