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:
Sep. 24, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1999
Frank J. Bretl, Corvallis, OR (US);
Roy Glenn Atkinson, Kildare, IE;
Emmet Whittaker, Dublin, IE;
Melissa D. Lee, Escondido, CA (US);
Jason H. Oakes, Corvallis, OR (US);
Paul Killeen, Kildare, IE;
Mark D. Zinser, Camas, WA (US);
Melanie J Feder, Blodgett, OR (US);
Richard J. McManus, San Diego, CA (US);
Ralph L. Stathem, Lebanon, OR (US);
Kevin Almen, Albany, OR (US);
Warren S. Martin, Vancouver, WA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A technique for handling residual ink that is from time to time present on the orifice plate of an ink-jet print cartridge. In one preferred embodiment, an ink-jet print cartridge is equipped with an ink-receptive member, such as an absorbent pad. The pad is located so that a service station wiper will move the residual ink from the orifice plate and spread it across the pad. The pad absorbs the ink. In essence, the ink is sequestered on the cartridge, in the pad. The exterior surface of the pad dries quickly so that there is little likelihood of developing a tacky area over the pad to which fibers may stick and degrade print quality.