Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6719417
-
Patent Number
6,719,417
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, July 30, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 13, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Meier; Stephen D.
- Do; An H.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A recyclable ink container, ink container base assembly, and a method of attaching an ink container to a recyclable ink container base are disclosed. The container and ink container base assembly may be formed of recyclable material. A locking nut and needle assembly are part of the base fixture that hold the ink container assembly in place. The needle assembly is independent of the locking nut such that the ink needle and airline properly align when the locking nut is turned.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to Ink Container Assemblies, and more particularly to recyclable ink containers
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a continuing need for low cost ways to package and ship ink to customers for printing systems and applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the present invention, a recyclable ink container is provided, comprising: an ink bag; a bag cap attached to an opening in the ink bag, the bag cap including a mating surface to mate with a surface of a base, the bag cap including an ink aperture to receive an ink withdrawal device and an air aperture to receive an air input device; and a shell including a side portion substantially perpendicular to the mating surface with at least one projection that extends substantially perpendicular from the side portion at only a section of a perimeter of the side surface.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a recyclable ink container is provided, comprising: an ink bag; a bag cap attached to an opening in the ink bag, the bag cap including a mating surface to mate with a surface of a base, the bag cap including an ink aperture to receive an ink withdrawal device and an air aperture to receive an air input device; and a shell including a side portion substantially perpendicular to the mating surface with at least one slot therein that runs substantially perpendicular to the mating surface so as to allow a projection from a locking nut to move along this slot as the mating surface for the bag cap approaches and mates with the mating surface for the base, and having a lock region in the shell substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the slot to allow the locking nut to be at least partially rotated so that the projection is moved from the slot into the lock region to lock the ink container in place.
In a yet further embodiment of the present invention, an ink container base assembly is provided, comprising: a base with a mating surface; an ink needle and an air needle aligned in parallel and projecting from the mating surface of the base; an at least partially rotatable locking nut moveably attached to the base and positioned to receive a shell of an ink container.
In a yet further embodiment of the present invention, an ink container base assembly is provided, comprising: a base with a mating surface; an ink needle and an air needle aligned in parallel and projecting from the mating surface of the base; an at least partially rotatable locking nut moveably attached to the base and positioned to receive a shell of an ink container, an inner side surface perimeter of the locking nut being substantially perpendicular to the mating surface of the base and having at least one projection that extends substantially perpendicular from the inner side surface perimeter but extends for only a section of the inner side surface perimeter.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for mating a recyclable ink container to an ink container base assembly having a base and an attached locking nut that is at least partially rotatable, comprising: aligning an ink aperture in the ink container to receive an ink withdrawal device projecting from the ink container base assembly and aligning an air aperture in the ink container to receive an air input device projecting from the ink container base assembly, and also aligning at least one projection that extends substantially perpendicular from a side portion of the ink container with a slot in the locking nut on the ink container base assembly, the slot running substantially perpendicular to a mating surface of the base assembly so as to allow the projection to move along the slot as the mating surface for the ink container approaches and mates with the mating surface for the base; mating the ink aperture in the ink container to the ink withdrawal device projecting from the ink container base assembly and mating the air aperture to receive the air input device projecting from the ink container base assembly, and also inserting the projection to move along the slot until the mating surface of the ink container mates with the mating surface of the base assembly; and at least partially rotating the locking nut to lock the ink container to the base assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ink container of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of an internal construction of one embodiment of the ink container in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a base in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a base assembly including a base and a locking nut assembly in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5
is an exploded schematic view of one embodiment of an ink container, locking nut assembly and base in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 and 2
are schematic diagrams of a recyclable ink container
10
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The recyclable ink container
10
comprises an ink bag
20
, and a bag cap
30
which is attached to an opening in the ink bag
20
. The bag cap
30
includes a mating surface
32
to mate with a surface of a base to be described below. The mating surface
32
may take any convenient configuration. The bag cap
30
includes an ink aperture
34
to receive an ink withdrawal device from the base, and an air aperture
36
to receive an air input device from the base. The bag cap
30
further includes side surfaces
37
(shown in
FIG. 2
) substantially perpendicular to the mating surface
32
. A hard or semi-hard shell
70
encloses the bag
20
and has a side portion
72
disposed around the side surfaces
37
of the bag cap
30
using a compression fit or other convenient method of attachment. The shell
70
includes at least one projection
74
that extends substantially perpendicular from the side portion of the shell at only a section of a perimeter of the side portion
72
. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1
, two projections
74
are illustrated.
