Abstract: The invention is a polychromatic pen cartridge for recording device such as a color plotter, or printer, for recording a color image on a recording m edium. The color image is characterized by a line width. The invention has tapered tubular lumens with plural hollow elongate lumens. The tubular lumens have a tip end facing the recording medium and spanning a distance on the recording medium on the order of the line width. Each of the lumens has an opening at the tip end and a large input opening at the other end. A plurality of separate ink reservoirs are connected to corresponding ones of the lumens at the input openings thereof. There are also valving apparatus for individually controlling ink flow from each of the ink reservoirs to a respective one of the lumens.

Abstract: In a pen plotter, a plotting system for generating and delivering vaporized ink to an aerosol pen which is designed to deliver a precision, controlled stream of ink to the media surface without having to come into contact with it. This is achieved by vaporizing ink in a chamber and delivering it to an ink vapor aerosol pen through tubing which is designed to absorb and recover any ink vapor droplets that may have condensed therein and thus obstruct the vapor path. The aerosol pen is designed to dispense the ink vapor as a stream which converges to a fine point thereby allowing a precise image to be plotted on the media surface. As with the vapor delivery tubing, the aerosol pen is also designed to absorb and recover condensed ink vapor droplets. An interrupter moved into and out of the ink vapor stream to act as a valve for the stream so as to stop and start marking on the media by the stream. Intercepted ink is recycled back to the holding chamber.