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: 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: An ink cartridge for a thermal ink jet printer containing a separate collapsible ink reservoir which is kept under negative pressure by a pressure regulator to prevent ink leakage. The collapsible reservoir has a pair of flexible plastic membrane ink bag sidewalls each connected at their periphery to form an ink bag and an ink pressure regulator in the bag. The pressure regulator comprises a pair of spaced parallel side plates urged apart by a spring toward the adjacent bag sidewalls whereby the reservoir is collapsible against the spring pressure to an essentially flat shape to permit substantially complete dispensation of ink from the bag. Inadvertent puncture of the thin bag walls by the regulator is prevented by a protective edge guard in the form of a layer of tough plastic bonded to the outer surfaces of the sideplates, the protective layers each having a peripheral edge which extends beyond the edge of the side plate to prevent the edges of the sideplates from directly contacting the bag walls.

Abstract: An ink delivery system (1) for delivering ink to a print head comprising an ink supply bag (3), an ink regulating bag (5), a three way valve (7), a print head (19), pipes (11, 13, 15) to transfer selectively ink from the supply bag to the regulating bag or from the regulating bag to the print head. The regulating bag is at a lower level than the print head.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printer, a ball check-valve (32) is used over the ink outlet (28) of an ink bag (16) to interrupt the flow of ink and/or air to the ink bladder when the ink supply in the bag falls below a predetermined level (40). The specific gravity of the ball is less than the specific gravity of ink in the bag but greater than the specific gravity of air.

Abstract: A liquid delivery system for delivering inks of three or more different colors or densities or dye-forming reactive components comprising multiple liquid reservoirs, liquid bladders, and valves that permit (a) total interruption of liquid flow, (b) liquid flow from reservoirs to bladders and (c) flow of liquid from bladders to printhead, the latter adapted to handle toners of three different colors, optical densities or chemical composition. The valves and ink flow channels are arranged in an upper manifold, gasket and lower manifold, all of which serve as support for the bladders and dimpler system.