Xerox Corporation

Other

Kenneth W Altfather

Michael Carlotta

Steven J Dietl

Donald M Stevens

Fred F Hubble, Iii

Karai P Premnath

Steven Robert Moore

James D Rees

Eric Alan Merz

William L Lama

Brian S Hilton

Thomas F Szlucha

Edward M Carrese

Arthur J Sobon

Hiep H Nguyen

James Robert Brown

Donna U Ozern

A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted. If a cartridge is properly inserted, the roof mirror returns most of the incident light to the photosensor which generates a signal indicating the presence of the cartridge. A second light source is then energized and directed towards the faceted prism, which is either immersed in ink or exposed to air within the interior of the container. If the latter, light is internally reflected by the prism facets back to the photosensor. If a print operation has been in progress, and the ink level has fallen, the common photosensor detects either a strong or weak redirected light component and initiates a status check and generates appropriate displays of low ink level or out of ink warnings.

Sensing system for detecting presence of an ink container and level of ink therein

An ink tank and ink tank support structure which contains structural elements which are designed to permit proper installation of the ink in the ink tank support structure while minimizing the chances of improper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank structure. A primary ink tank seal is provided in the ink tank, and a relatively low compressive force seal is provided between the ink tank support structure and the ink tank to reduce leakage of fluid from tank and limit evaporation of fluid from the tank despite repeated insertions and removals of the ink tank from the ink tank support structure. A variable capacity ink tank and an ink tank with staggered height walls are disclosed, as well as a code reader for determining characteristics of ink tanks.

Ink tank with securing means and seal

A printing machine for printing on a recording medium moving along a path through a print zone, includes a printhead, adapted to deposit ink on the recording medium in the print zone; and a radiant dryer, disposed adjacently to the path, for heating the recording medium. The radiant dryer includes a reflector and a heat source. The reflector includes a first portion defining a first heat region preheating the recording medium at a position in the path prior to the print zone, and a second portion defining a second heat region heating the recording medium in or subsequent to the print zone. In this design, the first portion generates heat energy having a first temperature and said second portion generates heat energy having a second temperature greater than said first temperature.

Thermal ink jet printer having dual function dryer

A pressure change accommodating liquid ink container is provided for installing onto the printhead of a liquid ink recording apparatus for supplying liquid ink to the printhead. The pressure change accommodating liquid ink container includes external walls, including a front wall and a top wall, defining a holding chamber for containing liquid ink; a pressure release hole formed through the top wall into the holding chamber; and a pressure compensator device mounted to the top wall over the pressure release hole and including an auxiliary chamber for accommodating a change in an internal pressure of the holding chamber when filled with liquid ink.

Pressure change accommodating ink container and a liquid ink printer having same

A method and mechanism are provided for supporting and stacking a liquid ink printed sheet moving along an in-track path and direction in a liquid ink printing system and having a flat, cross-track dimension 'D1' defined by a first edge and a second and opposite edge of such sheet. The mechanism for the method includes an output tray defining and providing a stacking surface for holding the liquid ink printed sheet in a stack; and a first member having an edge supporting portion and an edge guiding portion for supporting and guiding the first edge of the liquid ink printed sheet, the first member being mounted at a first position having a first desired height distance above the stacking surface, and the first member extending along the in-track path and direction. The mechanism for the method also includes a second member having an edge supporting portion and an edge guiding portion for supporting and guiding the second and opposite edge of such sheet, the second member being mounted at a second position having the first desired height distance above the stacking surface, and being spaced a cross-track distance 'D3', that is less than 'D1', from the first member, and the second member extending along the in-track path and direction. Finally, the mechanism for the method also includes a system for rotating the first member and the second member for buckling the liquid ink printed sheet downwardly through the first desired height distance, and through the cross-track distance 'D3' onto the stacking surface of the output tray.

Method and mechanism for supporting and stacking liquid ink printed

A priming station for an ink jet printer includes an ink accumulator tank which has an enhanced moisture vapor transfer rate based on a choice of materials and tank design. In a preferred embodiment, the ink accumulator tank is connected between a printhead nozzle face capping member and a vacuum pump. The tank comprises a tub bonded to a cover having holes formed therethrough. A thin, highly permeable film which provides a relatively high moisture vapor transfer rate is adhesively bonded to the cover overlying the holes. In a preferred embodiment, the film is a thin (0.635 to 0.78 mm thick) silicone or Mylar. This design reduces the accumulator tank replacement frequency by increasing the evaporation rate of the ink stored in the tank.

Priming station for an ink jet printer

Sensing system for detecting presence of an ink container and level of

A maintenance station for an ink jet printer having a printhead with nozzles in a nozzle face and an ink supply cartridge is mounted on a translatable carriage for concurrent movement therewith. When the printer is in a non-printing mode, the carriage is translated to the maintenance station located outside and to one side of a printing zone, where various maintenance functions are provided depending upon the location of the carriage mounted printhead within the maintenance station. The printhead nozzle face is cleaned by at least one wiper blade as the printhead enters and leaves the maintenance station. Adjacent the wiper blade is a location for collecting nozzle-clearing ink droplets, followed by a capping location where a carriage actuatable cap moves into sealing engagement with the printhead nozzle face and surrounds the nozzle to provide a controllable environment therefor. A vacuum pump is interconnected to the cap by flexible hose with an ink separator therebetween. Priming is conducted when continued movement of the carriage mounted printhead actuates a pinch valve to isolate the separator from the cap and enable a predetermined vacuum to be produced therein by energizing the vacuum pump. Once the carriage mounted printhead returns to the capping location, the pinch valve is opened subjecting the printhead to the separator vacuum and ink is drawn from the printhead nozzle to the separator. Movement of the carriage mounted printhead past the wiper blade uncaps the nozzle face to stop the prime, enable ink to be removed from the cap to the separator and cleans the nozzle. The vacuum pump is de-energized and the printhead is returned to the capping location to await the printing mode of the printer.

Ink jet printer maintenance system

In an optical system for a multi-magnification copying device, a relative illumination filter is mounted in a fixed position relative to the projection lens with the center on the lens optical axis. The filter provides a radially varying transmission therethrough which compensates for circularly symmetric nonuniformities in the optical system at any magnification.

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Fairport, NY, United States of America

Kenneth W Altfather