In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the apertures
34
and
36
in the bag cap
30
has a first circumference
40
at the mating surface
32
, and a second smaller circumference
42
below the mating surface
32
. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1
, the aperture with the first circumference
40
and the second circumference
42
is the ink aperture
44
. One purpose of using two different circumferences is to allow a tapering of the aperture
34
for ease of insertion of the ink withdrawal device. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the apertures
34
and
36
in the bag cap
30
has a circumference that tapers from a first circumference at the mating surface to a second smaller circumference below the mating surface.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
, there is shown a base
200
for mounting a recyclable ink container. The base
200
includes a base portion
205
, a lip portion
206
extending out from the periphery of the base portion
205
, an ink needle
210
, and an air needle
220
. The ink needle
210
extends from a projection
214
disposed on a mating surface
240
of the base
200
and may include a gasket
212
therearound for protection of the needle. The air needle
220
likewise extends from a projection
222
from the mating surface
240
of the base
200
. The ink needle
210
and the air needle
220
are aligned in parallel.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, a base assembly
400
is shown that has at least a partially rotatable locking nut
230
that may be movably attached to the base
200
and positioned to receive an ink container bag cap with at least one lateral projection that extends from the side portion of the shell
70
and that is perpendicular to a bag cap mating surface of the bag cap but does not extend around an entire perimeter of the side portion of the shell. The locking nut
230
has an inner perimeter
231
that has at least one slot
232
therein that runs substantially perpendicular to the mating surface
240
of the base so as to allow the projection from the side portion of the shell to move along this slot as the mating surface for the bag cap approaches and mates with the mating surface
240
for the base. The locking nut
230
further includes a lock region
234
in the locking nut inner perimeter
231
that is substantially perpendicular to and communicates with the slot
232
to allow the locking nut to be partially rotated so that the projection is moved from the slot
232
into the lock region
234
to hold the bag cap in place.
The locking nut
230
is attached using any convenient attachment method to the base
200
, so that it is at least partially rotatable. In one embodiment, this attachment is accomplished by including a closure piece
250
attached by screws or other convenient attachment method to the locking nut
230
so as to trap the lip portion
206
of the base
200
therebetween, but having a small clearance to allow the locking nut
230
to be at least partially rotatable.
FIG. 5
illustrates an exploded view the recyclable ink container
10
(with only the side
240
of the mating surface of the bag cap shown), the and base assembly
400
with the locking nut
230
shown separated from the base
200
and the closure piece
250
. In one embodiment of the invention, a handle
510
may be provided on the locking nut
230
in order to facilitate a rotation motion of the locking nut.
In one embodiment of the invention, the shell
70
of the recyclable ink container
10
may be made of recyclable material such as a plastic. The mating of the recyclable ink container
10
on the ink container base assembly
400
comprises the steps of lining up the apertures
34
and
36
in the bag cap
30
with the ink needle
210
and the air needle
220
on the base
200
, as well as lining up the projections
74
on the on the side portion
72
of the shell
70
with the slots
232
in the locking nut
230
. The recyclable ink container
10
, once properly aligned, would be inserted onto the base
200
so that the mating surface
32
of the bag cap
30
mates with the mating surface
240
of the base assembly
200
. Finally, the locking nut would be partially rotated to hold or lock the recyclable ink container
10
in place.
Note that the term “slot” is intended to be a generic term that includes not only slots but also grooves and other types of indents that would allow a projection to move thereon.
If a customer is using a pressurized ink supply system to feed ink to a pen, then in one embodiment would push air through the air needle
220
into the ink bag
20
. A chamber (not shown) in the bag cap
30
facilitates pushing ink through the ink needle
210
to a pen manifold to supply any number of pens. Alternatively, if a customer is using gravity to feed ink pens, then the recyclable ink container may be placed above the ink pen and an airline from the air needle
220
opened to the atmosphere.
Selected embodiments of the present invention-provide customers the flexibility to use the recyclable ink container system with a pump or gravity feed to supply ink to pens. The present invention may be designed in embodiments which are easy to handle and hold more ink than many current ink containers. The recyclable ink container for the present invention is particularly useful for jurisdictions that require recycling. The present recyclable ink container may be designed in a variety of different sizes to fill various customer applications and needs. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a low cost way to package and ship ink to customers in volume. Selected embodiments of the invention will allow customers to use large amounts of ink with less down time and/or less intervention due to requirements of changing containers. Embodiments of the present invention provide an inexpensive and easy way to ship bulk ink in one half to one gallon containers, for example. Some configurations of the present invention allow substantial recycling of most parts of the ink delivery system with the only disposable part of the assembly being the ink bag.
