Ink jet printer incorporating high volume ink reservoirs
AssigneeEncad, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Murray, William M. Fries, David A. Purcell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink jet printer having an inking system that includes an ink jet cartridge, a large ink reservoir mounted inside the housing of the ink jet printer at a location which is remote from the ink jet cartridge and tubing connecting the ink reservoir to the ink jet cartridge. The large ink reservoirs may be pancake shaped, and may be stacked in side by side horizontal manner within the housing. A portion of the reservoir is transparent, and is visible to the operator for operator monitoring of ink level through openings in the printer housing placed in juxtaposition with the transparent portion of the large ink reservoirs.
Claims18
A large format ink-jet printer comprising:
- a plurality of replaceable ink-jet cartridges mounted in a moveable print carriage, said cartridges having a corresponding plurality of integral ink storage containers;
- a plurality of stationary ink containers of substantially larger capacity than said integral ink storage containers and in fluid communication with said integral ink storage containers, wherein each of said stationary ink containers define an interior volume for storing ink and have:
- (i) a substantially transparent portion through which said interior volume is visible;
- and,
- (ii) a generally pancake configuration having a height, a depth and a width, wherein said width is substantially smaller than said height and said depth thereof;
- at least one housing substantially enclosing said plurality of stationary ink containers in a side by side horizontal stack configuration;
- said housing comprising a plurality of upwardly extending openings, each of said openings aligned with said substantially transparent portion of said each of said stationary ink containers.
A large format ink-jet printer including a main enclosure that houses substantially all parts of said ink-jet printer, said ink-jet printer comprising:
- a plurality of replaceable ink-jet cartridges mounted in a moveable print carriage, said cartridges having a corresponding plurality of integral ink storage containers;
- a plurality of stationary ink containers of substantially larger capacity than said integral ink storage containers and in fluid communication with said integral ink storage containers;
- a housing which forms an integral portion of said main enclosure, said housing substantially enclosing said plurality of stationary ink containers in a side by side horizontal stack configuration ;
- and,
- means for continuously monitoring an ink level in each of said stationary ink containers without opening said integral housing.
A large format ink-jet printer including a main enclosure that houses substantially all ink-jet printer mechanisms, said ink-jet printer comprising:
- a plurality of replaceable ink-jet cartridges mounted in a moveable print carriage, each of said cartridges having an integral ink storage container;
- a plurality of stationary ink containers, each of said stationary ink container having a substantially larger capacity than said integral ink storage container and in fluid communication with said integral ink storage container;
- and,
- a housing which forms an integral portion of said main enclosure, said housing substantially enclosing said plurality of stationary ink containers in a side by side horizontal stack configuration.
A large format ink-jet primer including a main enclosure that houses substantially all internal mechanisms of said ink-jet printer, said ink-jet printer comprising:
- a plurality of replaceable ink-jet cartridges mounted in a moveable print carriage, each of said cartridges having an integral ink storage container;
- a plurality of stationary ink containers, each of said stationary ink containers having a substantially larger capacity than said integral ink storage container and in fluid communication with said integral ink storage container;
- and,
- a housing integral to said main enclosure, wherein a portion of said each of said stationary ink containers is internal to said housing, and wherein a portion of said each or said stationary ink containers is external to said housing.
A large format ink-jet printer comprising:
- a plurality of replaceable ink-jet cartridges mounted in a moveable print carriage, each of said cartridges having an integral ink storage container;
- a plurality of stationary ink containers, each of said stationary ink containers having a substantially larger capacity than said integral ink storage container;
- a plurality of conduits, each of said conduit in fluid communication between said integral ink storage container and a corresponding said each of said stationary ink containers;
- a bendable conduit router for routing said plurality of conduits from said stationary ink containers to said integral ink storage containers, said plurality or conduits being constrained to move in conjunction with said conduit router as said print carriage moves, and wherein at least one side of a portion of said bendable conduit router abuts a solid guiding surface, said solid guiding surface constraining a direction of motion of said conduit router;
- and
- a noise dampening resilient material disposed between said bendable conduit router and said solid guiding surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.