# US 8,540,353 B2 · Printhead coupling having cam driven mechanism

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- Number: US 8,540,353 B2
- Document ID: US8540353B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/108,866
- Filed: 2011-05-16
- Published: 2011-11-17
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-17
- Assignees: Zamtec Ltd
- Applicants: Bob Mallory; Robert Rosati; Mike Eckard; Geoffrey Philip Dyer
- Inventors: Bob Mallory; Robert Rosati; Mike Eckard; Geoffrey Philip Dyer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540353B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/17596: {Ink pumps, ink valves}
- B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor}
- B41J 2/17506: {Refilling of the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17556: {Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control}
- B41J 2/17593: {Supplying ink in a solid state}
- B41J 2/18: Ink recirculation systems
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 29/49865: by temperature differential [e.g., shrink fit]
- Y10T 137/86863: Rotary valve unit
- Y10T 137/87338: Flow passage with bypass
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A coupling assembly for distributing fluid to a printhead, the coupling assembly having a housing, a port plate movably mounted to a shaft which passes through the port plate and housing, a compression spring mounted on the shaft by a washer so as to be compressed between the washer and the port plate and an arm pivotally connected to the shaft at one of its longitudinal ends and pivotally connected to a coupling drive mechanism at its other longitudinal end.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupling assembly for distributing fluid to a printhead, the coupling assembly comprising:
a housing;
a port plate movably mounted to a shaft which passes through the port plate and housing;
a compression spring mounted on the shaft by a washer so as to be compressed between the washer and the port plate; and
an arm pivotally connected to the shaft at one of its longitudinal ends and pivotally connected to a coupling drive mechanism at its other longitudinal end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the arm has first and second pairs of beams interconnected by a bridge portion, the first beam pair being pivotally connected to the shaft and the second beam pair being pivotally connected to the coupling drive mechanism.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A coupling assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first beam pair are tapered in the vicinity of the bridge portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A coupling assembly according to claim 2, wherein the distal ends of the first beam pair relative to the bridge have a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the rest of the first beam pair.