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US 9,039,148 B2Granted
Ink supply reservoir
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsBryan Murphy, Odhran Hendley, Eduardo Macias, Michael Mulloy, Jon Rittgers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ink supply reservoir, and method of supplying ink, is described.
Claims20
An ink supply reservoir comprising:
- an upper portion including a top cover having a vent;
- a lower portion defining a series of chambers, including:
- a first chamber positioned at a first end of the lower portion and including an external fluid communication port;
- and
- at least one second chamber positioned adjacent the first chamber and configured to hold a free volume of ink;
- wherein all of the respective chambers are in fluid communication with the upper portion;
- and
- a negative pressure generating member contained within the upper portion, extending across a top of each respective chamber and external to each respective chamber, wherein the negative pressure generating member is direct communication with the fluid communication port and with the vent.
5 more elements
An ink supply reservoir comprising:
- a container having a first end and a second end, and at least three chambers including:
- a first chamber at the first end and including a floor defining a fluid communication port, the first chamber configured to hold a free volume of ink;
- a second chamber at the second end and including a ceiling defining a vent, the second chamber containing a negative pressure generating member that occupies substantially the entire volume of the second chamber;
- and
- one or more third chambers interposed between the respective first and second chambers, with each respective third chamber configured to hold a free volume of ink,
- wherein each respective chamber is in communication with, via a bubbler mechanism, an adjacent one of the other respective chambers at a bottom portion of the respective chambers.
3 more elements
A container including:
- at least three chambers arranged between a first end and a second end of a container, with a first respective chamber at the first end including a fluid communication port, at least the other respective chambers configured to hold a volume of free ink, wherein the at least three chambers include an open end facing in generally the same orientation;
- a vent at a top portion of the second end of the container, the second end being generally opposite the first end;
- and
- a negative pressure generating member interposed between the vent and the other respective chambers to provide an ink supply path from the other respective chambers to the fluid communication port, wherein the negative pressure generating member is external to the at least three chambers.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.