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:
Dec. 19, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 17, 2004
Alex Levin, Glenview, IL (US);
Pietro Lostumbo, Bloomingdale, IL (US);
Alex Levin, Glenview, IL (US);
Pietro Lostumbo, Bloomingdale, IL (US);
Videojet Technologies Inc., Wood Dale, IL (US);
Abstract
A cleaning system for a continuous ink jet printer includes a first solvent supply conduit connected to a solvent source for conveying solvent through a supply opening and onto the front face of the print head. A second solvent supply conduit is connected to the solvent source for conveying solvent through a supply opening and onto a surface of the catcher. The solvent that is supplied to the print head and the catcher is removed under vacuum and returned to the ink supply system. The cleaning system may include an orifice unclogging mechanism that causes said solvent disposed on said front face to flow into said orifice in the reverse of the direction ink flows through said orifice for printing. The cleaning system may also include a piezoelectric element for generating a stress wave in the print head during cleaning. The piezoelectric element may comprise a piezoelectric oscillator that is also used during printing to creates perturbations in the ink flow at the nozzle so as to generate a stream of spaced drops from the nozzle.