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. 23, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1996
Nathan P Hine, South Strafford, VT (US);
Edward R Moynihan, Plainfield, NH (US);
Spectra, Inc., Hanover, NH (US);
Abstract
A single pass ink jet printer includes a plurality of ink jet modules arranged in adjacent rows extending across the width of the surface of an object which is moved with respect to the printer. The modules are mounted on and joined to a manifold which is mounted in a support frame. Ink is supplied to the manifold through an opening in the frame and the manifold distributes the ink to corresponding openings in the ink jet modules where it is directed to arrays of ink pressure chambers and to an outlet which communicates with a corresponding return passage in the manifold leading back to the ink supply. As a result, ink is circulated continuously through all of the ink jet modules, thereby maintaining pigment in suspension in a pigmented ink. An ink supply is removably connected to the printhead through quick-disconnect couplings and, to prevent contamination of the ink in the printhead, filters are provided in the ink supply and at the inlet to the printhead. An additional filter, designed to trap only those particles which would block the orifices in the orifice plate, is positioned between the ink jet modules and the orifice plate.