Abstract: A seal septum structure includes a septum body structure fabricated of a resilient material. The body structure includes an opening formed there through and a first seal surface circumscribing the opening to engage against a needle when inserted into the opening. The body structure further includes a second seal surface for engaging against a stopper structure when the needle is not inserted into the opening. The septum structure can be over-molded on a rigid host part, or fabricated as a separate structure from the host part, and pressed in to place.

Abstract: An over-molded fluid control value for use in fluid delivery systems. An embodiment of the fluid control valve includes a rigid substrate having a opening defined therein, and a valve structure fabricated of an elastomeric material. The valve structure is over-molded over at least a portion of the rigid substrate and including a valve portion extending over the opening, the valve portion movable in response to a differential fluid pressure to allow fluid flow.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system and method, which employs a print head assembly (PHA) and an fluid supply for intermittent connection. A pump structure re-circulates fluid through the re-circulation path during a pump mode. The fluid supply includes a supply reservoir for holding a supply of fluid, and is connectable to the PHA to provide a fluid interconnect between the supply reservoir and the PHA fluid reservoir when a pressure differential between the PHA and the supply reservoir is sufficient to draw fluid into the PHA free fluid reservoir to replenish the fluid in the PHA fluid reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention includes as one embodiment a capping station for a fluid ejection device having a snout feature, the capping station comprising a cap with a rigid body and a gland seal disposed around an inner perimeter of a cavity defined by the rigid body for resiliently receiving side portions of the snout feature of the fluid ejection device to create a seal with the fluid ejection device.

Abstract: Over-molded regulator bags for a fluid delivery system are disclosed that are formed by over-molding a resilient bladder of an elastomeric material on a supporting rigid host substrate. The over-molding process allows three dimensional lung designs to be created without extra processes, and without stressing the membrane material. Embodiments of the invention eliminate the need for an external spring to create an opposing pressure to deflate the bags when required. The inherent elasticity of the over-molded bladders act as the restoring force to return the expanded bag back to its original form.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system, which includes a printhead having a plurality of ink ejection elements, a first ink supply having a capillary material disposed therein for holding a volume of ink and fluidically coupled with the printhead, and a second ink supply having a volume of ink and fluidically coupled with the printhead. The second ink supply provides ink to the printhead when a differential pressure between the printhead and the second supply exceeds a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing ink to an ink jet print head. The apparatus includes a back pressure regulator for receiving ink from an ink reservoir and for delivering ink to the print head. The regulator has a compliant wall that responds to atmospheric pressure on one side and to the pressure of the ink in the regulator on the another side. Within the regulator is a valve that regulates the pressure of the ink delivered to the print head and is actuated by the wall. Also within the regulator is a compression spring that simultaneously pre-loads the valve shut and urges the compliant wall against the atmospheric pressure. In an other aspect, an apparatus is provided with a print head having two arrays of nozzles and two back pressure regulators that independently deliver inks of different hues to separate arrays of nozzles on the print head.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing ink to an ink jet print head. The apparatus includes a back pressure regulator for receiving ink from an ink reservoir and for delivering ink to the print head. The regulator has a compliant wall that responds to atmospheric pressure on one side and to the pressure of the ink in the regulator on the another side. Within the regulator is a valve that regulates the pressure of the ink delivered to the print head and is actuated by the wall. Also within the regulator is a compression spring that simultaneously pre-loads the valve shut and urges the compliant wall against the atmospheric pressure. In an other aspect, an apparatus is provided with a print head having two arrays of nozzles and two back pressure regulators that independently deliver inks of different hues to separate arrays of nozzles on the print head.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise over-molded regulator bags for a fluid delivery system. The regulator bags are formed by over-molding a resilient bladder of an elastomeric material on a supporting rigid host substrate. The over-molding process allows three dimensional lung designs to be created without extra processes, and without stressing the membrane material. Embodiments of the invention eliminate the need for an external spring to create an opposing pressure to deflate the bags when required. The inherent elasticity of the over-molded bladders act as the restoring force to return the expanded bag back to its original form.

Abstract: An over-molded gland seal for producing both a fluidic seal and a fluid conduit. The apparatus includes a substrate having an elastomeric layer over-molded thereon and an elastomeric gland seal molded into the over-molded layer. Another aspect of the apparatus includes a host-part having a raised wall thereon, said host-part receives the elastomeric gland seal and compresses the gland seal with the raised wall. The substrate, the gland seal, and the host-part define an enclosed region. To form the fluid conduit, the apparatus includes a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port that communicate with the enclosed region.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing ink to an ink jet print head. The apparatus includes a back pressure regulator for receiving ink from an ink reservoir and for delivering ink to the print head. The regulator has a compliant wall that responds to atmospheric pressure on one side and to the pressure of the ink in the regulator on the another side. Within the regulator is a valve that regulates the pressure of the ink delivered to the print head and is actuated by the wall. Also within the regulator is a compression spring that simultaneously pre-loads the valve shut and urges the compliant wall against the atmospheric pressure. In an other aspect, an apparatus is provided with a print head having two arrays of nozzles and two back pressure regulators that independently deliver inks of different hues to separate arrays of nozzles on the print head.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for an ink-jet pen having a print head with ink nozzles and a cartridge with an internal reservoir divided into a capillary material filled volume and a free standpipe volume. The print head is mounted on the cartridge adjacent the standpipe volume. The ink delivery system further includes a circulation conduit removably connected to the standpipe volume and the capillary material filled volume to permit fluid flow from the standpipe volume to the capillary material filled volume. A supply conduit connects an ink supply to the circulation conduit. A pump connected to the circulation conduit pumps ink from the ink supply through the circulation conduit to the capillary material filled volume.