Patent US1689235A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent FR574566A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3363050A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US2798504A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5233369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5233369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for supplying ink to an ink jet printer
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1990-12-27
•
Granted: 1993-08-03
•
Expires: 2010-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer that supplies ink at a negative pressure is disclosed. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber and a first wall therebetween. The upper chamber has an aperture exposed to atmosphere and it also contains a capillary foam having a specifiable capillarity for absorbing ink. The lower chamber is airlocked until the ink level in the upper chamber is sufficiently low to allow the passage of air through the pores. A printhead is disposed at a vertical height greater than a top level of the lower chamber. A supply line is provided which conveys ink by capillary action of the nozzles to the printhead. A second capillary foam has a specifiable capillarity greater than the capillarity of the first capillary foam. The second foam is in fluidic communication with the upper and lower chambers and with the supply line.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Carlotta
- 👤 Steven J. Dietl
- 👤 Richard A. Morano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:42
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17513; B41J2/17553; B41J2/17556
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of supplying ink to an ink jet printer comprising the steps of: supplying ink to a first chamber of a cartridge at a negative pressure relative to a printhead; supplying ink to a second chamber of the cartridge at a negative pressure relative to the printhead; conducting the ink from the first and second chambers a fluidic conductor at a negative pressure greater than the negative pressures in the first and second chambers; conducting the ink from the fluidic conductor to a supply line by capillary action; and conducting the ink from the supply line to the printhead.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of supplying ink to an ink jet printer comprising the steps of: supplying ink to a first chamber of a cartridge at a negative pressure relative to a printhead; supplying ink to a second chamber of the cartridge at a negative pressure relative to the printhead; conducting the ink from the first and second chambers a fluidic conductor at a negative pressure greater than the negative pressures in the first and second chambers; conducting the ink from the fluidic conductor to a supply line by capillary action; and conducting the ink from the supply line to the printhead.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of substantially filling the first chamber with a first porous member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of conducting the ink to a fluidic conductor comprises the step of conducting the ink to a fluidic conductor having a second porous member which has a capillarity greater than the first porous member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said second porous member contacts the supply line.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of supplying ink to an ink jet printer comprising the steps of: supplying ink to a first chamber of a cartridge at a negative pressure relative to a printhead; supplying ink to a second chamber of the cartridge at a negative pressure relative to the printhead; conducting the ink from the first chamber to a fluidic conductor having a porous member at a negative pressure greater than the negative pressures in the first and second chambers; preventing air from entering the second chamber by maintaining the porous member at substantially 100% saturation until the first chamber is drained of a predetermined quantity of ink; conducting the ink from the fluidic conductor to a supply line by capillary action; and conducting the ink from the supply line to the printhead; and maintaining the porous member at substantially 100% saturation after the first chamber is substantially depleted of ink by conducting ink from the second chamber to the porous member.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of supplying ink to an ink jet printer comprising the steps of: supplying ink to a first chamber of a cartridge at a negative pressure relative to a printhead; supplying ink to a second chamber of the cartridge at a negative pressure relative to the printhead; conducting the ink from the first chamber to a fluidic conductor having a porous member at a negative pressure greater than the negative pressures in the first and second chambers; preventing air from entering the second chamber by maintaining the porous member at substantially 100% saturation until the first chamber is drained of a predetermined quantity of ink; conducting the ink from the fluidic conductor to a supply line by capillary action; and conducting the ink from the supply line to the printhead; and maintaining the porous member at substantially 100% saturation after the first chamber is substantially depleted of ink by conducting ink from the second chamber to the porous member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of substantially filling the first chamber with a second porous member having a capillary less than the porous member of the fluidic conductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said porous member of the fluidic conductor contacts the supply line.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of supplying ink to an ink jet printer comprising the steps of: supplying ink to a first chamber of a cartridge at a negative pressure relative to a printhead; supplying ink to a second chamber of the cartridge at a negative pressure relative to the printhead; conducting the ink from the first chamber to a fluidic conductor having a porous member at a negative pressure greater than the negative pressures in the first and second chambers; preventing air from entering the second chamber by maintaining the porous member at substantially 100% saturation until the first chamber is drained of a predetermined quantity of ink; conducting the ink from the fluidic conductor to a supply line by capillary action; and conducting the ink from the supply line to the printhead, wherein said porous member of the fluidic conductor contacts the supply line.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of supplying ink to an ink jet printer comprising the steps of: supplying ink to a first chamber of a cartridge at a negative pressure relative to a printhead; supplying ink to a second chamber of the cartridge at a negative pressure relative to the printhead; conducting the ink from the first chamber to a fluidic conductor having a porous member at a negative pressure greater than the negative pressures in the first and second chambers; preventing air from entering the second chamber by maintaining the porous member at substantially 100% saturation until the first chamber is drained of a predetermined quantity of ink; conducting the ink from the fluidic conductor to a supply line by capillary action; and conducting the ink from the supply line to the printhead, wherein said porous member of the fluidic conductor contacts the supply line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4095237A
Cited
US4419678A
Cited
JPS6112351A
Cited
US4571599A
Cited
US4771295A
Cited
US4771295B1
Cited
US4714937A
Cited
US4791438A
Cited
US4794409A
Cited
US4931811A
Cited
US4929969A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-02 | 1997-02-01 | 1997-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-02 | 2001-02-01 | 2001-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-02 | 2005-02-01 | 2005-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |