Fluid storage container

• US 20070139491A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Conway, John, Hudson, Angela
• Application Number:
  US11/312,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge

Abstract

A fluid supply cartridge and a method for improving fluid supply characteristics of the fluid supply cartridge. The fluid supply cartridge includes a negative pressure inducing cavity. A negative pressure inducing device is disposed in the cavity. The negative pressure inducing device having a width, a length, and a height. At least one slit is disposed in the negative pressure inducing device transverse to the length and across the width thereof. The at least one slit has a depth that is sufficient to reduce a connection force used to attached the fluid supply cartridge to an ejection head structure.

Claims

1. A fluid supply cartridge comprising a negative pressure inducing cavity and a negative pressure inducing device disposed in the cavity, the negative pressure inducing device having a width, a length, and a height and comprising at least one slit disposed therein transverse to the length and across the width thereof, wherein the at least one slit has a depth that is sufficient to regulate a connection force used to attached the fluid supply cartridge to an ejection head structure.

2. The fluid supply cartridge of claim 1, wherein the negative pressure inducing device includes two spaced-apart slits.

3. The fluid supply cartridge of claim 1, wherein the negative pressure inducing device comprises a porous felt or foam material.

4. The fluid supply cartridge of claim 1, wherein the at least one slit has a depth ranging from about 3 to about 10 millimeters.

5. The fluid supply cartridge of claim 1, wherein the at least one slit is effective to substantially eliminate gaps between the negative pressure inducing device and a fluid outlet wall of the cavity.

6. A method for improving a fluid supply performance of a fluid supply cartridge containing a negative pressure inducing device disposed in the cartridge, the method comprising the steps of:

slitting the negative pressure inducing device to provide at least one slit across a width thereof, to a predetermined depth and in a location of the negative pressure inducing device sufficient to regulate a pressure of the negative pressure inducing device adjacent a fluid outlet wick, and

disposing the negative pressure inducing device in a cavity of the fluid supply cartridge so that the at least one slit is adjacent an outlet port of the fluid supply cartridge.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of slitting comprises providing a plurality of spaced-apart slits in the negative pressure inducing device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the negative pressure inducing device comprises a porous felt or foam material.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined depth ranges from about 3 to about 10 millimeters.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one slit is effective to substantially eliminate gaps between the negative pressure inducing device and a fluid outlet wall of the cavity.

11. A method for selecting a predetermined connection force required to connect a fluid supply cartridge to a micro-fluid ejection head structure, the method comprising:

slitting a negative pressure inducing device to provide at least one slit across a width and to a depth in the negative pressure inducing device, wherein the at least one slit has a depth ranging from about 3 to about 10 millimeters; and

inserting the negative pressure inducing device containing the at least one slit in a fluid supply cartridge so that the at least one slit is effective to regulate a pressure of the device adjacent a fluid supply wick of the micro-fluid ejection head structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of slitting comprises providing two or more spaced-apart slits in the negative pressure inducing device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the two spaced-apart slits are spaced-apart an amount greater than or equal to the diameter of the wick.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the negative pressure inducing device comprises a porous felt or foam material.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one slit is effective to substantially eliminate gaps between the negative pressure inducing device and a fluid outlet wall of the fluid supply cartridge.