Printers deposit a printing fluid on a surface to form printed images, text and/or other marks. That is, through a number of different mechanisms, printing fluid is drawn into a printer and placed on a substrate in a desired pattern. Printers come in varying types including electrophotographic printers and inkjet printers. The printing fluid used by these printers is supplied via a reservoir, which may deplete over time.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various examples of the principles described herein and are part of the specification. The illustrated examples are given merely for illustration, and do not limit the scope of the claims.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.
Printers deposit a printing fluid on a surface to form printed images, text and/or other marks. That is, through a number of different mechanisms, printing fluid is drawn into a printer and placed on a substrate in a desired pattern. Printers come in varying types including electrophotographic printers and inkjet printers. The printing fluid used by these printers is supplied via a reservoir, which may deplete over time.
To facilitate additional printing, the fluid in the reservoir can be replaced with additional printing fluid. The additional printing fluid can come in a separate fluid container, which interfaces with the reservoir. The container mates with the reservoir and fluid can be transferred. The reservoir has a port, or interface, through which printing fluid in the fluid container transfers from the container to the reservoir for subsequent printing.
In some examples, the printer to which the reservoir is coupled is a sealed and/or pressurized system. That is, these printers are sealed and rely on pressure differentials to facilitate fluid transport throughout the printer. For example, the fluid delivery system of a printer may use mechanical or foam-based air admitting regulators in a printhead to control backpressure while printing. Pumps within the printer circulate fluid while recharging the system and/or to manage the air under the filter. Accordingly, the reservoir as well as the air/fluid return lines should be closed to protect the printhead.
Accordingly, the present specification describes a fluid interface device that selectively mates a fluid container containing printing fluid to a reservoir that is to receive the replacement printing fluid from the fluid container. The fluid interface device may be disposed on a surface of the reservoir.
The fluid interface device is biased to a closed position thus maintaining the seal and/or pressure within the printer when not engaged with a fluid container. However, upon refilling of the reservoir, i.e., upon selective mating of the fluid container and the reservoir, the fluid interface device is placed in an open position wherein fluid can flow freely from the fluid container to the reservoir.
The fluid interface device that includes a collar, and a needle within the collar. Prior to engagement with the fluid container, the interface is sealed such that fluid does not leak from the reservoir, and such that pressure and a seal are maintained at the fluid reservoir. As a fluid container is pressed onto the needle, the resulting force exposes passages in the needle to the interior of the reservoir such that fluid can pass to the reservoir from the fluid container. As the fluid container is removed following refill, the needle moves to the closed position to prevent fluid flow and maintain printer seals/pressure.
In one example, the present specification describes a fluid interface device. The fluid interface device includes a collar to receive a fluid container. The collar has an aperture in one end surface. A needle passes through the aperture and allows fluid to pass from the fluid container into a reservoir. The needle is slideable within the aperture from a closed position to an open position upon reception of the fluid container. A seal of the fluid interface device is radially disposed around the needle and seals against the end surface of the collar when the needle is in the closed position.
The present specification also describes a fluid interface device that includes the collar to receive a fluid container, the collar having an aperture in one end surface. A needle is collinear with the collar and passes through the aperture, to allow fluid to pass from the fluid container into a reservoir. In this example, the needle includes a first passage to allow fluid to flow from the fluid container into the reservoir and a second passage to allow air to flow from the reservoir into the fluid container. The needle is radially sealed against the aperture and is slideable within the aperture from a closed position, where openings in the first and second passages are blocked, to an open position, where the openings are open, upon reception of the fluid container. The needle is biased to the closed position. The fluid interface device includes a seal radially disposed around the needle to seal against the end surface of the collar when the needle is in the closed position.
The present specification also describes a fluid transfer system that includes a fluid container to contain fluid and a reservoir to selectively mate with, and receive fluid from, the fluid container. The fluid transfer system also includes a fluid interface device disposed on the reservoir. The fluid interface device includes a collar to receive the fluid container. A needle passes through an aperture in the collar to allow fluid to pass from the fluid container into a reservoir. The needle is slideable within the aperture from a closed position to an open position upon reception of the fluid container. The fluid interface device also includes a seal radially disposed around the needle to seal against the end surface of the collar when the needle is in the closed position.
In one example, using such a fluid interface device 1) provides an interface that is biased to a closed position such the fluid transfer system of the printer is maintained sealed and/or pressurized, 2) simplifies refill of a reservoir by a fluid container; 3) prevents overfilling of the reservoir; 4) prevents contamination of the fluid in the reservoir; 5) is robust against human error, 6) prevents fluid spillage when the reservoir is tipped; 7) alleviates the need for a reservoir cap; and 8) prevents fluid degradation via fluid evaporation. However, it is contemplated that the devices disclosed herein may address other matters and deficiencies in a number of technical areas.
As used in the present specification and in the appended claims, the term “open position” refers a position of the needle wherein fluid can transfer from the fluid container to the reservoir. For example, when in an open position, openings in the needle are exposed to an interior of the reservoir such that fluid can flow into the reservoir.
