New KJ4B-EX 1200 model offers higher speed, improved resolution and more stable performance
Kyocera announces the development of a new inkjet printhead for high-speed, high-resolution printing for a wide range of applications in the printing industry, primarily in the graphics sector. Called the Kyocera KJ4B-EX 1200, the printhead will be commercially available from December 2020.
Kyocera's KJ4EX series printheads use large integrated piezo actuators1 that enable higher resolution printing by homogenising image quality within the printhead. The first model in the series, the 600dpi KJ4B-EX600 printhead, went on sale in April 2020.
The KJ4B-EX 1200 is Kyocera's latest model for a wide range of printing applications, primarily in graphics. The 1200 dpi ink circulation system achieves high-resolution print results at 25% faster print speeds than conventional models2. Kyocera plans to gradually expand its product range with higher volume models and UV compatibility.
Development/Background
Demand for digital printing systems continues to grow due to their productivity benefits and reduced environmental impact from the elimination of plates, plate cleaning chemicals and liquid waste. Digital inkjet printing is not only used for printing on paper, but also on a variety of non-traditional media such as apparel, food packaging and building materials. Inkjet technology for this variety of media requires robust, high-speed, high-resolution printheads.
Key features
1. newly developed integrated piezo actuator achieves high resolution
Kyocera developed a large integrated piezo actuator based on its proprietary material design technology for dense polycrystalline ceramic actuators and manufacturing process technology for thin piezoelectric ceramic substrates. Kyocera's new design uses a single large integrated piezo actuator in each printhead instead of multiple individual piezo actuators, which enables image homogenisation within the printhead and provides higher resolution.
2. higher ink ejection frequency and more stable performance.
By optimising the ink channel design and printhead structure, Kyocera has improved the maximum ink ejection frequency of the printhead and the stability of the ink jet. The maximum ejection frequency has been increased to 80 kHz, which is a 25% increase over the conventional model and enables single-pass printing at up to 100 m/min when printing in the feed direction at 1200 dpi.
3. simple, robust laminate construction for greater durability
Integrated piezo actuators enable a simple and robust design for a resilient, stable and durable printhead.
4. higher resolution image quality due to stable ejection of smaller droplets
By incorporating an analogue waveform circuit that can generate drive shafts in any shape, Kyocera's design generates a drive shaft shape suitable for stable ejection of extremely small droplets as small as 1.5pl. In addition, for stable, continuous high-speed pressure, degradation of the ejection characteristics is minimised by incorporating a water-cooling system that prevents the ejection component from being affected by the temperature development of the circuit.
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