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:
May. 30, 1995
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1993
Kevin L Glassett, Escondido, CA (US);
Stephen W Bauer, San Diego, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Ink jet printhead primer apparatus including a resilient bellows having an upper end cap, a lower end cap, a capper having an opening supported by the upper end cap selective sealing engagement with a nozzle array of a printhead so that negative pressure produced in the opening of the upper end cap is communicated to the nozzles of the nozzle array, or with a conduit structure connected to the nozzles of the nozzle array. Displacement of the lower end cap is controlled by cam surfaces formed on the inner opposing surfaces of parallel plate-like gear sectors of a rotatable cam assembly having gear teeth that drive a flywheel. Cam edges on the gear sectors move a sliding cam member that moves the upper end cap between a retracted position and an extended position. Pursuant to rotation of the cam assembly in one direction and then in the opposite direction, negative pressure is produced at the capper opening as it is engaged with the nozzle array of the cartridge to be primed or with the conduit structure connected to the nozzle array, ink suctioning negative pressure is produced, and the capper is disengaged from the nozzle array or the conduit structure while negative pressure continues to be maintained at the opening of the capper.