Fluid dispenser including an improved pressure regulator
OwnerAshley Childs, Karen Martin +2inventors
InventorsAshley Childs, Karen Martin, Garry Liddell, Eric Dod
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of a fluid cartridge includes a fluid chamber including an interior for holding fluid and an exterior in communication with an ambient air pressure, and a pressure regulator aperture extending between the interior and the exterior of the fluid chamber, the pressure regulator aperture including a plurality of curved facets concave with respect to an elongate axis of the aperture.
Claims49
A method of manufacturing a fluid cartridge having a pressure regulator opening, comprising:
- positioning a flow opening to a fluid cartridge mold such that molten material entering said mold from said flow opening initially travels in a first direction;
- and
- positioning a bubbler pin having a plurality of flat facets alternated with a plurality of curved facets, such that one of said flat facets is positioned in a predetermined position with respect to said first direction, as measured from a back side of said pin, so as to reduce a variation in pressure at said pressure regulator opening, between multiple fluid cartridges produced from said mold.
A method of surface treatment of a fluid cartridge pressure regulator opening to increase a wettability of said opening, comprising:
- positioning a fluid cartridge within a chamber, said fluid cartridge including a fluid chamber having a pressure regulator opening;
- and
- filling said chamber with a surface treatment material chosen from one of fluorine in the presence of oxygen, an oxygen plasma, and a corona discharge.
A method of surface treating a fluid cartridge bubbler opening to increase a wettability of said opening, comprising:
- positioning a fluid cartridge within a sealed chamber, said fluid cartridge including a fluid chamber having a bubbler opening;
- and
- filling said sealed chamber with a surface treatment material including oxygen.
A method of grinding a bubbler pin to precise specifications, said bubbler pin utilized to mold a bubbler cone in a fluid cartridge, comprising:
- temporarily positioning a metal rod in an immovable position;
- grinding an end of said rod to form a plurality of cone-forming surfaces.
A method of manufacturing a bubbler aperture in a fluid cartridge, comprising:
- positioning a mold to receive molten material to form a fluid cartridge, said mold including a bubbler pin positioned define a bubbler opening, said bubbler pin including bubbler pin opening-forming surfaces ground from said pin;
- and
- introducing molten material to said mold to form a fluid cartridge including a bubbler opening formed from said ground pin.
A print cartridge, comprising:
- an ink chamber including an interior for holding ink and an exterior in communication with an ambient air pressure;
- and
- a pressure regulator aperture extending between said interior and said exterior of said ink chamber, said pressure regulator aperture including a plurality of curved facets concave with respect to an elongate axis of said aperture.
A method of regulating pressure within a print cartridge, comprising:
- grinding a bubbler pin to include a plurality of curved surfaces;
- indexing said pin such that one of said curved surface is positioned in a predetermined position prior to molding said print cartridge;
- molding a print cartridge including a bubbler aperture, said bubbler aperture molded by said pin;
- and
- surface treating the print cartridge bubbler aperture in the presence of oxygen.
A print cartridge, comprising:
- an ink chamber including an interior for holding ink and an exterior in communication with an ambient air pressure;
- and
- a pressure regulator aperture extending between said interior and said exterior of said ink chamber, said pressure regulator aperture surface treated in the presence of oxygen prior to placement of ink in said ink chamber.
A print cartridge, comprising:
- means for holding ink therein;
- and
- means for regulating pressure within said means for holding, said means for regulating comprising a plurality of curved facets concave with respect to an elongate axis of said aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.