US5371529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink-jet print head and ink-jet printer
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-16
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2012-10-16
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is to provide an on-demand type ink-jet printer which is free from the risk such that the nozzle is stopped and which is also free from the maintenance. An ink-jet print head comprises a liquid chamber (2) into which a carrier liquid (7) is filled, ink-jet driving means (3), (4) disposed within the liquid chamber (2), a nozzle (14) communicated with the liquid chamber (2) and a mixing unit (14a) disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle (14) for mixing an ink (9) into the carrier liquid (7). The ink (9) is mixed into the carrier liquid (7) in the liquid chamber (2) by the mixing unit (14a), pressed by the ink-jet driving means (3), (4) and then ink-jetted from the nozzle (14). Since the carrier liquid (7) is constantly filled into the nozzle (14), the nozzle (14) can be prevented from being choked up.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhito Eguchi
- 👤 Makoto Ando
- 👤 Toshio Narushima
- 👤 Kaoru Tomono
- 👤 Masayuki Sato
- 👤 Masao Araya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:56
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; B41J2/045; B41J2/04501; B41J2/0458; B41J2/04581; B41J2/04588; B41J2/04591; B41J2/17; B41J2/195; B41J2/21; B41J2/2107; B41J2/211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
An ink-jet print head comprising: a liquid chamber into which a carrier liquid is filled; ink-jet driving means disposed within said liquid chamber; a nozzle communicated with said liquid chamber; a mixing unit disposed in the vicinity of said nozzle for mixing an ink to said carrier liquid; adjusting means for adjusting an amount of said ink mixed into said carrier liquid in said mixing unit, said adjusting means comprising an electroosmosis ink constant amount unit having a porous membrane disposed within an ink tank which is filled with said ink; and a first one-way valve that prevents a back current of said ink disposed in an ink supply path which communicates said ink tank and said mixing unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
An ink-jet print head comprising: a liquid chamber into which a carrier liquid is filled; ink-jet driving means disposed within said liquid chamber; a nozzle communicated with said liquid chamber; a mixing unit disposed in the vicinity of said nozzle for mixing an ink to said carrier liquid; adjusting means for adjusting an amount of said ink mixed into said carrier liquid in said mixing unit, said adjusting means comprising an electroosmosis ink constant amount unit having a porous membrane disposed within an ink tank which is filled with said ink; and a first one-way valve that prevents a back current of said ink disposed in an ink supply path which communicates said ink tank and said mixing unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means comprises a plurality of adjusting units which respectively adjust mixing amounts of inks of a plurality of colors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink-jet print head according to claims 1, wherein said nozzle communicated with said liquid chamber is plural in number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, further comprising a second porous membrane disposed on a connection portion between said ink supplying path and said mixing unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, further comprising a second one-way valve provided between said liquid chamber and said mixing unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, further comprising a third one-way valve disposed at the entrance of said liquid chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, wherein said driving means disposed in said liquid chamber is a bimorph piezoelectric element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, wherein said bimorph piezoelectric element is in contact with the carrier liquid within said liquid chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, wherein said driving means disposed in said liquid chamber is a monomorph piezoelectric element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink-jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising an opening and closing mechanism for adjusting a mixing amount of said ink disposed at an ink supplying orifice of said mixing unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 10, wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises a valve seat and a piezoelectric element in which a spacing between it and said valve seat is changed by the application of a voltage to said piezoelectric element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 10, wherein said opening and closing mechanism is a part of said driving means disposed in said liquid chamber and which is composed of said piezoelectric element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 10, wherein a spacing between said valve seat and said piezoelectric element is opened and closed in a vibration fashion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 10, wherein a spacing between said valve seat and said piezoelectric element is opened and closed by said ink-jet driving means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of mixing units, each having said opening and closing mechanism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 15, wherein inks of different colors are mixed in a time division manner by said plurality of mixing units.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of mixing units mix inks of a plurality of colors by the changes of resonance frequencies of said piezoelectric elements provided in said plurality of mixing units, respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary drum around which a material to be printed is wrapped, said print head being movable in the axial direction of said rotary drum; and driving means for moving said print head in the axial direction of said rotary drum in a ganged relation with a rotation of said rotary drum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 18, further comprising a driving member for rotating said rotary drum in a ganged relation to the movement of said print head.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 18, wherein said print head includes a plurality of said ink-jet heads arrayed in the axial direction of said rotary drum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink-jet print head according to claim 1, further comprising a plate having at least one hole of a diameter in a range of from 0.5 μm to 2 μm disposed on a connection portion between said ink supplying path and said mixing unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
