Patent ID: 7210405
Filing Date: 2007-05-01
Classification: B41F,B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink supply system for use with a printer of the type in which ink is deposited in a receiving region on a plate and ink is scraped from the plate leaving ink in the receiving region, comprising: an ink cup having a hollow interior defining an ink reservoir and defining an outer edge, the outer edge having a scraping element thereon for engaging the plate, the ink cup having an inlet and an outlet; a pump having a suction side and a discharge side, the suction side being in flow communication with the ink cup outlet for drawing ink from the cup; a viscosity controller in flow communication with the pump discharge side and configured to receive ink from the pump; a flow conduit extending between the viscosity controller and the ink cup for providing a flow of ink from the viscosity controller to the ink cup, wherein the ink cup is at an elevation and wherein the viscosity controller is at an elevation that is lower than the elevation of the ink cup, and wherein the pump draws ink from the cup creating a negative pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the cup and wherein the negative pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the cup draws ink from the viscosity controller to the ink cup through the flow conduit.