Patent US3790703A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3790703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for thermal viscosity modulating a fluid stream
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-21
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1991-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for thermal viscosity modulating a fluid stream by time varying the temperature of the stream in response to an intelligence signal. The method and apparatus are useful for ''''printing'''' or forming an ink image of an original in black and white or color. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of fluid printing ink streams are thermal viscosity modulated in response to an electrical signal which represents a scanned original. Each fluid ink stream corresponds to a resolution element across the serially or parallel scanned original. The image of the original is formed or ''''printed'''' on a suitable fluid receptor, such as paper, by depositing the fluid streams in varying amounts on the receptor according to the viscosity of each of the streams. The thermal viscosity modulation of the fluid stream is accomplished in a preferred embodiment by passing the fluid streams under pressure through capillaries each having a thin film electrical resistor formed on the inner wall thereof. The scanned original electrical signal is impressed across the capillary electrical resistor to heat the fluid ink stream in accordance with the signal. By varying the amount of heat, the viscosity of each stream is modulated as a function of the value of the corresponding resolution element of the original.
Inventors
- 👤 A Carley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:11
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41C; B41C1/00; B41C1/10; B41C1/1066; B41C1/06; B41M; B41M1/00; B41M1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 98
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for thermal viscosity modulating a fluid stream with an intelligence signal comprising the steps of: 1. passing the fluid stream through a modulation station using a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream to modulate the flow of said fluid stream; and, 2. time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the fluid stream at the modulation station in response to the intelligence signal whereby said signal is impressed upon said fluid stream in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the fluid stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for thermal viscosity modulating a fluid stream with an intelligence signal comprising the steps of: 1. passing the fluid stream through a modulation station using a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream to modulate the flow of said fluid stream; and, 2. time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the fluid stream at the modulation station in response to the intelligence signal whereby said signal is impressed upon said fluid stream in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the fluid stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the fluid stream at the modulation station in response to the intelligence signal whereby said signal is impressed upon said fluid stream in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the fluid stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the fluid stream at the modulation station in response to the intelligence signal whereby said signal is impressed upon said fluid stream in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the fluid stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the intelligence signal is an electrical current and the temperature of said fluid stream is time varied at the modulation station by passing the electrical current through a resistive element that is located at said modulation station and in thermally conductive contact with said fluid stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
printing ink reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
printing ink reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
4 words
printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
4 words
printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
passing at least one stream of printing ink through a modulation station using a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the printing ink stream to modulate the flow of said printing ink stream;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
passing at least one stream of printing ink through a modulation station using a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the printing ink stream to modulate the flow of said printing ink stream;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
4 words
printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
4 words
printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
directing the ink carrying gas stream against said ink receptor whereby the thermal viscosity modulated ink is deposited on said ink receptor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
directing the ink carrying gas stream against said ink receptor whereby the thermal viscosity modulated ink is deposited on said ink receptor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
printing ink reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
printing ink reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
passing at least one stream of printing ink through a modulation station using a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream to modulate the flow of said fluid stream;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
passing at least one stream of printing ink through a modulation station using a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the fluid stream to modulate the flow of said fluid stream;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
means defining a printing ink modulation station having an inlet and an outlet with The ink being fluidly coupled to said printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
means defining a printing ink modulation station having an inlet and an outlet with The ink being fluidly coupled to said printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the printing ink stream at the modulation station in responSe to the electrical signal whereby said signal representation of the scanned image is impressed upon the printing ink stream in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink stream; and,
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the printing ink stream at the modulation station in responSe to the electrical signal whereby said signal representation of the scanned image is impressed upon the printing ink stream in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink stream; and,
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the printing ink stream at the modulation station in response to the electrical signal whereby said signal representation of the scanned image is impressed upon the printing ink stream in thE form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink stream; and,
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
time varying the temperature of at least a portion of the printing ink stream at the modulation station in response to the electrical signal whereby said signal representation of the scanned image is impressed upon the printing ink stream in thE form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink stream which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink stream; and,
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is electrically conductive and said intelligence signal is an electrical current which is passed through said fluid stream at said modulation station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
means for pressurizing said reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
means for pressurizing said reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
means for pressurizing said reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
means for pressurizing said reservoir means, said pressurized ink reservoir means being a motive source having sufficient mechanical admittance to permit thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink to modulate the flow of said ink;
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
means defining a printing ink modulation station having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet being fluidly coupled to said printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
means defining a printing ink modulation station having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet being fluidly coupled to said printing ink reservoir means;
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
means with appreciable mechanical admittance for causing the ink to pass through said printing ink modulation station;
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
means with appreciable mechanical admittance for causing the ink to pass through said printing ink modulation station;
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
means defining at least one capillary tube, said tube being fluidly coupled at one end to said ink reservoir means and open at the other end to form an ink discharge orifice;
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
means defining at least one capillary tube, said tube being fluidly coupled at one end to said ink reservoir means and open at the other end to form an ink discharge orifice;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
means defining at least one capillary tube, said tube being fluidly coupled at one end to said ink reservoir means and open at the other end to form an ink discharge orifice;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
