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US 5,156,473 AGranted
Multi-color cartridge ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsTakashi Suzuki, Masanao Matsuzawa, Yoshinori Miyazawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including an ink-supply tank formed as a single disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from the ink-supply system as a unit. The ink-supply tank is formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of the ink-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port. An ink absorbing member formed of a porous material substantially fills each of the ink-supply sections, substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by each of the ink absorbing members, at least two of the ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors.
Claims64
An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer head, comprising:
- an ink-supply tank formed as a single disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from said ink supply system as a unit, said ink-supply tank being formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of said ink-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port;
- and
- an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of said ink-supply sections, substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by the ink absorbing member thereof, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section, at least two of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors.
An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer head, comprising:
- an ink-supply tank formed as a single disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from said ink supply system as a unit, said ink-supply tank being formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections;
- an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of said ink-supply sections;
- substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by the ink absorbing member thereof, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section, at least two of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors;
- and
- separate means projecting into each of said ink-supply tank sections for receiving and transmitting ink from the associated ink absorbing member, each of said ink absorbing members being compressed in the vicinity of the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.
2 more elements
A dot matrix printer, comprising:
- printing means for applying ink in a dot matrix to effect printing;
- and
- an ink supply means for delivering ink to said printing means comprising:
- an ink-supply tank formed as a single disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from said ink supply system as a unit, said ink-supply tank being formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of said ink-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port;
- and
- an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of said ink-supply sections, substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by the ink absorbing member thereof, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section, at least two of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors.
3 more elements
A dot matrix printer, comprising:
- printing means for applying ink in a dot matrix to effect printing;
- and
- an ink supply means for delivering ink to said printing means comprising:
- an ink-supply tank formed as a singe disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from said ink supply system as a unit, said ink-supply tank being formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections;
- an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of said ink-supply sections;
- substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by the ink absorbing member thereof, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section, at least two of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors;
- and
- separate means projecting into each of said ink-supply tank sections for receiving and transmitting ink from the associated ink absorbing member for delivery to said dot matrix printing means, each of said ink absorbing members being compressed in the vicinity of the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.
5 more elements
A method of applying ink to a dot matrix printer, comprising:
- storing ink of at least two different colors in different ink-supply sections of an ink-supply tank formed as a single disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from said ink supply system as a unit, said ink-supply tank having a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of said ink-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port;
- and
- providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of the ink-supply sections so that substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections is carried by the associated ink absorbing member, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section.
A method of applying ink to a dot matrix printer, comprising:
- storing ink of at least two different colors in different ink-supply sections of an ink-supply tank formed as a single disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from said ink supply system as a unit, said ink supply tank having a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of said ink-supply sections having a means for receiving and transmitting ink from the associated ink absorbing member for delivery to said printer;
- and
- providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of the ink-supply sections so that substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections is carried by the associated ink absorbing member, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.