Multi-color, multi-speed printing apparatus
AssigneeVutek, Inc.
InventorsRichard P. Aschman, John P. Duffield, Peter Heath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing apparatus for printing images on a substrate. The printing apparatus is provided with a first print head connected to a selector valve which in turn is connected to a pair of reservoirs. The first reservoir holds one type of ink while the other reservoir holds a different type of ink. The selector valve has two selectable states. The first state facilitates transmitting ink from one of the reservoirs to the print head, and the second state facilitates transmitting ink from the other reservoir to the print head. The selector valve can be coupled to a controller which is computer operated. Alternatively, the controller can be manually operated.
Claims24
A printing apparatus for printing images on a substrate, comprising:
- a first print head which deposits first or second ink onto the substrate;
- a selector valve in fluid communication with the first print head, the selector valve having a first state and a second state;
- a first reservoir containing the first ink and selectively in fluid communication with the selector valve;
- a second reservoir containing the second ink and selectively in fluid communication with the selector valve, and
- a second print head in fluid communication with the second reservoir;
- whereby when the selector valve is switched to the first state the first reservoir is in fluid communication with the first print head, and when switched to the second state the second reservoir is in fluid communication with the first print head.
A method of printing on a substrate, comprising:
- depositing a first ink or a second ink from a first print head;
- selecting between a first state of operation and a second state of operation, so that when in the first state of operation a first reservoir holding the first ink is in fluid communication with the first print head, and when in the second state of operation a second reservoir holding the second ink is in fluid communication with the first print head;
- and
- depositing the first ink or the second ink from a second print head, wherein the first print head and the second print head are a first pair of print heads, and when in the first state the first reservoir is in fluid communication with the first pair of print heads, and when in the second state the second reservoir is in fluid communication with the first pair of print heads.
A method of printing images on a substrate, comprising:
- depositing a first ink or a second ink from a first print head;
- selecting between a first state of operation and a second state of operation, so that when in the first state of operation a first reservoir holding the first ink is in fluid communication with the first print head, and when in the second state of operation a second reservoir holding the second ink is in fluid communication with the first print head;
- and
- depositing the second ink from a second print head in fluid communication with the second reservoir.
A printing apparatus for printing images on a substrate, comprising:
- a first print head which deposits first or second ink onto the substrate;
- a selector valve in fluid communication with the first print head, the selector valve having a first state and a second state;
- a first reservoir containing the first ink and selectively in fluid communication with the selector valve;
- a second reservoir containing the second ink and selectively in fluid communication with the selector valve, and
- a flushing mechanism for flushing ink from the selector valve and the first print head when the selector valve is switched between the first state and the second state;
- whereby when the selector valve is switched to the first state the first reservoir is in fluid communication with the first print head, and when switched to the second state the second reservoir is in fluid communication with the first print head.
A method of printing on a substrate, comprising:
- depositing a first ink or a second ink from a first print head;
- selecting between a first state of operation and a second state of operation, so that when in the first state of operation a first reservoir holding the first ink is in fluid communication with the first print head, and when in the second state of operation a second reservoir holding the second ink is in fluid communication with the first print head;
- and
- flushing ink from the first print head when switching between the first state and the second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.