Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6648458
-
Patent Number
6,648,458
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, April 23, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 18, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Nguyen; Lamson
- Feggins; K.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 85
- 347 58
- 347 47
- 347 50
- 347 5
- 347 14
- 347 54
- 347 19
- 347 60
- 347 40
- 347 20
- 346 1401
- 251 367
- 251 368
- 251 12916
- 137 55
- 137 1152
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A marking fluid valve for a marking fluid delivery system of a media marking device. The marking fluid valve includes a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another, with the first end having a pair of opposed lips. The pair of opposed lips define a normally closed slit extending therebetween. Compressing the first end of the resilient body along axes of the lips deforms the resilient body from a closed position, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent marking fluid from passing through the slit, to an open position, in which the lips are spread at least partially apart from one another to enable marking fluid to pass through the slit.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to printing devices. In particular, the present invention is a fluid delivery system that employs pinch seal fluid interconnects to fluidly interconnect separable fluid delivery system components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Throughout the business world, inkjet printing systems are extensively used for image reproduction. Inkjet printers frequently make use of an inkjet printhead mounted within a carriage that is moved back and forth across print media, such as paper. As the printhead is moved relative to the print media, a control system activates the printhead to deposit or eject ink droplets onto the print media to form images and text. Such systems may be used in a wide variety of applications, including computer printers, plotters, copiers and facsimile machines.
Ink is provided to the printhead by a supply of ink that is either integral with the printhead, as in the case of a disposable print cartridge, or by a supply of ink that is replaceable separate from the printhead. One type of previously used printing system makes use of an ink supply that is carried with the carriage. This ink supply has been formed integral with the printhead, whereupon the entire printhead and ink supply are replaced when ink is exhausted. Alternatively, the ink supply can be carried with the carriage and be separately replaceable from the printhead. As a further alternative, the ink supply can be mounted to the printing system such that the ink supply does not move with the carriage. For the case where the ink supply is not carried with the carriage, the ink supply can be in fluid communication with the printhead to replenish the printhead or the printhead can be intermittently connected with the ink supply by positioning the printhead proximate to a filling station to which the ink supply is connected whereupon the printhead is replenished with ink from the refilling station. Generally, when the ink supply is separately replaceable, the ink supply is replaced when exhausted. The printhead is then replaced at the end of printhead life. Regardless of where the ink supply is located within the printing system, it is critical that the ink supply provides a reliable supply of ink to the inkjet printhead.
No matter what the arrangement of the ink supply and printhead, it is crucial that the replaceable ink supply and printhead be capable of establishing a reliable fluid connection with the printing system or with one another. This fluid interconnection should be capable of repeated disconnects and reconnects as the ink supply and printhead are removed and installed. Moreover, the fluid interconnect should be robust enough to prevent leakage under normal operating and non-operating conditions and under various environmental conditions. In addition, the fluid interconnects should prevent drooling of fluid when the ink supply and printhead are separated from the printing system. The fluid interconnections between the ink supply, printing system and printhead should reliably provide these features throughout the useful life of these fluid delivery system components so as to preclude premature replacement of these components and the associated cost. Lastly, the fluid interconnect should be relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and relatively simple to incorporate into these components used in ink delivery systems of thermal inkjet printing systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a marking fluid valve for a marking fluid delivery system of a media marking device. The marking fluid valve comprises a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another. The first end of the resilient body includes a pair of opposed lips. The pair of opposed lips define a normally closed slit extending therebetween, wherein compressing the first end of the resilient body along the axis of the lips deforms the resilient body from a closed position, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent marking fluid from passing through the slit, to an open position, in which the lips are spread at least partially apart from one another to enable marking fluid to pass through the slit.
The pinch seal interconnects function to provide reliable fluid interconnects between fluid delivery system components, such as fluid supply containers, printheads and manifold structures of a printing device. The pinch seal fluid interconnects prevent drooling of fluid, when fluid delivery system components are separated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the intended advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof, and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an exemplary printing system with a cover opened to show a plurality of replaceable ink containers, a receiving station, and a plurality of replaceable printhead cartridges incorporating pinch seal fluid interconnects in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view a portion of a scanning carriage showing the replaceable ink containers positioned in the receiving station which includes a manifold that provides fluid communication between the replaceable ink containers and one or more printhead cartridges.
FIG. 3
a
is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the pinch valve positioned to be received by a tubular member that together define the pinch seal fluid interconnect of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
b
is a side elevational view similar to
FIG. 3
a
showing the exemplary embodiment of the pinch valve engaged with the tubular member and marking fluid flowing out of the pinch valve.
FIG. 4
a
is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment pinch valve that forms a part of the pinch seal fluid interconnect in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, with the pinch valve shown in a closed state.
FIG. 4
b
is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment pinch valve in a closed state of
FIG. 3
a.
FIG. 4
c
is a sectional view taken along lines
4
c
—
4
c
in
FIG. 4
b.
FIG. 4
d
is a sectional view taken along lines
4
d
—
4
d
in
FIG. 4
b.
FIG. 4
e
is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment pinch valve of
FIGS. 4
a
through
4
d
but shown in an opened state.
FIG. 4
f
is a sectional view taken along lines
4
f
—
4
f
in
FIG. 4
e.
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view similar to
FIG. 3
b
showing the exemplary embodiment pinch valve engaged with the tubular member and marking fluid flowing into the pinch valve.
FIG. 6
a
is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment pinch seal fluid interconnect showing the elements of the fluid interconnect in a disengaged state in accordance with one further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6
b
is a side elevational view similar to
FIG. 6
a
showing the elements of the fluid interconnect engaged with one another.
FIG. 7
a
is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment pinch seal fluid interconnect showing the elements of the fluid interconnect in a disengaged state in accordance with still one further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7
b
is a side elevational view similar to
FIG. 7
a
showing the elements of the fluid interconnect engaged with one another.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Exemplary pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
(see
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention are useable to fluidically couple a replaceable fluid supply container
12
, a manifold such as receiving station
14
, and a printhead cartridge
16
of a thermal inkjet printing system
10
generally illustrated in
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
3
a
and
3
b.
In
FIG. 1
, the exemplary printing system
10
, shown with its cover open, includes at least one replaceable fluid supply container
12
that is installed in a receiving station
14
. In one preferred embodiment, the printing system
10
includes two replaceable fluid supply containers
12
. With the replaceable fluid supply containers
12
properly installed into the receiving station
14
, marking fluid, such as ink, is provided from the replaceable fluid supply containers
12
to at least one inkjet printhead cartridge
16
by way of the receiving station
14
. In one preferred embodiment, one of the replaceable fluid supply containers
12
contains a single color fluid, such as black ink, while the other replaceable fluid supply container
12
contains multiple colors of fluid, such as cyan, magenta and yellow inks. Generally, the printing system
10
includes at least two replaceable printhead cartridges
16
, such as one single color printhead cartridge
16
for printing from the black ink supply, and one multi-color printhead cartridge
16
for printing from the cyan, magenta and yellow ink supplies. In one embodiment, the printing system
10
includes four replaceable printhead cartridges
16
, such that one printhead cartridge
16
is used for printing from each of the black, cyan, magenta and yellow ink supplies.
In operation, the inkjet printhead cartridges
16
are responsive to activation signals from a printer portion
18
to deposit fluid (i.e., ink) on print media
22
. As the fluid is ejected from the printhead cartridges
16
, the printhead cartridges
16
are replenished with fluid from the fluid containers
12
. In one preferred embodiment, the replaceable fluid containers
12
, receiving station
14
, and the replaceable inkjet printhead cartridges
16
are each part of a scanning carriage
20
that is moved relative to the print media
22
to accomplish printing. The printer portion
18
includes a media tray
24
for receiving the print media
22
. As the print media
22
is stepped through a print zone, the scanning carriage
20
moves the printhead cartridges
16
relative to the print media
22
. The printer portion
18
selectively activates the printhead cartridges
16
to deposit fluid on print media
22
to thereby accomplish printing.
The scanning carriage
20
of
FIG. 1
slides along a slide rod
26
to print along a width of the print media
22
. A positioning means (not shown) is used for precisely positioning the scanning carriage
20
. In addition, a paper advance mechanism (not shown) moves the print media
22
through the print zone as the scanning carriage
20
is moved along the slide rod
26
. Electrical signals are provided to the scanning carriage
20
for selectively activating the printhead cartridges
16
by means of an electrical link, such as a ribbon cable
28
.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a portion of the scanning carriage
20
showing the pair of replaceable fluid containers
12
properly installed in the receiving station
14
. For clarity, only a single inkjet printhead cartridge
16
is shown in fluid communication with the receiving station
14
. As seen in
FIG. 2
, each of the replaceable fluid containers
12
includes a latch
30
for securing the replaceable fluid container
12
to the receiving station
14
. In addition, the receiving station
14
includes a set of keys
32
that interact with corresponding keying features (not shown) on the replaceable fluid containers
12
. The keying features on the replaceable fluid containers
12
interact with the keys
32
on the receiving station
14
to ensure that the replaceable fluid containers
12
are compatible with the receiving station
14
.