means defining at least one capillary tube, said tube being fluidly coupled at one end to said ink reservoir means and open at the other end to form an ink discharge orifice;
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
entraining the thermal viscosity flow modulated printing ink stream in a gas stream and, thereafter
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
entraining the thermal viscosity flow modulated printing ink stream in a gas stream and, thereafter
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said intelligence signal comprises electromagnetic radiation which is absorbed by said fluid stream at said modulation station.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
means with appreciable mechanical admittance for causing the ink to pass through said printing ink modulation station;
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
means with appreciable mechanical admittance for causing the ink to pass through said printing ink modulation station;
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
depositing at least a portion of said thermal viscosity modulated printing ink stream upon an ink receptor in accordance with the scanned form of said image.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
depositing at least a portion of said thermal viscosity modulated printing ink stream upon an ink receptor in accordance with the scanned form of said image.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for impressing said electrical signal upon the printing ink in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink; and,
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for impressing said electrical signal upon the printing ink in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink; and,
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said viscosity modulated fluid stream is deposited upon a fluid receptor.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
ohmic heating means positioned for thermal coupling to the ink passing through said capillary tube;
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
ohmic heating means positioned for thermal coupling to the ink passing through said capillary tube;
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
electrical signal responsive heating means positioned for thermal coupling to the ink passing through said capillary tube;
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
electrical signal responsive heating means positioned for thermal coupling to the ink passing through said capillary tube;
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
electrical signal responsive heating means positioned for thermal coupling to the printing ink passing through said printing ink modulation station;
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
electrical signal responsive heating means positioned for thermal coupling to the printing ink passing through said printing ink modulation station;
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
depositing the entrained printing ink stream on an ink receptor in accordance with the scanned form of said image.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
depositing the entrained printing ink stream on an ink receptor in accordance with the scanned form of said image.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
43 words
means for applying said electrical signal to said heating means whereby said electrical signal is impressed upon said printing ink in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the printing ink; and,
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
43 words
means for applying said electrical signal to said heating means whereby said electrical signal is impressed upon said printing ink in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the printing ink; and,
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
28 words
means for applying said electrical signal to said heating means whereby said electrical signal is impressed upon said ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink; and,
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
28 words
means for applying said electrical signal to said heating means whereby said electrical signal is impressed upon said ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink; and,
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
42 words
means for applying said electrical signal to said ohmic heating means whereby said electrical signal is impressed upon said ink in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink; and,
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
42 words
means for applying said electrical signal to said ohmic heating means whereby said electrical signal is impressed upon said ink in the form of thermally produced variations in the viscosity of the ink which correspondingly alter the flow of the ink; and,
Claim 63
Independent Claim
10 words
A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
Claim 64
Independent Claim
10 words
A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the outlet of said printing ink modulation station corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the outlet of said printing ink modulation station corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said electrical signal is generated by scanning an original which contains said image.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the discharge orifice of said capillary tube corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the discharge orifice of said capillary tube corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the discharge orifice of said capillary tube corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the discharge orifice of said capillary tube corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the outlet of said printing ink modulation station corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for producing relative motion between an ink receptor and the outlet of said printing ink modulation station corresponding to the scanned form of said image.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said electrical signal is computer generated.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
8 words
The method of claim 6 further characterized by:
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 further characterized by establishing an electric potential between said modulation station and said ink receptor.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 78
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
46 words
The printing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said capillary tube defining means defines a plurality of capillary tubes which represent one horizontal scan of said image and wherein said means for producing relative motion produces a relative motion corresponding to the vertical scan of said image.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
18 words
The printing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for generating an electrical signal comprises an optical scanner.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
17 words
The printing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for generating an electrical signal comprises a computer.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
31 words
The printing apparatus of claim 11 further characterized by focused air brush means positioned to direct the thermal viscosity modulated ink exiting from the ink discharge orifice onto said ink receptor.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
22 words
The printing apparatus of claim 11 further characterized by means for establishing an electrostatic potential between said capillary and said ink receptor.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising heat sink means thermally coupled to the printing ink within said capillary.
Claim 85
Independent Claim
10 words
A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
Claim 86
Independent Claim
10 words
A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
Claim 87
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 88
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising focused airbrush means positioned to direct the thermal viscosity modulated ink exiting from the ink discharge orifice onto said ink receptor.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising heat sink means thermally coupled to the printing ink within said capillary.
Claim 91
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 92
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising focused airbrush means positioned to direct the thermal viscosity modulated ink exiting from the outlet of said printing ink modulation station onto said ink receptor.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising heat sink means thermally coupled to the printing ink at said printing ink modulation station.
Claim 95
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 96
Independent Claim
7 words
An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising heat sink means thermally coupled to the printing ink at said printing ink modulation station.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising means for entraining the thermal viscosity modulated printing ink in a gas stream with said entrained printing ink being deposited upon said ink receptor in accordance with the scanned form of said image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2633796A
Cited
US2487865A
Cited
US2556550A
Cited
US3161882A
Cited
US3134849A
Cited
US3270637A
Cited
US3359566A
Cited
US3480962A
Cited
US3656169A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |