Fluid supply tank ventilation for a micro-fluid ejection head

• US 7,938,523 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Printing LLC
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Aldrich, Charles Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/762,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 347/86, 347/92
• US Class Current: 347/92
• 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 2/1753 Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure

Abstract

An improved fluid supply tank for a micro-fluid ejection head and method for improving operation of a micro-fluid ejection device. The fluid supply tank has a body portion for holding a fluid to be ejected. The body portion includes a fluid exit port on an exit end thereof and a cover on an opposing end thereof. An internal vent conduit is disposed in the tank between the exit end and the cover for air removal adjacent to the exit port.

Claims

1. A fluid supply tank for a micro-fluid ejection head, the fluid supply tank comprising:

a body portion for holding a fluid to be ejected, the body portion having a fluid exit port on an exit end thereof and a cover on an opposing end thereof of the body portion, the cover having an opening in fluid communication with atmosphere;

an internal vent conduit disposed between the exit end and the cover for removing air adjacent to the fluid exit port and releasing the air through the cover to said atmosphere; and

an air space in the fluid exit port wherein the internal vent conduit is in air flow communication with the air space and the cover.

2. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a channel disposed in an interior side wall of the fluid supply tank.

3. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a serpentine vent structure and the internal vent conduit is in air flow communication with the serpentine vent structure.

4. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises tubing disposed between the cover and the exit end of the fluid supply tank.

5. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the fluid supply tank is removably attached to an ejection head structure.

6. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a conduit having cross-sectional dimensions that provide a non-fluid wettable vent channel.

7. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a conduit having a width ranging from about 0.5 to about 2 millimeters and a depth ranging from about 0.5 to about 2 millimeters.

8. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a conduit coated with a hydrophobic coating.

9. The fluid supply tank of claim 1, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises tubing made of a hydrophobic material.

10. A method for enhancing the operation of a micro-fluid ejection device, comprising:

disposing an internal vent conduit in a fluid supply container for the micro-fluid ejection device, wherein the vent conduit is disposed in air flow communication between an air space of a fluid exit end of the container and a container cover opposite the fluid exit end, the container cover having an opening in fluid communication with atmosphere; and

installing the fluid supply container on the micro-fluid ejection device so that any trapped air between the container and the device is urged to said atmosphere through the internal vent conduit through an atmospheric vent in the cover.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a channel disposed in an interior side wall of the fluid supply container.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the atmospheric vent in the cover comprises a serpentine vent structure and the internal vent conduit is in air flow communication with the serpentine vent structure.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises tubing disposed between the cover and the fluid exit end of the container.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the fluid supply container is removably attached to an ejection head structure for the micro-fluid ejection device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a conduit having cross-sectional dimensions that provide a non-fluid wettable vent channel.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a conduit having a width ranging from about 0.5 to about 2 millimeters and a depth ranging from about 0.5 to about 2 millimeters.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises a conduit coated with a hydrophobic coating.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the internal vent conduit comprises tubing made of a hydrophobic material.