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
illustrate the exemplary pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
in disengaged (
FIG. 3
a
) and engaged (
FIG. 3
b
) states in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
is defined by a rigid tubular member
42
adapted to releasably receive a pinch valve member
44
. For the purposes of this discussion, the rigid tubular member
42
forms part of the receiving station (i.e., manifold)
14
, while the pinch valve member
44
is mounted on the replaceable fluid supply container
12
to form a reliable fluid interconnect therebetween. However, it is to be understood that the rigid tubular member
42
could form part of the printhead cartridge
16
, while the pinch valve member
44
is mounted on the receiving station
14
to form a reliable fluid interconnect between these two elements of the fluid delivery system of the printing system
10
.
As seen best in
FIGS. 4
a
-
4
f
, the exemplary pinch valve member
44
of the pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
has a resilient body
45
having a first end
46
, and an opposite second end
48
in fluid communication with the first end
46
. The resilient body
45
also includes an exterior surface
47
and an opposite interior surface
49
. As seen best in
FIGS. 4
a
,
4
c
,
4
d
and
4
f
, the resilient body
45
is substantially cone shaped between the first and second ends
46
and
48
. In particular, the second end
48
of the resilient body
45
has a greater circumferential dimension than the first end
46
, with a smooth transition therebetween. In one preferred embodiment, the resilient body
45
is formed of an elastomer material compatible with ink. The second end
48
of the resilient body includes an integral mounting flange
50
by which the resilient body
45
of the pinch valve member
44
is retained on the replaceable fluid supply container
12
(see
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
). To accomplish this, the fluid supply container
12
includes a clamping structure
52
which engages the mounting flange
50
, and secures the resilient body
45
of the pinch valve member
44
to the fluid supply container
12
. The resilient nature of the resilient body
45
together with the clamping force provided by the clamping structure
52
acts to form a fluid tight seal at the interface of the pinch valve member
44
and the fluid supply container
12
.
The first end
46
of the resilient body
45
includes a pair of opposed lips
54
. The lips
54
define a normally closed slit
56
(see
FIGS. 4
a
and
4
b
). Applying a compressive force to the exterior surface
47
of the resilient body
45
at the lips
54
deforms the lips
54
from a closed state (see
FIGS. 3
a
and
4
a
-
4
d
), in which the lips
54
are in contact with one another to close the slit
56
and prevent marking fluid
58
from passing through the slit
56
, to an opened state (see
FIGS. 3
b
,
4
e
and
4
f
), in which the lips are spread apart from one another to allow marking fluid
58
to pass through the slit
56
. In particular, the compressive force is a pair of oppositely directed compressive forces
60
(see
FIG. 4
e
) applied to the lips
54
in a direction along (i.e., parallel to) axes
62
of the lips
54
to deform the lips
54
of the resilient body
45
from the closed state to the opened state of the slit
56
. In other words, the pair of oppositely directed compressive forces
60
(see
FIG. 4
e
) are applied to the exterior surface
47
at the lips
54
and at opposite ends of the slit
56
in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal extent of the slit
56
to deform the lips
54
at the first end
46
of the resilient body
45
from the closed state to the opened state of the slit
56
. Removal of the oppositely directed compressive forces
60
allows the lips
54
to return to their normal state in which the slit
56
is closed.
In
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
, the pinch valve member
44
forms a fluid outlet that allows marking fluid
58
to pass out of the fluid supply container
12
(or out of the receiving station
14
) through the resilient body
45
, from the second end
48
to the first end
46
thereof, and through the open slit
56
(in the opened state of the lips
54
) and into the receiving station (i.e., manifold)
14
(or into the printhead cartridge
16
). Alternatively, as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, the pinch valve member
44
could form a fluid outlet that allows marking fluid
58
to pass out of the fluid supply container
12
(or out of the receiving station
14
), into the open slit
56
(in the opened state of the lips
54
), through the resilient body
45
, from the first end
46
to the second end
48
thereof, and into the receiving station (i.e., manifold)
14
(or into the printhead cartridge
16
).
As seen best in
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
, the rigid tubular member
42
is adapted to releasably receive the pinch valve member
44
upon engagement of the fluid supply container
12
(or the receiving station
14
) with the receiving station
14
(or the printhead cartridge
16
). The rigid tubular member
42
has interior wall portions that define a lead-in region
64
and an actuating region
66
of the tubular member
42
. The actuating region
66
has a greater pitch than the lead-in portion
64
. As can be best viewed by comparing
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b
, upon initial engagement of the container
12
with the receiving station
14
, the lead-in region
64
of the tubular member
42
acts to guide the first end
46
of the resilient body
45
into the actuating region
66
. Upon full engagement of the container
12
with the receiving station
14
, the actuating region
66
applies the oppositely directed compressive forces
60
to the lips
54
in order to deform the lips
54
and move the slit
56
from the closed state to the opened state to allow the marking fluid
58
to pass therethrough. The actuating region
66
applies the compressive forces
60
to the lips
54
of the resilient body because the diameter of the actuating region
66
is less than a maximum linear dimension between opposed points
68
(see
FIG. 4
b
) on the perimeter of the resilient body at lips
54
. Because the diameter of the actuating region is less than the maximum linear dimension at the lips
54
of the resilient body
45
, the lips
54
at the first end
46
are deformed when they enter into the actuating region
66
.
Pinch seal fluid interconnects
40
establish reliable fluid connections between the fluid supply container
12
and the receiving station
14
, and between the receiving station
14
and the printhead cartridge
16
. However, it is to be understood that the pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
of the present invention can also form a reliable fluid connection between a fluid supply container
12
and a printhead cartridge
16
. Moreover, it is to be understood that the pinch valve member
44
can act as a fluid outlet or a fluid inlet. In addition the pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
is capable of repeated disconnects and reconnects as the ink supply
12
and printhead
16
are removed and installed. Further, the resiliency of the pinch valve member
44
and the provision of the lead-in portion
64
of the tubular member
42
permits slight misalignment of the printer components to be connected while still insuring a reliable fluid interconnect. Since the pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
can tolerate some axial misalignment of the printer components to be connected, the printer components do not have to be manufactured to as high tolerances as prior printer components employing fluid interconnects that do not accommodate any misalignment of the printer components. Moreover, the pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
is robust enough to prevent leakage under normal operating and non-operating conditions and under various environmental conditions. In addition, the pinch valve member
44
prevents drooling of fluid when the ink supply
12
and printhead are separated from the printing system. To this end, the ink supply container
12
includes a guard
70
that prevents damage to the pinch valve member when the ink supply
12
has been removed from the printing system
10
. The pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
reliably provides these above features throughout the useful life of the fluid delivery system components of the printing system
10
so as to preclude premature replacement of these components and the associated cost. Lastly, the pinch seal fluid interconnect
40
is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and relatively simple to incorporate into components used in ink delivery systems of thermal inkjet printing systems.
FIGS. 6
a
and
6
b
illustrate an alternative embodiment pinch seal fluid interconnect
80
. Like parts are labeled with like numerals except for the addition of the subscript “A” unless otherwise noted. This alternative embodiment makes use of a pair of the pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B. One pinch valve member
44
A is mounted to the fluid supply container
12
and the other pinch valve member
44
B is mounted to the receiving station
14
. The pinch valve members are identical except that the pinch valve member
44
B is made of a softer elastomer material than the pinch valve member
44
A. This alternative pinch seal fluid interconnect
80
includes an hour glass shaped rigid tubular member
42
A. The tubular member
42
A is mounted to the receiving station
14
such that the tubular member
42
A surrounds the pinch valve member
44
B. The tubular member
42
A includes a lead-in region
64
A and an actuating region
66
A that function identical to the lead-in and actuating regions
64
,
66
of the tubular member
42
. The pinch valve member
44
B is positioned in the tubular member
42
A such that the first end
46
B of the pinch valve member
44
B is positioned within the lead-in region
64
A of the tubular member
42
A.
