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:
Nov. 06, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1999
George Murad, Bartlett, IL (US);
Marconi Data Systems Inc., Wood Dale, IL (US);
Abstract
A circulation system for mixing ink jet ink includes a container, a pump, and first and second tubes. The container has a bottom surface and a top portion opposing the bottom surface. The pump has an inlet port and an outlet port. The first tube has first and second ends. The first end of the first tube is connected to the inlet port of the pump, and the second end of the first tube includes a plurality of openings in close proximity to the bottom surface of the container. The second tube has first and second ends. The first end of the second tube is connected to the outlet port of the pump, and the second end of the second tube has an opening disposed in the top portion. A method for mixing ink jet ink includes circulating pigment particles from a bottom surface of a container to a top portion of the container. The circulation provides sufficient agitation to maintain the pigment particles suspended in the ink and to prevent agglomeration of pigment particles.