Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-05-15
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231170
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns a device for supplying ink to at least one compartment of an ink reservoir of a printer having at least one supply channel provided with outlet orifices assigned to the ink reservoir going beyond the respective ink reservoir area, the supply channel being connected to an ink supply line which is in turn provided with a valve arrangement, and having at least one filling level sensor whose signals can be processed by means of a control device to yield switching commands for an operating device provided for the valve arrangement.
PRIOR ART
The known devices of this type are assembled on site from the individual components. To form the supply channel, a filling tube is arranged above the ink cartridge, which is usually designed as an ink reservoir, and is connected to the ink supply line in which the valve arrangement is installed. As a rule, it is placed a distance away from the filling tube. The filling level sensor is mounted independently of the filling tube. Therefore, this yields a comparatively great on-site assembly expense, which has a negative effect on manufacturing cost and entails possible sources of error.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned with simple and inexpensive means, permitting standardization that reduces the required on-site assembly cost.
This object is achieved according to this invention by the fact that a multifunction rail which spans the respective ink reservoir area is provided and contains at least one supply channel with the respective outlet orifices and at least one insertion channel that is open at the bottom to accommodate at least one filling level sensor, and which is provided with covers on the end, with at least one cover having at least one end area of an ink supply line and containing the respective valve arrangement with the respective operating device.
These measures advantageously yield a structural unit in which the various function components are integrated. This structural unit can be completely preassembled at the factory in an advantageous manner, thus practically limiting the on-site assembly work to attaching the structural unit. Therefore, a high profitability is achieved with the measures according to this invention.
Advantageous embodiments and expedient refinements of the primary measures are characterized, for example, in that the multifunction rail may advantageously contain at least one additional channel into which the control unit assigned to the operating device can be inserted. This ensures that the required signal lines from the sensor to the control unit and from the latter to the operating device belong to the above-mentioned preassembled structural unit, thus eliminating any on-site wiring work.
To facilitate installation of the signal lines, one or more cable channels may be provided to advantage.
The channel assigned to the control unit may advantageously be bordered by a wall that is accessible from the outside and is provided with a recess into which the input device assigned to the control unit is inserted. This facilitates communication with the control unit and accordingly guarantees appropriate and easy operation.
Another advantageous measure may consist of at least one cover having at least one coupling element for the power input line connected to the respective consumers. These measures make it possible to create a plug-in arrangement.
In another refinement of the primary measures, the multifunction rail may be arranged so that it can be moved away from the ink reservoir, preferably by pivoting it away. This guarantees good accessibility to the interior of the ink reservoir and to a ductor that is optionally provided with it.
The multifunction rail may advantageously be expanded by at least one expanding strip, which can preferably be attached to expand it to the width of the ink reservoir. Together with the movability feature, this yields a removable ink reservoir cover which can prevent contamination of the ink by foreign bodies entering it from the outside.
Another measure that is especially preferred may consist of designing the multifunction rail with its area containing the outlet openings to extend over a ductor that is provided for the ink reservoir. The ductor applies ink to the gap formed between its surface and the ink blades, etc. in contact with it, so that so-called bare ductor processing need not be feared even if the filling level is very low. At the same time, these measures ensure that the filling level sensor will be in a position above the lower ink reservoir area, thus guaranteeing reliable monitoring even when the filling level is low.
Additional advantageous embodiments and expedient refinements of the primary measures are characterized in the remaining subordinate claims and can be derived from the following description of examples with reference to the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5619232 (1997-04-01), Maeno
patent: 6022101 (2000-02-01), Sabonis
Jones Tullar & Cooper P.C.
Le N.
Technotrans AG
Vo Anh T. N.
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