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. 18, 2003
Filed:
May. 12, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
Nai-Hsiung Ma, Hsinchu, TW;
Shirley Flynn Mitchell, Lexington, KY (US);
Tasha Monique Sims, Lexington, KY (US);
Patrick Lawrence Ransom, Lexington, KY (US);
Assignee:
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/165 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/165 ;
Abstract
A maintenance unit for use in an ink jet printer having a printer frame and a waste ink accumulation region includes a maintenance frame coupled to the printer frame. A maintenance sled is moveably coupled to the maintenance frame. A spreader mechanism is slidably coupled to the maintenance frame, and is driveably coupled to the maintenance sled. The spreader mechanism contacts waste ink to distribute the waste ink over the waste ink accumulation region as the maintenance sled moves relative to the maintenance frame.