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. 26, 2013
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2011
Marc Frazier Baker, Georgetown, KY (US);
Neal David Erickson, Lexington, KY (US);
Mark Doerre, Lexington, KY (US);
Alan Anthony Bidwell, Lexington, KY (US);
Marc Frazier Baker, Georgetown, KY (US);
Neal David Erickson, Lexington, KY (US);
Mark Doerre, Lexington, KY (US);
Alan Anthony Bidwell, Lexington, KY (US);
Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of pigmented ink. Its housing defines an interior and a fluid exit port. Users orient the housing to deplete the ink in a downward direction. A float on a surface of the ink suspends an inlet opening of a fluid conduit tube underneath the surface. A height of the opening falls downward as the fluid depletes and the float drops. The tube draws a desired concentration of ink and supplies it to the exit port. The concentration is predetermined relative to an overall height of the fluid. The tube height remains proportional to the height of the fluid, increases/decreases proportionally, or other. The design overcomes settling. The design also avoids mechanical stirring and other complex sediment mixing techniques. Embodiments include float/tube arrangements and testing observations, to name a few.