Side-loaded pressure regulated free-ink ink-jet pen
First Claim
1. A free-ink, ink-jet pen for coupling to an off-axis ink reservoir, comprising:
- a housing, having a means for fluidically coupling said pen to said reservoir; and
within said housing,a first ink accumulation chamber, having a first ink accumulation chamber ink inlet means for in-flow of ink from said reservoir via said means for fluidically coupling said pen to said reservoir and a first ink accumulation chamber ink outlet means for out-flow of ink from said first ink accumulation chamber,a second ink accumulation chamber, fluidically coupled to said first ink accumulation chamber ink outlet means for in-flow of ink from said first ink accumulation chamber, having a second ink accumulation chamber ink outlet means for out-flow of ink from said second ink accumulation chamber,a negative pressure printhead mechanism, fluidically coupled to said second ink accumulation chamber, mounted on said housing and having a printhead ink inlet means for in-flow of ink from said second ink accumulation chamber, andregulating means for regulating both a predetermined negative pressure set point in said pen and the in-flow of ink from said reservoir into said first ink accumulation chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to free-ink type ink-jet pens. A dual-chambered housing forms ink accumulators which provide a local supply of ink for a printhead mechanism. The accumulators are fluidically coupled to an off-board ink reservoir by a valve mechanism. A pressure regulator mechanism is incorporated into a chamber for maintaining a predetermined gage set point back-pressure within the pen and for regulating the flow of ink from the reservoir by controlling the valve mechanism. A near linear force by biasing the regulator mechanism so as to balance it against a force exerted thereon by the ambient atmosphere via a vent when the valve mechanism is opened due to a force exerted by a differential between ambient atmospheric pressure and the bias force. The mechanism is insensitive to the rate of flow of ink through the valve.
71 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A free-ink, ink-jet pen for coupling to an off-axis ink reservoir, comprising:
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a housing, having a means for fluidically coupling said pen to said reservoir; and within said housing, a first ink accumulation chamber, having a first ink accumulation chamber ink inlet means for in-flow of ink from said reservoir via said means for fluidically coupling said pen to said reservoir and a first ink accumulation chamber ink outlet means for out-flow of ink from said first ink accumulation chamber, a second ink accumulation chamber, fluidically coupled to said first ink accumulation chamber ink outlet means for in-flow of ink from said first ink accumulation chamber, having a second ink accumulation chamber ink outlet means for out-flow of ink from said second ink accumulation chamber, a negative pressure printhead mechanism, fluidically coupled to said second ink accumulation chamber, mounted on said housing and having a printhead ink inlet means for in-flow of ink from said second ink accumulation chamber, and regulating means for regulating both a predetermined negative pressure set point in said pen and the in-flow of ink from said reservoir into said first ink accumulation chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ink-jet apparatus, comprising:
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at least one ink reservoir having a mechanism for supplying ink from said ink reservoir to said ink-jet pen apparatus at a predetermined ink feed pressure; and an ink-jet pen fluidically coupled to said reservoir, the pen further including a pen body having a first ink accumulator chamber and a second ink accumulator chamber, said chambers fluidically coupled to each other, a valving means for fluidically coupling said first ink accumulator chamber to said ink reservoir, an ink-jet printhead mechanism coupled to said pen body and in fluidic communication with said second ink accumulator chamber, and mounted within said first ink accumulator chamber and coupled to said valving means, regulating means for regulating flow of ink into said first ink accumulator chamber from said ink reservoir and said second ink accumulator chamber via said valving means while maintaining a predetermined, substantially constant, back-pressure set point at said ink-jet printhead. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A free-ink ink-jet system comprising:
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a selectively attachable and detachable ink reservoir; a supply of ink within said ink reservoir; and an ink-jet pen having a pen housing having a first ink accumulation chamber with an inlet port means for attaching to and receiving ink from said ink reservoir, a second ink accumulation chamber fluidically coupled to said first ink accumulation chamber, and a vent to ambient atmosphere coupled to said first ink accumulation chamber, a printhead coupled to said pen housing such that ink in said second ink containment chamber is supplied to said printhead mechanism at a predetermined back-pressure set point, a flexible, ink impermeable, pressure-sensing regulator mechanism mounted in said first ink accumulation chamber and coupled to said vent such that said regulator mechanism flexes in response to a predetermined pressure differential between a predetermined negative pressure set point within said pen and ambient atmospheric pressure, a lever, including a means for exerting a predetermined bias thereon, coupled to a surface of said regulator mechanism such that flexing of said mechanism moves said lever against the bias, a valve seat coupled to said lever adjacent said inlet port means such that ink flow from said reservoir is valved by variably moving said valve seat onto and off of said inlet port, and a biasing mechanism coupled to said lever and exerting a near linear force on said lever such that said regulator mechanism is balanced against a force exerted thereon by said ambient atmosphere via said vent at said predetermined back-pressure set point at said printhead at any rate of flow of ink through said valve when said valve seat is moved off of said inlet port due to a force exerted by a differential between ambient atmospheric pressure and said back-pressure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification