# US 2013/0155138 A1 · System For Detecting Leakage of Phase Change Inks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155138 A1 - Document ID: US20130155138A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/325,415 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Glenn D. Batchelor; Chad E. LaBarge; Ali R. Dergham; Randall E. Kaufman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155138A1 ## CPC - B41J 2/17593: {Supplying ink in a solid state} - B41J 29/02: Framework - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A printing apparatus includes a printhead module having an ink leakage detector to detect a leaked phase change ink. The ink leakage detector includes a plurality of resistance temperature detectors or resistive thermal devices to detect the leaked phase change ink. A horizontally mounted overdriven thermistor can also be used to detect leaked ink. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing apparatus to deposit heated phase change ink on recording media comprising: a printhead having an inlet for receiving heated phase change ink from a source of ink; a heated conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end of the heated conduit being operatively connected to the inlet of the printhead and the second end being operatively connected to the source of ink to carry heated phase change ink from the source of ink to the printhead; a housing to which the printhead is mounted and through which at least a portion of the heated conduit passes; a temperature sensing device configured to sense a change in temperature in response to a leaked heated phase change ink contacting the temperature sensing device, the temperature sensing device positioned at a location in the housing where gravity can direct the leaked heated phase change ink into contact with the temperature sensing device; and an annunciator operatively connected to the temperature sensing device and being configured to activate in response to the leaked heated phase change ink contacting the temperature sensing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a controller operatively connected to the temperature sensing device and the annunciator, the controller being configured to monitor the state of the temperature sensing device and to activate the annunciator in response to a change in state of the temperature sensing device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The printing apparatus of claim 2 the housing further comprising: a channel having a first end and a second end, a portion of the channel between the first end and the second end being proximate the heated conduit to enable the leaked heated phase change ink to flow into the channel; and a plurality of temperature sensing devices positioned within the channel to detect leaked heated phase change ink. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The printing apparatus of claim 3 wherein each temperature sensing device is operatively connected to the controller in parallel to enable the controller to monitor each temperature sensing device independently of the other temperature sensing devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The printing apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: an RTD member having a first end and a second end, a portion of the RTD member between the first end and the second end being proximate the heated conduit, wherein the plurality of temperature sensing devices are mounted with the RTD member to detect leaking heated phase change ink. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The printing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plurality of temperature sensing devices are operatively connected to the controller in parallel to enable the controller to monitor one of the plurality of temperature sensing devices independently of another of the plurality of temperature sensing devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing device includes a thermistor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The printing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the thermistor is horizontally oriented with reference to the heated conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The printing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to operate the thermistor in an overdriven mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing device includes a resistance temperature device. ### Claim 11 A printhead module to deposit heated phase change on a recording media comprising: a printhead having an inlet for receiving heated phase change ink from a source of ink; a housing to which the printhead is mounted, the housing including a channel; a heated conduit being operatively connected to the inlet of the printhead and the being operatively connected to the source of ink to carry heated phase change ink from the source of ink to the printhead, wherein a portion of the heated conduit is disposed in the housing; a temperature sensing device configured to sense a change in temperature in response a leaked heated phase change ink contacting the temperature sensing device, the temperature sensing device positioned at the channel where gravity can direct the leaked heated phase change ink into contact with the temperature sensing device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The printhead module of claim 11 wherein the channel is formed in the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The printhead module of claim 11 where the channel is formed as part of a support, to support the heated conduit along a predetermined path, the support being separable from the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The printhead module of claim 13 wherein the support includes a height sufficient to elevate the heated conduit above a floor of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The printhead module of claim 13 wherein the temperature sensing device includes an RTD member having disposed therein a plurality of resistance temperature devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The printhead module of claim 15 wherein the RTD member is located at the channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The printhead module of claim 16 wherein the channel includes at least one of a depth and a width sufficient to collect the leaked heated phase change ink. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The printhead module of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of heated conduits and a manifold having a single input and a plurality of outputs, the manifold configured to receive a heated phase change ink at the single input and configured to dispense the heated phase change ink at each of the plurality of outputs, wherein each one of the plurality of heated conduits is coupled to one of the plurality of outputs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The printhead module of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of temperature sensing devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of temperature sensing devices is proximally located with the manifold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The printhead module of claim 19 wherein at least one of the plurality of temperature sensing devices is proximally located with one of the plurality of heated conduits. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The printhead module of claim 11 further comprising, an annunciator operatively connected to the temperature sensing device and being configured to activate in response to the leaked heated phase change ink being sensed by the temperature sensing device.