Ink-supply tank for a dot matrix printer
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A dot matrix printer comprising:
- a printing apparatus;
an ink supply system mounted in said printing apparatus; and
an ink supply tank mounted in said printing apparatus, said ink supply tank operatively engaging with said printing apparatus through said ink supply system, said ink supply tank dimensioned to accommodate ink therein to be delivered to said ink supply system, said ink supply tank comprising;
a tank housing having an interior space defined in part by first and second spaced opposed walls;
an ink supply delivery port extending through a first wall of said tank housing said port having an opening to said interior space to permit the passage of ink from said interior space to the exterior of said tank housing; and
an ink absorbing member substantially filling said interior space of said tank housing and being formed of a porous material, said ink absorbing member having a region facing and at least in part engaging said opening to said ink supply delivery port;
said second wall of said tank housing being spaced at least in part sufficiently apart from said ink absorbing member to provide an air communication space therebetween, said tank housing being formed with an air communication hole therethrough, said air communication space being in fluid communication with ambient air through said air communication hole.
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Abstract
An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.
70 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A dot matrix printer comprising:
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a printing apparatus; an ink supply system mounted in said printing apparatus; and an ink supply tank mounted in said printing apparatus, said ink supply tank operatively engaging with said printing apparatus through said ink supply system, said ink supply tank dimensioned to accommodate ink therein to be delivered to said ink supply system, said ink supply tank comprising; a tank housing having an interior space defined in part by first and second spaced opposed walls; an ink supply delivery port extending through a first wall of said tank housing said port having an opening to said interior space to permit the passage of ink from said interior space to the exterior of said tank housing; and an ink absorbing member substantially filling said interior space of said tank housing and being formed of a porous material, said ink absorbing member having a region facing and at least in part engaging said opening to said ink supply delivery port; said second wall of said tank housing being spaced at least in part sufficiently apart from said ink absorbing member to provide an air communication space therebetween, said tank housing being formed with an air communication hole therethrough, said air communication space being in fluid communication with ambient air through said air communication hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An ink supply tank for a dot matrix printer, comprising:
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a tank housing having an interior space defined in part by first and second spaced opposed walls; an ink supply delivery port extending through a first wall of said tank housing said port having an opening to said interior space to permit the passage of ink from said interior space to the exterior of said tank housing; and an ink absorbing member substantially filling said interior space of said tank housing and being formed of a porous material, said ink absorbing member having a region facing and at least in part engaging said opening to said ink supply delivery port; said second wall of said tank housing being spaced at least in part sufficiently apart from said ink absorbing member to provide an air communication space therebetween, said tank housing being formed with an air communication hole therethrough, said air communication space being in fluid communication with ambient air through said air communication hole. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ink supply system for a dot matrix printer, comprising:
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an ink delivery system adapted to deliver ink to a dot matrix printer; an ink supply tank mounted to deliver ink to said ink delivery system; a tank housing having an interior space defined in part by first and second spaced opposed walls; an ink supply delivery port extending through a first wall of said tank housing said port having an opening to said interior space to permit the passage of ink from said interior space to the exterior of said tank housing; and an ink absorbing member substantially filling said interior space of said tank housing and being formed of a porous material, said ink absorbing member having a region facing and at least in part engaging said opening to said ink supply delivery port; said second wall of said tank housing being spaced at least in part sufficiently apart from said ink absorbing member to provide an air communication space therebetween, said tank housing being formed with an air communication hole therethrough, said air communication space being in fluid communication with ambient air through said air communication hole. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for supplying ink to a dot matrix printer, comprising:
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providing an ink supply tank having an interior space; extending an ink supply delivery port through a first wall of said ink supply tank, said ink supply delivery port, said port having an opening to said interior space to permit the passage of ink from said interior space of said ink supply tank to the exterior of said ink supply tank; mounting an ink absorbing member in said ink supply tank, said ink absorbing member substantially filling said interior space of said ink supply tank and being formed of a porous material, said ink absorbing member having a region facing and at least in part engaging said opening to said ink supply delivery port; positioning a second wall of said ink supply tank opposite said first wall at least in part a sufficient space apart from said ink absorbing member to provide an air communication space therebetween; forming an air communication hole in said ink supply tank so that said air communication space is in fluid communication with ambient air through said air communication hole; and withdrawing ink from said interior space of said ink supply tank through said opening in said ink supply delivery port. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification