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US4701771A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ink jet recorder having an ink acceptor with an ink absorber provided therein

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1985-07-22
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Granted: 1987-10-20
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Expires: 2005-07-22
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Abstract

Abstract An ink jet recorder includes an ink acceptor having an ink absorber arranged to face an ink jet head, and a detector for detecting the degree of absorption ability of the ink absorber. When the detector detects the loss of absorption ability of the ink absorber, it issues an alarm signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kunihiko Ikeda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 10:31
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/20; B41J2/135; B41J2/165

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim 84 words
An ink jet recorder comprising: an ink jet head having at least one orifice for emitting ink, a portion of which is not required for printing and constitutes waste ink; ink acceptor means having a disposable ink absorber arranged to face said ink jet head for accepting waste ink discharged from the orifice of said ink jet head; and detection means for detecting a degree of absorption ability of said ink absorber and for providing a signal indicating when the absorber should be replaced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 84 words
An ink jet recorder comprising: an ink jet head having at least one orifice for emitting ink, a portion of which is not required for printing and constitutes waste ink; ink acceptor means having a disposable ink absorber arranged to face said ink jet head for accepting waste ink discharged from the orifice of said ink jet head; and detection means for detecting a degree of absorption ability of said ink absorber and for providing a signal indicating when the absorber should be replaced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 1, further comprising alarm means, responsive to said detection means, for issuing an alarm in response to a detection indicating a loss of absorption ability of said ink absorber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 2 wherein said alarm means is light emitting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 2 wherein said alarm means is sound generating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 2 wherein said alarm means is display means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 5 wherein said display means is liquid crystal display or plasma display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 1 wherein said detection means includes photo-sensing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 7 wherein said photo-sensing means is a photo-diode or a photo-transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 7 wherein said detection means includes light emitting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 9 wherein said light emitting means is a lamp, light emitting diode or neon discharge lamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 9 wherein said photo-sensing means and said light emitting means are arranged on the same side of said ink acceptor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 9 wherein said photo-sensing means and said light emitting means are arranged on the opposite sides of said ink acceptor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 1 wherein said absorber is a porous material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 13 wherein said porous material is of white or light color.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 13 wherein said porous material is of complementary color to the ink.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 22 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 1 wherein said ink acceptor means includes the absorber and a member covering the absorber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 27 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 16 wherein at least a portion of said member facing said detection means is made of a light transmissive material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 25 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 1 further comprising a shaft adapted to be fitted to a hole formed in said ink acceptor means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 30 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 18 wherein said shaft is slotted at an end and the slotted end has a larger diameter than a diameter of said hole.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 13 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 18 wherein said hole is polygonal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 60 words
An ink jet recorder comprising: an ink jet head; ink acceptor means having an ink absorber arranged to face said ink jet head; and detection means for detecting a degree of absorption ability of said ink absorber, wherein said ink acceptor means includes drive means for moving said ink acceptor means in accordance with an output from said detection means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 60 words
An ink jet recorder comprising: an ink jet head; ink acceptor means having an ink absorber arranged to face said ink jet head; and detection means for detecting a degree of absorption ability of said ink absorber, wherein said ink acceptor means includes drive means for moving said ink acceptor means in accordance with an output from said detection means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 29 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 21 wherein said drive means includes a solenoid for driving a feed click and a ratchet wheel meshed with said feed click.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 15 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 21 wherein a distance of movement is preset.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 18 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 23 further comprising means for storing a total distance of movement.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 23 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 24 further comprising compare means for comparing the total distance of movement with a preset value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 30 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 25 further comprising alarm means for alarming the loss of the absorption ability in accordance with the compare result of said compare means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 16 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 26 wherein said alarm means is light emitting means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 23 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 27 wherein said light emitting means is a light emitting diode, neon discharge lamp or lamp.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 16 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 26 wherein said alarm means is sound generating means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 15 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 26 wherein said alarm means is display means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 19 words
An ink jet recorder according to claim 30 wherein said display means is liquid crystal display or plasma display.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 96 words
An ink jet recorder comprising: an ink jet head; ink acceptor means having an ink absorber arranged to face said ink jet head, said ink acceptor means being disk shaped with a mount hole being formed therein; and detection means for detecting a degree of absorption ability of said ink absorber, said ink acceptor means including drive means for moving said ink acceptor means in accordance with an output from said detection means, and said ink acceptor means further including a ratchet wheel adapted to be driven in accordance with an output from said detection means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 96 words
An ink jet recorder comprising: an ink jet head; ink acceptor means having an ink absorber arranged to face said ink jet head, said ink acceptor means being disk shaped with a mount hole being formed therein; and detection means for detecting a degree of absorption ability of said ink absorber, said ink acceptor means including drive means for moving said ink acceptor means in accordance with an output from said detection means, and said ink acceptor means further including a ratchet wheel adapted to be driven in accordance with an output from said detection means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3761953A Cited
US4364055A Cited
US4328504A Cited
US4437105A Cited
US4369456A Cited
US4493993A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-10-19 1991-04-20 1991-10-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-10-19 1995-04-20 1995-10-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-10-19 1999-04-20 1999-10-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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