High volumetric efficiency ink container vessel
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorCurt G. Gonzales
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing system includes a high volumetric efficient free-ink container vessel. The vessel includes a reservoir to store a supply of ink. A vent hole in the reservoir links atmospheric air to the reservoir. A mechanical vent system selectively opens and closes the vent hole in the reservoir. The mechanical vent system is equipped with a movable member that moves between a closed position covering the vent hole and an open position uncovering the vent hole. The mechanical vent system moves the movable member to open and close the vent hole. When the vent hole is open, non-atmospheric pressures imparted within the reservoir can be virtually eliminated by the exemplary mechanical vent system.
Claims20
A printing system, comprising:
- an ink container vessel having a reservoir to store a supply of ink, said ink container vessel having a vent hole to permit atmospheric air to enter said reservoir;
- an ink delivery system, coupled to said vessel, configured to extract ink from said vessel;
- and
- a mechanical vent system coupled to said vent hole comprising:
- (a) a sealing member having an interior and exterior side;
- (b) a compression member, coupled to said interior side of said sealing member, configured to resiliently press against said interior side of said sealing member, to bias said sealing member toward said vent hole thereby closing said vent hole when said compression member is expanded;
- and
- (c) a rod, extending through said vent hole to apply a load against said exterior side of said sealing member, thereby forcing said compression member to move and shift said sealing member away from said vent hole, thereby opening said vent hole.
An ink container vessel configured to supply ink to a printing system, the ink container vessel comprising:
- a reservoir configured to store a supply of ink;
- a vent hole located in said vessel providing an opening to said reservoir;
- a mechanical vent system configured to close and open said vent hole comprising:
- (a) a sealing member having an interior side and an exterior side;
- (b) a compression member, coupled to said interior side of said sealing member, configured to resiliently press against said interior side of said sealing member, to bias said sealing member toward said vent hole thereby closing said vent hole when said compression member is expanded;
- and
- (c) a rod, insertable to extend through said vent hole opposite said compression member and push said exterior side of said sealing member with a force opposite and greater than exerted by said compression member on said interior side of said sealing member, forcing said compression member to move and shift said sealing member away from said vent hole, thereby opening said vent hole.
A free ink container for supplying ink to an inkjet printing system, said container comprising:
- a reservoir configured to store a supply of ink;
- a vent hole providing an opening into said reservoir through said container;
- a mechanical vent system configured to close and open said vent hole comprising:
- (a) a sealing member having an interior and exterior side;
- (b) a movable member, coupled between said interior side of said sealing member and said interior side of said reservoir, configured to resiliently press against said sealing member forcing said exterior side of said sealing member to cover said vent hole thereby closing said vent hole when said movable member is expanded;
- and
- (c) a rod, insertable to extend through said vent hole and push against said exterior side of said sealing member, thereby forcing said movable member move away from said vent hole thereby uncovering said vent hole;
- a labyrinth located on an exterior surface of said container, having a channel in air communication with said vent hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.