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:
Aug. 11, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2006
Gerald A. Domoto, Briarcliff Manor, NY (US);
Elias Panides, Whitestone, NY (US);
Mark Anthony Cellura, Webster, NY (US);
Elliot Allan Eklund, Penfield, NY (US);
Scott J. Phillips, West Henrietta, NY (US);
Gerald A. Domoto, Briarcliff Manor, NY (US);
Elias Panides, Whitestone, NY (US);
Mark Anthony Cellura, Webster, NY (US);
Elliot Allan Eklund, Penfield, NY (US);
Scott J. Phillips, West Henrietta, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus in an ink jet printer reduces the risk of clogged nozzles in ink jet printing machines by providing a negative pressure area in the vicinity of a localized high shear stress region that is located about a print head perimeter. The apparatus includes a print head protector substantially surrounds a print head, the protector having a first substantially continuous slot along a portion of a length of the protector that is upstream of the print head and a second substantially continuous slot along a portion of a length of the protector that is upstream of the first substantially continuous slot, an inlet in fluid communication with the first substantially continuous slot, the inlet enables a positive pressure air supply to be coupled to the first substantially continuous slot so air entering the inlet flows through the first slot to displace debris from media approaching the print head, and an outlet in fluid communication with the second substantially continuous slot, the outlet enables a negative pressure source to be coupled to the second substantially continuous slot so displaced debris flows into the second substantially continuous slot and out through the outlet for removal from the ink printing machine in which the print head is located.