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:
Aug. 17, 1993
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1990
Fusao Iwagami, Nara, JP;
Masaharu Kimura, Daito, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A nozzle orifice protective apparatus comprises a cap for covering an ink nozzle which cap is supplied with maintenance solution, and a maintenance solution tank for storing maintenance solution. The maintenance solution tank is made of a flexible bag and contains a specified volume of gas as well as the maintenance solution, facilitating accurate detection of the amount of solution remaining in the tank. Thus, the maintenance solution tank is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture. A water-absorbing polymer is placed a waste collecting tank case so that it absorbs waste liquid such as maintenance solution and ink led from the cap into the tank case. Since the polymer which has absorbed the liquid becomes gel, replacement of the waste collecting tank case and the subsequent waste disposal are extremely simple and easy.