It should be noted that the slot and projection relationship between the shell and the locking nut could be reversed. In such a reversed design, the shell would include a side portion substantially perpendicular to the mating surface with at least one slot therein that runs substantially perpendicular to the mating surface so as to allow a projection from the locking nut to move along this slot as the mating surface for the bag cap approaches and mates with the mating surface for the base, and having a lock region in the shell substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the slot to allow the locking nut to be partially rotated so that the projection is moved from the slot into the lock region to lock the bag cap in place. Likewise, in this reversed design the partially rotatable locking nut would include an inner side surface perimeter of the locking nut that is substantially perpendicular to the mating surface of the base and that has at least one projection that extends substantially perpendicular from the inner side surface perimeter but extends for only a portion of the inner side surface perimeter.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents.
Claims
- 1. A recyclable ink container, comprising:an ink bag; a bag cap attached to an opening in the ink bag, the bag cap including a mating surface to mate with a surface of a base, the bag cap including an ink aperture to receive an ink withdrawal device and an air aperture to receive an air input device; and a shell including a side portion substantially perpendicular to the mating surface with at least one projection that extends substantially perpendicular from the side portion at only a section of a perimeter of the side surface.
- 2. The ink container as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the apertures in the bag cap has a first circumference at the mating surface and a second smaller circumference below the mating surface.
- 3. The ink container as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the apertures in the bag cap has a circumference that tapers from a first circumference at the mating surface to a second smaller circumference below the mating surface.
- 4. The ink container as defined in claim 1, wherein there are at least two projections from the side portion of the shell.
- 5. A recyclable ink container, comprising:an ink bag; a bag cap attached to an opening in the ink bag, the bag cap including a mating surface to mate with a surface of a base, the bag cap including an ink aperture to receive an ink withdrawal device and an air aperture to receive an air input device; and a shell including a side portion substantially perpendicular to the mating surface with at least one slot therein that runs substantially perpendicular to the mating surface so as to allow a projection from a locking nut to move along this slot as the mating surface for the bag cap approaches and mates with the mating surface for the base, and having a lock region in the shell substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the slot to allow the locking nut to be at least partially rotated so that the projection is moved from the slot into the lock region to lock the ink container in place.
- 6. An ink container base assembly, comprising:a base with a mating surface; an ink needle and an air needle aligned in parallel and projecting from the mating surface of the base; and an at least partially rotatable locking nut moveably attached to the base and positioned to receive a shell of an ink container.
- 7. The ink container base assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the ink container has at least one lateral projection that extends from a side portion that is perpendicular to a mating surface of a bag cap on the ink container but does not extend around an entire perimeter of the side portion of the shell, and wherein the locking nut has an inner perimeter that has at least one slot therein that runs substantially perpendicular to the mating surface of the base so as to allow the projection from the shell to move along this slot as the mating surface for the bag cap approaches and mates with the mating surface for the base, and having a lock region in the locking nut substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the slot to allow the locking nut to be partially rotated so that the projection is moved from the slot into the lock region to lock the bag cap in place.
- 8. The ink container base assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the base includes a lip portion around the periphery of the base, and further comprising a closure piece attached to the locking nut to trap the lip portion therebetween in a manner that allows the locking nut to be at least partially rotatable.
- 9. An ink container base assembly, comprising:a base with a mating surface; an ink needle and an air needle aligned in parallel and projecting from the mating surface of the base; and an at least partially rotatable locking nut moveably attached to the base and positioned to receive a shell of an ink container, an inner side surface perimeter of the locking nut being substantially perpendicular to the mating surface of the base and having at least one projection that extends substantially perpendicular from the inner side surface perimeter but extends for only a section of the inner side surface perimeter.
- 10. The ink container base assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the base includes a lip portion around the periphery of the base, and further comprising a closure piece attached to the locking nut to trap the lip portion therebetween in a manner that allows the locking nut to be at least partially rotatable.
- 11. A method for mating a recyclable ink container to an ink container base assembly having a base and an attached locking nut that is at least partially rotatable, comprising:aligning an ink aperture in the ink container to receive an ink withdrawal device projecting from the ink container base assembly and aligning an air aperture in the ink container to receive an air input device projecting from the ink container base assembly, and also aligning at least one projection that extends substantially perpendicular from a side portion of the ink container with a slot in the locking nut on the ink container base assembly, the slot running substantially perpendicular to a mating surface of the base assembly so as to allow the projection to move along the slot as the mating surface for the ink container approaches and mates with the mating surface for the base; mating the ink aperture in the ink container to the ink withdrawal device projecting from the ink container base assembly and mating the air aperture to receive the air input device projecting from the ink container base assembly, and also inserting the projection to move along the slot until the mating surface of the ink container mates with the mating surface of the base assembly; and at least partially rotating the locking nut to lock the ink container to the base assembly.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
11157098 |
Jun 1999 |
JP |