System and method for controlling ink concentration using a refractometer
US7221440B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/062
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to ink output in ink jet printing systems. A refractometer is used to control the concentration of inks used in continuous ink jet printers. A concentration detector measures the total amount of light reflected from a surface. Changes in the ink cause a definite change in sensor output. As the refractive index is changed, shifting the critical angle for internal reflection, more or less light is reflected to the sensor. The index of refraction can be determined from the sensor once corrections are made to account for temperature dependencies of the sensor and light source and baseline measurement of reflected light amplitude. These dependencies are carried out in the refractometer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.