A continuous ink jet print head, including: a droplet generator (32, 32, 32) for generating ink droplets (64); a charging electrode (22, 22, 22) having a passageway (74, 74, 74) through which the ink droplets travel to receive a charge; a deflection electrode (60, 60, 60) for deflecting the charged ink droplets; a gutter (50, 50, 50, 50) having a gutter entrance (52, 52, 52, 52); wherein the passageway is aligned with the gutter entrance through which uncharged droplets enter; and a mounting deck (10, 10, 10) configured to secure the gutter entrance into a fixed, nonadjustable gutter entrance position (56, 56, 56, 56) and to secure the charging electrode into a fixed, nonadjustable charging electrode position (24, 24, 24) relative to the gutter entrance.

A printing apparatus includes a body, a print head, a mover, a stand and a sensor. The body has an opening that faces a printing target during printing. The print head is provided in the body and performs the printing on the printing target. The mover is provided in the body and moves the print head to a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to the opening, and the second position is different from the first position. The stand is detachable from the body. The sensor at least senses that a distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance. The mover moves the print head from the second position to the first position in response to the sensor sensing that the distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than the predetermined distance.

A printing apparatus includes a body, a print head, a mover, a stand and a sensor. The body has an opening that faces a printing target during printing. The print head is provided in the body and performs the printing on the printing target. The mover is provided in the body and moves the print head to a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to the opening, and the second position is different from the first position. The stand is detachable from the body. The sensor at least senses that a distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance. The mover moves the print head from the second position to the first position in response to the sensor sensing that the distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than the predetermined distance.

A continuous ink jet print head, including: a droplet generator (32, 32, 32) for generating ink droplets (64); a charging electrode (22, 22, 22) having a passageway (74, 74, 74) through which the ink droplets travel to receive a charge; a deflection electrode (60, 60, 60) for deflecting the charged ink droplets; a gutter (50, 50, 50, 50) having a gutter entrance (52, 52, 52, 52); wherein the passageway is aligned with the gutter entrance through which uncharged droplets enter; and a mounting deck (10, 10, 10) configured to secure the gutter entrance into a fixed, nonadjustable gutter entrance position (56, 56, 56, 56) and to secure the charging electrode into a fixed, nonadjustable charging electrode position (24, 24, 24) relative to the gutter entrance.

A continuous ink jet print head, including: a droplet generator (32, 32, 32) for generating ink droplets (64); a charging electrode (22, 22, 22) having a passageway (74, 74, 74) through which the ink droplets travel to receive a charge; a deflection electrode (60, 60, 60) for deflecting the charged ink droplets; a gutter (50, 50, 50, 50) having a gutter entrance (52, 52, 52, 52); wherein the passageway is aligned with the gutter entrance through which uncharged droplets enter; and a mounting deck (10, 10, 10) configured to secure the gutter entrance into a fixed, nonadjustable gutter entrance position (56, 56, 56, 56) and to secure the charging electrode into a fixed, nonadjustable charging electrode position (24, 24, 24) relative to the gutter entrance.

Provided is an ink jet printing method including: subjecting a printing medium to corona discharge treatment; and applying an ink containing an anionic pigment to a surface of the printing medium subjected to the corona discharge treatment, wherein the corona discharge treatment has a discharge quantity of 3,400 W.Math.min/m.sup.2 or more.

Provided is an ink jet printing method including: subjecting a printing medium to corona discharge treatment; and applying an ink containing an anionic pigment to a surface of the printing medium subjected to the corona discharge treatment, wherein the corona discharge treatment has a discharge quantity of 3,400 W.Math.min/m.sup.2 or more.

A method of operating a continuous inkjet printer (1). The printer comprise a printhead. The printhead comprises a droplet generator (16) comprising a printing nozzle (17) for ejecting an ink jet for printing, at least one electrode (22, 23) for steering the inkjet, and a gutter (18) having an ink receiving orifice (24) for receiving parts of the ink jet which are not used for printing. The method comprises performing a cleaning operation. Said cleaning operation comprises: ejecting a solvent jet from the printing nozzle towards the gutter; and causing at least a portion of the solvent jet to contact at least a part of the gutter (18) surrounding the orifice (24) for cleaning said part of the gutter surrounding the orifice.

A method of operating a continuous inkjet printer (1). The printer comprise a printhead. The printhead comprises a droplet generator (16) comprising a printing nozzle (17) for ejecting an ink jet for printing, at least one electrode (22, 23) for steering the inkjet, and a gutter (18) having an ink receiving orifice (24) for receiving parts of the ink jet which are not used for printing. The method comprises performing a cleaning operation. Said cleaning operation comprises: ejecting a solvent jet from the printing nozzle towards the gutter; and causing at least a portion of the solvent jet to contact at least a part of the gutter (18) surrounding the orifice (24) for cleaning said part of the gutter surrounding the orifice.

Provided is an ink jet printing method including: subjecting a printing medium to corona discharge treatment; and applying an ink containing an anionic pigment to a surface of the printing medium subjected to the corona discharge treatment, wherein the corona discharge treatment has a discharge quantity of 3,400 W.Math.min/m.sup.2 or more.