JET DROP PRINTER

BF\AN 6648 JET DROP PRINTER A jet drop printer includes a reservoir means defining an ink receiving manifold and an orifice means defining a plurality of orifices communicating with the manifold, A plurality of continuously flowing ink streams emerge from the orifices as ink is applied to the manifold under pressure. A drop control means control the trajectories of drops which break off from the streams such that drops are selectively deposited upon a print medium. A support plate supports the reservoir means and the orifice means and is held by a support structure. Piezoelectric transducers are also supported by the support plate and vibrate at a frequency near the natural frequency of the streams, thus causing drops of uniform size and spacing to break off from the streams. A reaction mass is supported by the support plate and is positioned relative to the transducers, the reservoir means and the orifice means such that a vibrational nodal plane passes through the support plate. The support structure is thereby mechanically decoupled from vibrations impressed upon the other elements of the printer.