Ink reservoirs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ink reservoir comprising:
- a body;
a cover disposed on the body;
a vent disposed in the cover, the vent comprising a vent hole passing through the cover and an elongated vent path that communicatively couples the vent hole to an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir, wherein the elongated vent path remains open to the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir; and
an oleophobically treated, porous membrane disposed over the vent hole for acting to repel ink therefrom and for allowing airflow through the porous membrane and the vent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ink reservoir having a body and a cover disposed on the body is provided. A vent is disposed in the cover. The vent has a vent hole passing through the cover and an elongated vent path that communicatively couples the vent hole to an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir. An oleophobically treated, porous membrane is disposed over the vent hole for acting to repel ink therefrom and for allowing airflow through the porous membrane and the vent.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An ink reservoir comprising:
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a body; a cover disposed on the body; a vent disposed in the cover, the vent comprising a vent hole passing through the cover and an elongated vent path that communicatively couples the vent hole to an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir, wherein the elongated vent path remains open to the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir; and an oleophobically treated, porous membrane disposed over the vent hole for acting to repel ink therefrom and for allowing airflow through the porous membrane and the vent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An ink reservoir comprising:
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a body having an outlet port passing therethrough; a cover disposed on the body; a vent disposed in the cover, the vent comprising a vent hole passing through the cover and an elongated vent path that communicatively couples the vent hole to an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir, wherein the elongated vent path comprises a groove disposed in an exterior surface of the cover covered by a seal, wherein the seal closes the vent hole at the exterior surface, and wherein a portion of the groove remains open to the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir; a porous medium located within the body for containing ink and acting to prevent the ink from leaking through the outlet port; an oleophobically treated, porous membrane disposed over the vent hole opposite the seal for acting to repel the ink therefrom and for allowing airflow through the porous membrane and the vent. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An ink reservoir comprising:
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means for directing air through a cover of the ink reservoir; means disposed in the cover for directing air along the cover between an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir and the means for directing air through the cover, wherein the means disposed in the cover for directing air along the cover remains open to the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir; and means having an oleophobic treatment and disposed within the ink reservoir and over the means for directing air through the cover for repelling ink contained in the reservoir and for allowing the air to flow between the ink reservoir and the atmosphere via the means for directing air through the cover and the means for directing the air along the cover. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An ink cartridge comprising:
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a print head; an ink reservoir fluidly coupled to the print head, the ink reservoir having a vent comprising a vent hole passing through a cover of the ink reservoir and an elongated vent path that communicatively couples the vent hole to an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink cartridge, wherein the elongated vent path remains open to the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir; a porous medium located within the ink reservoir for containing ink and acting to prevent the ink from leaking through orifices of the print head; and an oleophobically treated, porous membrane disposed over the vent hole for acting to repel the ink therefrom and for allowing airflow through the porous membrane and the vent. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ink deposition system comprising:
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a print head; an ink reservoir fluidly coupled to the print head, the ink reservoir having a vent comprising a vent hole passing through a cover of the ink reservoir and an elongated vent path that communicatively couples the vent hole to an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir, wherein the elongated vent path remains open to the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir; a porous medium located within the ink reservoir for containing ink and acting to prevent the ink from leaking through orifices of the print head; and an oleophobically treated, porous membrane disposed over the vent hole for acting to repel the ink therefrom and for allowing airflow through the porous membrane and the vent. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for venting an ink reservoir, the method comprising:
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passing a vent hole through a cover of the ink reservoir; disposing an elongated vent path in the cover between an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir and the vent hole for communicatively coupling the vent hole to the atmosphere; covering a portion of the elongated vent path with a seal and leaving a remaining portion of the elongated vent path open to the atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir; and disposing an oleophobically treated, porous membrane over the vent hole for repelling the ink from the porous membrane and for allowing airflow between an interior of the ink reservoir and the atmosphere via the porous membrane, the vent hole, and the elongated vent path. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of dispensing ink, the method comprising:
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supplying ink to a print head from an ink reservoir, having a vent comprising a vent hole passing through a cover of the ink reservoir and an elongated vent path, disposed in the cover, that communicatively couples the vent hole to an atmosphere surrounding an exterior of the ink reservoir, wherein the elongated vent path remains open to the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir; expelling the ink from print head; replacing the expelled ink in the ink reservoir with air, wherein the air flows from the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the ink reservoir through the elongated vent path, through the vent hole, through an oleophobically treated, porous membrane disposed over the vent hole, and into the ink reservoir, wherein the oleophobically treated, porous membrane is adapted to repel the ink therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification