Appeal No. 2006-0145
Application 09/639,850
causes trouble. When the ink cures, excessive load is applied to the pump and the pump can become
damaged. As an improvement thereover, the instant invention employs a diaphragm pump to avoid
this friction, so that curing of the ink can be suppressed. Moreover, it is alleged that by arranging the
diaphragm pump to be stopped in a position where the stress applied to the diaphragm is not larger
than 75% of the elastic limit of the diaphragm, deterioration-deformation of the diaphragm can be
suppressed and the initial performance of the pump can be lengthened.
Representative independent claim 8 is reproduced as follows:
8. A stencil printer comprising:
an ink supply pump comprising a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm operable between a
first position preventing fluid flow of an ink and a second position permitting fluid flow of the ink
therethrough; and
a drive assembly for driving said diaphragm between said first and second positions,
wherein said diaphragm is driven by said drive assembly such that a stress applied to the
diaphragm is limited to less than 75% of the elastic limit of the diaphragm.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Miller et al. (Miller) 3,843,974 Oct. 29, 1974
Black et al. (Black) 4,051,777 Oct. 04, 1977
Mastromatteo 4,111,056 Sep. 05, 1978
Kawahata et al. (Kawahata) 5,019,202 May 28, 1991
Klein 5,263,693 Nov. 23, 1993
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