SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRIMER TO MEDIA IN INKJET PRINTERS
An inkjet printer includes a nebulizer to generate a mist of primer and direct the mist onto media passing the nebulizer before the media is printed. A piezoelectric transducer is immersed in a primer solution and provided an alternating current to produce the mist. A pressure source directs the mist toward the passing media to apply the primer to the media.
1 . An inkjet printer comprising:
at least one printhead;
a media transport for moving a media sheet through a print zone opposite the at least one printhead in a process direction; and
a primer applicator having:
a nebulizer configured to generate a mist from a primer; and
a pressure source configured to direct the generated mist toward media on the media transport before the media passes the at least one printhead.
2 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , the primer applicator further comprising:
a housing in which the nebulizer is positioned; and
an opening in the housing to which the pressure source directs the generated mist.
3 . The inkjet printer of claim 2 wherein the nebulizer is a transducer immersed in a metal salt solution.
4 . The inkjet printer of claim 3 wherein the transducer is an ultrasonic transducer.
5 . The inkjet printer of claim 4 wherein the pressure source is a fan.
6 . The inkjet printer of claim 4 wherein the pressure source is compressed air.
7 . The inkjet printer of claim 4 wherein the opening in the housing is a slit.
8 . The inkjet printer of claim 4 further comprising:
a controller operatively connected to a switch, the controller being configured to operate the switch to provide an alternating current to the ultrasonic transducer.
9 . The inkjet printer of claim 8 , the controller being further configured to:
alter the alternating current to adjust a size of droplets in the generated mist.
10 . The inkjet printer of claim 9 , the controller being further configured to:
alter one of a frequency and an amplitude of the alternating current to adjust the size of droplets in the generated mist.
11 . A primer applicator for an inkjet printer comprising:
a nebulizer configured to generate a mist from a primer; and
a pressure source configured to direct the generated mist toward passing media.
12 . The primer applicator of claim 11 further comprising:
a housing in which the nebulizer is positioned;
an opening in the housing to which the pressure source directs the generated mist.
13 . The primer applicator of claim 12 wherein the nebulizer is a transducer immersed in a metal salt solution.
14 . The primer applicator of claim 13 wherein the transducer is an ultrasonic transducer.
15 . The primer applicator of claim 14 wherein the pressure source is a fan.
16 . The primer applicator of claim 14 wherein the pressure source is compressed air.
17 . The primer applicator of claim 14 wherein the opening in the housing is a slit.
18 . The primer applicator of claim 14 further comprising:
a controller operatively connected to a switch, the controller being configured to operate the switch to provide an alternating current to the ultrasonic transducer.
19 . The primer applicator of claim 18 , the controller being further configured to:
alter the alternating current to adjust a size of droplets in the generated mist.
20 . The primer applicator of claim 19 , the controller being further configured to:
alter one of a frequency and an amplitude of the alternating current to adjust the size of droplets in the generated mist.