Diaphragm pump for ink supply

• US 5,854,646 A
• Filed: 04/30/1997
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Barinaga, John A., Gasvoda, Eric L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US08/846,785
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1755 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17573 using optical means for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17576 using a floater for ink level indication

Abstract

An ink supply having a diaphragm pump for providing ink to a printhead. The diaphragm pump includes a barrier layer and a chassis defining a variable volume chamber. The chassis has a flange disposed proximate an opening in the chassis. Also included in the diaphragm pump is a crimp cap. The crimp cap is disposed on the chassis with the barrier layer disposed between the crimp cap and the chassis. The crimp cap engages the flange to compress the barrier layer against the chassis to define, at least partially, the variable volume chamber. The barrier layer limits the diffusion of air through the diaphragm into the chamber. An elastomer layer is disposed between the chassis and the vapor barrier layer, limiting passage of liquid within the chamber through the diaphragm.

Claims

1. An ink supply of the type having a diaphragm pump for providing ink to a printhead, the diaphragm pump comprising:

a diaphragm barrier layer;

a chassis at least partially defining a variable volume chamber, the chassis having a flange disposed proximate an opening in the chassis; and

a fastening device, the fastening device disposed on the chassis with the diaphragm barrier layer disposed between the fastening device and the chassis, the fastening device engaging the flange to compress the diaphragm barrier layer against the chassis forming a compression seal between the diaphragm barrier layer and the chassis.

2. The ink supply of claim 1 wherein the diaphragm barrier layer is a vapor barrier layer.

3. The ink supply of claim 1 wherein the diaphragm barrier layer is a metallic film layer.

4. The ink supply of claim 1 wherein the diaphragm barrier layer is a polymeric film layer.

5. The ink supply of claim 1 wherein the diaphragm barrier layer is formed from an elastomer layer.

6. The ink supply of claim 5 wherein the diaphragm barrier layer is formed from EPDM.

7. The ink supply of claim 1 wherein the diaphragm barrier layer includes a first and second layer with the first layer formed from an elastomer material and the second layer formed from a polymer material.

8. The ink supply of claim 1 wherein the fastening device is a crimp cap.

9. An ink supply of the type having a diaphragm pump for providing ink to a printhead, the diaphragm pump having a chassis and a diaphragm, the diaphragm comprising:

a vapor barrier layer for limiting transfer of air through the diaphragm into the diaphragm pump; and

an elastomer layer disposed between the chassis and the vapor barrier layer, the elastomer layer limiting the transfer of fluid though the diaphragm.

10. The ink supply of claim 9 further including a crimp cap, the crimp cap disposed on the chassis with the elastomer layer and the vapor barrier layer disposed between the crimp cap and the chassis, the crimp cap engaging the chassis to compress the elastomer layer against the chassis to define, at least partially, the variable volume chamber.

11. The ink supply of claim 10 wherein the vapor barrier layer is formed from PVDC and the elastomer layer is formed from EDPM.

12. A method for forming an ink container diaphragm pump, the method comprising:

positioning a diaphragm and crimp cap on a chassis having a variable volume chamber, the chassis having a flange disposed proximate a chassis opening;

crimping the crimp cap to engage the flange to compress the diaphragm, holding the diaphragm securely to the chassis.