Introduction to Thermal Inkjet Technology (on demand)

Introduction to Thermal Inkjet Technology (on demand)

Table of content.

1. Working Principle of Thermal Inkjet (Thermal Bubble) Technology

• Origin of Thermal Inkjet Technology

In 1984, HP launched the first desktop thermal inkjet printer, ThinkJet. Shortly afterward, Canon released its first thermal inkjet printer, the BJ-80, in 1985. HP and Canon developed thermal inkjet technology almost simultaneously and soon reached a consensus to cooperate through joint R&D and cross-licensing of patents.

HP’s first inkjet printer, ThinkJet, derives its name from Thermal INK.

• Working Principle of Thermal Inkjet Printheads

Thermal inkjet technology is a type of inkjet printing technology that ejects ink onto the printing medium by heating the ink to form vapor bubbles. Specifically, micro-resistors (typically thin-film resistors) rapidly heat the ink in the nozzle chamber to temperatures exceeding 300 °C, generating tiny vapor bubbles. These bubbles expand rapidly, forcing ink droplets out of the nozzle.

After the bubble collapses, the ink in the nozzle chamber contracts. Due to surface tension, fresh ink is drawn into the firing chamber, preparing for the next printing cycle.

In summary:

  • A micro heating element is located inside the ink chamber

  • Electric current rapidly heats the element

  • A thin layer of ink above the heater vaporizes and expands into a bubble

  • A pressure pulse is generated, ejecting the ink droplet

 

 

2. Major Manufacturers of Thermal Inkjet Printheads

Overseas Manufacturers

Companies Applying Thermal Inkjet Technology


• HP (Hewlett-Packard)

Below are the main HP thermal inkjet printhead models and their technical specifications:

HP 803 Printhead

  • Nozzle count:

    • Color: 588 nozzles

    • Black: 328 nozzles

  • Print width: 25.4 mm

  • Drop size:

    • Color: minimum 3.25 pL

    • Black: 22 pL

  • Print resolution: up to 4800 dpi

  • Applications: Consumer printing, such as home and small office use; suitable for documents, photos, and charts

HP 5660 Printhead

  • Print resolution: up to 600 × 600 dpi

  • Print width: 53.3 mm

  • Firing frequency: up to 36 kHz

  • Applications: Office printing, home printing, and small commercial printing

HP 5670 Printhead

  • Print resolution: 4800 dpi

  • Print width: 53.3 mm

  • Print speed:

    • Black & white: 20 ppm

    • Color: 13 ppm

  • Applications: Office and home printing; suitable for documents, reports, and photos

HP 108 mm Printhead

  • Print width: 108 mm

  • Applications: Industrial printing, such as package coding and label printing

 

 

• Canon

Canon also adopts thermal inkjet technology, with printhead designs known for good print quality and speed.

Main Canon Printhead Models and Compatible Printers

Traditional Printhead Models

  • Canon QY6-0045 – Canon i550

  • Canon QY6-0046 / QY6-0052 – Canon i70, i80

  • Canon BC-33e / BC-34 – Canon BJC3000, S400

  • Canon BC-10 – Canon BJC30/35/50/55/70/80/85

  • Canon QY6-0039 – Canon S900, S9000, i9100, BJ-F900, BJ-F930

  • Canon QY6-0040 – Canon S820, S820D, S830D

  • Canon QY6-0041 – Canon S750, F60, F80

  • Canon BC-11e (Color) – Canon BJC30/35/50/55/70/80/85

  • Canon BC-21e – Canon BJC4100/4200/4300/4550/4650/5500/2100/2000, S100

  • Canon BC-30e (Black) – Canon BJC3000/6000, S450, S400, BJC6200/6500

  • Canon BC-31e (Color) – Canon BJC6000, S450, BJC6200/6500

  • Canon BC-32e (Photo) – Canon BJC6000, S450, BJC6200/6500

  • Canon QY6-0042 – Canon i560, i850, iP3000, MP700, MP730

  • Canon QY6-0043 – Canon i950, i960

  • Canon QY6-0044 – Canon i250, i320, i350, iP1000

  • Canon QY6-0055 – Canon i9900, i9950, iP8500

  • Canon QY6-0030 – Canon BJC-600

  • Canon QY6-0031 – Canon BJC-610/620

  • Canon QY6-0035 – Canon BJC-8200, S800

  • Canon QY6-0037 – Canon S300, S330, F20

  • Canon QY6-0056 – Canon DS700

  • Canon QY6-0057 – Canon iP5000

  • Canon QY6-0034 – Canon S500/S520/S530D/S600/S630/S630N, F30/F50, i6100/i6500

FINE Printhead Technology

  • Nozzle count: up to 7,680

  • Minimum droplet size: 1 pL

  • Print resolution: up to 9600 dpi

  • Applications: Widely used in Canon PIXMA series printers

Canon iX6780 Printhead

  • Total nozzles: 5,120

    • Pigment black: 1,024

    • Dye black/yellow: 512 × 2

    • Cyan/magenta: 1,536 × 2

 

 

• Memjet (Australia)

Memjet is an Australian company whose printhead technology is widely used in industrial printing.

