US4929969A — Ink supply construction and printing method for d…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 103 words

In a drop-on-demand, ink jet system of the kind having a print head component including orifices, drop ejection transducers and passage means for supplying ink to drop ejection regions proximate said transducers, an improved ink supply reservoir comprising: (a) a housing defining an ink storage volume and having a vent opening and an ink outlet connected to said passage means; (b) a mass of foam material occupying a major portion of said housing and covering said ink outlet, said foam comprising three dimensionally branched network of fine filaments interconnected so as to form a large void volume composed of uniform size interstitial pores.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 103 words

In a drop-on-demand, ink jet system of the kind having a print head component including orifices, drop ejection transducers and passage means for supplying ink to drop ejection regions proximate said transducers, an improved ink supply reservoir comprising: (a) a housing defining an ink storage volume and having a vent opening and an ink outlet connected to said passage means; (b) a mass of foam material occupying a major portion of said housing and covering said ink outlet, said foam comprising three dimensionally branched network of fine filaments interconnected so as to form a large void volume composed of uniform size interstitial pores.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material is innately reticulate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material is a thermoset melamine condensate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material, in its utilized state within said housing, has a void volume greater than about 95% of its total volume.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material, in its uncompressed state, has a bulk density of less than about 1.5 lbs./ft. 3 .

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam network is substantially isotropic in its uncompressed state.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material, in its uncompressed state, has an average pore size in the range of about 50μ to 175μ.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the majority of said foam material pores have a size in the range of about 140μ to 160μ.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said foam material contains substantially no pores with a diameter less than about 100μ.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material in its uncompressed state has a range in pore size diameters no greater than about 75μ.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the majority of said pores have a diameter in the range of about 140μ to 160μ and at least about 95% of the pores have a diameter larger than 0.67 times the average pore diameter.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material filaments have a length to width ratio in the order of about 10 to 1 or greater.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material contains no cell membranes between filaments.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material is substantially chemically inert with respect to ink constituents.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The invention defined in claim 14 wherein said foam material contains substantially unmodified melamine formaldehyde condensate that has been thermoset.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 73 words

In a drop-on-demand, ink jet print system of the kind having a print head and ink reservoir means in fluid communication with said print head, the improvement wherein said reservoir means comprises: (a) a housing defining an ink storage volume and having an ink outlet connected to said print head; (b) an innately reticulate foam structure substantially filling said housing, said foam structure comprising a plurality of fine, mutually connected, three-dimensionally branched filaments.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 73 words

In a drop-on-demand, ink jet print system of the kind having a print head and ink reservoir means in fluid communication with said print head, the improvement wherein said reservoir means comprises: (a) a housing defining an ink storage volume and having an ink outlet connected to said print head; (b) an innately reticulate foam structure substantially filling said housing, said foam structure comprising a plurality of fine, mutually connected, three-dimensionally branched filaments.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said filaments (webs) have a length/width ratio of about 10 to 1 or greater.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said foam comprises a melamine formaldehyde condensate.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said foam contains not less than 80% by weight of melamine formaldehyde as condensed units.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The invention defined in claim 19 wherein said filaments have a density greater than 1.10 g/cm 3 .

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The invention defined in claim 16 wherein said foam has a bulk density less than about 1.5 lbs./ft. 3 .

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 61 words

A process for drop-on-demand ink jet printing comprising the steps of: (a) selectively ejecting ink drops from drop ejection regions through related orifices; (b) feeding ink through capillary feed passages to the drop ejection regions to replace ejected ink drops; and (c) supplying ink to said capillary passages from foam structure comprising a mass of fine, mutually connected, three-dimensionally branched filaments.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 61 words

A process for drop-on-demand ink jet printing comprising the steps of: (a) selectively ejecting ink drops from drop ejection regions through related orifices; (b) feeding ink through capillary feed passages to the drop ejection regions to replace ejected ink drops; and (c) supplying ink to said capillary passages from foam structure comprising a mass of fine, mutually connected, three-dimensionally branched filaments.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 13 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material is innately reticulate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material is a thermoset melamine condensate.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material, in its utilized state within said housing, has a void volume greater than about 95% of its total volume.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material, in its uncompressed state, has a bulk density of less than about 1.5 lbs./ft. 3 .

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material network is substantially isotropic in its uncompressed state.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material, in its utilized state, has an average pore size in the range of about 50μ to 175μ.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the majority of said foam material pores have a size in the range of about 140μ to 160μ.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material contains substantially no pores with a diameter less than about 100μ.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 26 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material in its uncompressed state has a range in pore size diameters no greater than about 75μ.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 42 words

The invention defined in claim 31 wherein the majority of said pores have a diameter in the range of about 140μ to 160μ and at least about 95% of the pores have a diameter larger than 0.67 times the average pore diameter.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material filaments have a length to width ratio of about 10 to 1 or greater.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material contains no cell membranes between filaments.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said foam material is substantially chemically inert with respect to ink constituents.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 20 words

The invention defined in claim 35 wherein said foam material contains substantially unmodified melamine formaldehyde condensate that has been thermoset.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-05-28	1993-11-27	1994-05-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-05-28	1997-11-27	1998-05-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-05-28	2001-11-27	2002-05-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ink supply construction and printing method for drop-on-demand ink jet printing

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