Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-26
2004-06-22
Vo, Anh T. N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06752491
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The disclosed invention relates to ink jet printing systems, and more particularly to increasing the usable life of ink firing heater resistors.
Ink jet printing systems commonly make use of an ink jet printhead that is moved relative to a print medium such as paper. As the printhead is moved relative to the print medium, control electronics activate an ink drop generator portion of the printhead to eject or fire ink droplets from ejector nozzles and onto the print medium to form a printed image. An ink supply provides ink for the printhead.
Some ink jet printing systems employ an ink supply that is replaceable separately from the printhead. When such “off-axis” ink supply is exhausted, the ink supply (e.g., an ink cartridge) is removed and replaced with a new ink supply. The printhead is replaced at or near the end of the printhead life, and not when the ink supply is exhausted. When a replaceable printhead is capable of utilizing a plurality of ink supplies, this can be referred to as a “semipermanent” printhead, which is in contrast to a disposable printhead that is replaced with when the ink supply is replaced.
A consideration with semipermanent printheads is a desire for extended heater resistor life so that the printhead is replaced less frequently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disclosed invention is directed to an ink delivery system that allows air to be absorbed by ink that is being delivered to a thermal ink jet printhead so that ink delivered to the printhead has an air saturation of at least 30%. Alternatively, the ink delivered to the thermal ink jet printhead has an air saturation of at least 50% or 70%.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5278584 (1994-01-01), Keefe et al.
patent: 5691753 (1997-11-01), Hilton
patent: 6003981 (1999-12-01), Cameron et al.
patent: 6547377 (2003-04-01), Thielman et al.
patent: 0927638 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 0965451 (1999-12-01), None
Crivelli Paul
Liu Kan
Wade John M
Waggoner Karen Wytmans
Webster Grant Allen
Hewlett--Packard Development Company, L.P.
Vo Anh T. N.
LandOfFree
Inkjet printing system having extended heater resistor life does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inkjet printing system having extended heater resistor life, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inkjet printing system having extended heater resistor life will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3353927