Patent · US Expired

Ink supplier

US5555238A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 29, 1992
Grant dateSep 10, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 29, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/17556
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In the present invention, draft holes are provided a the corners of an ink storage tank. The holes have diameters which enable them to hold ink inside the ink storage tank by the surface tension of the ink, and even when the position of the ink storage tank is changed to a different position, some of the draft holes can be positioned higher than the ink level. This makes it possible to communicate the inside of the ink storage tank with air and keeps the inside pressure at atmospheric pressure, whereby ink leakage through the draft hole is prevented. At the draft holes positioned lower than the ink level, the ink is held by the surface tension of the ink, thus preventing ink leakage through the draft holes.

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