The most famous in the world of manufacturers of inkjet printers are Hewlett-Packard Co., Lexmark International, Canon Inc., Seiko Epson Corp. The first three apply printing technology that can be grouped under the name Thermal jet. In addition it is also used by Xerox and Olivetti.

All thermal printheads have a common working principle. The lower part of the ink channel is equipped with a heater (resistor), close to the printhead nozzles. Resistor transmitted short pulse voltage, the resistors are heated to 400-600 / C, and this contributes to the rapid heating of the ink, which is close to the boiling point.

Due to this transition from liquid to vapor occurs expansion of the ink, thereby forcing an ink droplet to break out of the printhead nozzles. For a moment, this process is duplicated thousands of times.

A close examination of the application of ink technology in the film, paper (substrate), you will notice that HP and Lexmark (ink jet) ink jet technology used. But by Canon has developed a unique system called bubble (bubble jet).

This occurs when the indirect heating of the ink, and the location of the heating element is determined abroad tube with ink. In this connection, in contrast to the method of direct heating of the ink, the formation of the bubble and the direction of evaporation of ink Xerox, Canon occurs not match with the rate axis that passes through the nozzle and a heating element that is disposed to it at an angle of 90 degrees. Due to the elongated path path droplet to the substrate can be less than exact repetition output. Nevertheless, these printheads are simpler in design and easier to produce. Because of this, they are popular and are cheaper (about 10% of the cost) alternative piezo.

The inkjet printing also an important role is played by the piezoelectric printheads. Piezo works due to the fact that the electric field is generated with the deformation of a special ceramic material and is different from that of the thermal printhead, the heat which is necessary for discharging droplets. The pressure changes in the ink and causes a drop from the nozzle to fly to the substrate.

The company Seiko Epson Corp has a leading position for the production of printers with piezo.