DuraBolt Printhead

  • Print width: 324.4 mm (12.77 in)

  • Ink throughput: up to 240 liters per head

  • Nozzle redundancy: 4×

  • Print resolution: up to 1600 × 1280 dpi

  • Print speed: ≥ 450 ft/min

  • Ink type: Water-based pigment

Advantages

  • Lightning-fast speed

  • High image quality

  • Long service life

  • Ultra-wide printing width

DuraFlex Printhead

  • Print width: 228–324.4 mm (8.77–12.77 in)

  • Nozzles: 163,840

  • Drop size: 2.1 pL

  • Resolution: up to 1600 × 1600 dpi

  • Speed: ≥ 46 m/min

  • Ink type: Water-based pigment

  • Applications: Books, brochures, envelopes, direct mail, transactional printing, security printing, labels, folding cartons

DuraLink Printhead

  • Print width: 222.8 mm

  • Nozzles: 70,400

  • Resolution: up to 1600 dpi

  • Speed: 203 m/min

  • Ink type: Durable pigment inks

  • Applications: Commercial, packaging, and industrial printing

VersaPass Printhead

  • Print width: 222.8–1067 mm (8.77–42 in)

  • Drop size: 1.2 pL

  • Resolution: up to 1600 × 1600 dpi

  • Ink type: Water-based dye

  • Applications: Desktop printing

 

 

• FUNAI (Japan)

Funai Electric has long-term cooperation with Lexmark, the world’s largest professional printer manufacturer. In April 2013, Funai acquired inkjet printer-related patents, development technologies, and cartridge manufacturing facilities from Lexmark, establishing its own cartridge production system.

Using Lexmark’s thermal inkjet technology, Funai produces commercial and industrial ink cartridges and peripherals for printer manufacturers. The company is actively expanding applications including:

  • Carton printing

  • Postcards

  • Edible printing (pharmaceutical tablets, eggs)

  • Printing on glass and plastics

Funai Industrial Ink Cartridges support comprehensive inkjet printing solutions and feature a rich product portfolio suitable for various environments.


3. Major Domestic Manufacturers of Thermal Inkjet Printheads

Hangzhou Rierfa Technology Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2013 by Dr. Xie Yonglin, Hangzhou Rierfa Technology is China’s first inkjet printhead manufacturer with fully independent intellectual property rights. The company has successfully developed multiple inkjet printheads based on advanced MEMS manufacturing technology, achieving internationally leading performance.

Rierfa has received support from:

  • Jiangsu Provincial Key R&D Program

  • Suzhou Nano-Technology Special Program

  • Suzhou Industrial Park Leading Talent Program

  • Hangzhou Top-Tier Talent Program

The company was recognized as:

  • “Jiangsu Province Technology-Based SME”

  • “Jiangsu Private Technology Enterprise”

  • National High-Tech Enterprise (2018)

  • Hangzhou Top-Level Talent Program beneficiary (2023)

Rierfa has completed multiple funding rounds and established a joint laboratory with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Suzhou Institute of Nanotechnology to advance world-class inkjet printhead R&D.

The company has mastered thermal inkjet, piezoelectric, and continuous inkjet technologies and applies them across various products. Rierfa collaborates extensively with industries including:

  • High-speed office printing

  • Large-format printing

  • Textile printing

  • Printed electronics

  • 3D printing

  • Ink manufacturing

  • Printing equipment manufacturing

Main Printhead Models

  • Industrial Thermal Inkjet Printhead C40

SUREjet-C40 Technical Specifications

Thermal Inkjet Technology (Bubble Jet)

Item

Specification

Number of Orifices

30,720 nozzles (7,680 nozzles per color), 4800 npi

Resolution

1200 dpi

Drop Volume

5 pL

Print Width (per color)

1.6" / 40.64 mm

Print Speed

>130 m²/h (1 pass)

  • Industrial Thermal Inkjet Printhead T7680C

Rui’an SUREjet-T7680 Printhead Technical Specifications

Item

Specification

Number of Nozzles

5,680

Nozzle Density

4,800 npi

Drop Volume

5 pL

Print Width

40 mm

Resolution

1200 dpi

Ink Type

Water-based ink, Alcohol-based ink

Ink Viscosity

2–5 cps

Firing Frequency

30 kHz

    • Industrial Thermal Inkjet Printhead W160 / W320

    SUREjet-W160 Technical Specifications

    Thermal Inkjet Technology (Bubble Jet)

    Item

    Specification

    Number of Orifices

    30,720 nozzles, 4,800 npi

    Resolution

    1200 dpi

    Drop Volume

    5 pL

    Print Width (per color)

    6.4" / 162.56 mm

    Print Speed

    ＞150 m/min

     

    SUREjet-W320 Technical Specifications

    Thermal Inkjet Technology (Bubble Jet)

    Item

    Specification

    Number of Orifices

    61,440 nozzles, 4,800 npi

    Resolution

    1200 dpi

    Drop Volume

    5 pL

    Print Width (per color)

    12.8" / 325.12 mm

    Print Speed

    ＞150 m/min

      • Industrial Piezoelectric Printhead P360

      Technical Specifications

      Piezo Inkjet Technology

      Item

      Specification

      Number of Orifices

      360

      Drop Volume

      3–5 pL

      Print Width

      45.7 mm

      Resolution

      200 dpi

      Driving Voltage

      −50 to 50 V

      Maximum Transmission Frequency

      30 kHz

        • Industrial Piezoelectric Printhead P1080

        Technical Specifications

        Piezo Inkjet Technology

        Item

        Specification

        Number of Orifices

        1,080

        Drop Volume

        3–5 pL

        Print Width

        45.7 mm

        Resolution

        600 dpi

        Driving Voltage

        −50 to 50 V

        Maximum Transmission Frequency

        30 kHz

         

        Rierfa printheads are widely used in graphic printing, advertising, textile printing, printed electronics, and 3D manufacturing, offering advantages such as environmental friendliness, energy efficiency, and high performance.

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