US4663639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printer
Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1985-03-26
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Granted: 1987-05-05
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Expires: 2005-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for dispensing a liquid e.g. for graphic work, having a nozzle to which a high potential is applied from a high voltage generator. The nozzle has a porous wick e.g. a felt- or fibre- tip extending therefrom. The liquid reservoir and wick may be a cartridge, e.g. a felt-tip graphic marker. The apparatus may be a self-contained hand-held unit which can be `earthed` via the user's hand. Alternatively the apparatus can be in the form of a printer controlled by a control unit--e.g. a computer graphics plotter.
Inventors
- 👤 David Owen
- 👤 Colin G. McLaine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:54
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43K; B43K8/00; B43K8/22; B05; B05B; B05B11/00; B05B11/0005; B05B11/0035; B05B12/00; B05B12/08; B05B12/12; B05B12/124; B05B5/00; B05B5/025; B05B5/0255; B05B5/053; B05B5/0531; B05B5/0538; B05B5/16; B05B5/1691; B43K8/02; B43K8/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising (i) a nozzle having a porous wick extending therefrom, (ii) a liquid supply to said wick, (iii) means to support said nozzle, and (iv) means to apply to said wick a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, that, when the tip of said wick positioned at a distance within the range 5 to 20 mm from an earthed surface, sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the tip of said wick to draw a ligament of said liquid away from said wick.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising (i) a nozzle having a porous wick extending therefrom, (ii) a liquid supply to said wick, (iii) means to support said nozzle, and (iv) means to apply to said wick a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, that, when the tip of said wick positioned at a distance within the range 5 to 20 mm from an earthed surface, sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the tip of said wick to draw a ligament of said liquid away from said wick.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a body and said liquid supply comprises a reservoir of said liquid within said body, said reservoir being demountable from said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the reservoir, nozzle and wick comprise a single cartridge unit which can be removed from the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said cartridge unit is a graphic marking implement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the body is elongated and shaped so as to be suitable for holding in the human hand with the wick at one end of said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a high voltage generator is mounted within the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the outer surface of said body is provided with an electrically conductive portion electrically connected to the high voltage generator thereby providing an earth return to said generator when said electrically conductive portion is contacted by the hand of the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the high voltage generator is powered by at least one battery provided within said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said electrically conductive portion comprises a push button which, when depressed, causes a high potential, relative to earth, to be generated by said generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 for printing on a sheetlike substrate wherein the tip of the wick is spaced from the substrate, including (a) means for effecting relative movement between said nozzle and said substrate in a plane perpendicular to the perpendicular from said nozzle to said substrate in response to a signal or signals from a control unit, (b) an electrically conductive member spaced from the tip of said wick and contacting said substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including means to vary the potential applied to the wick in response to a signal from the control unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including a control electrode disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, the wick, means to apply a high potential, relative to said conductive member, to said control electrode, and means to vary the potential applied to said control electrode in response to a signal from the control unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including means to vary the spacing of the tip of the wick from said substrate in response to a signal from the control unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including a plurality of applicators and means, controlled by said control unit, to determine the applicator to be actuated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for use in the dispensing of a liquid from a cartridge having a casing enclosing a reservoir of the liquid and a nozzle having a porous wick extending therefrom, comprising (i) a body, adapted to receive said cartridge with the tip of the wick projecting therefrom, and (iii) means to apply a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, to said cartridge, when said cartridge is fitted to said body that, when the tip of said wick is positioned at a distance within the range 5 to 50 mm from an earthed surface, sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the tip of said wick to draw a ligament of said liquid away from said wick.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for use in the dispensing of a liquid from a cartridge having a casing enclosing a reservoir of the liquid and a nozzle having a porous wick extending therefrom, comprising (i) a body, adapted to receive said cartridge with the tip of the wick projecting therefrom, and (iii) means to apply a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, to said cartridge, when said cartridge is fitted to said body that, when the tip of said wick is positioned at a distance within the range 5 to 50 mm from an earthed surface, sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the tip of said wick to draw a ligament of said liquid away from said wick.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the body is elongated and is shaped so as to be suitable for holding in the human hand with the wick at one end of said body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein a high voltage generator is mounted within the body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the outer surface of said body is provided with an electrically conductive portion electrically connected to the high voltage generator thereby providing an earth return to said generator when said electrically conductive portion is contacted by the hand of the user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the high voltage generator is powered by at least one battery provided within said body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said electrically conductive portion comprises a push button which, when depressed, causes a high potential, relative to earth, to be generated by said generator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrostatic graphic art liquid applicator comprising: a nozzle having a porous wick extending therefrom, said wick having a cross-sectional area of between about 1.0 square cm and 0.02 square cm and a tip of convex shape; means for supplying liquid to said wick; and means to apply to said wick a sufficiently large electric potential, relative to earth, that when the tip of said wick is positioned at a distance of 5-20 mm from an earthed surface, sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the tip to draw a ligament of said liquid from said wick toward the earthed surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrostatic graphic art liquid applicator comprising: a nozzle having a porous wick extending therefrom, said wick having a cross-sectional area of between about 1.0 square cm and 0.02 square cm and a tip of convex shape; means for supplying liquid to said wick; and means to apply to said wick a sufficiently large electric potential, relative to earth, that when the tip of said wick is positioned at a distance of 5-20 mm from an earthed surface, sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the tip to draw a ligament of said liquid from said wick toward the earthed surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-04 | 1990-11-03 | 1991-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-04 | 1994-11-03 | 1995-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-04 | 1998-11-03 | 1999-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |