Pinch seal providing fluid interconnects between fluid delivery system components
First Claim
1. A marking fluid valve for a marking fluid delivery system of a media marking device, the marking fluid valve comprising:
- a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another;
a pair of opposed lips at the first end of the resilient body, the pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, the slit defining an axis, wherein compressing the first end of the resilient body along the axis of the lips deforms the resilient body from a closed position, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent marking fluid from passing through the slit, to an open position, in which the lips are spread at least partially apart from one another to enable marking fluid to pass through the slit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A marking fluid valve for a marking fluid delivery system of a media marking device. The marking fluid valve includes a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another, with the first end having a pair of opposed lips. The pair of opposed lips define a normally closed slit extending therebetween. Compressing the first end of the resilient body along axes of the lips deforms the resilient body from a closed position, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent marking fluid from passing through the slit, to an open position, in which the lips are spread at least partially apart from one another to enable marking fluid to pass through the slit.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A marking fluid valve for a marking fluid delivery system of a media marking device, the marking fluid valve comprising:
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a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another;
a pair of opposed lips at the first end of the resilient body, the pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, the slit defining an axis, wherein compressing the first end of the resilient body along the axis of the lips deforms the resilient body from a closed position, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent marking fluid from passing through the slit, to an open position, in which the lips are spread at least partially apart from one another to enable marking fluid to pass through the slit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fluid valve interconnect for a fluid delivery system of a printing device, the fluid valve interconnect comprising:
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a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another, an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a pair of opposed lips at the first end of the resilient body, the pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, wherein application of a force to the exterior of the resilient body moves the lips of the resilient body from a closed state in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent fluid from passing through the slit, to an open state in which the lips are separated at least partially apart from one another to enable fluid to pass through the slit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A fluid delivery system for a printing system, the fluid delivery system comprising:
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a first component including;
a substantially rigid tubular member;
a second component engageable with the first component, the second component including;
a resilient body having a first end with a pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, wherein engagement of the second component with the first component causes the resilient body to be received by the rigid tubular member, the tubular member applying a force to an exterior of the resilient body which deforms the lips of the resilient body from a closed state, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent fluid from passing through the slit, to an open state, in which the lips are separated at least partially apart from one another to enable fluid to pass through the slit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
a resilient body positioned within the tubular member, the resilient body of the first component having a first end with a pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, and an opposite second end in fluid communication with the first end, wherein engagement of the second component with the first component causes the resilient body of the second component to be received by the rigid tubular member, the tubular member applying a force to exteriors of the resilient bodies of the first and second components which deforms the lips of the resilient bodies from a closed state in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent fluid from passing through the slit, to an open state in which the lips are separated at least partially apart from one another to enable fluid to pass through the slits.
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21. The fluid delivery system of claim 20 wherein in the closed state of the lips of the resilient body of the first component, the lips are positioned within the lead-in region of the tubular member.
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22. The fluid delivery system of claim 21 wherein engagement of the second component with the first component causes the lips of the resilient bodies of the first and second components to be received by the actuating portion of the rigid tubular member which acts to apply the force to the exteriors of the resilient bodies which deforms the lips of the resilient bodies from the closed state to the open state.
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23. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein when the lips of the resilient body of the first component are received by the actuating portion of the rigid tubular member, the resilient body is deformed between its first and second ends.
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24. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the resilient body of the first component is movably mounted to the first component so as to move from a first position wherein the lips are in the closed state, and a second position in which the lips are in the open state, and wherein engagement of the second component with the first component moves the resilient body of the first component relative to the first component from the first position to the second position.
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25. The fluid delivery system of claim 24 wherein the resilient body is spring biased to be normally in the first position.
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26. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the first end of the resilient body has a perimeter and a maximum dimension between opposed points on the perimeter, and wherein the tubular member defines an interior wall portion having a diameter that is less than the maximum dimension, such that insertion of the resilient body into this interior wall portion deforms the lips at the first end of the resilient body from the closed state to the open state.
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27. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a fluid supply container.
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28. The fluid delivery system of claim 27 wherein the first component is a printing system manifold adapted to removably receive the fluid supply container.
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29. The fluid delivery system of claim 27 wherein the first component is a printhead adapted to removably receive the fluid supply container.
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30. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a printing system manifold.
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31. The fluid delivery system of claim 30 wherein the first component is a fluid supply container adapted to be removably received by the printing system manifold.
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32. The fluid delivery system of claim 30 wherein the first component is a printhead adapted to be removably received by the printing system manifold.
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33. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the first component is a fluid supply container.
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34. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a printhead, and the first component is a fluid supply container adapted to be removably received by the printhead.
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35. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a printhead, and the first component is a printing system manifold adapted to removably receive the printhead.
Specification