Active control of vertical position of an off-carriage ink supply
US6109741A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17566
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A printing system which provides active control of the vertical position of an off-carriage ink supply. The system includes an ink-jet print cartridge having an ink reservoir for holding a supply of liquid ink, and an ink replenishment port. A carriage holds the print cartridge, and a carriage scanning apparatus drives the carriage along a carriage scan axis. The system further includes an off-carriage ink supply which is connectable via a fluid path to the ink replenishment port of the cartridge. An elevator apparatus actively raises or lowers the off-carriage ink supply in response to drive commands to position the off-carriage ink supply at a plurality of different elevations relative to a vertical position of the print cartridge to supply ink to the ink replenishment port via the fluid path. The fluid path can be established intermittently, and disconnected during printing operations, or continuously established even during printing operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.