Piezo Inkjet Technology

Some consumer ink-jet printers like those made by Epson use piezoelectric print technology.

Piezo or piezoelectric ink-jet technology is one of three types of print head technologies used in ink-jet printers. People seldom stop to think about how the ink gets out of the print head and onto the paper, but in fact, it is a fascinating process.

Definition

Piezoelectric technology sounds mysterious, but the meaning of the term is quite simple once it is translated. "Piezo" derives from the Greek word "piezein," meaning to squeeze or push.

Science

Jacques and Pierre Curie discovered piezoelectricity in 1880 while they were studying how pressure generates electrical charge in crystals. One famous application was its use in submarine sonars in World War I.

Function

Piezoelectric ink-jet technology uses piezo-ceramic material in a chamber located behind the print head nozzles filled with ink. The application of a voltage causes the material to change size or shape, which generates a pressure pulse in the fluid. The result is that a droplet of ink is forced out of the nozzle and onto the page.

Considerations

Piezo technology is similar to the thermal ink-jet technology used in most consumer ink-jet printer heads. However, since no heat is used, piezo print heads allow for a wider variety of inks. At the same time, they are more expensive.

Uses

Most commercial and industrial ink-jet printers use piezo technology, as well as consumer ink-jet printers manufactured by Epson. One familiar use of the technology is for printing the use-before dates on products.

References

• Graphic Arts Magazine: The Magic Behind Inkjet Printing
• Piezo Institute: Piezo History