Apparatus and method for waste ink disposal in solid ink jet printer
US7347542B2 · kind B2 · utility
2Cited by
10References
7Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/1728
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for disposing of waste ink from an image producing machine (10) is provided. The machine (10) includes a printhead (32) that ejects ink in its liquid form from a face (32a) of the printhead (32), the ink being phase change ink existing in liquid form above a melting temperature and in solid form below the melting temperature. The method includes: catching waste ink from the printhead (32) in a gutter (34); heating the gutter (34) to a temperature above the melting temperature; and, flowing the waste ink from the gutter (34) into a collection container (38) where it is allowed to solidify.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.