Fluid coupling having equalized pressure drops in multiple fluid lines

• US 10,369,792 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Inventors: Berry, Norman, Thelander, Jason, Burke, David, Thomas, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T
• Application Number:
  US15/888,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20180222207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14145 Structure of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/19 for removing air bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/21 for multi-colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2103 Features not dealing with the colouring process per se, e.g. construction of printers or heads, driving circuit adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages

Abstract

A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead includes: a body having a first channel and a second channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel; a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel; and a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel. The first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

Claims

1. A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead, the fluid coupling comprising:

a body having a first channel and a second channel fluidically isolated from the first channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel;

a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel, the first inlet port and first outlet port projecting outwardly from the body; and

a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel, the second inlet port and second outlet port projecting outwardly from the body;

wherein;

the first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

2. The multi-channel fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the flow resistance of the fluids flowing through the first and second channels are equalized.

3. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the second channel comprises at least a portion having a larger cross-sectional area than the first channel.

4. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the second channel has a sloped wall.

5. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the first and second outlet ports extend transversely relative to the first and second inlets ports.

6. The fluid coupling of claim 5, wherein the second channel has a roof sloped from the second outlet port towards the second inlet port.

7. The fluid coupling of claim 1 comprising a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels.

8. The fluid coupling of claim 7, wherein the first inlet ports are relatively proximal the first outlet ports and the second inlet ports are relatively distal the second outlet ports.

9. The fluid coupling of claim 7 comprising two first channels and two second channels for four ink colors.

10. The fluid coupling of claim 9, wherein the inlet ports or the outlet ports are arranged radially.

11. A printhead comprising:

a manifold having at least first and second ink supply channels; and

a fluid coupling according to claim 1 connected to at least one end of the manifold.

12. The printhead of claim 11, wherein the fluid coupling is an inlet coupling for the printhead.

13. The printhead of claim 12, wherein inlet ports of the inlet coupling extend perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of the printhead.

14. The printhead of claim 13, wherein the inlet ports extend in an opposite direction to an ink ejection direction of the printhead.

15. The printhead of claim 11, wherein the first and second ink supply channels extend longitudinally along the manifold.

16. A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead, the fluid coupling comprising:

a body having a first channel and a second channel fluidically isolated from the first channel, the second channel being relatively longer than the first channel;

a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of the first channel; and

a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of the second channel,

wherein;

the first and second outlet ports extend transversely relative to the first and second inlets ports; and

the second channel has a roof sloped from the second outlet port towards the second inlet port.

17. A multi-channel fluid coupling for a printhead, the fluid coupling comprising:

a body having a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels fluidically isolated from each other, the second channels being relatively longer than the first channel;

a first inlet port and a first outlet port at opposite ends of each first channel; and

a second inlet port and a second outlet port at opposite ends of each second channel,

wherein;

the inlet ports or the outlet ports are arranged radially; and

the first and second channels are configured for proportionally modulating a flow resistance of fluids flowing therethrough.

18. The fluid coupling of claim 17, wherein the second channels comprise at least a portion having a larger cross-sectional area than the first channel.

19. The fluid coupling of claim 17, wherein the second channels have a sloped wall.

20. The fluid coupling of claim 17, wherein the first and second outlet ports extend transversely relative to the first and second inlets ports;

and each second channel has a roof sloped from the outlet channel towards the inlet channel.