Ink jet printing apparatus with ink replenishing
US4178595A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1978 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2002/17576
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A first ink tank (17) is attached to a movable ink jet printing head (12) for supplying ink thereto. A second ink tank (28) which is larger than the first ink tank (17) is fixedly mounted at an end of a carriage (19) which supports the printing head (12). After the printing head (12) prints a line, a print end signal causes a sensor (33) to sense the amount of ink in the first ink tank (17). If the amount is low the printing head (12) is moved so that a connector (31) of the first ink tank (17) mates with a connector (29) of the second ink tank (28) and ink is urged to flow from the second ink tank (28) to fill up the first ink tank (17). The amount of ink in the first ink tank (17) is again sensed and if it is still low, indicating that the amount of ink in the second ink tank (28) is also low, an annunciator (41) is energized to urge the apparatus operator to fill the second ink tank (28) with ink.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.