Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-01
2004-05-25
Stephens, Juanita D. (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06739709
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sealing member for an ink cartridge. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a resilient member for sealing the ink-delivery port of an ink cartridge used in an inkjet printer.
Inkjet printers include a printhead associated with a cradle into which an ink cartridge is mounted. The printhead has associated with it an ink supply needle, which fits into the ink delivery port when the cartridge is installed in the cradle. Ink passes from the ink cartridge through the ink supply needle to the printhead on demand.
Known ink cartridges have a rubber seal mounted at the ink-delivery port, having a small aperture therein which bears tightly against the ink supply needle to prevent leakage during use. However, when the empty or partially depleted ink cartridge is removed from the cradle and the seal is lifted with it from the ink supply needle, the aperture in the seal remains open due to its inherent shape as manufactured. This leads to messy dripping of any unspent ink from within the cartridge through the aperture.
Also, such known rubber seals allow air to enter the ink chamber prior to use unless a separate peel-off sticker remains in place over the seal. Also, after removal of the cartridge from the cradle, if a proper airtight seal is required, a piece of tape or other adhesive must be placed over the port and the seal. This is inconvenient where it is desired to repeatedly remove and replace the ink cartridge, say for the purpose of refilling the cartridge with ink
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seal for an ink delivery port of an ink cartridge that not only allows a flow of ink through an ink supply needle therethrough during use of the cartridge in a printer, but also prevents a flow of fluid therepast when the cartridge is not installed in the printer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved seal for an ink delivery port of an ink cartridge that is capable of sealing closed after repeated insertion and removal of the ink cartridge to/from a printer having an ink delivery needle that passes into the ink delivery port in use.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed therein a resilient seal for insertion into an ink delivery port of an ink cartridge of an inkjet printer, comprising:
a blind hole through which an ink supply needle of the printer can pass when the cartridge is inserted into the printer, and
closing means closing the blind hole upon removal of the cartridge from the printer.
Preferably, the seal further comprises:
a membrane formed integrally with the seal and closing the blind hole, wherein
the membrane is penetrated by the ink supply needle when the cartridge is inserted into the printer and said closing means closes the penetration in the membrane upon removal of the cartridge from the printer.
Preferably the blind hole has opposed walls against which the needle bears.
Preferably the opposed walls converge toward the membrane.
Preferably the opposed walls are flat.
Preferably be blind hole has a tapered opening.
Preferably the seal includes an outer wall defining a space within which the blind hole and membrane are located.
Preferably a pair of ribs extend between the outer wall and a respective one of the opposed walls, serving to bias the membrane to close the penetration.
Preferably the seal is substantially circular.
Alternatively, the seal is slightly elliptical such that upon insertion into a circular ink delivery port, the ribs press against the opposed walls.
Preferably the seal has at least one sealing ring formed integrally therewith and about the outer wall.
There is further disclosed therein an ink cartridge having an ink delivery port into which the above disclosed seal is inserted.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5790158 (1998-08-01), Shinada et al.
patent: 6435674 (2002-08-01), Michele et al.
J. Greene, W. Hildenbrand and S. Manning, “Constant Pressure Head Ink Supply”, Feb. 2973, IBM (Technical Disclosure Bulletin), Vo. 15, No. 9.*
J. Greene, W. Hildenbrand and S. Manning, “Constant-Pressure Head Ink Supply”, Feb. 1973, IBM (Technical Disclosure Bulletin), Vo. 15, No. 9
Cyber Imaging Limited
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Stephens Juanita D.
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