Magnetically-actuated fluid control valve

An ink pen adapted for use in a off-axis printer having a remote ink supply, said ink pen comprising:

• a local ink supply;
• a print head adapted to selectively print using ink from the local ink supply;
• a valve opened to selectively supply the local ink supply with ink from the remote ink supply, said valve including a fluid inlet adapted to receive ink from the remote ink supply, a fluid chamber having a valve seat and a valve head, and a fluid outlet adapted to feed ink into the local ink supply from the fluid chamber;
• and
• means for maintaining substantially constant volume in the fluid chamber notwithstanding opening and closing of the valve, said means for maintaining comprising a compliant diaphragm and a housing for receiving an electric relay, wherein said electric relay contains an armature configured to be attached to two locations on the compliant diaphragm.

An ink pen adapted for use in a off-axis printer having a remote ink supply, said ink pen comprising:

• a local ink supply;
• a print head adapted to selectively print using ink from the local ink supply;
• a valve that is opened to selectively supply the local ink supply with ink from the remote ink supply, said valve including a fluid inlet adapted to receive ink from the remote ink supply, a fluid chamber having a valve seat and a valve head, and a fluid outlet adapted to feed ink into the local ink supply from the fluid chamber;
• and
• a compliant diaphragm that is selectively displaced to cause one of opening and closing of the valve;
• wherein said valve is prefabricated to have a recess that receives an electric relay, such that an armature of said electric relay contacts said compliant diaphragm in at least two different locations to displace said compliant diaphragm, said valve adapted to open upon selective displacement of said compliant diaphragm by said electric relay.