Replaceable ink delivery tube system for large format printer
US6206512A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17509
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A replaceable ink delivery tube system for a large format ink jet printer includes four flexible ink delivery tubes arranged in parallel and each permanently connected at one end to a printhead connector and at the other end to an off-axis ink reservoir receiving connector which, when mounted in the printer, is accessible from the front side of the printer to insert and remove four separate ink reservoirs from the ink reservoir connector. Lockouts are provided at both the printhead connector and ink reservoir connector ends of the replaceable delivery tube system to ensure that only ink reservoirs and printheads of the correct type can be attached to the replaceable system. The replaceable ink delivery tube system enables rapid modification of a printer to accept either pigment based or dye-based inks and the lockouts prevent pigment based ink reservoirs and printheads from being connected to a dye-based ink replaceable tube system or vice versa. Although access to the rear side of the printer is required for replacement of the ink delivery tube system, the off-axis ink reservoirs and onboard printheads are all replaceable from the front side of the printer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.