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:
Jun. 30, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 01, 1990
Hillar Weinberg, Cambridge, GB;
Abstract
To flush ink out of the ink gun 15 of an ink jet printer, it is connected to a suction source 23 (normally used for gutter suction) through a purge line 33, purge valve 35 and gutter valve 27, while the ink feed line 13 is connected to the solvent reservoir 17 through a feed valve 11 and a flush valve 37. This draws solvent from the solvent reservoir 29 into the feed line 13 and the ink gun 15. Then, the purge line 33 is isolated from the suction device 23, and the feed valve 11 connects the feed line 13 to a supply of ink pressurized by ink pump 5. The pressurized ink is driven into the feed line 13, driving some of the solvent already in the feed line and the ink gun 15 out through the nozzle of the ink gun 15. The ink flow is then stopped before fresh ink reaches the ink gun 15. This avoids ink drying in the ink gun 15, blocking the nozzle, while the jet is not running. By delivering solvent along the ink feed line 13, and using the suction device 23 and the ink pump 5 to drive the solvent, instead of providing a solvent pump and a solvent line, the complexity, bulk and heat generation of the ink system are minimized.