US4128345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid impulse matrix printer
Assignee: Universal Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1976-03-11
•
Granted: 1978-12-05
•
Expires: 1996-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A printer is disclosed for use in printing indicia or the like on a sheet of recording medium by selective application of impulses of fluid. The printer comprises a sheet support mechanism, a print head, fluid supply means, a valve assembly, and an input system. The support mechanism supports and selectively advances the sheet of recording medium. The print head includes a one- or two-dimensional array of tubes arranged to form a dot matrix for printing alphanumeric characters on the sheet. It may extend the width of the recording medium or be movable across it. Connected to these tubes are the fluid supply means and a valve assembly that includes a separate valve for each tube for controlling the supply of fluid thereto. In one embodiment of the invention, a heater raises the temperature of the fluid passing through the tubes enough that printing takes place on the recording medium whenever the fluid is ejected from the tubes. In another embodiment, a movable pin is mounted at the distal end of each tube in such a fashion that it is driven into the recording medium when a valve is opened. In still another embodiment the movable pins are also heated enough that they affect the recording medium where they are driven into it. The input system opens and closes the valves in accordance with input signals, such that the impulses of fluid applied to the tubes produce detectable visual changes on the recording medium which represent such input signals.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Brady
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:17
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/22; B41J23/00; B41J23/20; B41J29/00; B41J29/377
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
A printer comprising: means for printing information on a recording medium using a dot matrix comprising an array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
A printer comprising: means for printing information on a recording medium using a dot matrix comprising an array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
means adjacent said open end of said tubes for heating a fluid carried within the tubes of said array enough that the heat of the fluid upon emerging from said open end of said tubes produces detectable indicia on said recording medium, a plurality of conduits connecting said tubes in said printing means to a stationary housing, valves mounted in said stationary housing for selectively controlling the flow of fluid through said conduits and out the open end of said tubes, and means for operating said valves in accordance with input information to control the flow of fluid through said conduits, whereby detectable indicia are produced on said recording medium that record said input information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
means adjacent said open end of said tubes for heating a fluid carried within the tubes of said array enough that the heat of the fluid upon emerging from said open end of said tubes produces detectable indicia on said recording medium, a plurality of conduits connecting said tubes in said printing means to a stationary housing, valves mounted in said stationary housing for selectively controlling the flow of fluid through said conduits and out the open end of said tubes, and means for operating said valves in accordance with input information to control the flow of fluid through said conduits, whereby detectable indicia are produced on said recording medium that record said input information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The printer of claim 1 further comprising a keyboard and means for converting signals from said keyboard into signals for controlling said valves, whereby a pattern is produced on the recording medium corresponding to the key that is selected on said keyboard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The printer of claim 1 further comprising a source of pressurized fluid and a reservoir for containing said pressurized fluid, said conduits interconnecting said reservoir with each of said tubes in the printing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein means are provided in either the valves or the conduits to bleed off fluid from said conduits at a rate which is faster than that at which fluid would leak out of the open end of the tubes when the valves are closed but is slower than that at which fluid is driven out of the open end of the tubes when the valves are opened, whereby no detectable effect is produced by the heated fluid on said recording medium during the time when the valve is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The printer of claim 4 further comprising means for closing said bleed off means when the valves are opened, whereby the effect of the heated fluid on said recording medium may be controlled.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the conduits have a larger interior diameter than that of the tubes in the printing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein said printing means comprises: a support means, a movable printing means mounted on said support means and comprising a two-dimensional array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end, and means for moving said printing means across said recording medium, said printing means being moved on said support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The printer of claim 7 further comprising means for directing a cooling fluid at a point on said recording medium immediately after a point at which printing is taking place and means for controlling the amount of said cooling fluid to control the magnitude of the detectable indicia produced on said recording medium by the heated fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
The printer of claim 7 wherein means are provided in either the valves or the conduits to bleed off fluid from said conduits at a rate which is faster than that at which fluid would leak out of the open end of the tubes when the valves are closed but is slower than that at which fluid is driven out of the open end of the tubes when the valves are opened, whereby no detectable effect is produced by the heated fluid on said recording medium during the time when the valve is closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the array of closely spaced tubes extends across the recording medium the full width of a line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises: an electrically conductive frame in which the array of tubes are mounted, and first and second electrically conductive plates connected to and on opposite sides of the frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the tubes in said printing means are approximately 16 mils in outside diameter or less and are positioned next to each other in said array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the fluid that is heated is a gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The printer of claim 13 further comprising a source of pressurized fluid and a reservoir for containing said pressurized fluid, said conduits connecting said reservoir with each of said tubes in the printing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
