US4380772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low ink indication for ink jet print head
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
•
Filing: 1981-12-24
•
Granted: 1983-04-19
•
Expires: 2001-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A visual indication of low ink supply wherein a soluble-dye fluid is added to the ink supply and floats on the surface of the ink. The low ink supply is indicated by a change in color printed on the record media by reason of the indicating fluid having different characteristics from the printing ink.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor J. Italiano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/30; G01F23/76; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17566
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
Means for indicating low ink supply comprising: means containing a supply of ink, means operably associated with said ink supply means for ejecting ink in droplet form onto record media, and a liquid placed on the surface of said supply of ink and different in color therefrom and visually observed on said record media when said ink supply is exhausted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
Means for indicating low ink supply comprising: means containing a supply of ink, means operably associated with said ink supply means for ejecting ink in droplet form onto record media, and a liquid placed on the surface of said supply of ink and different in color therefrom and visually observed on said record media when said ink supply is exhausted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the liquid is of lower density than the ink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the liquid is immiscible with respect to the ink.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the containing means is a reservoir having a supply of ink therein and the liquid floats on the surface of the ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the means for ejecting droplets of ink is a piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the liquid is an oleic acid oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the liquid is a lauric acid oil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
In an ink jet printer, means containing a supply of ink, means operably associated with said ink supply means for ejecting droplets of ink onto record media, and means for indicating an exhausted supply of ink upon visually observing a change in color of droplets of liquid on said record media.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
In an ink jet printer, means containing a supply of ink, means operably associated with said ink supply means for ejecting droplets of ink onto record media, and means for indicating an exhausted supply of ink upon visually observing a change in color of droplets of liquid on said record media.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
In the printer of claim 8 wherein said indicating means comprises a liquid on the surface of said ink and is conveyed through said ejecting means upon exhaustion of said supply of ink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the printer of claim 9 wherein said liquid is of lower density than the ink.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the printer of claim 9 wherein the liquid is immiscible with respect to the ink.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
In the printer of claim 9 wherein said liquid contains a soluble dye of different color from the ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
In the printer of claim 9 wherein said containing means is a reservoir and the liquid floats on the surface of the ink.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the printer of claim 9 wherein the droplet ejecting means comprises a piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
In the printer of claim 9 wherein the liquid is an oleic acid oil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
In the printer of claim 9 wherein the liquid is a lauric acid oil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2241759A
Cited
US2671424A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-18 | 1986-10-18 | 1987-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-18 | 1990-10-18 | 1991-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-18 | 1994-10-18 | 1995-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |