Method and apparatus for filling the movable reservoir of an inkjet printer
AssigneeCentronics Data Computer Corp.
InventorPrentice Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet printer is provided with a movable carriage upon which is mounted an inkjet print head and a small reservoir having a fluid capacity capable of printing a predetermined number of characters, and which is sufficiently light in weight as to minimize the mass mounted upon the carriage. Sensing means detect the low level of ink for causing the carriage to be moved to the end of one of the printer margins at which is located a stationary large capacity ink reservoir having an outlet nozzle adapted to be inserted into an opening in the small capacity reservoir for filling the reservoir either under control of a pump or by gravity feed, whereupon the printer resumes the printing operation.
Claims14
Means for providing ink for an inkjet printer, said printer including an inkjet print head and carriage means for supporting the print head;
- means for moving said carriage means between left and right hand margins of the printer so as to effect printing of lines of characters of other graphic patterns on said web;
- a small size ink reservoir mounted upon said carriage means;
- a large size ink supply reservoir mounted in a stationary fashion upon said printer and adjacent to one of the aforesaid margins;
- means for sensing an ink low condition in said small reservoir for generating an ink low signal;
- means responsive to said ink low signal for moving said carriage means toward said stationary ink supply reservoir;
- nozzle means including means normally biasing said nozzle means to a closed condition whereby said nozzle means is moved responsive to movement of the carriage adjacent to said stationary ink supply reservoir to become unsealed and to span between openings in said large and small ink supply reservoirs for causing ink to flow from said large reservoir to said small reservoir thereby enabling printing to continue.
A method for supplying ink to an inkjet print head mounted upon a movable carriage together with a small capacity ink reservoir, said printer having a large capacity ink reservoir mounted adjacent one margin of the paper web upon which printing occurs, said filling method being comprised of the steps of:
- generating an ink low signal when the ink in said low capacity reservoir falls below a predetermined level;
- allowing printing to continue for a predetermined number of lines of print after occurence of an ink low signal and immeddiately thereafter moving said carriage toward said large capacity reservoir;
- moving a reciprocally mounted nozzle element maintained in a normally liquid sealing position with said large capacity ink supply reservoir toward said small capacity ink supply reservoir after the latter has terminated its movement toward said large capacity ink supply reservoir;
- urging said nozzle into a normally sealed opening in said small capacity ink reservoir whereby a liquid flow path is established between said reservoirs through said nozzle element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.