Patents by Inventor Matthew Tomlin
Matthew Tomlin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10226937Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Carl Mann, Philip John Blowfield
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Publication number: 20170232753Abstract: A container (2) for storing and dispensing a liquid comprises a chamber for holding a liquid, the chamber being defined by rigid chamber walls (4); a liquid outlet port (10) for dispensing the liquid from the chamber; and a gas port (20) configured to allow air into the chamber from the atmosphere outside the chamber only when the pressure outside the chamber exceeds the pressure inside the chamber by more than a predetermined threshold. When liquid is dispensed from the container via its outlet port, the pressure within the chamber will be reduced. When the pressure within the chamber falls below the external, ambient pressure by more than a predetermined amount, the gas port will open to allow air into the chamber from the atmosphere. This allows liquid to continue to be withdrawn readily from the container, by preventing a significant pressure differential from building up between the inside and outside of the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2015Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Sellenis LimitedInventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost
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Patent number: 9694590Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Publication number: 20170144447Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2016Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Matthew TOMLIN, Carl MANN, John Philip BLOWFIELD
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Patent number: 9522540Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2008Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Videojet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Carl Mann, Philip John Blowfield
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Publication number: 20160303862Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Patent number: 9393800Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Patent number: 9199479Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Patent number: 9067425Abstract: A fluid cartridge for an inkjet printer includes an inner reservoir containing a printing fluid. The reservoir includes walls enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage of the printing fluid and a port for dispensing the printing liquid. The reservoir includes a rigid framework and one or more elastically deformable sections. The cartridge further includes an outlet for connection to the printer, an outer housing in which the reservoir is housed, an electronic storage device configured to store data relating to the contents of the cartridge, and at least one electrical contact associated with the electronic storage device and provided on a substrate. The reservoir provides a reduction in pressure of the internal space whereby the equilibrium pressure difference between the internal space and the surrounding atmosphere increases substantially monotonically in magnitude as liquid is dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Philip Blowfield, Matthew Tomlin, Carl Mann, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba
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Publication number: 20150138285Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Publication number: 20140362147Abstract: A fluid cartridge for an inkjet printer includes an inner reservoir containing a printing fluid. The reservoir includes walls enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage of the printing fluid and a port for dispensing the printing liquid. The reservoir includes a rigid framework and one or more elastically deformable sections. The cartridge further includes an outlet for connection to the printer, an outer housing in which the reservoir is housed, an electronic storage device configured to store data relating to the contents of the cartridge, and at least one electrical contact associated with the electronic storage device and provided on a substrate. The reservoir provides a reduction in pressure of the internal space whereby the equilibrium pressure difference between the internal space and the surrounding atmosphere increases substantially monotonically in magnitude as liquid is dispensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Philip Blowfield, Matthew Tomlin, Carl Mann, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba
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Publication number: 20140028761Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Patent number: 8628176Abstract: A method of driving an electromechanical converter of a print head of a continuous inkjet printer, wherein the electromechanical converter is arranged to break up a continuous stream of ink into a plurality of drops. The method includes determining a modulation voltage to drive the electromechanical converter, at least a property of the modulation voltage being controlled to take into account movement of a break up point of the continuous stream of ink, and to ensure that in a characteristic of modulation voltage versus a property at least indicative of a break up point of the continuous stream of ink, the characteristic has a predetermined gradient, or a gradient related to this predetermined gradient; and driving the electromechanical converter at the determined modulation voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ammar Lecheheb, Robert Smith, Matthew Tomlin, Peter Kassner, Michael Jeffrey Stamp
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Patent number: 8613501Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Patent number: 8523334Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Oliver Prime, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
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Patent number: 8439489Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer has an ink circuit including a plurality of circuit components and fluid paths for conveying ink between components. A manifold defining the fluid paths and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the paths. A filter module is provided adjacent to the manifold and comprises a housing that houses at least a first filter, the housing having an inlet and an outlet. The filter module is connected to the manifold such that at least one of the inlet or the outlet is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports on the manifold. The filter module may comprise an ink filter and a solvent filter. A second ink filter may be provided upstream of a pump. The modular nature of the filter makes for easy assembly, service and repair. It also provides for improved printer reliability.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Oliver Prime
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Patent number: 8425018Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer has an ink circuit including a plurality of circuit components and fluid paths for conveying fluid between components. A manifold defines the fluid paths and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the paths. One of the fluid paths is a solvent supply path for connection to a source of solvent. A second of the fluid paths being a solvent flush path for delivering solvent to an outlet for connection to a print head of the printer. A flush pump is disposed at the manifold between the first and second paths and in fluid communication therewith, the pump being configured to pump the solvent into the solvent flush path.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, John Bostock, Ian Fost
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Patent number: 8408684Abstract: A core module for an ink jet printer includes a housing and a connection manifold disposed on the housing and including a plurality of ports providing fluid communication into and out of the module. A plurality of components is disposed within the housing, including a filter module, an ink reservoir, and an ink circuit. The filter module includes a fluid filter disposed in a filter housing. The filter housing has an inlet and an outlet. The ink circuit is in fluid communication with the components and the ports, and includes fluid paths for conveying ink between the components. The filter module is connected to the connection manifold such that the filter housing inlet and outlet are each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports on the manifold.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Inventors: Ammar Lecheheb, Jerzy Zaba, Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost
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Patent number: 8210663Abstract: A continuous ink jet printer comprises a gutter for collecting ink droplets not used in printing. Pumping apparatus draws ink from the gutter and control apparatus is configured to vary the level of pumping by the pumping apparatus depending on the temperature or other parameter of the ink. As the temperature of the ink increases the level of pumping is reduced. The pumping apparatus may comprise two venturi pumps connected in parallel each having its throat connected to the gutter.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Salhadin Omer, Michael Jeffrey Stamp, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20110109684Abstract: A continuous ink jet printer comprises a gutter for collecting ink droplets not used in printing. Pumping apparatus draws ink from the gutter and control apparatus is configured to vary the level of pumping by the pumping apparatus depending on the temperature or other parameter of the ink. As the temperature of the ink increases the level of pumping is reduced. The pumping apparatus may comprise two venturi pumps connected in parallel each having its throat connected to the gutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2008Publication date: May 12, 2011Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Salhadin Omer, Michael Jeffrey Stamp, Robert Smith