Hilarion Braun

External acoustic absorber for ink jet printer

There is described an acoustic absorber for an ink jet printer using a waveguide to generate ink drops. The absorber comprises a sheet of elastomer disposed on the orifice plate between the orifice plate and the charge plate of the printer, and a diffuser disposed in contact with the elastomer and between the elastomer and the charge plate, the diffuser having an acoustic impedance of at least 3×107 kg/m2 sec. The length and width of the elastomer sheet and the diffuser are such as to absorb the vibrations from the orifice plate and prevent reflections at the end of the waveguide.