Kyocera Corporation has announced the development of a next-generation inkjet printhead offering high-speed, high-resolution printing for a wide range of printing applications, with a focus on graphics. Kyocera’s Model KJ4B-EX 1200 printhead will be available in December 2020.
| Model | KJ4B-EX1200 | Maximum jetting frequency | 80 kHz |
| Dimensions | 200 x 52 x 141.1 mm (Width x Depth x Height) |
Maximum drop volume | 2.8 pl |
| Maximum print speed | 100 m/min | Minimum drop volume | 1.5 pl |
| Resolution | 1200dpi | Compatible ink | Aqueous |
| Effective print width | 108.27 mm | Development facility | Kagoshima Kokubu Plant |
Kyocera’s KJ4EX series of printheads utilize large integrated piezo actuators*1 that enable higher-resolution printing by homogenizing image quality inside the printhead. The series’ first model, the 600dpi KJ4B-EX600 printhead, has been available since April 2020.
The KJ4B-EX 1200 is Kyocera’s latest model for a wide range of printing applications, with a focus on graphics. Its 1200-dpi ink recirculation structure achieves high-resolution printing with 25% faster print speed than conventional models*2. Kyocera plans to gradually expand its lineup to include larger-drop-volume and UV compatible models.
*1 components that generate ink-jetting power using the piezoelectric effect of fine ceramics
*2 Kyocera’s conventional products (ink non-recirculation model)
Development Background
Demand for digital printing continues to grow due to its productivity advantages and the environmental benefits realized by eliminating the need for printing plates, plate-cleaning chemicals, and liquid waste. Digital printing is being used not only for printing on paper, but also for a wide range of non-traditional media, including clothing, food packaging, and housing construction materials. Inkjet technology for these diverse media requires high-speed, high-resolution, and high durability printheads.
Main Features
1. Newly developed integrated piezo actuator achieves high resolution
Kyocera developed a large integrated piezo actuator using its proprietary material design technology for dense polycrystalline ceramic actuators and manufacturing process technology for thin piezoelectric ceramic substrates. By using a single large, integrated piezo actuator instead of multiple piezo actuators per printhead, Kyocera’s new design allows image homogenization within the printhead and achieves higher resolution.
2. Faster jetting frequency and improved jetting stability
By optimizing the ink channel design and the head structure, Kyocera has improved the printhead’s maximum jetting frequency and ink-jetting stability. The maximum jetting frequency has been increased to 80 kHz, which is 25% faster than conventional models, enabling single-pass printing at up to 100 m/min when printing in the 1200 dpi feed direction.
3. Simpler, robust laminated structure for higher durability
Integrated piezo actuators allow for a simple and robust structure, which improves the strength, stability, and durability of the printhead.
4. Higher-definition image quality with stable jetting of smaller droplets
By incorporating an analog waveform circuit capable of achieving drive waveforms of arbitrary shapes, Kyocera’s design generates a driving waveform suitable for stable ejection of extremely small droplets with a volume of just 1.5 pl. In addition, the influence on the jetting characteristics is minimized to attain stable, continuous high-speed printing by equipping a water-cooling structure to prevent the thermal environment of the circuit from influencing the temperature of the jetting component.
