Ink container having a pressure stabilizer module

• US 6,758,558 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Printech International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanodynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Yang, Kun-Lang, Lin, Chien-Ming, Chiu, Chuang-Hsien
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US10/355,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge

Abstract

The specification discloses an ink container having a pressure stabilizer module. The module contains an airtight membrane, a passive plate, and an elastic device. The airtight membrane separates a box into an ink chamber and an air chamber. The passive plate is connected to one side of the airtight membrane and to the elastic device. The elastic device is normally depressed or stretched to move the airtight membrane. The ink chamber is thus slightly extended outward and maintains a negative pressure. As the ink stored inside the ink chamber gets less, the elastic device provides a restoring force to push or drag the passive plate. The negative pressure is thus maintained within a specific range. The invention further uses a conic spiral spring to avoid ink waste.

Claims

1. An ink container having a pressure stabilizer module for applications in inkjet printers, which comprises:

a box having an accommodation space with one end having a plurality of nozzle devices to eject ink; and

at least one pressure stabilizer modules installed inside the box for controlling the pressure of the ink, each of the pressure stabilizer modules containing;

an airtight membrane installed inside the box to form an ink chamber for storing the ink;

a passive plate connected to the air-tight membrane and installed on the inner side of the ink chamber;

a conic spiral spring having one end connected to one side of the passive plate and is installed in such a way that it is normally depressed on the inner side of the ink chamber to provide a negative pressure;

wherein as the size of the ink chamber gets smaller in use, the conic spiral spring provides a depressing force to push against the passive plate, the conic spiral spring is depressible down to the thickness of the spring wire to reduce wastage of ink, and the conic spiral spring helps maintaining the negative pressure; and

a plurality of conical springs installed in parallel or in series in the box, wherein the spring wire diameter and number of coils of the conic spiral spring are determined according to the predetermined negative pressure of the ink chamber.

2. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 1, further comprising a cover plate covering one side of the box and forming an air chamber with the air-tight membrane.

3. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 1, wherein the ink chamber has an ink channel connected to the nozzle device for ejecting the ink stored in the ink chamber.

4. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 1, wherein the airtight membrane is made of an elastic and deformable material.

5. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 1, wherein the spring wire thickness and number of coils of the conic spiral spring are determined according to the predetermined negative pressure of the ink chamber.

6. An ink container having a pressure stabilizer module for applications in inkjet printers, which comprises:

a box having an accommodation space with one end having a plurality of nozzle devices to eject ink; and

at least one pressure stabilizer modules installed inside the box for controlling the pressure of the ink, each of the pressure stabilizer modules containing;

an airbag membrane enclosing an air chamber and is installed inside the box to form an ink chamber for storing the ink; and

a conic spiral spring selectively installed inside or outside the airbag membrane;

wherein as the size of the ink chamber gets smaller in use, the conic spiral spring provides a depressing/restoring force on the airbag membrane, the conic spiral spring is depressible down to the thickness of the spring wire, and limiting the shrinking extent of the ink chamber and maintaining the negative pressure; and

wherein the spring wire thickness and the number of coils of the conic spiral spring is determined according to the predetermined negative pressure of the ink chamber.

7. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 6, further comprising a cover plate covering one side of the box to prevent the ink stored in the ink chamber from permeating out.

8. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 6, wherein the airbag membrane is made of an elastic and deformable material.

9. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 6, wherein the box has a through hole in fluid communications with the exterior.

10. The ink container having a pressure stabilizer module of claim 9, wherein the airbag membrane further contains an inlet connected to the through hole of the box for ambient air to replenish the airbag membrane.