178 words
An ink-jet print head comprising: a liquid chamber into which a carrier liquid is filled; ink-jet driving means disposed within said liquid chamber, said driving means comprising a monomorph piezoelectric element; a nozzle communicated with said liquid chamber; a mixing unit disposed in the vicinity of said nozzle for mixing an ink to said carrier liquid; adjusting means for adjusting an amount with which said ink is mixed into said carrier liquid in said mixing unit, said adjusting means comprising an electroosmosis ink constant amount unit having a first porous membrane disposed within an ink tank which is filled with said ink; a first one-way valve that presents a back current of said ink disposed in an ink supply path which communicates said ink tank and said mixing unit; a second one-way valve provided between said liquid chamber and said mixing unit; a third one-way valve disposed at the entrance of said liquid chamber; and a plate having at least one small diameter hole disposed on a connection portion between said ink supplying path and said mixing unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
178 words
An ink-jet print head comprising: a liquid chamber into which a carrier liquid is filled; ink-jet driving means disposed within said liquid chamber, said driving means comprising a monomorph piezoelectric element; a nozzle communicated with said liquid chamber; a mixing unit disposed in the vicinity of said nozzle for mixing an ink to said carrier liquid; adjusting means for adjusting an amount with which said ink is mixed into said carrier liquid in said mixing unit, said adjusting means comprising an electroosmosis ink constant amount unit having a first porous membrane disposed within an ink tank which is filled with said ink; a first one-way valve that presents a back current of said ink disposed in an ink supply path which communicates said ink tank and said mixing unit; a second one-way valve provided between said liquid chamber and said mixing unit; a third one-way valve disposed at the entrance of said liquid chamber; and a plate having at least one small diameter hole disposed on a connection portion between said ink supplying path and said mixing unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
237 words
An ink-jet printer comprising: a rotary drum around which a material to be printed is wrapped; a print head disposed movable in the axial direction said rotary drum; and driving means for moving said print head in the axial direction of said rotary drum in a ganged relation with a rotation of said rotary drum, said print head being an ink-jet print head comprising: a liquid chamber into which a carrier liquid is filled; ink-jet driving means disposed within said liquid chamber, said driving means comprising a monomorph piezoelectric element; a nozzle communicated with said liquid chamber; a mixing unit disposed in the vicinity of said nozzle for mixing an ink to said carrier liquid; adjusting means for adjusting an amount with which said ink is mixed into said carrier liquid in said mixing unit, said adjusting means comprising an electroosmosis ink constant amount unit having a first porous membrane disposed within an ink tank which is filled with said ink; a first one-way valve that presents a back current of said ink disposed in an ink supply path which communicates said ink tank and said mixing unit; a second one-way valve provided between said liquid chamber and said mixing unit; a third one-way valve disposed at the entrance of said liquid chamber; and a plate having at least one small diameter hole disposed on a connection portion between said ink supplying path and said mixing unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
237 words
An ink-jet printer comprising: a rotary drum around which a material to be printed is wrapped; a print head disposed movable in the axial direction said rotary drum; and driving means for moving said print head in the axial direction of said rotary drum in a ganged relation with a rotation of said rotary drum, said print head being an ink-jet print head comprising: a liquid chamber into which a carrier liquid is filled; ink-jet driving means disposed within said liquid chamber, said driving means comprising a monomorph piezoelectric element; a nozzle communicated with said liquid chamber; a mixing unit disposed in the vicinity of said nozzle for mixing an ink to said carrier liquid; adjusting means for adjusting an amount with which said ink is mixed into said carrier liquid in said mixing unit, said adjusting means comprising an electroosmosis ink constant amount unit having a first porous membrane disposed within an ink tank which is filled with said ink; a first one-way valve that presents a back current of said ink disposed in an ink supply path which communicates said ink tank and said mixing unit; a second one-way valve provided between said liquid chamber and said mixing unit; a third one-way valve disposed at the entrance of said liquid chamber; and a plate having at least one small diameter hole disposed on a connection portion between said ink supplying path and said mixing unit.
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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) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |