| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 832 750 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
03.02.1999 Bulletin 1999/05 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
01.04.1998 Bulletin 1998/14 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 26.09.1997 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B41J 2/175 |
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
30.09.1996 US 723685
|
| (71) |
Applicant: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
|
Lexington,
Kentucky 40511 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Decoste, Charles Leonard, Jr.
Richmond,
Kentucky 40475 (US)
- Elbert, Donald Leo
Lexington,
Kentucky 40502 (US)
- Beach, Bradley Leonard
Lexington,
Kentucky 40505 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Matthews, Derek Peter et al |
|
Frank B. Dehn & Co.,
European Patent Attorneys,
179 Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V 4EL
London EC4V 4EL (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Ink reservoir for ink jet printer |
(57) An ink reservoir for use in an ink jet printer cartridge is disclosed. This ink reservoir
maintains effective flow of the ink to the print head but contains only minimal levels
of nonvolatile residues. The ink reservoir utilizes a nonfelted reticulated foam having
from 65 to 110 pores per inch (ppi, equivalent to 25 to 45 pores per cm), preferably
from 88 to 98 ppi (35 to 38 pores per cm), with a compression ratio of from 1.5 to
6.5, preferably from 2.0 to 4.0.