Telecom Italia S.p.a.

Marco Brigando

Alessandro Scardovi

Gianrico Scarton

Roberto Morandotti

Alberto Colombi

Marco Dellea

The ink jet printer comprises a printhead () movable in front of a printing medium () and provided with an ink cartridge () integral with it; the cartridge is filled with ink from a main, high capacity tank (), which is connected at intervals to the cartridge () by means of a capillary element. During each connection, the capillary element () is brought into contact with the sponge () inside the cartridge, while a peristaltic pump () mounted integral upon the main tank provides a pressure suitable for generating a sufficient flow of ink to refill the cartridge () in a short time frame. To perform the refilling, the cartridge is brought at the end of its stroke into a service station () mounted on the body of the main tank (), which is moved against the cartridge by means of a motor-driven linkage, controlled by a refilling management programme, in response to the signals of a cartridge ink level sensor.

Ink jet printer with high capacity tank and associated ink refilling system

The ink jet printer comprises a printhead () movable in front of a printing medium () and provided with an ink cartridge () integral with it; the cartridge is filled with ink from a main, high capacity tank (), which is connected at intervals to the cartridge () by means of a capillary element. During each connection, the capillary element () is brought into contact with the sponge () inside the cartridge, while a peristaltic pump () mounted integral upon the main tank provides a pressure suitable for generating a sufficient flow of ink to refill the cartridge () in a short time frame. To perform the refilling, the cartridge is brought at the end of its stroke into a service station () mounted on the body of the main tank (), which is moved against the cartridge by means of a motor-driven linkage, controlled by a refilling management program, in response to the signals of a cartridge ink level sensor.

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Settimo Vittone, Italy

Marco Brigando