US5148185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting droplets of ink through promotion of capillary action
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-28
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Granted: 1992-09-15
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Expires: 2011-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A thermal ink jet recording apparatus includes a plurality of heating elements which serve as pressure generating members spaced apart from a plurality of nozzles. A reservoir, which stores ink prior to ejection through the nozzles, is formed between a nozzle plate and the pressure generating members and has a first cross-sectional area. A gap formed between a pair of substrates upon which the pressure generating members are disposed has a second cross-sectional area. An additional reservoir for storing ink is in fluid communication with the gap and has a third cross-sectional area. The first cross-sectional area is smaller than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is smaller than the third cross-sectional area for promoting capillary action in ejecting droplets of ink through the plurality of nozzles.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobumasa Abe
- 👤 Kiyoharu Momose
- 👤 Koji Watanabe
- 👤 Yuichi Nakamura
- 👤 Tsuneo Handa
- 👤 Mitsutaka Nishikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; B41J2/045; B41J2/04501; B41J2/04528; B41J2/04563; B41J2/0458; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14016; B41J2/14032; B41J2/1404; B41J2/14088; B41J2/14112; B41J2/1412; B41J2/14129; B41J2/16; B41J2/1601; B41J2/1603; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1623; B41J2/1625; B41J2/1626; B41J2/1628; B41J2/1629; B41J2/1631; B41J2/1632; B41J2/1637; B41J2/164; B41J2/1646; B41J2/21; B41J2/2103; B41J2002/14177; B41J2002/14387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of ejecting droplets of ink from a plurality of nozzles of an ink jet recording apparatus, said apparatus including a nozzle plate having said plurality of nozzles, the method comprising the steps of: storing ink in second reservoir means having a third cross-sectional area; supplying said ink to first reservoir means through a slit of a supporting member, said slit having a second cross-sectional area wherein, said second reservoir means being in fluid communication with said slit; storing ink supplied through said slit in said first reservoir means, said first reservoir means having a first cross-sectional area; and applying pressure to said ink stored in said first reservoir means for ejection of said droplets of ink through said plurality of nozzles; wherein said first cross-sectional area is smaller than said second cross-sectional area and said second cross-sectional area is smaller than said third cross-sectional area for promoting capillary action in ejecting droplets of ink through said plurality of nozzles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of ejecting droplets of ink from a plurality of nozzles of an ink jet recording apparatus, said apparatus including a nozzle plate having said plurality of nozzles, the method comprising the steps of: storing ink in second reservoir means having a third cross-sectional area; supplying said ink to first reservoir means through a slit of a supporting member, said slit having a second cross-sectional area wherein, said second reservoir means being in fluid communication with said slit; storing ink supplied through said slit in said first reservoir means, said first reservoir means having a first cross-sectional area; and applying pressure to said ink stored in said first reservoir means for ejection of said droplets of ink through said plurality of nozzles; wherein said first cross-sectional area is smaller than said second cross-sectional area and said second cross-sectional area is smaller than said third cross-sectional area for promoting capillary action in ejecting droplets of ink through said plurality of nozzles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
142 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting droplets of ink from a plurality of nozzles, comprising: a nozzle plate having said plurality of nozzles; pressure generating means spaced apart from said plurality of nozzles; first reservoir means for storing said ink, formed between said nozzle plate and said pressure generating means and having a first cross-sectional area; support means for supporting said pressure generating means and having a slit for supplying said ink to said first reservoir means, said slit having a second cross-section area; and second reservoir means for storing ink, in fluid communication with said slit and having a third cross-sectional area; wherein said first cross-sectional area is smaller than said second cross-sectional area and said second cross-sectional area is smaller than said third cross-sectional area for promoting capillary action in ejecting droplets of ink through said plurality of nozzles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting droplets of ink from a plurality of nozzles, comprising: a nozzle plate having said plurality of nozzles; pressure generating means spaced apart from said plurality of nozzles; first reservoir means for storing said ink, formed between said nozzle plate and said pressure generating means and having a first cross-sectional area; support means for supporting said pressure generating means and having a slit for supplying said ink to said first reservoir means, said slit having a second cross-section area; and second reservoir means for storing ink, in fluid communication with said slit and having a third cross-sectional area; wherein said first cross-sectional area is smaller than said second cross-sectional area and said second cross-sectional area is smaller than said third cross-sectional area for promoting capillary action in ejecting droplets of ink through said plurality of nozzles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pressure generating means includes a plurality of substrates having front surfaces and back surfaces with a plurality of heating elements disposed in rows on the front surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 3, wherein said substrates are disposed parallel to the rows of heating elements with spaces therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 4, wherein said substrates are disposed parallel to the rows of heating elements with spaces therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 5, wherein the heating elements on adjacent substrates are provided vertically offset from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 6, wherein said nozzle plate includes a nozzle portion having a uniform thickness and a step portion having a step from said nozzle portion, and wherein said first reservoir means is formed between the front surfaces of the substrates having the heating elements and said nozzle portion by said step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 5, wherein said nozzle plate includes a nozzle portion having a uniform thickness and a step portion having a step from said nozzle portion, and wherein said first reservoir means is formed between the front surfaces of the substrates having the heating elements and said nozzle portion by said step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 4, wherein the heating elements on adjacent substrates are provided vertically offset from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 4, wherein said nozzle plate includes a nozzle portion having a uniform thickness and a step portion having a step from said nozzle portion, and wherein said first reservoir means is formed between the front surfaces of the substrates having the heating elements and said nozzle portion by said step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 3, wherein the heating elements on adjacent substrates are provided vertically offset from each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein said nozzle plate includes a nozzle portion having a uniform thickness and a step portion having a step form said nozzle portion, and wherein said first reservoir means is formed between the front surfaces of the substrates having the heating elements and said nozzle portion by said step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 3, wherein said nozzle plate includes a nozzle portion having a uniform thickness and a step portion having a step from said nozzle portion, and wherein said first reservoir means is formed between the front surfaces of the substrates having the heating elements and said nozzle portion by said step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of nozzles are disposed above the front surfaces of the substrates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ink jet recording apparatus of claim 14, wherein said nozzle plate includes a nozzle portion having a uniform thickness and a step portion having a step from said nozzle portion, and wherein said first reservoir means is formed between the front surfaces of the substrates having the heating elements and said nozzle portion by said step.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-15 | 1996-03-16 | 1996-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-15 | 2000-03-16 | 2000-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-15 | 2004-03-16 | 2004-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |