Two cartridge ink-supply system for a multi-color dot matrix printer

• US 5,156,470 A
• Filed: 11/30/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takashi, Miyazawa, Yoshinori, Matsuzawa, Masanao
• Primary Examiner(s): WIECKING, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/624,228
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 400/120 MP, 400/120 MC, 400/124 IW, 400/216.1, 400/240.3, 400/240.4, 400/470, 400/471, 400/471.1, 101/97, 101/98, 101/333, 101/335, 101/364, 346/140 R, 346/140 PD
• US Class Current: 400/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/255 Arrangement of the print ends of the wires
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/305 Ink supply apparatus ink ribbons, ink-ribbon mechanisms B41J31/00 - B41J35/00

Abstract

An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including a unitary ink-supply tank formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections and a further separate ink-supply tank. An ink absorbing member formed of a porous material is positioned in each of the ink-supply sections and in the further separate ink-supply tank, each of the ink absorbing members substantially filling its respective ink-supply section or further separate ink-supply tank, substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of the ink-supply sections of the further separate ink-supply tank being carried by the respective ink absorbing member thereof. At least two of the ink-supply sections carry ink of different colors other than black, the further ink-supply tank carrying black ink.

Claims

1. An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer head, comprising:

a unitary ink-supply tank formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of said in-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port;

an ink absorbing member in each of said ink-supply sections formed of a porous material, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section; and

substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by the corresponding ink absorbing member, at least two of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors, said ink in said ink-supply sections being of a color other than black; and

a further separate ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port, a separate ink absorbing member formed of a porous material contained within said separate ink-supply tank, said separate ink absorbing member substantially filling said separate ink-supply tank, the ink contained in said separate ink-supply tank being black.

2. The ink-supply system of claim 1, wherein each of said ink absorbing members comprises at least two separate porous members disposed as stacked layers, one of said porous members which is closer to the associated ink-supply port being made of a porous material having a smaller average pore size than the porous material of the other porous member more remote from the associated ink-supply port.

3. The ink-supply system of claim 1, wherein said ink-supply sections comprised three ink tank sections for respectively storing yellow, magenta and cyan inks.

4. The ink-supply system of claim 3, and including a dot matrix printer head, said dot matrix printer head being adapted to be scanned in a printing direction, said ink-supply sections being positioned on said head with the ink-supply section containing said yellow ink being positioned first in a direction of scanning of the dot matrix printer head during printing.

5. The ink-supply system of claim 1, wherein each of said ink absorbing members is compressed in the vicinity of the associated ink-supply delivery port.

6. The ink-supply system of claim 5, wherein each of said ink-supply sections and said further ink-supply tank includes a wall facing the associated ink-supply delivery port, at least a portion of the each of said ink absorbing members being compressingly contained in the space between the associated ink-supply delivery port and the associated wall.

7. The ink-supply system of claim 6, wherein the respective wall of each of said ink-supply sections and of said further ink-supply tank facing an associated ink-supply delivery port forms a part of a cover means bearing on the associated ink absorbing member when assembled to said first mentioned and further ink-supply tanks to at least in part apply the compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members.

8. The ink-supply system of claim 5, said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank each including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the associated wall surface.

9. The ink-supply system of claim 8, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the associated wall surface.

10. The ink-supply system of claim 9, wherein the wall of each of said ink-supply sections and of said further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink-supply delivery port said part of a cover means each bearing on an associated ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply sections and said further ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surfaces of said cover means.

11. The ink-supply system of claim 8, wherein said projections are formed in an inner wall surface of the respective wall of each of said ink-supply sections an said further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink-supply delivery port.

12. The ink-supply system of claim 11, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and said wall surface.

13. The ink-supply system of claim 8, said ink being impregnated in each ink absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

14. The ink-supply system of claim 1, said ink being impregnated in each ink absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

15. An ink-supply system as recited in claim 1, where the unitary ink-supply tank is formed with three ink-supply sections, the ink capacity of said further separate ink-supply tank being in excess of one-third times the capacity of said three ink-supply sections.

16. An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer head, comprising:

a unitary ink-supply tank formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections;

a further separate ink-supply tank;

an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of said ink-supply sections and in said further separate ink-supply tank, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section or further separate ink-supply tank;

substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections and of said further separate ink-supply tank being carried by the respective ink absorbing member thereof, at least two of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors other an black, said further separate ink-supply tank carrying blank ink; and

separate means projecting into each of said ink-supply tank sections and into said further separate ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from the associated ink absorbing member.

17. The ink-supply system of claim 16, wherein said ink-supply sections comprise three ink tank sections for respectively storing yellow, magenta and cyan inks.

