Ink-jet printer - has dye supplying tube formed from elastic material which shrinks and stretches when dye contracts and expands

摘要

The printer includes an array of jets (4). A dye tank (1) contains a high m.pt. dye. The dye is solid at room temp. and becomes fluid and contracts when it is warmed to its m.pt. The dye expands when the fluid is cooled to room temp. A dye supplying tube (3) has an inlet connected to the dye tank. An outlet is connected to the array of jets to supply dye to the array. The tube is formed from an elastic material which shrinks and stretches in accordance with the contraction and expansion of dye in the tube. ADVANTAGE - Prevents air bubbles forming at input of dye supplying tube and improves effectiveness of the dye expulsion process.