Upon initial engagement of the container
12
with the receiving station
14
, the lead-in region
64
A of the tubular member
42
A acts to guide the first end
46
A of the pinch valve member
44
A into the actuating region
66
A. Upon full engagement of the container
12
with the receiving station
14
, the lips
54
A at the first end
46
A of the pinch valve member
44
A bear against the lips
54
B at the first end
46
B of the pinch valve member
44
B which causes the pinch valve member
44
B to deform along its longitudinal extent (see
FIG. 6
b
) since it is of a softer elastomer material than the pinch valve member
44
A. This causes the lips
54
A,
54
B at the first ends
46
A,
46
B of both of the pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B to enter the actuating region
66
A of the tubular member
42
A which applies the oppositely directed compressive forces
60
to the exterior surfaces
47
A,
47
B of the pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B in order to deform the lips
54
A,
54
B and move the slits
56
A,
56
B from their closed states to the opened states to allow the marking fluid
58
to pass therethrough. The actuating region
66
A applies the compressive forces
60
to the lips
54
A,
54
B because the diameter of the actuating region
66
A is less than a maximum linear dimension of the lips
54
A,
54
B. As an alternative to forming the pinch valve member
44
B of a softer elastomer material than the pinch valve member
44
A, the pinch valve member could include an internal rigidifying tubular element
82
, which would provide the necessary stiffness to allow the pinch valve member
44
A to deform the pinch valve member
44
B along its longitudinal extent. Removal of the ink container
12
from the receiving station allows the pinch valve member
44
B to return to its original non-deformed state, with the lips
54
A,
54
B in a closed state.
It is to be understood that as an alternative, the pinch valve member
44
B could be formed so as to be normally in the opened state. In this version, the lips
54
B of the pinch valve member
44
B would normally be positioned within the actuating region
66
A of the tubular member
42
A so that the actuating region
66
A would hold the lips
54
B of the pinch valve member
44
B in the closed state. In this version, upon full engagement of the container
12
with the receiving station
14
, the lips
54
A at the first end
46
A of the pinch valve member
44
A would bear against the lips
54
B at the first end
46
B of the pinch valve member
44
B which would cause the pinch valve member
44
B to deform along its longitudinal extent since it is of a softer elastomer material than the pinch valve member
44
A. This causes the lips
54
A at the first end
46
A of the pinch valve member
44
A to enter the actuating region
66
A of the tubular member
42
A which deforms the lips
54
A and moves the slit
56
A from its closed state to its opened state, while the lips
54
B of the pinch valve member
44
B are moved below the actuating region
66
A which allows the lips
54
B of the pinch valve member
44
B to return to their normal state wherein the slit
56
B moves from the closed state to the normally opened state to allow the marking fluid
58
to pass therethrough.
FIGS. 7
a
and
7
b
illustrate an alternative embodiment pinch seal fluid interconnect
90
. In this embodiment, the pinch valve members
44
A and
44
B are formed of the same elastomer material and without the rigidifying tubular element
82
. In this embodiment, the second end
48
B of the pinch valve member
44
B includes a circumferential groove
92
for receiving an O-ring
94
. The second end
48
B of the pinch valve member
44
B is received within a bore
96
on the receiving station
14
. The O-ring
94
forms a fluid tight seal with the bore
96
and allows the pinch valve member
44
B to move relative to the receiving station
14
along the bore
96
. A spring member
98
acts between the receiving station
14
and the second end
48
B of the pinch valve member
44
B to bias the pinch valve member to the position shown in
FIG. 7
a
wherein the lips
54
B of the pinch valve member
44
B are in a closed state.
Upon initial engagement of the container
12
with the receiving station
14
, the lead-in region
64
A of the tubular member
42
A acts to guide the first end
46
A of the pinch valve member
44
A into the actuating region
66
A. Upon full engagement of the container
12
with the receiving station
14
, the lips
54
A at the first end
46
A of the pinch valve member
44
A bear against the lips
54
B at the first end
46
B of the pinch valve member
44
B which causes the pinch valve member
44
B to move along the bore
96
against the bias of the spring
98
(see
FIG. 7
b
). This causes the lips
54
A,
54
B of both of the pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B to enter the actuating region
66
A of the tubular member
42
A which applies the oppositely directed compressive forces
60
to the exterior surfaces
47
A,
47
B of the lips
54
A,
54
B of the pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B in order to deform the lips
54
A,
54
B and move the slits
56
A,
56
B from their closed states to the opened states to allow the marking fluid
58
to pass therethrough. The actuating region
66
A applies the compressive forces
60
to the lips
54
A,
54
B because the diameter of the actuating region
66
A is less than a maximum linear dimension of the lips
54
A,
54
B. Removal of the ink container
12
from the receiving station allows the pinch valve member
44
B to return to its starting position and the lips
54
A,
54
B to return to their closed state.
Pinch seal fluid interconnects
80
,
90
establish reliable fluid connections between the fluid supply container
12
and the receiving station
14
, and between the receiving station
14
and the printhead cartridge
16
. However, it is to be understood that the pinch seal fluid interconnect
80
,
90
of the present invention can also form a reliable fluid connection between a fluid supply container
12
and a printhead cartridge
16
. Moreover, it is to be understood that the pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B can pass fluid in either direction. In addition the pinch seal fluid interconnect
80
,
90
is capable of repeated disconnects and reconnects as the ink supply
12
and printhead
16
are removed and installed. Moreover, the pinch seal fluid interconnect
80
,
90
is robust enough to prevent leakage under normal operating and non-operating conditions and under various environmental conditions. In addition, the pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B prevent drooling of fluid when the ink supply
12
and printhead
16
are separated from the printing system. Moreover, the use of the pair of pinch valve members
44
A,
44
B minimizes air introduced and ink loss upon disconnects and reconnects of the printer components. The pinch seal fluid interconnect
80
,
90
reliably provides these above features throughout the useful life of the fluid delivery system components of the printing system
10
so as to preclude premature replacement of these components and the associated cost. Lastly, the pinch seal fluid interconnect
80
,
90
is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and relatively simple to incorporate into components used in ink delivery systems of thermal inkjet printing systems.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A marking fluid valve for a marking fluid delivery system of a media marking device, the marking fluid valve comprising:a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another; a pair of opposed lips at the first end of the resilient body, the pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, the slit defining an axis, wherein compressing the first end of the resilient body along the axis of the lips deforms the resilient body from a closed position, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent marking fluid from passing through the slit, to an open position, in which the lips are spread at least partially apart from one another to enable marking fluid to pass through the slit.
- 2. The marking fluid valve of claim 1 wherein the resilient body defines a marking fluid outlet in which in the open position of the lips, the marking fluid passes through the resilient body from the second end through the open slit at the first end.
- 3. The marking fluid valve of claim 1 wherein the resilient body defines a marking fluid inlet in which in the open position of the lips, the marking fluid passes into the open slit at the first end of the resilient body and through the resilient body to the second end thereof.
- 4. The marking fluid valve of claim 1 wherein the resilient body is formed of an elastomer material.
- 5. The marking fluid valve of claim 1 wherein the second end of the resilient body defines a mounting flange by which the resilient body is mounted to a component of the marking fluid delivery system of the media marking device.
- 6. The marking fluid valve of claim 1 wherein the second end of the resilient body defines a circumferential groove for receiving an O-ring engageable with a component of the marking fluid delivery system of the media marking device.
- 7. The marking fluid valve of claim 6 wherein the first end of the cone shaped resilient body is of a first dimension, wherein the second end of the cone shaped resilient body is of a second dimension, and wherein the second dimension is greater than the first dimension.
- 8. The marking fluid valve of claim 1 wherein between the first and second ends the resilient body is generally cone shaped.
- 9. The marking fluid valve of claim 1 wherein a compressive force is applied to an exterior of the first end of the resilient body to compress the first end of the resilient body along axes of the lips to deform the resilient body from the closed position to an open position.
- 10. The marking fluid valve of claim 9 wherein the compressive force is a pair of opposite compressive forces applied to the exterior of the first end of the resilient body in a direction parallel to the axes of the lips to compress the first end of the resilient body along axes of the lips to deform the resilient body from the closed position to an open position.
- 11. A fluid valve interconnect for a fluid delivery system of a printing device, the fluid valve interconnect comprising:a resilient body having first and second opposite ends in fluid communication with one another, an exterior surface and an interior surface; a pair of opposed lips at the first end of the resilient body, the pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, wherein application of a force to the exterior of the resilient body moves the lips of the resilient body from a closed state in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent fluid from passing through the slit, to an open state in which the lips are separated at least partially apart from one another to enable fluid to pass through the slit.
- 12. The fluid valve of claim 11 wherein the force applied to the exterior of the resilient body is a compressive force.
- 13. The fluid valve of claim 12 wherein the compressive force is applied to the lips at the first end of the resilient body.
- 14. The fluid valve of claim 13 wherein the compressive force is applied to the lips in a directional generally parallel to a longitudinal extent of the slit.
- 15. The fluid valve of claim 14 wherein the compressive force is defined by a pair of opposed compressive forces applied to the lips at opposite ends of the of the slit.
- 16. A fluid delivery system for a printing system, the fluid delivery system comprising:a first component including: a substantially rigid tubular member; a second component engageable with the first component, the second component including: a resilient body having a first end with a pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, wherein engagement of the second component with the first component causes the resilient body to be received by the rigid tubular member, the tubular member applying a force to an exterior of the resilient body which deforms the lips of the resilient body from a closed state, in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent fluid from passing through the slit, to an open state, in which the lips are separated at least partially apart from one another to enable fluid to pass through the slit.
- 17. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the resilient body further includes an opposite second end in fluid communication with the first end, the second end defining a flange portion adapted for mounting the resilient body to the second component.
- 18. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein interior wall portions of the tubular member define a lead-in region and an actuating region, the lead-in region acting to guide the resilient body into the actuating region which acts to apply the force to the exterior of the resilient body which deforms the lips of the resilient body from the closed state to the open state.
- 19. The fluid delivery system of claim 18 wherein the interior wall portion defining the lead-in region has a first pitch, wherein the interior wall portion defining the actuating region has a second pitch, and wherein the second pitch is greater than the first pitch.
- 20. The fluid delivery system of claim 18 wherein the first component further includes:a resilient body positioned within the tubular member, the resilient body of the first component having a first end with a pair of opposed lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween, and an opposite second end in fluid communication with the first end, wherein engagement of the second component with the first component causes the resilient body of the second component to be received by the rigid tubular member, the tubular member applying a force to exteriors of the resilient bodies of the first and second components which deforms the lips of the resilient bodies from a closed state in which the lips are in contact with one another to close the slit and prevent fluid from passing through the slit, to an open state in which the lips are separated at least partially apart from one another to enable fluid to pass through the slits.
- 21. The fluid delivery system of claim 20 wherein in the closed state of the lips of the resilient body of the first component, the lips are positioned within the lead-in region of the tubular member.
- 22. The fluid delivery system of claim 21 wherein engagement of the second component with the first component causes the lips of the resilient bodies of the first and second components to be received by the actuating portion of the rigid tubular member which acts to apply the force to the exteriors of the resilient bodies which deforms the lips of the resilient bodies from the closed state to the open state.
- 23. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein when the lips of the resilient body of the first component are received by the actuating portion of the rigid tubular member, the resilient body is deformed between its first and second ends.
- 24. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the resilient body of the first component is movably mounted to the first component so as to move from a first position wherein the lips are in the closed state, and a second position in which the lips are in the open state, and wherein engagement of the second component with the first component moves the resilient body of the first component relative to the first component from the first position to the second position.
- 25. The fluid delivery system of claim 24 wherein the resilient body is spring biased to be normally in the first position.
- 26. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the first end of the resilient body has a perimeter and a maximum dimension between opposed points on the perimeter, and wherein the tubular member defines an interior wall portion having a diameter that is less than the maximum dimension, such that insertion of the resilient body into this interior wall portion deforms the lips at the first end of the resilient body from the closed state to the open state.
- 27. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a fluid supply container.
- 28. The fluid delivery system of claim 27 wherein the first component is a printing system manifold adapted to removably receive the fluid supply container.
- 29. The fluid delivery system of claim 27 wherein the first component is a printhead adapted to removably receive the fluid supply container.
- 30. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a printing system manifold.
- 31. The fluid delivery system of claim 30 wherein the first component is a fluid supply container adapted to be removably received by the printing system manifold.
- 32. The fluid delivery system of claim 30 wherein the first component is a printhead adapted to be removably received by the printing system manifold.
- 33. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the first component is a fluid supply container.
- 34. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a printhead, and the first component is a fluid supply container adapted to be removably received by the printhead.
- 35. The fluid delivery system of claim 16 wherein the second component is a printhead, and the first component is a printing system manifold adapted to removably receive the printhead.
US Referenced Citations (9)