초록 ▼

In continuous flow ink jet printers, over 95% of the ink in the ink reservior is recirculated each time the volume of ink in the reservoir is cycled through the printer. The apparatus herein provides a very low evaporation rate for the recirculating ink. With a low evaporation rate, the ink may be r

In continuous flow ink jet printers, over 95% of the ink in the ink reservior is recirculated each time the volume of ink in the reservoir is cycled through the printer. The apparatus herein provides a very low evaporation rate for the recirculating ink. With a low evaporation rate, the ink may be replenished with ink alone rather than having to supply ink concentrate and solvent to readjust the ink composition. The low evaporation rate is achieved by keeping the temperature of the ink in the reservoir and at the print head near ambient temperature of the printer\s environment and by minimizing the air flow through the reservoir. In addition, the ink in the reservoir is replenished as it is consumed.

대표청구항 ▼

In an ink recirculation system for a continuous flow ink jet printer, said system having an ink reservoir, a pump for pumping ink from the reservoir to a print head, a pressure regulator between the pump and the print head, an ink replenishment supply, a return ink conduit between the gutter at the

In an ink recirculation system for a continuous flow ink jet printer, said system having an ink reservoir, a pump for pumping ink from the reservoir to a print head, a pressure regulator between the pump and the print head, an ink replenishment supply, a return ink conduit between the gutter at the print head and the reservoir, and a vacuum source to reduce the air pressure in the reservoir below atmospheric pressure, improved apparatus for reducing the evaporation rate of ink solvents from the system, said apparatus comprising: means for minimizing the passage of heat from the pump to ink at the print head and in the ink reservoir; said return conduit between the gutter and the reservoir having a low resistance to ink flow and said vacuum source reducing the air pressure in the reservoir only slightly below atmospheric pressure in order to reduce air flow through the reservoir whereby the evaporation rate of solvents in the ink is maintained at a low level.