Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-31
2001-10-09
Nguyen, Judy (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
C137S614200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299296
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ink-jet printing systems, and more particularly, ink-jet printing systems which make use of ink containers that are replaceable separate from a printhead.
Ink-jet printers frequently make use of an ink-jet printhead mounted to a carriage that is moved back and fourth across a print media, such as paper. As the printhead is moved across the print media, a control system activates the printhead to deposit ink droplets onto the print media to form images and text.
Previously used printers have made use of an ink container that is separably replaceable from the printhead. When the ink cartridge is exhausted the ink cartridge is removed and replaced with a new ink container. The uses of replaceable ink containers that are separate from the printhead allow users to replace the ink container without replacing the printhead. The printhead is then replaced at or near the end of printhead life and not when the ink container is exhausted.
There is an ever-present need for printing systems that are capable of providing low operating costs such as printers that make use of off-axis type ink supplies. In addition, these printing systems should be easy to operate, such as, including some form of memory for storing printing parameters so that the user is not required to adjust printer parameters when the ink container is replaced. These ink supplies should be capable of reliable insertion into the printing system to ensure that proper fluid interconnection and proper electrical interconnection with the printer is achieved. In addition, these interconnections should be reliable and should not degrade over time and use. For example, the fluid interconnect should not leak during use or over time and the electrical interconnect should be reliable during use and over time. In addition, these ink cartridges should not require special handling by the user and should be reliable and easily connected by the user to form a positive highly reliable mechanical, electrical, and fluid interconnect with the printer.
These ink containment systems should be capable of providing ink at high flow rates to a printhead thereby allowing high throughput printing. This ink supply system should be cost effective to allow relatively low cost per page printing. In addition, the ink supply should be capable of providing ink at high flow rates in a reliable manner to the printhead.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a sealing member for sealing an opening in a fluid container. The sealing member receives a hollow tubular member to establish communication between the hollow tubular member and the fluid container. The sealing member includes a resilient sealing portion configured to receive the hollow tubular member. With the hollow tubular member inserted through the resilient sealing portion a compressive seal is formed with an outer surface of the hollow tubular member to limit passage of fluid between the resilient sealing portion and the hollow tubular member. Also included is a lead-in portion on the resilient sealing portion. The lead-in portion guides the hollow tubular member through the resilient sealing portion to establish communication between the hollow tubular member and the fluid container.
Another aspect of the present invention is an ink container for providing ink to an ink jet printing system. The ink jet printing system has a fluid inlet having a hollow needle that has a blunt end and a lateral hole. The ink container includes a first sealing surface for tightly receiving the hollow needle to prevent fluid passage between the hollow needle and the first sealing member when the ink container is in fluid communication with the ink jet printer. Also included is a second sealing surface for receiving a movable sealing member. The movable sealing member is biased against the second sealing member when the hollow needle is at least partially removed from the first sealing member. The second sealing surface is spaced sufficiently from the first sealing surface so that debris resulting from movement of the hollow needle relative to the first sealing surface does not prevent the movable sealing member from seating with the second sealing member. dr
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
depicts a schematic representation of a printing system that includes an ink container of the invention.
FIG. 2
depicts a perspective view of a representation of the printing system of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
depicts a representation of the ink container of
FIG. 1
shown in section with the fluid out inlet shown greatly enlarged.
FIG. 4
depicts a cross section of a fluid outlet and an air inlet for the ink container of the present invention shown in engagement with a fluid inlet and air outlet, respectively associated with a printer portion.
FIG. 5
depicts an end view taken across lines
5
—
5
of the fluid outlet shown in FIG.
3
.
FIG. 6
depicts a section view of the fluid outlet shown in
FIG. 5
taken across lines
6
—
6
.
FIG. 7
depicts a section view of an alternative embodiment of the fluid outlet shown in FIG.
6
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3603471 (1971-09-01), Harris et al.
patent: 5523780 (1996-06-01), Hirosawa et al.
patent: 5751322 (1998-05-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5777646 (1998-07-01), Barinaga et al.
patent: 63-276554 (1988-11-01), None
Hewlett -Packard Company
Nguyen Judy
Sullivan Kevin B.
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