Calcomp Inc.

Other

Bruce H Ostermeier

Allan S Miller

An ink jet cartridge comprising an ink chamber, at least one aperture coupling a pressure relief chamber to the ink chamber, the aperture having a small internal diameter for creating a negative pressure on any ink in the lower portion of the ink chamber and a plurality of microparticles positioned in the pressure relief chamber for forming a plurality of small interstices which form a capillary path in the pressure relief chamber, the microparticles creating a negative pressure on any ink in the lower portion of the ink chamber and the selected size of the microparticles resulting in a capillary path of selected size for controlling the magnitude of the negative pressure in the lower portion of the ink chamber. The pressure relief chamber is positioned below the ink chamber, the ink chamber including an opening to couple the ink cartridge to an ink jet head and the aperture is positioned at the lower portion of the ink chamber.

Ink chamber with pressure relief chamber having pressure relief aperture

An improved ink cartridge comprising an ink chamber, a pressure relief chamber coupled to the ink chamber, and at least one air bleed hole coupling the pressure relief chamber to the ink chamber, the air bleed hole having a capillary dimension for creating a negative pressure on any ink in the air chamber. The pressure relief chamber is positioned below the ink chamber, the ink chamber including an opening to couple the ink cartridge to an ink head, the opening including an automatic shutoff valve, and the air bleed hole is positioned at the bottom of the ink chamber.

Large capacity ink cartridge

An ink sensing system for a vector plotter in which a pen is adapted to be raised and lowered from a drawing media surface along a system axis. An optical detection system is provided which has a focal point on the system axis and below the media surface when the pen is in its lowered position and at the media surface when the pen is in its raised position. The optical detection system includes a source of illumination and a detector system to determine the degree of reflectance from the media surface to indicate the presence or absence of ink on the media surface. In a particular embodiment the optical detection system is moveable and the movement of the optical detection system is coupled to the movement of the pen. Furthermore, the focal point of the optical detection system coincides substantially with the last point of contact of the pen with the media surface when the pen is in the raised position.

Growing community of inventors

Irvine, CA, United States of America

Bruce H Ostermeier