FLUID CARTRIDGE FOR AN INKJET PRINTER

• US 20140362147A1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Videojet Technologies Incorporated (Veralto Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Videojet Technologies Incorporated (Veralto Corp.)
• Inventors: Blowfield, Philip, Tomlin, Matthew, Mann, Carl, Fost, Ian, Zaba, Jerzy
• Granted Patent: US 9,067,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• 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 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1753 Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts
• 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 2/18 Ink recirculation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17516 comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17569 based on the amount printed or to be printed

Abstract

A fluid cartridge for an inkjet printer includes an inner reservoir containing a printing fluid. The reservoir includes walls enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage of the printing fluid and a port for dispensing the printing liquid. The reservoir includes a rigid framework and one or more elastically deformable sections. The cartridge further includes an outlet for connection to the printer, an outer housing in which the reservoir is housed, an electronic storage device configured to store data relating to the contents of the cartridge, and at least one electrical contact associated with the electronic storage device and provided on a substrate. The reservoir provides a reduction in pressure of the internal space whereby the equilibrium pressure difference between the internal space and the surrounding atmosphere increases substantially monotonically in magnitude as liquid is dispensed.

Claims

1. A fluid cartridge for an inkjet printer, the cartridge comprising:

an inner reservoir containing a printing fluid, the reservoir comprising walls enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage of the printing fluid and a port for dispensing the printing liquid, wherein the reservoir comprises a rigid framework and one or more elastically deformable sections,

an outlet for connection to the printer;

an outer housing in which the reservoir is housed;

an electronic storage device configured to store data relating to the contents of the cartridge; and

at least one electrical contact associated with the electronic storage device and provided on a substrate;

wherein the rigid framework and one or more elastically deformable sections of the reservoir provide a reduction in pressure of the internal space whereby the equilibrium pressure difference between the internal space and the surrounding atmosphere increases substantially monotonically in magnitude as liquid is dispensed,

wherein the port is adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the equilibrium pressure of the internal space,

and wherein the port is adapted to prevent air from entering the internal space from outside the reservoir as liquid is dispensed,

wherein the container is for storing and dispensing ink or solvent for use with a continuous inkjet printer.

2. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the rigid framework is formed by edges joining the walls and at least one wall is elastically deformable.

3. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the walls form a box-shaped reservoir comprising two opposed face walls of similar shape joined at their perimeters by edge walls having their width substantially normal to the opposed parallel faces.

4. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the port is provided with a self-sealing septum.

5. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the outer housing comprises a rigid cover.

6. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 where no permanent deformation occurs in the reservoir when the pressure of the internal space is reduced to 40 kPa or less.

7. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the outer housing comprises a first aperture for the outlet and a second aperture that provides access to the at least one electrical contact.

8. A fluid cartridge according to claim 7 wherein the substrate is disposed between the outer housing and the inner reservoir.

9. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the printing fluid comprises organic solvent.

10. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the outlet comprises a rigid conduit extending from a wall of the container.

11. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the walls of the container are between 0.35 mm to 1.00 mm thick.

12. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises side walls, each side wall provided with an elongate arcuate recess by which the housing can be grasped.

13. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the container has a rigid supporting surface adjacent to the substrate.

14. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a locking element for locking engagement with the substrate.

15. A fluid cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the locking element is a tongue with a tip for engagement in a slot or recess in the substrate.

16. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is fixed relative to the outlet by a pocket defined on the inside of the housing.

17. A fluid cartridge according to claim 16 wherein the pocket comprises at least one locking element having slots for supporting edges of the substrate.

18. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises rigid side walls and at least one slit provided immediately adjacent corner portions of the side walls so that the corner portions can flex inwardly towards the container.

19. A fluid cartridge according to claim 18, wherein at least one locating element is defined on a surface of at least one of the corner portions, the locating element being for engagement with a complementary element on a cartridge holder.

20. A fluid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a guide feature extending from a surface of the housing for engaging a slot on a cartridge holder to guide movement of the cartridge relative to the cartridge holder.

21. A fluid cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the guide feature is T-shaped.

22. A fluid cartridge according to claim 20, further comprising a ramp adjacent the guide feature.