公开(公告)号：JPH10217470A

公开(公告)日：1998-08-18

申请号：JP1296598

申请日：1998-01-26

Applicant: XEROX CORP

Inventor： ANDREWS JOHN R ,  PETER A TOPY ,  BURKE CATHIE J

IPC: B41J2/05 ,  B41J2/14

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit the discharging of one droplet size selectively among a plurality of droplet sizes with a single ejector by a method wherein a converter for changing applied electric energy into thermal energy and a distributor for defining a heating surface in a flow passage are provided. SOLUTION: Converters 20a-20d are arranged along the periphery of heating surface of a heating element 14 as one series of strips so as to be extended across the heating surface. The converters 20 change an applied voltage into a thermal energy. On the other hand, a distributor 22 distributes heat, formed by the converters 20. In this case, when a voltage and/or a pulse width, applied to the converters 20, becomes big, a large area of necessary nucleus of foam producing temperature exists in the heating surface, formed of the heating element 14, whereby bigger vapor foam is generated. According to this method, one droplet size can be discharged selectively among a plurality of droplet sizes by single ejector.