The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 1976
Filed:
May. 11, 1973
Lester E Thompson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Enrique J Klein, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Myron E Lee, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Electroprint, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for supplying an ink mist to an electrostatic printing head or the like including means for continual replenishment, density monitoring, and density adjustment of the ink supply, and means for generating a highly uniform mist of ink droplets. An ion stream is modulated in accordance with images or characters to be printed. Ink mist is introduced into the ion stream. Ink particles impinged upon by ions become charged and are accelerated toward a receiving medium by an overall accelerating field. Ink not utilized by the printing mechanism is returned to the ink supply for recycling. The composition of the ink supply is regulated by means of continuous monitoring of the ink density; automatically controlling additions of the ink constituents functions to maintain the ink density at a given level. The ink recycling system includes a precipitator to convert the unused ink mist into liquid ink and air. Ink solvent vapors are removed from that air by a two-stage condenser and are returned to the ink supply. Ink mist is generated by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers located beneath the surface of a supply of liquid ink. To enhance uniformity, the mist is forced from a first chamber through a narrow aperture into a second chamber before leaving the generator. Mesh screens filter oversized droplets from the mist.