Ink jet printer cartridge with inertially-driven air evacuation apparatus and method
US6116726A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/19
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink jet print cartridge with a body defining an ink chamber and an air outlet. A movable inertia element is connected to the body, and a compressor element is connected to the inertia element and the air outlet. When the pen is accelerated in a selected direction, such as along the carriage path of a printer during printing, the resulting motion of the inertia element operates the compressor to pump a small amount of air from the chamber. To avoid excessive pumping, which may expel ink unintentionally after the air has been expelled, a buoyant ink level detector in the cartridge may prevent air pumping when the ink is above a preselected level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.