Abstract: A fluid interconnect between an ink supply and an ink-jet printer has an outlet assembly and an inlet assembly. The outlet assembly has a hollow tube with a lateral hole, a guide member and a sealing member with a catch. The inlet assembly has a poppet valve and at least one compliant finger. When the outlet assembly is inserted into the inlet assembly, the sealing member is moved from a closed position, in which the sealing member covers the lateral hole to occlude ink flow, into an open position, in which the lateral hole is exposed so that ink may flow through the outlet assembly. At the same time, the compliant finger engages the catch on the sealing member. As the outlet assembly is extracted from the inlet assembly, the compliant finger moves the sealing member back to a closed position to cover the lateral hole to occlude ink flow through the outlet assembly.

Abstract: A fluid interconnect for coupling an ink supply to an ink-jet printer includes a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet. The fluid outlet has a housing with one end in fluid communication with the ink supply and the other end sealed by a septum. A sealing member is positioned within the housing and is biased against the septum by a spring to form a second seal. The fluid inlet includes a hollow needle having one end in fluid communication with the print head and the other end defining a hole. A sliding collar surrounds the needle and is biased into a sealing position in which it seals the hole. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet can be coupled by pressing them together. During the coupling process, the needle pierces the septum to enter the housing and press the sealing member away from the septum. This allows fluid to flow from the ink supply, into the housing, passed the sealing member, into the hole in the needle and to the print head. Upon decoupling, the needle is withdrawn to seal the septum.

Abstract: A collapsible ink reservoir structure (25) to facilitate assembly of a replaceable or refillable printer ink cartridge is comprised of a relatively rigid frame (20) and flexible membranes (22, 24) forming an ink reservoir having side walls which collapse to a substantially flat shape to minimize the amount of ink remaining in the reservoir structure after computer generated printing has depleted the ink from the cartridge. The structure (25) is a separate unit which is assembled and mounted in an outer housing (10) to form an ink cartridge. The structure preferably contains an ink pressure regulator (30) which maintains a negative pressure therein.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ink volume in an ink reservoir carried on-board the print head carriage and replenishing the ink as needed to maintain an adequate volume of ink in the print head carriage ink reservoir, such replenishment coming from an off-board ink supply not positioned on the print head carriage.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is mounted on a cartridge which has an outer casing member, an inner collapsible reservoir formed by non-elastic flexible walls, and an internal spring means inside the reservoir for creating negative pressure in the collapsible reservoir during the filling and storage of ink in the collapsible reservoir as well as during the dispensing of ink from the collapsible reservoir to the printhead.

Abstract: In a computer-driven ink-jet printer, a carriage-borne ink reservoir system adjacent a print head, having a housing and a movable wall within and in sealing contact with the housing, the movable wall being observable and forming a portion of a variable volume ink chamber within the housing, the position of the movable wall being related to the volume of ink contained in the carriage-borne ink reservoir.

Abstract: A closed ink replenishment system for replenishing the supply of ink in negative pressure spring-bag reservoirs in a printer/plotter. A tube runs between each cartridge reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir mounted to the printer/plotter frame to form the closed ink system. As ink is depleted from the spring-bag reservoir during printing operation, the negative pressure in the cartridge increases, drawing ink through the tube from the auxiliary reservoir into the cartridge until the negative pressure decreases to an equilibrium point. As a result, the volume of ink within the spring-bag reservoir remains substantially constant so long as there is ink remaining within the auxiliary reservoir. This maintains the print quality. The auxiliary reservoir is a flat bag mounted on a spring-biased platform, which acts as a height regulating system. As ink is depleted from the auxiliary bag, the height of the platform and bag increases to maintain a constant pressure and elevation head at the spring-bag reservoir.

Abstract: An ink supply for an ink-jet printer is provided with a main reservoir, which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a one-way valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer.

Abstract: A device to empty fluid from a sealed pressure container by use of pressurized air, and thereafter to place the container under vacuum. The device has a sleeve portion which defines an interior chamber. A ring portion with a hole extends into the interior chamber and forms a seating surface. A slidable seat with an aperture is located in the interior chamber below the ring portion and is sized to loosely fit in the interior chamber and seat on the ring portion. An upper cap with an air channel is located at the upper end of the sleeve and a lower cap with an air channel is placed at the lower end of the sleeve portion. A spring placed in the interior chamber between the lower cap and the slidable seat biases the slidable seat into contact with the ring portion. A floatable ball is placed above the slidable seat and is adapted to fluid tightly seat on and seal off its aperture. The floatable ball is sized to freely pass through the hole in the ring portion. A vacuum generator is also provided.

