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US 2006/0077222 A1Published application
Fluid-ejection device connector
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorPatrick Therien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided. A fluid-ejection device connector has a body having a plurality of internal channels, a plurality of flexible first couplers protruding from an exterior portion of the body, and a plurality of second couplers protruding from another exterior portion of the body. The internal channels respectively fluidly couple the flexible first couplers and the second couplers.
Claims43
A fluid-ejection device connector comprising:
- a body comprising a plurality of internal channels;
- a plurality of flexible first couplers protruding from an exterior portion of the body;
- and
- a plurality of second couplers protruding from another exterior portion of the body;
- wherein the internal channels respectively fluidly couple the flexible first couplers and the second couplers.
2 more elements
A print head connector comprising:
- a substantially rigid body comprising interconnected first and second walls;
- a plurality of first grooves formed in the first wall;
- a plurality of second grooves formed in the second wall, the second grooves connected one to one to the first grooves;
- a plurality of flexible first couplers protruding from an exterior portion of the first wall, each flexible first coupler disposed in a hole that passes through the first wall such that a hole passing through that flexible first coupler opens into a corresponding one of the first grooves;
- a plurality of substantially rigid second couplers protruding from the second wall, a hole passing through each second coupler fluidly coupled to a corresponding one of the second grooves;
- a first cover overlying the first wall so as to close the plurality of first grooves;
- and
- a second cover overlying the second wall so as to close the plurality of second grooves.
5 more elements
A print head connector comprising:
- a means for flexibly connecting the print head connector to tubules of the print head;
- a means for substantially rigidly connecting conduits, connected to an ink delivery system, to a the print head connector;
- and
- a means for fluidly coupling the flexible connecting means to the rigid connecting means.
1 more element
A printer comprising:
- a print head movably attached to the printer;
- a stationary ink delivery system;
- and
- a print head connector comprising:
- a body comprising a plurality of internal channels;
- a plurality of flexible first couplers protruding from an exterior portion of the body, the flexible first couplers respectively connected to tubules of the print head;
- and
- a plurality of second couplers protruding from another exterior portion of the body, the second couplers respectively connected to flexible conduits that are connected to the ink delivery system;
- wherein the internal channels respectively fluidly couple the flexible first couplers and the second couplers.
6 more elements
A method of forming a print head connector, comprising:
- forming a rigid body of the connector having a plurality of grooves and a plurality of substantially rigid connectors protruding from an exterior portion of the body, a hole passing through each of the substantially rigid connectors fluidly coupled to a corresponding one of the grooves, each groove separated from an adjacent groove by a rib;
- disposing a plurality of flexible connectors within the body so that they protrude from another exterior portion of the body and so that a hole passing through each of the flexible connectors opens into a corresponding one of the grooves;
- and
- adhering a cover to the ribs to close the grooves for forming flow passages.
1 more element
A method of forming a print head connector, comprising:
- forming a rigid body of the connector, the rigid body comprising:
- a first wall having a plurality of first grooves, each first groove separated from an adjacent first groove by a first rib;
- a second wall connected to the first wall and having a plurality of second grooves, each second groove separated from an adjacent second groove by a second rib, the second grooves connected one to one to the first grooves;
- and
- a plurality of substantially rigid connectors protruding from an exterior portion of the second wall, a hole passing through each of the substantially rigid connectors fluidly coupled to a corresponding one of the second grooves;
- forming a plurality of flexible connectors within the first wall so that they protrude from an exterior portion of the first wall and so that a hole passing through each of the flexible connectors opens into a corresponding one of the first grooves;
- adhering a first cover to the first ribs to close the first grooves;
- and
- adhering a second cover to the second ribs to close the second grooves.
6 more elements
A method of connecting a stationary ink delivery system of an imaging device to a movable print head of the imaging device, comprising:
- respectively connecting one or more flexible conduits connected to the ink delivery system to one of one or more substantially rigid couplers of a connector;
- and
- connecting the connector to the print head by respectively receiving one or more tubules of the print head within one or more flexible couplers of the connector, wherein one or more internal channels of the connector respectively fluidly couple the one or more substantially rigid couplers and the one or more flexible couplers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.