Immersible oxygen absorbing capsule for ink jet fluid supply

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an oxygen absorbing capsule containing an oxygen absorbing material for use in removing oxygen from an ink composition in an ink jet recording device is provided.
The capsule wall is formed of a resin, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene which is insoluble in the ink composition, but has a large permeability to gas.
This permits oxygen to be absorbed from the ink composition without imparting any undesirable properties to the ink composition.
The oxygen absorbing material preferably is an aqueous alkaline solution of pyrogallol derivatives, such as alkaline pyrogallol.
The oxygen absorbing capsule may be disposed in the ink tank, in an ink passage below the coupling to the ink tank, at the ink nozzle, or may be in the form of micro-capsules dispersed throughout the ink composition.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved ink jet recording device.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved oxygen absorbing device for absorbing oxygen from ink in an ink-on-demand type recording device.
A further object of the invention is to provide an ink jet printer having means for deoxidizing ink.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an ink jet printer having means for deoxidizing ink without changing properties of the ink, or discoloring the ink.
It is another object of the invention to provide a means for deoxidizing ink which will prevent nozzle clogging.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an ink jet printer having means for deoxidizing ink which does not adversely affect the cost of construction.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations and arrangement of parts which are adapted to effect such steps, and the product which possess the characteristics, properties and relation of components all as exemplified in the detailed disclosure hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be directed to the claims