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:
May. 01, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 29, 2011
Takahiro Miyata, Chigasaki, JP;
Masao Murata, Chigasaki, JP;
Satoshi Shiba, Chigasaki, JP;
Hirofumi Minami, Chigasaki, JP;
Seiichi Satou, Chigasaki, JP;
Kazuhiro Musha, Chigasaki, JP;
Mitsuru Yahagi, Chigasaki, JP;
Jyunpei Yuyama, Chigasaki, JP;
Takahiro Miyata, Chigasaki, JP;
Masao Murata, Chigasaki, JP;
Satoshi Shiba, Chigasaki, JP;
Hirofumi Minami, Chigasaki, JP;
Seiichi Satou, Chigasaki, JP;
Kazuhiro Musha, Chigasaki, JP;
Mitsuru Yahagi, Chigasaki, JP;
Jyunpei Yuyama, Chigasaki, JP;
Ulvac, Inc., Chigasaki-shi, JP;
Abstract
The backing pressure of an ink tank is controlled. The ink tank is connected to a pressure control apparatus. The pressure control apparatus has first and second check valves. When the internal pressure of the ink tank becomes smaller than that of outside atmosphere by a first predetermined pressure or more, the first check valve is switched into an open state to connect the outside atmosphere and the ink tank. To the contrary, when the internal pressure of the ink tank becomes larger than that of outside atmosphere by a second predetermined pressure or more, the second check valve is switched to an open state to connect the ink tank with the outside atmosphere. Therefore, the internal pressure of the ink tank is controlled precisely enough to stabilize the meniscus.