By comparison, the term “closed position” refers to a position of the needle wherein fluid does not transfer from the fluid container to the reservoir. In the closed position, the openings in the needle are blocked to the interior of the reservoir such that no fluid flows into the reservoir.
Further, as used in the present specification and in the appended claims, the term “a number of” or similar language is meant to be understood broadly as any positive number including 1 to infinity.
Turning now to the figures,
As the printer is operated, i.e., as patterned images and/or text are formed on the media, fluid is depleted from the reservoir (102). The printing fluid is replenished from a fluid container (104) that contains additional printing fluid. As depicted in
To receive the fluid, the reservoir (102), which selectively mates with the fluid container (104), includes a fluid interface device (106). The fluid interface device (105), prior to engagement with the fluid container (104), is in a closed position, meaning that fluid does not pass through. In other words, the fluid interface device (106) is biased to be in a dosed position. By biasing the fluid interface device (106) to a closed position, the seal of the fluid delivery system of the printer is maintained during operation, but can be opened, upon mating with the fluid container (104), to allow fluid to replenish the reservoir (102).
The fluid interface device (106) includes a collar (110) that receives the fluid container (104) and guides the fluid container (104) to proper alignment with the fluid interface device (106). That is, the collar (110) may have a cylindrical shape that receives a spout of the fluid container (104) and aligns the spout with the needle (108). The fluid interface (108) also has a needle (108) that passes through an aperture of the collar. That is, the collar (110) is open at one end to receive the fluid container (104) and at the other end has an aperture through which the needle (108) slides. The needle (108) is hollow and facilitates fluid flow from the fluid container (104) to the reservoir (102).
As described above, when in the closed position, no fluid flows through the fluid interface device (106). That is, on the inside of the reservoir (102), a seal of the fluid interface device (106) is adjacent the surface of the end surface of the collar (110) such that no fluid flows into the reservoir (102) when the needle (108) is in the closed position. However, as the fluid container (104) is mated with the fluid interface device (106), the needle (108) moves to expose openings on a portion of the needle (108) that is on the interior of the reservoir (102). With these openings exposed on the inside of the reservoir (102), fluid can flow down the needle (108), out through the openings of the needle (108), and into the reservoir (102).
The fluid transfer system (100) as described herein provides a self-sealing interface. That is, by no additional human interaction other than placing the fluid container (104) on and off of the reservoir (102), the fluid interface device (106) provides a seal/closed fluid delivery system when not engaged with a fluid container (104), but opens during refill to allow fluid flow from the fluid container (104) to the reservoir (102).
When in the open position, openings (222) on the needle (108) are disposed on an interior of the reservoir (
In some examples, the seal (212) is a two-material seal. Specifically, the seal (212) may include a deformable material (214) that is to contact, and seal against, the end surface (220) of the collar (110). A rigid material (216) is adjacent the deformable material (214) and provides the force that deforms the deformable material (214) against the end surface (220) of the collar (110).
Following refill, the septum (430) restores to a leak-preventing state upon removal from the fluid interface device (
As depicted in
A stop (532) in the collar (110) ensures that the needle (108) does not move past a desired open position. That is, in some examples, the needle (108) is biased in the closed position by the spring (324) disposed within the collar (110). If the needle (108) is moved such that the spring (324) is overcompressed, this may damage the spring (324), affecting the ability of the fluid interface device (106) to properly seal. In this example, as the needle (108) is moved from the closed position to the open position as depicted in
Also, when in the closed position, the openings (222-1, 222-2) that allow fluid to flow through the needle (108) and into the reservoir (
In
In this process, the collar (110) has guided the fluid container (104) to properly align with the fluid interface device (
Responsive to this downward force, the needle (108) is placed in an open position. First, the needle (108) pierces the septum (430) such that the passages (534, 536) are in fluid communication with the fluid inside the fluid container (104). In this example, through a second passage (536), air passes from the reservoir (
Also responsive to the downward force, the openings (222-1, 222-2) are exposed within the reservoir and the seal (212) is moved away from the end surface (
In summary, as depicted herein, the present fluid interface device (
Accordingly,
In one example, using such a fluid interface device 1) provides an interface that is biased to a closed position such the fluid transfer system of the printer is maintained sealed and/or pressurized, 2) simplifies refill of a reservoir by a fluid container; 3) prevents overfilling of the reservoir; 4) prevents contamination of the fluid in the reservoir; 5) is robust against human error, 6) prevents fluid spillage when the reservoir is tipped; 7) alleviates the need for a reservoir cap; and 8) prevents fluid degradation via fluid evaporation. However, it is contemplated that the devices disclosed herein may address other matters and deficiencies in a number of technical areas.
The preceding description has been presented to illustrate and describe examples of the principles described. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit these principles to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2017/042416 | 7/17/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2019/017884 | 1/24/2019 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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Epson M Series B&W InkTank Printers, http://download.epson.com.sg/product_brochures/ink_tank_system/EPIL/epil_M100_M200_M105_M205.pdf?t=1. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200171834 A1 | Jun 2020 | US |