Printing device fluid reservoir
OwnerRalph L. Stathem, David N. Olsen +3inventors
InventorsRalph L. Stathem, David N. Olsen, Mark A. Smith, Marjan S. Amesbury, Greg K. Justice
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid reservoir for use in a printing device includes a housing that, at least partially, forms at least one chamber therein. The chamber is configured to hold a fluid. A bubble port leads through housing into a first region of chamber and fluidically couples chamber to atmospheric gas external to housing. A bubble director arranged within chamber is configured to direct at least one bubble of gas from first region to a second region of chamber. The bubble is formed within fluid within first region upon gas entering chamber through bubble port.
Claims12
1-19. (canceled)
An inflatable accumulator bag for use in a fluid reservoir of a printing device, the inflatable accumulator bag comprising:
- a sheet of at least one air impermeable plastic material having a first side surface and a second side surface wherein said sheet includes a fold and portions of said first side surface are joined together to form a seam that is contiguous and defines an interior of the inflatable bag opposite said fold;
- a bag opening positioned along said fold interior a first end and a second end;
- a fitment attached to said bag opening, and
- wherein said opposing fold and seam are shaped such that when the inflatable bag inflates with air said first and second ends extend outwardly from said fitment.
A spring for use in a fluid reservoir of a printing device, the spring comprising:
- a beam portion having a first end, a second end, a center area an inner surface, and an outer surface;
- and
- a plurality of curved leg portions, each leg portion being shaped to be resilient and extending outwardly from said center area in a direction away from said inner surface and having a proximate end to a distal end, and wherein at least a part of each leg portion is tapered between said proximate and distal ends.
A method for use in a fluid reservoir having a chamber at least partially filled with a fluid, the method comprising:
- causing a bag that is under compression by at least one resilient member to inflate until at least a portion of said resilient member contacts at least a portion of bubble director thereby enclosing a path within said chamber;
- and
- directing at least one air bubble from a first region of said chamber to a second region of said chamber using said path.
A method for use in a fluid reservoir having a chamber at least partially filled with a fluid, the method comprising:
- causing a bag that is under compression by at least one resilient member to inflate until at least a portion of said bag contacts at least a portion of bubble director thereby enclosing a path within said chamber;
- and
- directing at least one air bubble from a first region of said chamber to a second region of said chamber using said path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.