Videojet Systems International, Inc.

Marconi Data Systems Limited

George H Dick

Frank Eremity

George W Arway

Elaine Pullen

A priming system for ink jet printers includes an ink tank, an ink supply line, an ink bypass line and a valving arrangement which alternately permits either pressurized ink to be supplied to a remote printhead for printing purposes or unpressurized ink to be drawn to the printhead by use of a vacuum source applied to the bypass line.

Self-priming system for ink jet printers

A unitary pump, regulator valve/pulsation dampener, and interconnecting passageways is provided. The regulator valve/pulsation dampener includes a flexible member disposed in a chamber arranged between the fluid input and fluid output. The diaphragm flexes as a function of the pressure in the chamber to control the opening and closing of a bypass valve member and, in addition, damps out both high and low frequency pulsations generated in the ink by the pump. When the pressure in the system increases beyond a predetermined limit the valve member is opened to divert some of the fluid flow into a bypass passageway until the pressure falls below the predetermined limit. The pressure limit in the system can be varied by adjusting the external pressure applied to the flexible member using an adjustment screw and compression spring.

Regulator valve for an ink marking system

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing feedback control of the ink drop velocity in a drop marking system. The control system maintains essentially constant velocity of the ink drops as they pass through a deflection field which causes certain of the electrically conductive drops to be directed onto a substrate to be marked. The ink flow between two selected points is monitored by a control device to generate ink flow rate data and compared against a reference value. In the event that a flow rate deviation is sensed, appropriate action is taken to change the flow rate. Such action includes altering ink viscosity and/or ink pressure.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

George H Dick