EP0178885A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet apparatus and method of operating the same
Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
•
Filing: 1985-10-14
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-10-14
Abstract
Abstract Hot melt ink is maintained in a solid state at a fixed location along with a smaller quantity of liquid ink in a buffer reservoir (100) at the same location. When ink is called for in the head reservoir (18) of a scanning imaging head (10), the head (10) is moved to a refill position in which it becomes coupled to the buffer reservoir (100), whereupon the previously melted ink from the solid state supply may be coupled into the reservoir (18) of the imaging head (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas William Deyoung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:05
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17593
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating an ink jet apparatus, comprising storing ink in solid state at a fixed location, heating that ink for melting part of it on demand, storing such melted ink in a buffer reservoir at a fixed location, scanning at least one ink jet and an associated reservoir containing melted ink with respect to a printing medium for printing on that medium, and periodically moving said ink jet or jets and associated reservoir to a refill position in which said associated reservoir is refilled with melted ink from said buffer reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating an ink jet apparatus, comprising storing ink in solid state at a fixed location, heating that ink for melting part of it on demand, storing such melted ink in a buffer reservoir at a fixed location, scanning at least one ink jet and an associated reservoir containing melted ink with respect to a printing medium for printing on that medium, and periodically moving said ink jet or jets and associated reservoir to a refill position in which said associated reservoir is refilled with melted ink from said buffer reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, including the step of heating said buffer reservoir so as to maintain the melted ink in said buffer reservoir in a liquid state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, including the steps of sensing the level of ink in said buffer reservoir and controlling heating the ink in the solid state in response to the sensed ink level in said buffer reservoir.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
51 words
A method according to any preceding claim, including the steps of sensing the level of ink in said buffer reservoir, and repositioning said ink jet or jets and said associated reservoir at said refill position and refilling said associated reservoir, in response to said sensed level falling to a predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
Ink jet apparatus comprising a scanning ink jet head having a head reservoir for melted ink and at least one ink jet, solid state ink supply means mounted in a fixed location, means for heating and melting ink from said solid state ink supply means on demand, and buffer reservoir means coupled to said ink supply means for receiving melted ink therefrom, said scanning ink jet head being movable periodically to a refill position in which said head reservoir is coupled with said buffer reservoir means so as to be refilled with melted ink from said buffer reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
Ink jet apparatus comprising a scanning ink jet head having a head reservoir for melted ink and at least one ink jet, solid state ink supply means mounted in a fixed location, means for heating and melting ink from said solid state ink supply means on demand, and buffer reservoir means coupled to said ink supply means for receiving melted ink therefrom, said scanning ink jet head being movable periodically to a refill position in which said head reservoir is coupled with said buffer reservoir means so as to be refilled with melted ink from said buffer reservoir.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ink jet apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said buffer reservoir means is provided with heater means for maintaining the ink in said buffer reservoir means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ink jet apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said buffer reservoir means is provided with means for sensing the level of ink in said buffer reservoir means and means for controlling heating of the ink in the solid state in response to the sensed ink level in said buffer reservoir means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
An ink jet apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said buffer reservoir means includes valve means which is arranged to open to couple said buffer reservoir means to said head reservoir following arrival of said ink jet head in said refill position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.