Appeal No. 1998-3131 Page 3
Application No. 08/192,224
Such ink circulation helps the removal of air from ink.
Where more than one print head is employed, moreover, such
circulation across all the print heads evenly distributes heat
so
that the entire array of print heads operates at substantially
the same temperature. When used with color inks, circulation
helps to prevent changes in the relative concentrations of dye
and solvents.
Claim 1, which is representative for our purposes,
follows:
1. An ink circulation system for an ink-jet
printer, comprising:
a pen body shaped to define a first location to
which is mounted a print head that is operable to
expel ink;
a first ink circulation passageway defined by
the shape of the pen body, the passageway being in
fluid communication with the print head;
a flexible circuit attached to the print head
and shaped to define with the pen body a part of the
first ink circulation passageway; and
circulation means for continuously moving ink
into and out of the first ink circulation passageway
thereby to place moving ink in fluid communication
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