Pressure-regulating valve with non-linear flow regulator
AssigneeMemjet Technology Limited
InventorsZhenya Yourlo, Mohammadreza Behi, Peter Crichton, Norman Micheal Berry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a fluid flow path defined between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; an orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and including a diaphragm operatively connected to the valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the valve member relative to the orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the orifice. An outer surface of the valve member is non-linearly flared away from the diaphragm.
Claims13
A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead, said valve comprising:
- a valve inlet;
- a valve outlet;
- a fluid flow path defined between the valve inlet and the valve outlet;
- an orifice positioned in the flow path;
- a movable valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the orifice;
- a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and comprising a diaphragm operatively connected to the valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the valve member relative to the orifice;
- and
- a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the orifice, wherein the valve member is bell-shaped or trumpet-shaped, and whereby a curved outer surface of the valve member determines an extent of occlusion of the orifice.
An inkjet printing system comprising:
- (a) a pressure-regulating valve including:
- a valve inlet;
- a valve outlet;
- a fluid flow path defined between the valve inlet and the valve outlet;
- an orifice positioned in the flow path;
- a movable valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the orifice:
- a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and comprising a diaphragm operatively connected to the valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the valve member relative to the orifice;
- and
- a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the orifice,
- (b) an ink tank connected to the valve inlet;
- and
- (c) an inkjet printhead having a printhead inlet port connected to the valve outlet, wherein the valve member is bell-shaped or trumpet-shaped, and whereby a curved outer surface of the valve member determines an extent of occlusion of the orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.