Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-05-01
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224199
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink cartridge which is removably attached to an enclosure of an ink-jet recorder and supplies ink to a recording head, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing an ink cartridge comprising a flexible ink bag housed in a hard case.
A conventional ink jet printer includes an ink container carried by a carriage equipped with an ink jet recording head. Ink droplets are produced by supplying to the recorder head ink that has been pressurized within a pressure generation chamber located within the ink container via a tube. However, when the carriage is pivoted, shaken or caused to travel during printing, the movement can cause the ink to become frothy or foamy. This, in turn, may result in a change in head pressure or cause print failures. Specifically, if ink contains gas bubbles, the pressure at which the ink is under drops, thereby decreasing the ability to eject ink droplets. For this reason, dissolved air must be eliminated from the ink.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a method for manufacturing an ink jet cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder, that overcomes disadvantages and limitations of existing methods. The present invention has been contrived in view of drawbacks in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method that enables efficient and more simple manufacture of an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder, is provided. An ink bag, having a top end, and a bottom end below the top end, the top end being open and the bottom end having an ink feed port, can be hung from a first position near a top edge thereof and positioned in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber can be depressurized, upon which a selected quantity of ink can be charged into the ink bag. The open end of the ink bag can be sealed at a second position below the first position, and the sealed portion of the ink bag pressed to a selected thickness with press plates. The ink bag can be sealed at a third position below the second position, and thereafter cut between the second and third positions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing an ink cartridge which permits efficient filling of degassed ink into an ink bag of an ink cartridge used in an ink-jet recorder that can withstand handling during distribution and use, as well as recycling.
Another object of the present invention is to propose a method of recycling a comparatively expensive ink container.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5396268 (1995-03-01), Mader et al.
patent: 5732751 (1998-03-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 5745137 (1998-04-01), Scheffelin et al.
patent: 5754207 (1998-05-01), Gragg et al.
Doi Fuminori
Fujimori Hideo
Ito Toshio
Kamijo Masanori
Koike Hisashi
Le N.
Nguyen Judy
Seiko Epson Corporation
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
LandOfFree
Method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in ink jet... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in ink jet..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in ink jet... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2473226