US4908636A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery device having a protruding portion providing reduced pressure for improved recovery and method using same
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1988-03-21
•
Granted: 1990-03-13
•
Expires: 2008-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A liquid jet recording apparatus includes a cap member for covering discharge ports of a liquid jet recording head which discharge recording liquid. The cap member is provided with a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports. Gas flow is generated in a space formed by the cap member and the liquid jet recording head. The protruding portion provides for a negative or reduced pressure at the discharge ports, to draw off impurities and improve recovery. An improved recovery method is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsushi Saito
- 👤 Yutaka Koizumi
- 👤 Toshihiro Mori
- 👤 Minoru Nozawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:14
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/165; B41J2/16517; B41J2/16552; B41J2/16505; B41J2/16508; B41J2/17; B41J2/1707
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus including a liquid jet recording head having discharge ports for discharging recording liquid, said recording apparatus comprising: a cap member for covering the discharge ports, the cap member being provided with a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports; and means for generating a gas flow passed said protruding portion in a space formed by said cap member and the liquid jet recording head to create a reduced pressure for removing impurities from the discharge ports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus including a liquid jet recording head having discharge ports for discharging recording liquid, said recording apparatus comprising: a cap member for covering the discharge ports, the cap member being provided with a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports; and means for generating a gas flow passed said protruding portion in a space formed by said cap member and the liquid jet recording head to create a reduced pressure for removing impurities from the discharge ports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas flow generating means comprises pump means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head provided with discharge ports for discharging recording liquid, said recording apparatus comprising: a cap member having an internal face for covering the discharge ports, the internal face having a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports; and means for generating a gas flow in a space formed by the internal face of said cap member and the liquid jet recording head; wherein the protruding portion creates a reduced pressure in the gas flow for removing impurities from the discharge ports.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head provided with discharge ports for discharging recording liquid, said recording apparatus comprising: a cap member having an internal face for covering the discharge ports, the internal face having a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports; and means for generating a gas flow in a space formed by the internal face of said cap member and the liquid jet recording head; wherein the protruding portion creates a reduced pressure in the gas flow for removing impurities from the discharge ports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, further including apertures provided on said cap member positioned on both sides of the protruding portion, one of said apertures being connected to said gas flow generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gas flow generating means comprises a container filled with pressurized gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said gas comprises at least one of air and noninflammable gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gas flow generating means comprises at least one of pump means and air blower means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, further including used liquid disposal means to which another of said apertures is connected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said used liquid disposal means comprises a used liquid tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said used liquid disposal means comprises a porous absorbent material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, further including a filter through which another of said apertures communicates to atmosphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, further including communicating means for communicating a second of said apertures to atmosphere through a filter and further including communicating means for communicating the second of said apertures to used liquid disposal means without the filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, further including a seal member in a portion in contact between said cap member and the liquid jet recording head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said aperture connected to said gas flow generating means is smaller in area than the one aperture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said seal member comprises an elastic member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gas flow generating means comprises a container filled with pressurized gas and further includes a supply valve connecting said gas flow generating means to said cap member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, further including means for interchanging said container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
84 words
A recovery method for a liquid jet recording apparatus including a liquid jet recording head having discharge ports for discharging recording liquid, said recovery method comprising: covering the discharge ports by a cap member having a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports; and generating a gas flow in a space formed by the recording head and the cap member, through a gap formed by the protruding portion and the recording head to create a reduced pressure for removing impurities from the discharge ports.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
A recovery method for a liquid jet recording apparatus including a liquid jet recording head having discharge ports for discharging recording liquid, said recovery method comprising: covering the discharge ports by a cap member having a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports; and generating a gas flow in a space formed by the recording head and the cap member, through a gap formed by the protruding portion and the recording head to create a reduced pressure for removing impurities from the discharge ports.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A recovery method according to claim 18, further including generating the gas flow from a container filled with pressurized gas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recovery method according to claim 19, further including selecting the gas from air and non-inflammable gas.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A recovery method according to claim 19, further including interchangeably connecting the gas container.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A recovery method according to claim 18, further including generating the gas flow by at least one of a pump and an air blower means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS54133335A
Cited
US4306245A
Cited
US4276554A
Cited
US4410900A
Cited
US4600931A
Cited
US4394669A
Cited
US4411706A
Cited
JPS58173670A
Cited
US4590494A
Cited
US4701771A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-12 | 1993-09-11 | 1994-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-12 | 1997-09-11 | 1998-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-12 | 2001-09-11 | 2002-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |