Inkjet Technology: Continuous Inkjet Technology (CIJ)

Inkjet Technology: Continuous Inkjet Technology (CIJ)

Table of content.

1. CIJ Technology Overview

CIJ is the abbreviation for Continuous Inkjet, a type of inkjet printing technology widely used in industrial applications. It is particularly suitable for high-speed, high-quality marking and coding on a wide variety of material surfaces.

 

 

2. Basic Working Principle of CIJ Technology

CIJ technology uses an inkjet printhead to eject ink at high speed in the form of microscopic droplets, forming printed images or text.

The ink stream is broken into a large number of droplets by high-frequency vibration. Charged droplets are deflected at specific angles as they pass through deflection plates and are then directed onto the product surface to form the required printed information. Uncharged droplets are collected and returned to the ink system for reuse.

Key process steps:

  • ✔ A pump delivers ink from the ink reservoir to the nozzle, which ejects a continuous stream of ink droplets

  • ✔ Acoustic or ultrasonic pressure waves break the ink stream into individual droplets

  • ✔ The droplets pass through a set of electrodes that apply an electrical charge to each droplet

  • ✔ Charged droplets are selected for printing, while uncharged droplets are collected and recycled

 

 

3. Applications of CIJ Technology

✔ Food & Beverage Industry

During food and beverage production and packaging, essential information such as production dates, expiration dates, and batch numbers must be printed. CIJ technology enables fast and accurate coding on various packaging materials (plastic bottles, glass bottles, cartons, etc.), ensuring product traceability and compliance with food safety regulations.

✔ Pharmaceutical Industry

Pharmaceutical packaging requires precise marking of product names, specifications, production dates, and expiration dates. Thanks to its high precision and stability, CIJ technology ensures accurate and reliable pharmaceutical identification, supporting quality control and supply chain management.

✔ Electronics & Electrical Industry

Electronic components are small in size and produced at high speed. CIJ technology can print serial numbers, model numbers, and identification codes on tiny chips and circuit boards, meeting production management and quality traceability requirements.

 

 

4. CIJ – Raster Technology

Product Identification Field:

  • Domino

  • Imaje

  • Linx

  • Videojet

 

5. CIJ – Binary Technology

TransPromo Applications:

  • Kodak Versamark

  • Videojet

 

6. CIJ – Hertz Technology

DuPont Systems:

  • Iris Graphics

  • Stork

 

7. Advantages of CIJ Technology

✔ High-Speed Coding

Modern industrial production lines operate at extremely high speeds. CIJ technology can eject thousands of ink droplets per second, allowing clear and accurate printing on fast-moving products.
 For example, on beverage canning lines where hundreds of cans pass the coding area per minute, CIJ systems can effortlessly print production dates and batch codes on every can.

✔ High Print Quality

CIJ technology precisely controls droplet size, shape, and trajectory, resulting in excellent clarity and accuracy. From tiny electronic components to large mechanical parts, CIJ delivers durable, fade-resistant markings suitable for long-term identification and traceability.

✔ High Flexibility

CIJ systems can print numbers, letters, symbols, graphics, and logos. Font size and style can be easily adjusted via software, making CIJ suitable for diverse products and packaging formats.
 For example, in the cosmetics industry, CIJ can print both detailed brand logos and small ingredient or expiration labels.

 

 

With continuous technological advancement, CIJ technology is evolving steadily.

  • Printhead designs are becoming more precise, enabling more accurate droplet control and higher-resolution printing

  • Ink formulations are continuously improving, with environmentally friendly inks becoming mainstream to meet stricter environmental regulations

  • Integration with emerging technologies such as IoT and big data is a key future direction, enabling real-time product tracking and data collection to support smart manufacturing and intelligent management systems

 

 

Conclusion

Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) technology, with its robust working principles, significant advantages, wide application scope, and strong development potential, plays a vital role in modern industrial and technological fields. It provides efficient solutions for product identification and traceability while continuously adapting to new technologies and market demands, driving ongoing progress across multiple industries.



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