Patent · US Expired

Continuous ink jet printer with a gravity drain, catcher return system

US4929966A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
5References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 3, 1989
Grant dateMay 29, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 3, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2002/1853
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A gravity ink return system for a continuous ink jet printer of the kind having droplet generator means for directing streams of ink droplets along a print path and ink supply means including an ink reservoir and means for supplying ink from said reservoir to said generator. The gravity return system includes a catcher having an ink return inlet located laterally adjacent the droplet print path for receiving non-print droplets deflected from said path and a discharge passage constructed and located to slope downwardly from said inlet to an outlet of the catcher. A return conduit slopes continuously downwardly from said catcher outlet to the ink reservoir.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.