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:
Jan. 21, 1997
Filed:
Oct. 03, 1994
Charles F Murphy, Milford, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An ink priming device for an ink jet printing apparatus is disclosed which includes a housing adapted to fit over the nozzle plate of the print head when the print head is in a non-printing position, the housing having a substantially air tight connection to the nozzle plate. A vacuum generating pump having means defining a variable volume chamber is connected to the housing, and includes an actuator for sequentially decreasing and increasing the volume of the chamber to expel air to ambient atmosphere but not back to the housing and to draw air and ink pockets in the print head into the chamber as a result of the vacuum created when the volume of the chamber is increased, so that the print head is reprimed with ink to maintain proper operation