Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-18
2001-11-13
Nguyen, Judy (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315401
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink printer, and in particular an ink printer with at least one exchangeable tank for ink to be supplied to one or more reservoirs. An ink connection is provided on both a printer frame and the exchangeable tank, the two ink connections being connectable to each other after insertion of the exchangeable tank.
The exchangeable tank contains a plastic ink bag in an exchangeable tank housing. The plastic ink bag is purchased as a unit with the exchangeable tank housing, which is made of cardboard or plastic, and is exchanged as a unit by a user of the ink printer. During such exchanges, no ink emerges from the exchangeable tank, nor does the ink printer become contaminated at a transition point.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink cartridges are known (DE 197 35 157) that do not meet the preconditions for simple exchange by the user. Nor do they have the desired large ink volume.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink printer having an exchangeable large-volume tank ink reservoir. The present invention advantageously enables removing the exchangeable large-volume tank by simple manipulation on the part of the user, replacing the tank with a full exchangeable tank, and establishing an ink connection between a printer body and the exchangeable tank in a problem-free manner.
According to the present invention, the printer body has side walls, and on a user side of the printer body, a basin-type transverse carrier open at the top is arranged between the side walls, in which a spring-mounted protective plate is provided to accommodate one or more exchangeable tanks. An ink connection is provided at a side of each of the exchangeable tanks, the tanks being matched in cross-section on the sides having the respective ink connections. Furthermore, a forward motion device enables the exchangeable tank to be manually moved forward into and fixed in an end position so as to effect the connection to the ink connection.
As a result of the above features of the present invention, a user cannot incorrectly place the exchangeable tank in the transverse carrier. Moreover, the user can only move the exchangeable tank toward the ink connection in keeping with existing functions, thereby establishing the ink connection, so that the ink printer is ready for operation.
In another embodiment of the present invention, to eliminate the danger of injury, a shield plate is provided in an area of a spring-mounted protective plate, as the ink connections, that covers the transverse carrier at the top. A hollow needle is securely attached to the shield plate centrally relative to the ink connection of the exchangeable tank and is attached via a connecting line to a similarly attached pump.
The external appearance of an ink printer housing has a smooth outer form by virtue of the fact that the spring-mounted protective plate, in its external form, is movable via the shield plate with the hollow needle as a protective cover.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, two guide rods on which compression springs are arranged, are provided so as to mount and guide the spring-mounted protective plate.
In a further embodiment of the needle unit of the present invention, a component group is comprised of a pump plate, the pump, the hollow needle, the protective plate movable longitudinally against a spring force, and the shield plate. The protective plate has an opening through which the hollow needle penetrates into a valve of an adjacent exchangeable tank. In this way the protective plate protects against injuries from the hollow needle.
With respect to assembly technology, in still a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the component group with the spring-mounted protective plate and the shield plate is expandable by the connecting line to the pump.
In another embodiment, a bowl-like depression, which is slightly larger than a part of an exchangeable tank valve that projects from the exchangeable tank housing, is configured at a front face of the protective plate facing the exchangeable tank. Therefore, a compact assembly is achieved, without forming a large gap between the needle unit and the exchangeable tank.
In yet another embodiment, the forward-motion device is a longitudinally movable cam plate run in the transverse carrier with a hand lever attached from the outside to a journal. Pivoting the hand lever causes a forward movement of the cam plate, thereby moving the exchangeable tank toward the needle unit. Each exchangeable tank has associated with it such a cam plate, which, like the printer housing, is made of plastic, without great expenditure in weight or material being required.
In still yet a further advantageous embodiment, the cam plate has, at a right angle to the longitudinal direction, a slot-like link, into which the journal of the hand lever engages. The end position of the exchangeable tank or cam plate is ensured because, in a closed position of the hand lever, the center of the journal and the rotational angle of the hand lever lie in a line along the longitudinal direction of the cam plate.
Moreover, in still another embodiment, a rib, projection or the like, is arranged on the cam plate so as to engage into a corresponding recess in the exchangeable tank housing. A connection advantageous for the forward motion of the exchangeable tank into the desired end position is thereby effected.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the hand lever, at its grip end, has a cross-piece with a slanted covering part, which, in the closed position of the hand lever, extends over the exchangeable tank housing. The reached end position is therefore further secured and, at the same time, made visible.
It is envisioned to have various embodiments of a driving gear in the present invention. In one embodiment, the corresponding recess in the exchangeable tank housing has, on a longitudinal edge, an approximately L-shaped recess, into which the rib, projection or the like of the cam plate engages.
In a different embodiment, the exchangeable tank has, on a longitudinal edge located in the transverse carrier, a first straight indentation running at a right angle to the longitudinal edge, as well as a second angular indentation running parallel to the first indentation. Upon the action of an external force, an angularly folded-in recess is, upon insertion of the exchangeable tank, pressed inward and folded inward by the cam of the cam plate. As a result, the exchangeable tank is producable from light-weight cardboard that, together with its contents, can be disposed of without problems.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4709245 (1987-11-01), Piatt
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patent: 5691753 (1997-11-01), Hilton
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patent: 872 355 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 2 316 657 (1998-03-01), None
Hermann Timoth
Stellmach Dieter
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Nguyen Judy
Tally Computerdrucker GmbH
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