Abstract: A method for joining two materials together to form a compact leak-resistant seal, particularly suited for use in thermal inkjet print cartridge ink reservoirs. The seal employs a shrink fit to clamp the two materials together. The method includes the steps of forming the first material into a desired first shot structure, placing the first shot structure in a second shot mold, and injecting the second material into the mold under adequate pressure and at an appropriate temperature. The second material has a high degree of mold shrinkage. Upon cooling, the second material shrinks tightly onto the first shot structure to form a molded joint which keeps air out and ink in when wetted and during normal shipping, storage, and operating conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating component gases in a gas mixture employing a glassy polymer membrane at temperatures of 5.degree. C. or less so as to achieve superior separation of gas components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a stream of ink drops in a continuous ink jet printer having a maximum allowable number of fast satellite drops. An ink, which may be a hot-melt ink in its liquid phase, is pressurized for continuous flow to a nozzle and a rectangular or triangular waveform is generated at a fixed frequency. The waveform is applied to a transducer coupled to the nozzle such that nozzle vibrates and the ink flow is perturbed and discharged from the nozzle as primary drops with satellite drops formed therewith. The harmonic content of the rectangular or triangular waveform is adjusted until the desired number of fast satellite drops suitable for desired image formation are formed in the stream of primary drops. In a preferred embodiment, the desired number of fast satellites is a maximum of three.

Abstract: A thermal ink-jet (TIJ) pen including a plastic frame structure and side covers. To attach the covers to the plastic frame without the use of adhesives, screws, thermal or ultrasonic processes, protruding metal tabs from the cover are press fit into corresponding recess features of the plastic frame. The tabs are designed to displace plastic surrounding the frame recesses to lock the cover to the frame. The resulting frame/cover seam resists shear, axial and transverse forces that occur as a result of externally applied loads to the pen.

Abstract: A collapsible ink reservoir structure to facilitate assembly of a replaceable or refillable printer ink cartridge is comprised of a relatively rigid inner frame and flexible membranes forming an ink reservoir having side walls which collapse to a substantially flat shape to minimize the amount of ink remaining in the reservoir structure after computer generated printing has depleted the ink from the cartridge. The reservoir structure is a separate unit from the ink discharge aperture device which is assembled and mounted in an outer housing and includes the inner frame and ink bags formed of films to form the cartridge assembly. Multiple reservoirs can be formed within the structure to permit the use of different colorants in each reservoir. The structure preferably contains an ink pressure regulator within each reservoir to maintain a negative pressure therein.

Abstract: A viscous material delivery and management system for delivery of a particular viscous material to a viscous material utilizing destination. The system has a sealed container for containment of a particular viscous material, a source of inert gas in gaseous communication with the sealed container, and a viscous material conduit in communication with the sealed container for delivery of the particular viscous material. The inert gas provides the motive force to move the particular viscous fluid from the sealed container to the viscous material utilizing destination.

Abstract: A fluid container draining device for draining fluid from a fluid container, an oil filter, in a controlled manner. The fluid container draining device has a threaded screw with a sharpened tip and a channel communicating between an opening at a forward end of the screw and a rear region of the threaded screw. When the screw is turned it will penetrate the wall of the fluid container and enter the fluid containing cavity of the fluid container. The threaded screw has a radially extending abutment surface to provide fluid tight sealing between the screw and the fluid container's walls to prevent fluid leakage. A fluid valve is positioned at the rear region of the screw to provide fluid flow control between the interior of the fluid container and outside the fluid container. The fluid valve is provided with a fitting for connection to a suction line to thereby permit fluid to be evacuated from the fluid container.

Abstract: A fluid container draining device for draining fluid from a fluid container, such as an oil filter, in a controlled manner. It has a front threaded screw with a sharpened drill tip. It has an internal channel communicating between an opening at the forward end of the screw and a rear region of the threaded screw. A fluid valve is positioned at the rear region of the screw in fluid connection with the channel. The fluid valve provides fluid flow control between the interior of the fluid container and the outside of the fluid container. The fluid valve has an internally threaded front region which screws into the externally threaded rear region of the screw, and an externally threaded rear region, onto which a fluid evacuation line is to be attached. A turning portion for turning the device into the wall of the container is located on the device.

Abstract: A leakproof dual action valve which is operated by its relative state of engagement and disengagement to a complementary, mating spring-actuated valve connected to a fluid supply. The dual action valve has a sleeve member, a piston carrier portion, a piston body, and a valve. As the sleeve member of the dual action valve is screwed onto the mating spring actuated valve, the piston body simultaneously pushes open both the dual action valve and the spring actuated valve. When the sleeve member is unscrewed from the mating spring actuated valve, both valves close, thereby preventing and leakage of fluid. The dual action valve is adapted to connect to a vacuum hose, which will evacuate any fluid from the fluid supply.

Abstract: An improved pen for a hard copy printing device. Reservoirs within the central chamber of an ink cartridge housing are sealingly coupled to individual ink channels connecting each reservoir individually and directly to an exterior surface of the cartridge housing. An ink filter, downstream of any ink contaminating features of the construction, is also provided.

Abstract: A method for joining two materials together to form a compact leak-resistant seal, particularly suited for use in thermal inkjet print cartridge ink reservoirs. The seal employs a shrink fit to clamp the two materials together. The method includes the steps of forming the first material into a desired first shot structure, placing the first shot structure in a second shot mold, and injecting the second material into the mold under adequate pressure and at an appropriate temperature. The second material has a high degree of mold shrinkage. Upon cooling, the second material shrinks tightly onto the first shot structure to form a molded joint which keeps air out and ink in when wetted and during normal shipping, storage, and operating conditions.