Patent ID: 6422698
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A multiple color ink jet marker comprising:an elongate hand-held writing instrument body; a removable cartridge, said cartridge including an ink jet print-head and a reservoir of ink provided as a unitary structure, said ink jet print-head disposed at one end of said instrument body in fluid communication with said reservoir when said cartridge is inserted into said instrument body, said ink jet print-head having a plurality of ejection nozzles in fluid communication with said ink reservoir, wherein desired ones of said ejection nozzles dispense a selected amount of ink of a first color upon receipt of first control signals and wherein other ones of said ejection nozzles dispense a selected amount of ink of a second color upon receipt of second control signals; at least one color input control providing ready hand access to a user; and an electrical circuit coupled to said ink jet print-head and said at least one input control including synchronization and selection circuit means for generating said first and second control signals to expel droplets of ink of said first and second colors in response to the receipt of input signals from said at least one input control, said ink droplets rendering a pattern of ink that is perceptible as a conventional marker to the user.