Method and apparatus for ink-jet ink level detection
US5793387A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2002/17586
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink jet pen supply cartridge having a spring biased ink reservoir with a visual indication of remaining ink quantity. The reservoir tends to collapse laterally as the ink supply decreases due to differential pressure exerted thereto. The spring-reservoir is contained in a rigid cartridge and a pair of flexible tape members are cemented or welded, one to each side of the spring-reservoir, and extend generally parallel toward a narrow end surface of the cartridge at which they overlap and can be viewed through a window. The overlapping relationship of the tape members provide ink quantity indicia which change as the spring-reservoir collapse draws them past each other.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.