Sublimation pen for use in a dye sublimation printing system, and method of use of the dye sublimation printing system - Patents

Sublimation pen for use in a dye sublimation printing system, and method of use of the dye sublimation printing system
Patent Agent: Lesperance & Martineau - Montreal, QC, CA
Patent Inventor: Andree Pelletier
Applicaton #: 20070046740
Class: 347085000 (USPTO)
03/01/07

A sublimation pen or cartridge for use in a dye sublimation printing system, which is to be used with sublimation inks of the type comprising at least a liquid carrier and solid-form pigments insoluble in the liquid carrier. The sublimation pen comprises a pen main body, an ink inlet provided on the pen main body, and a variable-width ink passageway defined within the pen main body and capable of fluidly communicating with the ink inlet. The ink passageway defines a sublimation chamber vestibule adjacent to the ink inlet and capable of fluidly communicating therewith, and a sublimation chamber in fluid communication with the sublimation chamber vestibule, the sublimation chamber being wider than the sublimation chamber vestibule. The sublimation pen further comprises a heating device means capable of transmitting heat to the sublimation chamber; and a nozzle mounted to the pen main body, the nozzle defining a narrow discharge channel opening at a first end into the sublimation chamber outlet, and opening at a second end outwardly of the sublimation pen. Sublimation ink injected in the pen body through the pen sublimation ink inlet may flow in the ink passageway, first through the sublimation chamber vestibule and then into the wider sublimation chamber within which the solid-state pigments of the sublimation ink are sublimed, the sublimed pigments being thereafter forcibly discharged out of the pen through the discharge channel of the nozzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a sublimation pen for use in a dye sublimation printing system, and for use with sublimation inks of the type comprising at least a liquid carrier and solid-form pigments insoluble in the liquid carrier, said sublimation pen comprising:
[0008] a pen main body;
[0009] an ink inlet provided on said pen main body;
[0010] a variable-width ink passageway defined within said pen main body and capable of fluidly communicating with said ink inlet, said ink passageway defining: [0011] a sublimation chamber vestibule adjacent to said ink inlet and capable of fluidly communicating therewith; [0012] a sublimation chamber in fluid communication with said sublimation chamber vestibule, said sublimation chamber being wider than said sublimation chamber vestibule;
[0013] a heating means for transmitting heat to said sublimation chamber; and
[0014] a nozzle mounted to said pen main body, said nozzle defining a narrow discharge channel opening at a first end into said sublimation chamber outlet, and opening at a second end outwardly of said sublimation pen;
[0015] wherein sublimation ink injected in said pen body through said pen sublimation ink inlet may flow in said ink passageway, first through said sublimation chamber vestibule and then into said wider sublimation chamber within which the solid-state pigments of the sublimation ink are sublimed, the sublimed pigments being thereafter forcibly discharged out of the pen through said discharge channel of said nozzle.
[0016] In one embodiment, said pen main body comprises an inlet component defining said sublimation ink inlet, an insulating component secured to said inlet component and defining said sublimation chamber vestibule therein, and a sublimation component secured to said insulating component and defining said sublimation chamber.
[0017] In one embodiment, said sublimation pen is equipped with pressure regulating means for regulating ink flow between said pen sublimation ink inlet and said ink passageway.
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