US5221148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dot matrix printer ink supply system having ink absorbing member substantially filling an ink tank
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-11-30
•
Granted: 1993-06-22
•
Expires: 2010-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including an ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port and an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank. The ink-supply tank includes an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between the ink absorbing member and the wall surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Suzuki
- 👤 Masanao Matsuzawa
- 👤 Yoshinori Miyazawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:34
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/22; B41J2/23; B41J2/235; B41J2/25; B41J2/255; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17513; B41J2/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A dot matrix printer, comprising: printing means for applying ink in a dot matrix to effect printing; and an ink supply means for delivering ink to said printing means comprising: an ink-supply tank; an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank said ink absorbing member being filled with ink substantially to the desired capacity of the ink-supply tank, said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface; and means projecting into said ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from said ink absorbing member for delivery to said printing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A dot matrix printer, comprising: printing means for applying ink in a dot matrix to effect printing; and an ink supply means for delivering ink to said printing means comprising: an ink-supply tank; an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank said ink absorbing member being filled with ink substantially to the desired capacity of the ink-supply tank, said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface; and means projecting into said ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from said ink absorbing member for delivery to said printing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 1, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 2, wherein the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink receiving and transmitting means is a cover means bearing on said ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surface of said cover means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 2, wherein said projections are formed at least in an inner wall surface of the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink receiving and transmitting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 2, wherein the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink-supply delivery port is positioned to apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member at least in the region of said ink receiving and transmitting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 5, and including ink impregnated in the ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the ink absorbing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer head, comprising: an ink-supply tank; an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface; and means projecting into said ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from said ink absorbing member for delivery to said printer head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer head, comprising: an ink-supply tank; an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface; and means projecting into said ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from said ink absorbing member for delivery to said printer head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink-supply system of claim 7, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The ink-supply system of claim 8, wherein the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink receiving and transmitting means is a cover means bearing on said ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surface of said cover means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink-supply system of claim 8, wherein said projections are formed at least in an inner wall surface of the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink receiving and transmitting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ink supply system of claim 8, wherein the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink-supply delivery port is positioned to apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member at least in the region of said ink receiving and transmitting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink-supply system of claim 11, and including ink impregnated in the ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the ink absorbing member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A dot matrix printer comprising: printing means for applying ink in a dot matrix to effect printing; and an ink supply means for delivering ink to said printing means comprising: an ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port; and an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank, said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
A dot matrix printer comprising: printing means for applying ink in a dot matrix to effect printing; and an ink supply means for delivering ink to said printing means comprising: an ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port; and an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank, said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 13, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 14, wherein the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink-supply delivery port is a cover means bearing on said ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surface of said cover means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 14, wherein said projections are formed at least in an inner wall surface of the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink-supply delivery port.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 14, wherein the wall of said ink-supply facing said ink-supply delivery port is positioned to apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member at least in the region of said ink absorbing port.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dot matrix printer of claim 17, and including ink impregnated in the ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the ink absorbing member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer comprising: an ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port; and an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank, said ink absorbing member being filled with ink substantially to the desired capacity of the ink-supply tank, said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer comprising: an ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port; and an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank, said ink absorbing member being filled with ink substantially to the desired capacity of the ink-supply tank, said ink-supply tank including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink-supply system of claim 19, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
The ink-supply system of claim 20, wherein the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink-supply delivery port is a cover means bearing on said ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surface of said cover means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink-supply system of claim 20, wherein said projections are formed at least in an inner wall surface of the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink-supply delivery port.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink supply system of claim 20, wherein the wall of said ink-supply tank facing said ink-supply delivery port is positioned to apply a compressive force to effect compression of said ink absorbing member at least in the region of said ink absorbing port.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink-supply system of claim 23, and including ink impregnated in the ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the ink absorbing member.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of supplying ink to a dot matrix printer comprising: providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material within an ink-supply tank having an ink-supply delivery port so that the ink absorbing member substantially fills the ink-supply tank; filling the ink absorbing member with an amount of ink constituting substantially the desired capacity of the ink-supply tank; providing a space between the ink absorbing member and a wall of the ink-supply tank; and providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of supplying ink to a dot matrix printer comprising: providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material within an ink-supply tank having an ink-supply delivery port so that the ink absorbing member substantially fills the ink-supply tank; filling the ink absorbing member with an amount of ink constituting substantially the desired capacity of the ink-supply tank; providing a space between the ink absorbing member and a wall of the ink-supply tank; and providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said space is formed between a cover of said ink-supply tank and said ink absorbing member.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of supplying ink to a dot matrix printer comprising: providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material within an ink-supply tank having means projecting into the ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from the ink absorbing member for delivery to the printing means so that the ink absorbing member substantially fills the ink-supply tank; providing a space between the ink absorbing member and a wall of the ink-supply tank; and providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of supplying ink to a dot matrix printer comprising: providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material within an ink-supply tank having means projecting into the ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from the ink absorbing member for delivery to the printing means so that the ink absorbing member substantially fills the ink-supply tank; providing a space between the ink absorbing member and a wall of the ink-supply tank; and providing ambient air to the space between said ink absorbing member and said wall.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 27, wherein said space is formed between a cover of said ink-supply tank and said ink absorbing member.
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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) | 1996-06-21 | 1996-12-21 | 1997-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-21 | 2000-12-21 | 2001-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-21 | 2004-12-21 | 2005-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |