Ink detecting device for a liquid-ink printing element
US5289211A · kind A · utility
74Cited by
14References
2Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17566
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The ink detecting device gives advance warning of the end of the ink in a reservoir or cartridge feeding an ink-jet thermal print head. The device comprises a pair of electrodes that are immersed in a spongy, ink-soaked body contained in the reservoir, and are arranged in a region adjacent to the feed duct at which the spongy body has a 30% to 100% higher capillarity than in remote regions. The electrodes are connected to a bridge circuit which measures the electrical resistance of the ink between the two electrodes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.