Spring bag based, off axis ink delivery system and pump trigger
US5912688A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 15, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17596
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An off-axis spring bag ink delivery system for an ink-jet printer/plotter. An auxiliary ink reservoir is located off-axis, and is coupled to an internal ink cartridge spring bag reservoir through a tube and check valve. A sensor determines when ink is to be pumped from the auxiliary reservoir into the interval reservoir. Ink does not flow from the auxiliary reservoir to the internal reservoir unless the check valve break pressure is exceeded, when the ink is being actively pumped in response to the sensor indication. The sensor can be a leaf spring switch built into the ink cartridge, which opens when the spring bag collapses beyond a leaf spring set point. The sensor can also be a pressure switch responsive to the negative pressure within the internal reservoir, which activates the auxiliary reservoir pump when the magnitude of the negative pressure exceeds a set pressure magnitude, indicating the cartridge reservoir ink volume is low.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.