INK REFILL UNIT WITH INCREMENTAL INK EJECTION MECHANISM

• US 20090096847A1
• Filed: 11/23/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Hibbard, Christopher, Mackey, Paul Ian, Jackson, Garry Raymond, Berry, Norman Micheal, Nakazawa, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/209 Heads; Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0458 controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04585 controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04591 Width of the driving signal being adjusted
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/135 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14016 Structure of bubble jet print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1634 laser machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16526 by applying pressure only
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16535 using wiping constructions B41J2/16552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1707 Conditioning of the inside of ink supply circuits, e.g. flushing during start-up or shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1714 : Conditioning of the outside of ink supply systems, e.g. inkjet collector cleaning, ink mist removal B41J2/08, B41J2/16517, B41J2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 : Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 : Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 : Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 : Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 : Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17536 : Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 : Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 : Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 : Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/19 : for removing air bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/515 : line printer type
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 : Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14403 : including a filter
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 : Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14435 : Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14459 : Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14475 : characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/1742 : Open waste ink collector, e.g. ink receiving from a print head above the collector during borderless printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17516 : comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 : Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 : Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 : Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism

Abstract

An ink refill unit for a print cartridge, said unit comprises a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the print cartridge; a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing; a seal for sealing off one end of the fluid reservoir, the seal being movable within the fluid reservoir; an ejector assembly comprising a spring biased plunger engaged against the seal, the plunger having defined on a side thereof a number of groves; an actuator mechanism comprising a rod to which a pawl and an arm are attached, the pawl adapted to engage with the grooves to negate a biasing force of the plunger against the seal; and an actuator shaft attached to the housing, the actuator shaft being slidable with respect to housing so as to be exposed outside of the housing. The actuator shaft, when exposed outside of the housing, is operable to engage with the arm of the actuator mechanism to disengage the pawl from a groove, whereby the biasing force of the plunger is allowed to act against the seal.

Claims

1. An ink refill unit for a print cartridge, said unit comprising:

a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the print cartridge;

a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing;

a seal for sealing off one end of the fluid reservoir, the seal being movable within the fluid reservoir;

an ejector assembly comprising a spring biased plunger engaged against the seal, the plunger having defined on a side thereof a number of groves;

an actuator mechanism comprising a rod to which a pawl and an arm are attached, the pawl adapted to engage with the grooves to negate a biasing force of the plunger against the seal; and

an actuator shaft attached to the housing, the actuator shaft being slidable with respect to housing so as to be exposed outside of the housing, wherein

the actuator shaft, when exposed outside of the housing, is operable to engage with the arm of the actuator mechanism to disengage the pawl from a groove, whereby the biasing force of the plunger is allowed to act against the seal.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein fluid reservoir is collapsible and includes an.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the ejection port of the fluid reservoir includes a syringe needle arranged to penetrate a valve seal of the print cartridge.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein a known and predetermined amount of fluid is ejected from the refill unit with each actuation of the actuator shaft.