Electromagnetic wave generator, ink dryer, and ink jet printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11351806-B2
Application number	US-202016913542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

Provided is an electromagnetic wave generator including: an electromagnetic wave generation section that generates an electromagnetic wave; a high-frequency voltage generation section that generates a voltage applied to the electromagnetic wave generation section; and a transmission line that electrically couples the electromagnetic wave generation section and the high-frequency voltage generation section to each other, in which the electromagnetic wave generation section includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor that electrically couples the first electrode and the transmission line to each other, and a second conductor that electrically couples the second electrode and the transmission line to each other, one of the first electrode or the second electrode is a reference potential electrode to which a reference potential is applied and the other is a high-frequency electrode to which a high-frequency voltage is applied, a minimum separation distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, a minimum separation distance between the first conductor and the second conductor is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, and the first conductor further includes a coil, and the coil is closer to the first electrode than the transmission line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic wave generator comprising:
an electromagnetic wave generation section generating an electromagnetic wave;
a high-frequency voltage generation section generating a voltage applied to the electromagnetic wave generation section; and
a transmission line electrically coupling the electromagnetic wave generation section and the high-frequency voltage generation section to each other, wherein
the electromagnetic wave generation section includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor that electrically couples the first electrode and the transmission line to each other, and a second conductor that electrically couples the second electrode and the transmission line to each other,
one of the first electrode or the second electrode is a reference potential electrode to which a reference potential is applied and the other is a high-frequency electrode to which a high-frequency voltage is applied,
a minimum separation distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave,
a minimum separation distance between the first conductor and the second conductor is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, and
the first conductor further includes a coil, and the coil is closer to the first electrode than the transmission line, wherein
the reference potential electrode continuously surrounds a periphery of the high-frequency electrode,
the high-frequency electrode is coupled to an inner conductor of a coaxial cable, and
the electromagnetic wave generator has a structure in which the reference potential electrode and an outer conductor of the coaxial cable are coupled via a continuous planar conductor.

2. The electromagnetic wave generator according to claim 1 , wherein
the electromagnetic wave generator has a structure in which one of the first electrode and the second electrode is disposed so as to surround the other of the first electrode and the second electrode in plan view.

3. An ink dryer comprising:
the electromagnetic wave generator according to claim 1 that heats a thin ink film, wherein
the first electrode and the second electrode have a flat plate shape and are disposed in parallel to the thin ink film.

4. An ink dryer comprising:
the electromagnetic wave generator according to claim 1 that heats a thin ink film, wherein
the first electrode and the second electrode have an extending direction, and the extending direction is perpendicular to the thin ink film.

5. The ink dryer according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a conductor plate, wherein
the conductor plate is disposed in parallel to the thin ink film at a side opposite to the first electrode and the second electrode.

6. An ink jet printer comprising:
the ink dryer according to claim 3 ;
a carriage reciprocating in a width direction of a recording medium; and
an ink jet head discharging ink, wherein
the ink dryer and the ink jet head are mounted on the carriage.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Aizawa Tadashi

Classifications

• B41M7/0081

  using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams · CPC title

• F26B3/347

  Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy · CPC title

• B41J11/00216

  using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves · CPC title

• B41M7/0072 Primary

  using mechanical wave energy, e.g. ultrasonics; using magnetic or electric fields, e.g. electric discharge, plasma · CPC title

• B41F31/022

  Ink level control devices · CPC title