18. The ink-supply system of claim 16, and including a dot matrix printer head, said dot matrix printer head being adapted to be scanned in a printing direction, said ink-supply sections being positioned with the ink-supply section containing said yellow ink being positioned first in a direction of scanning of the dot matrix printer head during printing.

19. The ink-supply system of claim 17, wherein each of said ink absorbing members is compressed in the vicinity of the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.

20. The ink-supply system of claim 19, wherein each of said ink absorbing members comprises at least two separate porous members disposed as stacked layers, one of said porous members which is closer to the associated ink receiving and transmitting means being made of a porous material having a smaller average pore size than the porous material of the other porous member more remote from said ink receiving and transmitting means.

21. The ink-supply of claim 19, wherein said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank each includes a wall facing the associated receiving and transmitting means, said each of said ink absorbing members being compressingly contained in the space intermediate the associated wall and the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.

22. The ink-supply system of claim 21, wherein said wall of each of said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink receiving and transmitting means is part of a covered means bearing on said each of said ink absorbing members when assembled to said first mentioned or further ink-supply tanks to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members.

23. The ink-supply system of claim 21, said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank each including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the associated wall surface.

24. The ink-supply system of claim 23, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the wall surface.

25. The ink-supply system of claim 24, wherein the wall of each of said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink receiving and transmitting means is a part of a cover means each bearing on an associated ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply tank and further ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surface of said cover means.

26. The ink-supply system of claim 22, wherein said projections are formed in an inner wall surface of said wall of each of said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.

27. The ink-supply system of claim 26, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and associated wall surface.

28. The ink-supply system of claim 22, said ink being impregnated in each ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

29. The ink-supply system of claim 22, said ink being impregnated in each ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

30. An ink-supply system as recited in claim 16, wherein the unitary ink-supply tank is formed with three ink-supply sections, the ink capacity of said further separate ink-supply tank being in excess of one-third times the capacity of said three ink-supply sections.

31. 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;

a unitary ink-supply tank formed with plurality of ink-supply sections, each of said ink-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port;

an ink absorbing member in each of said ink-supply sections formed of a porous material, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section; and

substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by the corresponding ink absorbing members, at least two of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors, said ink in said ink-supply sections being of a color other than black; and

a further separate ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port, a separate ink absorbing member formed of a porous material contained within said separate ink-supply tank, said separate ink absorbing member substantially filling said separate ink-supply tank, the ink contained in said separate ink-supply tank being black.

32. The dot matrix printer of claim 31, wherein each of said ink absorbing members comprises at least two separate porous members disposed as stacked layers, one of said porous members which is closer to the associated ink-supply port being made of a porous material having a smaller average pore size than the porous material of the other porous member more remote from the associated ink-supply port.

33. The dot matrix printer of claim 31, wherein said ink-supply sections comprise three ink tank sections for respectively storing yellow, magenta and cyan inks.

34. The dot matrix printer of claim 33, said printer means including a dot matrix printer head carrying said ink supply means, said dot matrix printer head being adapted to be scanned in a printing direction, said ink-supply sections being positioned with the ink-supply section containing said yellow ink being positioned first in a direction of scanning of the dot matrix printer head during printing.

35. The dot matrix printer of claim 31, wherein each of said ink absorbing members is compressed in the vicinity of the associated ink-supply delivery port.

36. The dot matrix printer of claim 35, wherein each of said ink-supply sections and said further ink-supply tank includes a wall facing the associated ink-supply delivery port, at least a portion of the each of said ink absorbing members being compressingly contained in the space between the associated ink-supply delivery port and the associated wall.

37. The dot matrix printer of claim 36, wherein the respective wall of each of said ink-supply sections nd of said further ink-supply tank facing an associated ink-supply delivery port forms a part of a cover means bearing on the associated ink absorbing member when assembled to said first mentioned and further ink-supply tanks to at least in part apply the compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members.

38. The dot matrix printer of claim 35, said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank each including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the associated wall surface.

39. The dot matrix printer of claim 38, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the associated wall surface.

40. The dot matrix printer of claim 39, wherein the wall of each of said ink-supply sections and of said further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink-supply delivery port is apart of a cover means each bearing on an associated ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply sections and said further ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surfaces of said cover means.

41. The dot matrix printer of claim 38, wherein said projections are formed in an inner wall surface of the respective wall of each of said ink-supply sections and said further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink-supply delivery port.

42. The dot matrix printer of claim 41, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and said wall surface.

43. The dot matrix printer of claim 38, said ink being impregnated in each ink absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

44. The dot matrix printer of claim 31, said ink being impregnated in each ink absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

45. The dot matrix printer of claim 31, wherein the unitary ink-supply tank is formed with three ink-supply sections, the ink capacity of said further separate ink-supply tank being in excess of one-third times the capacity of said the reed ink-supply sections.

