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:
Feb. 25, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2000
James Harold Powers, Lexington, KY (US);
Matthew Joe Russell, Stamping Ground, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc, Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
An ink reservoir having a bubble generator includes an enclosure defining an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space being adapted for containing a supply of ink, the enclosure having a passage formed therein which permits fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior space, the passage including a surface, the passage defining a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the second aperture is adjacent the interior space. A sphere is positioned in the passage and contacts a portion of the surface of the passage, the surface having a shape that permits ink to pass between the sphere and the surface. A membrane is positioned over the first aperture to retain the sphere in the passage, the membrane including at least one hole being sized to define a bubble admission pressure difference across a thickness of the membrane.