The printer of claim 13 wherein means are provided in either the valves or the conduits to bleed off fluid from said conduits at a rate which is faster than that at which fluid would leak out of the open end of the tubes when the valves are closed but is slower than that at which fluid is driven out of the open end of the tubes when the valves are opened, whereby no detectable effect is produced by the heated fluid on said recording medium during the time when the valve is closed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The printer of claim 15 further comprising means for closing said bleed off means when the valves are opened, whereby the effect of the heated fluid on said recording medium may be controlled.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The printer of claim 13 wherein the conduits have a larger interior diameter than that of the tubes in the printing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The printer of claim 13 wherein said printing means comprises: a support means, a movable printing means mounted on said support means and comprising a two-dimensional array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end, and means for moving said printing means across said recording medium, said printing means being moved on said support means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The printer of claim 13 further comprising means for directing a cooling gas at a point on said recording medium immediately after a point at which printing is taking place and means for controlling the amount of said cooling gas to control the magnitude of the detectable indicia produced on said recording medium by the heated gas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
226 words
A printer comprising: means for printing information on a recording medium using a dot matrix comprising an array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end, means for heating a fluid carried within the tubes of said array enough that the heat of the fluid upon emerging from said tubes produces detectable indicia on said recording medium, a fluid supply means comprising a plurality of conduits connecting said tubes in said printing means to a fluid intake, valve means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid intake through said conduits and out the open-end of said tubes, means in either the valve means or the fluid supply means to bleed off fluid from said fluid supply means at a rate which is faster than that at which fluid would leak out of the open end of the tubes when the valve means are closed but is slower than that at which fluid is driven out of the open end of the tubes when the valve means are opened, whereby no detectable effect is produced by the heated fluid on said recording medium during the time when the valve is closed, means for controlling the operation of said valves in accordance with input information, whereby the fluid emerging from said tubes is controlled to produce changes on said recording medium that record said input information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
226 words
A printer comprising: means for printing information on a recording medium using a dot matrix comprising an array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end, means for heating a fluid carried within the tubes of said array enough that the heat of the fluid upon emerging from said tubes produces detectable indicia on said recording medium, a fluid supply means comprising a plurality of conduits connecting said tubes in said printing means to a fluid intake, valve means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid intake through said conduits and out the open-end of said tubes, means in either the valve means or the fluid supply means to bleed off fluid from said fluid supply means at a rate which is faster than that at which fluid would leak out of the open end of the tubes when the valve means are closed but is slower than that at which fluid is driven out of the open end of the tubes when the valve means are opened, whereby no detectable effect is produced by the heated fluid on said recording medium during the time when the valve is closed, means for controlling the operation of said valves in accordance with input information, whereby the fluid emerging from said tubes is controlled to produce changes on said recording medium that record said input information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The printer of claim 20 further comprising means for closing said bleed off means when the valve means are opened, whereby the effect of the heated fluid on said recording medium may be controlled.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
The printer of claim 20 wherein said printing means comprises: a support means, a movable printing means mounted on said support means and comprising a two-dimensional array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end, and means for moving said printing means across said recording medium, said printing means being moved on said support means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a printer for printing information on a recording medium using a dot matrix comprising an array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end, a printing method comprising the steps of: adjacent the open end of said tubes, heating a fluid carried within the tubes of said array enough that the heat of the fluid upon emerging from said open end of said tubes produces detectable indicia on said recording medium, providing a plurality of conduits connecting said tubes to a stationary housing, selectively controlling with valves mounted in said stationary housing the flow of fluid through said conduits and out the open end of said tubes, and operating said valves in accordance with input information to control the flow of fluid through said conduits, whereby detectable indicia are produced on said recording medium that record said input information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a printer for printing information on a recording medium using a dot matrix comprising an array of closely-spaced tubes open at one end, a printing method comprising the steps of: adjacent the open end of said tubes, heating a fluid carried within the tubes of said array enough that the heat of the fluid upon emerging from said open end of said tubes produces detectable indicia on said recording medium, providing a plurality of conduits connecting said tubes to a stationary housing, selectively controlling with valves mounted in said stationary housing the flow of fluid through said conduits and out the open end of said tubes, and operating said valves in accordance with input information to control the flow of fluid through said conduits, whereby detectable indicia are produced on said recording medium that record said input information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the fluid is air.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of moving across the surface of the recording medium a two-dimensional array of said closely-spaced tubes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1770493A
Cited
US3063050A
Cited
US3152858A
Cited
US3034628A
Cited
US3217640A
Cited
US3545374A
Cited
US3582954A
Cited
US3911818A
Cited
US4027762A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-04 | 1982-06-05 | 1982-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-04 | 1986-06-05 | 1986-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-04 | 1990-06-05 | 1990-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |