Patent US4364055A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4364055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink issuance direction check system in an ink jet system printer
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1981-06-24
•
Granted: 1982-12-14
•
Expires: 2001-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet system printer of the charge amplitude controlling type includes a beam gutter for collecting ink droplets not contributing to the actual printing operation. An ink returning system is provided for returning the collected ink liquid to an ink liquid reservoir. An optical detection system is provided in the course of the ink returning system for detecting whether the ink liquid is properly collected by the beam gutter. When the ink liquid is not observed by the optical detection system for a period longer than a preselected period, a determination system develops a control signal for terminating the formation of the ink droplets.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiko Aiba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:28
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
In an ink jet system printer including: an ink liquid reservoir for containing ink liquid therein; ink droplet issuance means for emitting ink droplets toward a record receiving member; ink supply means for supplying the ink liquid from said ink liquid reservoir to said ink droplet issuance means; charging means for charging the ink droplets emitted from said ink droplet issuance means in accordance with print information; deflection means for deflecting the charged ink droplets; a beam gutter for catching ink droplets not contributing to the actual printing operation, said beam gutter being positioned in front of said record receiving member; and ink liquid returning means for returning the ink liquid collected by said beam gutter to said ink liquid reservoir, the improvement comprising: detection means disposed in the course of said ink liquid returning means and responsive to the presence of ink liquid for developing a detection output; and determination means for developing a determination output in the absence of said detection output from said detection means for a preselected period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
In an ink jet system printer including: an ink liquid reservoir for containing ink liquid therein; ink droplet issuance means for emitting ink droplets toward a record receiving member; ink supply means for supplying the ink liquid from said ink liquid reservoir to said ink droplet issuance means; charging means for charging the ink droplets emitted from said ink droplet issuance means in accordance with print information; deflection means for deflecting the charged ink droplets; a beam gutter for catching ink droplets not contributing to the actual printing operation, said beam gutter being positioned in front of said record receiving member; and ink liquid returning means for returning the ink liquid collected by said beam gutter to said ink liquid reservoir, the improvement comprising: detection means disposed in the course of said ink liquid returning means and responsive to the presence of ink liquid for developing a detection output; and determination means for developing a determination output in the absence of said detection output from said detection means for a preselected period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ink jet system printer of claim 1, wherein said ink liquid returning means includes a suction pump and conduit means for connecting said beam gutter to said ink liquid reservoir through said suction pump, and wherein said detection means is disposed in said conduit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The ink jet system printer of claim 2, said detection means comprising: a transparent conduit disposed in said conduit means of said ink liquid returning means; a light emitting element confronting said transparent conduit; and a light responsive element confronting said light emitting element through said transparent conduit, said light responsive element developing said detection output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink jet system printer of claim 3, said determination means comprising a retriggerable one-shot multivibrator of which an input terminal is connected to receive said detection output derived from said light responsive element, and of which an output terminal develops said determination output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ink jet system printer of claim 2, wherein said ink supply means includes a supply pump for supplying the ink liquid from said ink liquid reservoir to said ink droplet issuance means, and wherein said suction pump has the ability greater than that of said supply pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink jet system printer of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said detection means is positioned near said beam gutter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
Means for terminating the supply of ink liquid to an ink jet nozzle in an ink jet system printer in response to an abnormal deflection condition, comprising: nozzle means for emitting a stream of ink drops; ink liquid supply means for providing ink liquid to said nozzle means; means for selectively imparting calibrated deflections to each of the ink drops in said stream including a predetermined deflection to a substantial number of said ink drops; gutter means catching said substantial number of ink drops under normal calibrated deflection conditions; ink liquid return means from said gutter means to said ink liquid supply means for returning said ink liquid from the former to the latter; and detection means in said ink liquid return means responsive to the absence of ink liquid for a predetermined time period as an indication of the occurrence of an abnormal deflection condition for constraining said ink liquid supply means to cease providing ink liquid to said nozzle means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
162 words
Means for terminating the supply of ink liquid to an ink jet nozzle in an ink jet system printer in response to an abnormal deflection condition, comprising: nozzle means for emitting a stream of ink drops; ink liquid supply means for providing ink liquid to said nozzle means; means for selectively imparting calibrated deflections to each of the ink drops in said stream including a predetermined deflection to a substantial number of said ink drops; gutter means catching said substantial number of ink drops under normal calibrated deflection conditions; ink liquid return means from said gutter means to said ink liquid supply means for returning said ink liquid from the former to the latter; and detection means in said ink liquid return means responsive to the absence of ink liquid for a predetermined time period as an indication of the occurrence of an abnormal deflection condition for constraining said ink liquid supply means to cease providing ink liquid to said nozzle means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The ink liquid supply terminating means of claim 7, wherein said ink liquid return means comprises: conduit means for interconnecting said gutter means with said ink liquid supply means; and suction pump means in said conduit means for propelling said ink liquid therethrough; and wherein said detection means includes transducer means proximate to said conduit means and responsive to the presence and absence of said ink liquid therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The ink liquid supply terminating means of claim 8, wherein said transducer means comprises: transparent means in said conduit means for viewing said ink liquid therethrough; light emitting means adjacent one side of said transparent means for providing illumination to the latter; and light responsive means adjacent the opposite side of said transparent means for receiving said illumination in the absence of ink liquid in said transparent means and for providing an output signal in response to such absence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ink liquid supply terminating means of claim 9, wherein said detection means further comprises: control means responsive to the existence of said output signal for at least said predetermined time period for constraining said ink liquid supply means to cease providing said ink liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink liquid supply terminating means of claim 10, wherein said control means comprises retriggerable one-shot multivibrator means for providing a control output for said ink liquid supply means, said multivibrator means having input means for receiving said output signal from said transducer means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink liquid supply terminating means of claim 8, wherein said ink liquid supply means includes supply pump means; and wherein, said suction pump means is of greater capacity than said supply pump means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ink liquid supply terminating means of claim 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein said detection means is responsive to the absence of ink liquid in said ink liquid return means at a point closely adjacent said gutter means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3911445A
Cited
US4207582A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-13 | 1986-06-14 | 1986-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-13 | 1990-06-14 | 1990-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-13 | 1994-06-14 | 1994-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |