Ink jet printing with color-balanced ink drops mixed using bleached ink
US6464336B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/211
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A drop-on-demand ink jet printing system includes a print head having at least one mixing chamber with a nozzle opening. A plurality of sources of color liquid ink and a source of bleach communicate with the mixing chamber. A flow controller adapted to selectably meter ink from the sources to the mixing chamber, whereby ink droplets of selectable color are prepared in the least one mixing chamber for delivery from the nozzle. The flow controller is further adapted to meter bleach into the mixing chamber after a droplet is delivered from the nozzle opening to thereby neutralize color ink remaining in the mixing chamber sufficiently such that a next desired color can be attained by adding ink of appropriate color to the mixing chamber. The bleach is universal as to the liquid ink colors, wherein all colors are neutralized thereby. There may be a bleach source associated with each liquid ink color. The bleach in each bleach source is color specific to its associated liquid ink color, wherein only selected colors are neutralized thereby.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.