Patent · US Expired

Ink supply system for an ink jet printer having large volume ink containers

US6007190A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
80References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 1994
Grant dateDec 28, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/17509
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An ink jet printer having an inking system that includes an ink jet cartridge, a large ink reservoir mounted on the ink jet printer at a location which is remote from the ink jet cartridge and tubing connecting the ink reservoir to the ink jet cartridge. The tubing and the ink reservoir are permanently mounted within the ink jet printer. Only the ink jet cartridge needs to be replaced, because the jet plate has a finite life span during which the print quality from the jet plate is satisfactory. The ink jet cartridge includes a quick release fitting which enables the easy disconnection of an old ink jet cartridge and reconnection of a new ink jet cartridge with the tubing. Further, the size of the ink jet cartridge is reduced since almost all of the ink storage is moved to a location which is remote from the ink jet cartridge. By removing a majority of the ink from the carriage assembly, the amount of weight attached to the carriage assembly is reduced and thus the amount of power required to move the carriage is reduced.

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