46. 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;

a unitary ink-supply tank formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections;

a further separate ink-supply tank;

an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of said ink-supply sections and in said further separate ink-supply tank, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section or further separate ink-supply tank;

substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections and of said further separate ink-supply tank being carried by the respective ink absorbing members thereof, at least tow of said ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors, said further separate ink-supply tank carrying blank ink; and

separate means projecting into each of said ink-supply tank sections and into said further separate ink-supply tank for receiving and transmitting ink from the associated ink absorbing member.

47. The dot matrix printer of claim 46, wherein said ink-supply sections comprise three ink tank sections for respectively storing yellow, magenta and cyan inks.

48. The dot matrix printer of claim 46, said printing means including a dot matrix printer head carrying said ink supply means, said dot matrix printer head being adapted to be scanned inn a printing direction, said ink-supply sections being positioned with the ink-supply section containing said yellow ink being positioned first in a direction of scanning of the dot matrix printer head during printing.

49. The dot matrix printer of claim 47, wherein each of said ink absorbing members is compressed in the vicinity of the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.

50. The dot matrix printer of claim 49, wherein each of said ink absorbing members comprises at least two separate porous members disposed as stacked layers, one of said porous members which is closer to the associated ink receiving and transmitting means being made of a porous material having a smaller average pore size than the porous material of the other porous member more remote from said ink receiving and transmitting means.

51. The dot matrix printer of claim 49, wherein said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank each includes a wall facing the associated receiving and transmitting means, said each of said ink absorbing members being compressingly contained in the space intermediate the associated wall and the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.

52. The dot matrix printer of claim 51, wherein said wall of each of said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink receiving and transmitting means is part of a cover means bearing on the respective ink absorbing member when assembled to said first mentioned or further ink-supply tanks to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members.

53. The dot matrix printer of claim 51, said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank each including an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the associated wall surface.

54. The dot matrix printer of claim 53, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and the wall surface.

55. The dot matrix printer of claim 54, wherein the wall of each of said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink receiving and transmitting means is a part of a cover means each bearing on an associated ink absorbing member when assembled to said ink-supply tank and further ink-supply tank to at least in part apply a compressive force to effect compression of said each of said ink absorbing members, at least a portion of said projections extending from the inner wall surface of said cover means.

56. The dot matrix printer of claim 52, wherein said projections are formed in an inner wall surface of said wall of each of said ink-supply sections and further ink-supply tank facing the associated ink receiving and transmitting means.

57. The dot matrix printer of claim 56, and including means for providing ambient air to the space between said each of said ink absorbing members and associated wall surface.

58. The dot matrix printer of claim 52, said ink being impregnated in each ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

59. The dot matrix printer of claim 52, said ink being impregnated in each ink-absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles in the each of said ink absorbing members.

60. The dot matrix printer of claim 46, wherein the unitary ink-supply tank is formed with three ink-supply sections, the ink capacity of said further separate ink-supply tank being in excess of one-third times the capacity of said three ink-supply sections.

61. The method of applying ink to a dot matrix printer, comprising:

storing ink of at least two different colors not including black in different ink-supply sections of a unitary ink-supply tank having a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of said ink-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port;

storing black ink in a further separate ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port; and

providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of the ink-supply sections and in the further separate ink-supply tank so that substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections and further separate ink-supply tank is carried by the associated ink absorbing member, each said ink absorbing member substantially filling its respective ink-supply section or further separate ink-supply tank.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the color of the ink provided in the ink-supply sections comprises yellow, magenta and cyan.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the unitary ink-supply tank is formed with three ink-supply sections, the quantity of ink stored in the further separate ink-supply tank being in excess of one-third times the quantity of ink stored in the three ink-supply sections.

64. The method of applying ink to a dot matrix printer comprising:

storing ink of at least two different colors not including black in different ink-supply sections of a unitary ink-supply tank having a plurality of ink-supply sections, storing black ink in a further separate ink-supply tank;

storing black ink in a further separate ink-supply tank, each of said ink-supply sections and said further separate ink-supply tank having means for receiving and transmitting ink from the associated ink absorbing member; and

providing an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material in each of the ink-supply sections and in the further separate ink-supply tank so that substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections and said further separate ink-supply tank is carried by the corresponding ink absorbing members.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the color of the ink provided in the ink-supply comprises yellow, magenta and cyan.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the unitary ink-supply tank is formed with three ink-supply sections, the quantity of ink stored in the further separate ink-supply tank being in excess of one-third times the quantity of ink stored in the three ink-supply sections.