US 5,671,667 AGranted

Multi-line straw printer

AssigneeMinitube of America, Inc.

InventorLudwig O. Simmet

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Abstract

Two opposed inkjet print heads direct ink droplets to opposite sides of a cylindrical elongated plastic straw containing biological products such as semen or ova. The print heads are controlled by a computer to print multiple lines of text or data as the straw is advanced by dual parallel drive belts through a bridge which has an straw-directing infeed channel. The straw is discharged from the channel through an unobstructed window in the bridge which is positioned in the path of the two print heads. Downstream of the window the straw passes over portions of the bridge which form a shelf with open sides, on which the straw is supported until it is engaged by the outfeed portions of the dual belts which remove the printed straw from the bridge. The construction of the bridge ensures accurate positioning of the straw, while minimizing disturbances to the freshly applied ink.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A printer for printing multiple lines of markings on a straw for containing biological products, the printer comprising:

a) a housing;
b) a first noncontact print head mounted to the housing;
c) a second noncontact print head mounted to the housing facing toward the first noncontact print head;
d) a belt drive system having two parallel belts which support and advance a straw thereon;
e) a straw support bridge mounted to the housing and which receives a straw from the belt drive system, the belt drive system advancing said straw through the support bridge without contacting said straw within the support bridge;
f) portions of the support bridge defining an unobstructed window positioned between the first print head and the second print head, such that a first line of markings may be imprinted on one side of said straw by the first print head and a second line of markings may be simultaneously imprinted on said straw by the second print head while the straw is advanced by the belt drive system through the support bridge window;
and
g) portions of the support bridge supporting said straw to align it for passage through the bridge window and deliver it into engagement with the belt drive system after the straw has been imprinted by the first print head and the second print head.

5 more elements

A printer for printing multiple lines of markings on a straw for containing products therein, the printer comprising:

a) a housing;
b) a first noncontact print head mounted to the housing;
c) a second noncontact print head mounted to the housing facing toward the first noncontact print head;
d) a drive system having means for supporting and advancing a straw;
e) a straw support bridge mounted to the housing and which receives a straw from the drive system means for supporting and advancing, the drive system advancing said straw through the support bridge without contacting said straw within the support bridge;
f) portions of the support bridge defining an unobstructed window positioned between the first print head and the second print head, such that a first line of markings may be imprinted on one side of said straw by the first print head and a second line of markings may be simultaneously imprinted on said straw by the second print head while the straw is advanced by the drive system through the support bridge window;
and
g) portions of the support bridge supporting said straw to align it for passage through the straw window and to deliver it into engagement with the drive system supporting and advancing means after the straw has been imprinted by the first print head and the second print head.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.