Claims
- 1. An ink delivery system for an ink jet printer, comprising:
a first ink handling component; a second ink handling component; an ink pipe interconnected between said first ink handling component and said second ink handling component; a spring-backed sealing structure for providing a seal between said first ink handling component and said ink pipe; said spring-backed sealing structure including:
a seal comprising a seal body having a circular cross-section and axial extent, a sealing collar disposed at an end of said seal body, the sealing collar having a grooved annular sealing surface for engaging said first ink handling component, the grooved sealing surface configured to retain a sealing fluid by capillary action; and a spring configured to axially expand said seal.
- 2. The ink delivery system of claim 1 wherein said spring comprises a compression spring.
- 3. The ink delivery system of claim 2 wherein said compression spring comprises a coil spring.
- 4. The ink delivery system of claim 3 wherein said coil spring comprises a tapered coil spring.
- 5. The ink delivery system of claim 2 wherein said compression spring comprises a leaf spring.
- 6. The ink delivery system of claim 1 wherein said seal body is conically tapered.
- 7. The ink delivery system of claim 1 wherein said sealing collar includes a radial sealing surface for engaging said ink pipe.
- 8. The ink delivery system of claim 1 wherein said seal body and said sealing collar comprise an integral structure formed of an elastomer.
- 9. The ink delivery system of claim 1 wherein said spring-backed interconnect seal is axially compressed between said first ink handling component and said second ink handling component.
- 10. The ink delivery system of claim 1 wherein the grooved annular sealing surface has a groove with a substantially triangular cross section.
- 11. The ink delivery system of claim 10 wherein the groove is less than 1.0 mm deep.
- 12. The ink delivery system of claim 10 wherein the groove has an included angle of about 75 degrees.
- 13. An ink delivery system for an ink jet printer, comprising:
a first ink handling component; a second ink handling component; an ink pipe interconnected between said first ink handling component and said second ink handling component;
a spring-backed sealing structure for providing a seal between said first ink handling component and said ink pipe; said spring-backed sealing structure including:
a seal comprised of a seal body having a circular cross-section and axial extent, the seal having a first sealing collar disposed at a first end of said seal body, and a second sealing collar disposed at a second end of said seal body, the first sealing collar having a grooved annular sealing surface for engaging said first ink handling component, the grooved sealing surface configured to retain a sealing fluid by capillary action; and a spring configured to axially expand said seal.
- 14. The ink delivery system of claim 13 wherein said spring comprises a compression spring.
- 15. The ink delivery system of claim 14 wherein said compression spring comprises a coil spring.
- 16. The ink delivery system of claim 15 wherein said coil spring comprises a tapered coil spring.
- 17. The ink delivery system of claim 14 wherein said compression spring comprises a leaf spring.
- 18. The ink delivery system of claim 13 wherein said seal body is conically tapered.
- 19. The ink delivery system of claim 13 wherein said seal body, said first sealing collar and said second sealing collar comprise an integral structure formed of an elastomer.
- 20. The ink delivery system of claim 13 wherein said spring-backed interconnect seal is axially compressed between said first ink handling component and said second ink handling component.
- 21. The ink delivery system of claim 13 wherein said first ink handling component is a replaceable ink container.
- 22. The ink delivery system of claim 13 wherein the grooved annular sealing surface has a groove with a substantially triangular cross section.
- 23. The ink delivery system of claim 22 wherein the groove is less than 1.0 mm deep.
- 24. The ink delivery system of claim 22 wherein the groove has an included angle of about 75 degrees.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/651,682 entitled “Long-Life Spring-Backed Fluid Interconnect Seal” filed Aug. 30, 2000.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09651682 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
10025058 |
Dec 2001 |
US |