# US 11,027,553 B2 · Connector structure of ink pouch

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- Number: US 11,027,553 B2
- Document ID: US11027553B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/823,292
- Filed: 2020-03-18
- Published: 2020-10-22
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-18
- Assignees: Taiwan Nanotechnology Corporation
- Applicants: Taiwan Nanotechnology Corporation
- Inventors: Cheng-Yang Hsieh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027553B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/1754: {with means attached to the cartridge, e.g. protective cap}
- B41J 2/17503: {Ink cartridges}
- B41J 2/17506: {Refilling of the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/17523: {Ink connection}
- B65D 75/5883: {connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls}
- B41J 2002/17516: {comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A connector structure of an ink pouch includes a connector body including a joining section, a sealing section, and an ink passage extending through the joining section and the sealing section, the sealing section having a hollow fitting peg, insertion slots, and an annular retaining groove in communication with the insertion slots; a sealing cap including a pressing section and a fitting trough corresponding in position to the pressing section and engaging and retaining sections, each of which has an insertion arm and an engaging block protruding from the insertion arm; and a flexible plug. To combine, the flexible plug is positioned in the fitting trough and the insertion arms of the engaging and retaining sections are inserted into the insertion slots to have the engaging blocks protrude into the annular retaining groove. The fitting peg is received in the fitting trough and the flexible plug closes the ink passage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector structure of an ink pouch, comprising:
a connector body, which comprises a joining section, a sealing section joined to the joining section, and an ink passage extending in a longitudinal direction through the joining section and the sealing section, the sealing section having a top surface on which a fitting peg, which is hollow, is formed to extend upward from a circumference of the ink passage, the top surface of the sealing section being formed with a plurality of insertion slots that are extended downward and spaced from each other along a circumference of the fitting peg by a predetermined interval, the sealing section having an external circumferential surface that is partly and inwardly recessed to form an annular retaining groove, the annular retaining groove being in communication with ends of the plurality of the insertion slots;
a sealing cap having a top surface that is partly recessed downward in a central portion thereof to form a pressing section, the sealing cap having a bottom surface that is partly recessed upward to form a fitting trough corresponding in position to the pressing section, the bottom surface of the sealing cap being provided with a plurality of engaging and retaining sections projecting therefrom and along a circumference of the fitting trough and spaced from each other by a predetermined interval, the engaging and retaining sections each comprising an insertion arm extending downward from the bottom surface of the sealing cap and an engaging block protruding outward from an end of the insertion arm; and
a flexible plug having an outside diameter that is greater than an inside diameter of the ink passage of the connector body;
wherein to combine, the flexible plug is positioned in the fitting trough of the sealing cap, and the insertion arms of the engaging and retaining sections of the sealing cap are respectively inserted into the insertion slots of the connector body, such that the engaging blocks protrude into the annular retaining groove of the connector body to securely combine the sealing cap and the connector body together, and wherein the fitting peg is located in the fitting trough and the flexible plug closes the ink passage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector structure of the ink pouch according to claim 1, wherein the connector body is integrally formed of a material of plastics; the sealing rings are integrally formed of a material of plastics; and the flexible plug is formed of a material that is softer than the materials of the connector body and the sealing rings.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connector structure of the ink pouch according to claim 1, wherein the joining section of the connector body is connectable with a pouch body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The connector structure of the ink pouch according to claim 1, wherein each of the insertion slots of the connector body has a side that is an inclined wall such that a diameter of the insertion slot is gradually reduced in a direction from a top end toward a bottom end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The connector structure of the ink pouch according to claim 1, further comprising a first sealing ring, which is fit around and in the annular retaining groove of the connector body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The connector structure of the ink pouch according to claim 1, further comprising a second sealing ring, wherein the sealing cap is formed with an annular sealing groove in an outer circumferential surface adjacent to the engaging and retaining sections; and the second sealing ring is fit around and in the annular sealing groove of the sealing cap.