Patent ID: 6672702
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: B41J,Y10S

Abstract:
A printing apparatus comprising:a pressurized source of a thermodynamically stable mixture of a compressed fluid and a marking material; a pressurized source of a compressed fluid; a material selection device having a plurality of inlets and an outlet, one of the plurality of inlets being connected in fluid communication to the pressurized source of compressed fluid and another of the plurality of inlets being connected in fluid communication to the thermodynamically stable mixture of the compressed fluid and the marking material; a printhead, portions of the printhead defining a delivery path having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the delivery path being connected in fluid communication to the outlet of the material selection device; and an actuating mechanism moveably positioned along the delivery path, wherein, the compressed fluid is in a gaseous state at a location beyond the outlet of the delivery path; and a cleaning station positioned relative to the printhead, wherein the printhead is moveable to a position over the cleaning station.