US3656174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid drop marking apparatus
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-02-26
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1991-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A fluid drop marking apparatus which generates a plurality of fluid marking streams from a set of orifices spaced apart along a closed contour in an orifice plate. The streams are stimulated to create a corresponding set of drop trains and the drops are selectively charged by application of an electrical signal to a conductive surface surrounding the streams at their breakup points. The conductive surface extends downstream for production of outwardly attractive images of the drop charges; thereby causing the charged drops to be deflected outwardly for selective catching by an apertured catching plate. Halftone representations are created by modulation of the applied electrical signal; the nature of the modulation depending upon the type of catching plate aperture employed.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Robertson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:25
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2121; B41J2/2128; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/032; H04N1/034; B41J2/17; B41J2/18; B41J2/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
Fluid drop marking apparatus comprising: 1. an orifice plate provided with a plurality of orifices spaced apart along a closed contour, 2. a marking fluid supply reservoir communicating with said orifices, 3. means for applying pressure to marking fluid within said reservoir and causing streams of marking fluid to be projected from the orifices, 4. means for stimulating said streams and causing them to break up into trains of uniformly sized and regularly spaced drops, 5. a closed contour electrically conductive surface surrounding the streams at their breakup points and connected to a source of variabLe electric potential for capacitive inducement of predetermined electrical charges in selected drops; said surface extending downwardly from said breakup points for production of outwardly attractive images of said charges, and 6. an apertured catching plate positioned for passage of said drop trains through the aperture thereof; said aperture being contoured for catching of drops deflected therebeyond by the attractive action of said images.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
Fluid drop marking apparatus comprising: 1. an orifice plate provided with a plurality of orifices spaced apart along a closed contour, 2. a marking fluid supply reservoir communicating with said orifices, 3. means for applying pressure to marking fluid within said reservoir and causing streams of marking fluid to be projected from the orifices, 4. means for stimulating said streams and causing them to break up into trains of uniformly sized and regularly spaced drops, 5. a closed contour electrically conductive surface surrounding the streams at their breakup points and connected to a source of variabLe electric potential for capacitive inducement of predetermined electrical charges in selected drops; said surface extending downwardly from said breakup points for production of outwardly attractive images of said charges, and 6. an apertured catching plate positioned for passage of said drop trains through the aperture thereof; said aperture being contoured for catching of drops deflected therebeyond by the attractive action of said images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
9 words
a marking fluid supply reservoir communicating with said orifices,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
9 words
a marking fluid supply reservoir communicating with said orifices,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
a marking fluid supply reservoir communicating with said orifices,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
9 words
a marking fluid supply reservoir communicating with said orifices,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 the orifices in said orifice plate being circularly arranged and the aperture in said apertured catching plate being of circular configuration and in line with the circularly arranged orifices for operation as a coincident catcher.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, the aperture in said apertured catching plate being non coincident for production of halftone representations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
means for applying pressure to marking fluid within said reservoir and causing streams of marking fluid to be projected from the orifices,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
means for applying pressure to marking fluid within said reservoir and causing streams of marking fluid to be projected from the orifices,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
means for applying pressure to marking fluid within said reservoir and causing streams of marking fluid to be projected from the orifices,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
means for applying pressure to marking fluid within said reservoir and causing streams of marking fluid to be projected from the orifices,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for stimulating said streams and causing them to break up into trains of uniformly sized and regularly spaced drops,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for stimulating said streams and causing them to break up into trains of uniformly sized and regularly spaced drops,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for stimulating said streams and causing them to break up into trains of uniformly sized and regularly spaced drops,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for stimulating said streams and causing them to break up into trains of uniformly sized and regularly spaced drops,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
5 words
Fluid drop marking apparatus comprising:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
5 words
Fluid drop marking apparatus comprising:
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for inducing predetermined electrical charges in selected drops and producing outwardly attractive images of said charges, and
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for inducing predetermined electrical charges in selected drops and producing outwardly attractive images of said charges, and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
a closed contour electrically conductive surface surrounding the streams at their breakup points and connected to a source of variabLe electric potential for capacitive inducement of predetermined electrical charges in selected drops; said surface extending downwardly from said breakup points for production of outwardly attractive images of said charges, and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
a closed contour electrically conductive surface surrounding the streams at their breakup points and connected to a source of variabLe electric potential for capacitive inducement of predetermined electrical charges in selected drops; said surface extending downwardly from said breakup points for production of outwardly attractive images of said charges, and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
an apertured catching plate positioned for passage of said drop trains through the aperture thereof; said aperture being contoured for catching of drops deflected therebeyond by the attractive action of said images.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
an apertured catching plate positioned for passage of said drop trains through the aperture thereof; said aperture being contoured for catching of drops deflected therebeyond by the attractive action of said images.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
an apertured catching plate positioned for passage of said drop trains through the aperture thereof; said aperture being non coincident for production of halftone representations by selective catching of drops deflected therebeyond by the attractive action of said images.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
an apertured catching plate positioned for passage of said drop trains through the aperture thereof; said aperture being non coincident for production of halftone representations by selective catching of drops deflected therebeyond by the attractive action of said images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |