Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-15
2001-07-24
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264313
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to fluid delivery systems, and, more particularly, the invention relates to a multiple path fluid delivery manifold.
BACKGROUND ART
Fluid delivery systems are employed in a wide variety of technologies to deliver a fluid with precision. Among other things, such systems are used to deliver medications intravenously, dispense chemical agents, and propel paints and inks onto a surface. For example, fluid delivery systems are often used in ink jet printers commonly used with home computers. Such fluid delivery systems generally have several fluid discharge outlets that are spaced apart from one another at equal distances, and several fluid inlets that distribute ink to the discharge outlets.
In one common design of color ink jet printers, the ink is supplied in a cartridge. The cartridge generally has two pieces of plastic welded together at the outer perimeter. The cartridge usually includes a container of black ink and several smaller containers of colored ink. The containers are arranged linearly within the cartridge. The container of black ink is, optimally, a greater volume than the colored inks because black ink is used more often than colored ink. Accordingly, at the respective inlets, the distance between the several containers of colored ink generally is smaller than the distance between the colored inks and the container of black ink. Consequently, in such cartridges, the fluid inlets are not evenly spaced apart. Unlike the fluid inlets, the fluid outlets are generally spaced apart at equal distances to ensure that the ink is applied evenly to the paper.
In those cartridges where the spacing between the inlets is variable and the spacing between the outlets is uniform, the channels between the respective inlets and outlets typically are not straight. In fact, the channels can be configured to be very long and tortuous. Such long channels increase the difficulty of effectively manufacturing the cartridge. If a channel is not properly constructed, ink from such channel (e.g., the channel with black ink) undesirably can leak into the other channels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a fluid delivery manifold utilizes a second shot material injection to couple manifold portions. In particular, a first manifold portion and a second manifold portion are set in registration to form an uncoupled manifold. The first and second manifold sections each have a contoured interior face. The contoured interiors of the first and second manifold portions form a plurality of material channels and a plurality of fluid channels. The uncoupled manifold also has a plurality of inlets at a first pitch and a plurality of outlets at second pitch. A second shot material is injected into the material channels. The second shot material couples the first and second manifold portions of the uncoupled manifold to the seal the fluid channels.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first manifold portion is provided using a first shot procedure. A molding device having a center rotating plate with a first face is provided. A first shot procedure is performed forming manifold portions on the first face of the rotating plate. In a further embodiment, a robotic arm rotates the center plate and removes a second manifold portion from the rotating plate and positions the second manifold portions in registration with a first manifold portion.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a fluid delivery manifold includes a first manifold portion, a second manifold portion, and a sealing bead. The sealing bead couples the first manifold portion to the second manifold portion to form a coupled manifold. The coupled manifold forms a plurality of material channels and a plurality of fluid channels. The coupled manifold also includes a plurality of inlets at a first pitch and a plurality of outlets at a second pitch. The sealing bead is formed by injecting a second shot material into the plurality of material channels.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a fluid delivery manifold is provided. The method includes positioning a first manifold portion in registration with a second manifold portion to form an uncoupled manifold. The uncoupled manifold has a plurality of material channels and a plurality of fluid channels. The uncoupled manifold also has a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets, where the fluid outlets are at a different pitch than the fluid inlets. A second shot material is injected into the material channels to seal the fluid channels and form a coupled manifold.
In other embodiments of the invention, the first pitch of the manifold is variable and the second pitch is uniform. In still further embodiments, the first shot material is different from the second shot material. The second shot material may be glass filled polyester.
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Patent Cooperation Treaty International Search Report PCT/US00/24256 Dec. 28, 2000.
Kisch Glenn E.
Mackowiak Stephen P.
Sheehy Robert
Bromberg & Sunstein LLP
Le N.
Nypro Inc.
Vo Anh T. N.
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