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EP0567270A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Back pressure control in ink-jet printing

Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1993-04-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-04-15
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Abstract

Abstract . The system for controlling the back pressure in the reservoir (22) of an ink-jet pen includes a pump (36) for removing air from the reservoir and a vacuum regulator (38) to ensure that the back pressure within the reservoir does not exceed a level that would cause the print head to fail.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bruce Cowger
  • 👤 Robert R. Beeson
  • 👤 Christopher A. Schantz
  • 👤 William J. West

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 10:09
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17513; B41J2/17593; B41J2/17596

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 57 words
A system for controlling the back pressure within a reservoir (22) that stores ink (24), comprising: a pump (36) connected to the reservoir (22) and operable for pumping fluid from the reservoir, thereby to establish within the reservoir a back pressure; and regulator means (38) for limiting the level of the back pressure established by the pump.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 57 words
A system for controlling the back pressure within a reservoir (22) that stores ink (24), comprising: a pump (36) connected to the reservoir (22) and operable for pumping fluid from the reservoir, thereby to establish within the reservoir a back pressure; and regulator means (38) for limiting the level of the back pressure established by the pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the ink (24) is stored in a solid state and wherein the reservoir includes a heater (34) operable for liquefying the ink, the system including control means (32) for activating the pump whenever the heater is operated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 1 including a conduit (40) connected between the pump and the reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the regulator means includes valve means (68) for delivering ambientairtothe conduit (40), thereby to limit the level of the back pressure established by the pump (36).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the regulator means is a diaphragm-type vacuum regulator (38).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the regulator means is an air weir (80).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the regulator means includes a regulator (38) that is adjustable for selecting a level of the back pressure that is limited by the regulator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 63 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the reservoir (22) and regulator (38) are mounted to a printing device and wherein the regulator (38) is arranged to assume a first position when the printer is in an operating position and wherein the level of the back pressure that is limited by the regulator changes when the regulator is moved out of the first position.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 49 words
A method of controlling the back pressure within an ink reservoir (22) that stores solid ink, comprising the steps of: melting the ink (24); pumping air from the reservoir during the time at least some of the ink is melted, thereby to establish a partial vacuum within the reservoir.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 49 words
A method of controlling the back pressure within an ink reservoir (22) that stores solid ink, comprising the steps of: melting the ink (24); pumping air from the reservoir during the time at least some of the ink is melted, thereby to establish a partial vacuum within the reservoir.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 9 further including the step of regulating the level of the partial vacuum within the reservoir.

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