Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Controller
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-04
2001-01-30
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Controller
C347S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179401
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to ink-jet printers/plotters, and more particularly to techniques in varying off-axis ink cartridge reservoir height to decrease on-carriage print cartridge refill time, ensure ink refill volume reliability and set print cartridge vacuum pressure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A printing system is described in the commonly assigned patent application entitled CONTINUOUS REFILL OF SPRING BAG RESERVOIR IN AN INK-JET SWATH PRINTER/PLOTTER which employs off-carriage ink reservoirs connected to on-carriage print cartridges through flexible tubing. The off-carriage reservoirs continuously replenish the supply of ink in the internal reservoirs of the on-carriage print cartridges, and maintain the back pressure in a range which results in high print quality. While this system has many advantages, there are some applications in which the relatively permanent connection of the off-carriage and on-carriage reservoirs via tubing is undesirable.
A new ink delivery system (IDS) for printers/plotters has been developed, wherein the on-carriage spring reservoir of the print cartridge is only intermittently connected to the off-carriage reservoir to “take-a-gulp” and is then disconnected from the off-carriage reservoir. No tubing permanently connecting the on-carriage and off-carriage elements is needed. The above-referenced applications describe certain features of this new ink delivery system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention optimizes the performance of this new off-carriage, take-a-gulp ink delivery system. In this type of IDS, a pen cartridge that uses an internal spring to provide vacuum pressure is intermittently connected to an ink reservoir located off the scanning carriage axis. Starting with a “full” pen cartridge, the printer will print a variety of plots while monitoring the amount of ink used. After a specified amount of ink has been dispensed, the pen carriage is moved to a refill station for ink replenishment. In the refill station, a valve is engaged into the pen, thus connecting the ink reservoir to pen cartridge and opening a path for ink to flow freely. Using only the vacuum pressure present in the pen cartridge, ink is “pulled” into the pen from the reservoir.
The invention provides an overall multi-component installation feedback system for replacement print cartridges, valve holders and service station cassettes for an on-carriage ink delivery system replenishment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5751305 (1998-05-01), Hadley
patent: 5757390 (1998-05-01), Gragg et al.
patent: 5905512 (1999-05-01), Beauchamp
Boutin Don
Canfield Brian
Martinez Manel
Stephens, Jr. Ronald D.
Van Liew Amy
Hewlett--Packard Company
Le N.
Vo Anh T. N.
LandOfFree
Multi-component installation feedback system for replacement... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi-component installation feedback system for replacement..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-component installation feedback system for replacement... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2534584