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. 10, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2000
Frank Eremity, Streamwood, IL (US);
Alex Levin, Glenview, IL (US);
Pietro Lostumbo, Bloomingdale, IL (US);
James E. Clark, Naperville, IL (US);
Marconi Data Systems Inc., Wood Dale, IL (US);
Abstract
A self-cleaning print head for an ink jet printer directs ink to a substrate to be marked. The print head has a drop generator with a body that has a front face, an ink supply conduit and at least one orifice extending through the front face. The orifice also defines a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets. A solvent supply conduit is provided for supplying solvent to the front face of the drop generator, and a drain conduit is provided for suctioning the solvent from the front face and into the drain conduit. The supply conduit and the drain conduit have openings on the front face disposed relative to each other and the orifice(s) so that the solvent released from the supply conduit moves along the front face, adjacent the orifice(s) and into the drain conduit regardless of the spatial orientation of the print head. This allows the solvent to move residue from the front face and into the drain conduit no matter the orientation of the print head.