Ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head

Claim 1

An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for printing dots on a sheet of print paper by actuating a plurality of wires each with ink disposed on the tip end thereof into contact with said sheet of print paper in order to transfer dots of ink to the sheet of paper, said ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head comprising: an ink-supply tank containing an ink absorbing member and formed with an ink-supply port; an ink guide member extending into said ink supply port for transporting ink from the ink supply tank, said ink guide member being formed with a wire guide opening for receiving and guiding an ink wire and with a capillary ink path communicating between the ink absorbing member and the side of a wire positioned within said wire guide opening, said capillary ink path being formed of at least first and second regions dimensioned so that the second region between the side of the wire and the wall of the wire guide opening has a greater capillary force than the first region adjacent the ink absorbing member, at least said first and second regions of the capillary path being entirely free of an absorbing material.

Claim 6

A method for supplying ink dots to a sheet of paper by an ink supplied dot matrix printer head comprising: drawing ink by capillary action along a path from an ink absorbing body in an ink tank through an ink guide including a wire guide member having a wire inserted therethrough, said path being entirely free of ink absorbing material from said ink absorbing body in said ink tank through said ink guide to the tip end of said wire, capillary action along said path being adjusted by selecting the dimensions of said path so that a second region of the path between the side of the wire and the wall of the wire guide member through which the wire is inserted has a greater capillary force than a first region of the path adjacent the ink absorbing body, so that the capillary action is successively greater along said path.

Claim 7

A method for supplying ink dots to a sheet of paper by an ink supplied dot matrix printer head comprising: drawing ink by capillary action along a path from an ink absorbing body in an ink tank through an ink guide including a wire guide member having a wire inserted therethrough, said path being entirely free of ink absorbing material from said ink absorbing body in said ink tank through said ink guide to the tip end of said wire, capillary action along said path being adjusted by selecting the dimensions of said path so that a second region of the path between the side of the wire and the wall of the wire guide member through which the wire is inserted has a greater capillary force than a first region of the path adjacent the ink absorbing body, so that the capillary action is successively greater along said path.