Ing C. Olivetti C., S.p.a.

Olivetti-canon Industriale S.p.a.

Ing.c. Olivetti & C., S.p.a. Ivrea

Rinaldo Ferrarotti

Alessandro Scardovi

Francesco Bernardis

Roberto Morandotti

Danilo Ceschin

Claudio Marangon

Elio Fenoglio Gaddo

A thermal ink jet printing module, of the type that can be removably mounted on the carriage of a printer, comprises a reservoir for the ink and a thermal ink jet printing head fixed to and communicating with the reservoir, and a housing integral with the reservoir for receiving an ink refill cartridge for supplying the spent module with fresh ink by means of a transfer element integral with the housing of the cartridge. Successive refilling of the printing module exploits the working life of the head to the utmost and reduces the waste of expensive materials. The reservoir can be refilled relatively easily, even when the user is travelling.

Refillable ink jet printing module

An ink container for an ink jet print head has a main tank filled with an absorbent fibrous material which holds ink by capillary action. A feed channel conducts ink from the main tank to a feed chamber whence it passes to the head. An auxiliary tank (30) is fixed to the side of the main tank (15) and communicates with it by a channel at the end of the main tank having the feed channel. The container can be refilled by inserting ink through an aperture into the auxiliary tank from where it passes into the main tank by capillary action.

Ink container for an ink jet print head

A needle or wire printing head comprises a plurality of electromagnets with fixed cores, each with two limbs, which are mounted in a ring within a containment body. Movable armatures are disposed in a radiating array in front of coplanar terminal surfaces of said cores. The movable armatures each have a step configuration for oscillating on the terminal surface of the more outward limb, a surface for closing the magnetic flux which, with the terminal surface of the more inward limb constitutes a main air gap 'G' and an end capable in printing of engaging a needle by means of a corresponding limb. A unitary return group accomodates a plurality of coil springs in a prestressed state for restoring the movable armatures. There is also provided a magnetically conductive conveying disc of ferro-magnetic material and comprising a plurality of spokes for closure of the magnetic flux which is common to the armatures and the cores.

Wire printing head with unitary return group

Each needle of the printer has an associated electromagnet with a generally elongate movable armature having a first end and a second end which can selectively push the needle during printing as a result of a pivoting movement within a step formation facing the electromagnet. The step formation divides the armature into first and second portions facing the first and second ends respectively, and faces the respective electromagnet in such a position that the second portion of the armature at least partially faces the electromagnet.

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Ivrea, Italy

Rinaldo Ferrarotti