[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/

EP2237965A1 - Multiple conduit fluid coupling with leakage flow control - Google Patents

Multiple conduit fluid coupling with leakage flow control

Info

Publication number
EP2237965A1
EP2237965A1 EP08700340A EP08700340A EP2237965A1 EP 2237965 A1 EP2237965 A1 EP 2237965A1 EP 08700340 A EP08700340 A EP 08700340A EP 08700340 A EP08700340 A EP 08700340A EP 2237965 A1 EP2237965 A1 EP 2237965A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluid coupling
printhead
spouts
coupling according
interface plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP08700340A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2237965A4 (en
EP2237965B1 (en
Inventor
Norman Micheal Berry
Geoffrey Philip Dyer
Michael John Hudson
Akira Nakazawa
Garry Raymond Jackson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zamtec Ltd
Original Assignee
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd filed Critical Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Publication of EP2237965A1 publication Critical patent/EP2237965A1/en
Publication of EP2237965A4 publication Critical patent/EP2237965A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2237965B1 publication Critical patent/EP2237965B1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/02—Framework
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of fluid couplings and in particular, fluid couplings for supplying ink to inkjet printheads.
  • Pagewidth printheads increase print speeds as the printhead does not traverse back and forth across the page to deposit a line of an image.
  • the pagewidth printhead simply deposits the ink on the media as it moves past at high speeds.
  • Such printheads have made it possible to perform full colour 1600dpi printing at speeds in the vicinity of 60 pages per minute; speeds previously unattainable with conventional inkjet printers.
  • Some of the Applicant's printers provide the printhead as a user removable cartridge. This recognizes that individual ink ejection nozzles may fail over time and eventually there are enough dead nozzles to cause artifacts in the printed image. Allowing the user to replace the printhead maintains the print quality without requiring the entire printer to be replaced. It also permits the user to substitute a different printhead for different print jobs.
  • a draft quality printhead can be installed for some low resolution documents printed at high speed, and subsequently removed and replaced with the original high resolution printhead.
  • a number of the Applicant's printhead cartridges do not have an inbuilt ink supply for the printhead. These printhead cartridges need to be fluidically coupled to the ink supply upon installation. The supply flowrate to the pagewidth printhead is too high for needle valves because of the narrow internal diameter. This requires the coupling conduits to be relatively large and while the complementary structures on each side of the coupling may be self sealing upon disengagement, the wet surfaces can have enough residual ink to drip or run over the exterior surface of the coupling. Cross contamination of different colored inks is very detrimental to print quality. A drip from the black ink conduit onto the yellow ink conduit can change the color balance for many pages of printing.
  • conduits should be spaced from each other and positioned such that one conduit is never likely to be vertically above another during installation or removal.
  • spacing the conduits apart is counter to compact design and structurally there is less flex in the components during engagement and disengagement if the conduits are clustered around a central axis.
  • the present invention provides a fluid coupling for an inkjet printhead, the fluid coupling comprising: an interface plate supporting a plurality of spouts positioned for sealed engagement with corresponding apertures in a complementary socket in order to establish fluid communication between an inkjet printhead and an ink supply; wherein, the interface plate has surface formations individually associated with each of the spouts respectively, the surface formations defining a preferred flow path along the interface plate for any residual ink draining away from the spouts under gravity, the preferred flow paths being configured to avoid any of the other spouts.
  • the surface formations are grooves in the interface plate.
  • the spouts are arranged in a circular formation on the interface plate.
  • the inkjet printhead is provided as a user replaceable cartridge for installation in a printer body that has the ink supply, the interface plate being positioned on the exterior of the printhead cartridge and the socket being positioned on the printer body.
  • the grooves extend in a generally vertical direction when the printhead cartridge is oriented as it would be when installed, the grooves deviating from generally vertical to avoid one of the spouts of different color.
  • the printhead cartridge has a recess feature the grooves begin at their respective spouts and end at the recess feature.
  • the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.
  • the printer is an A4 printer and the printhead can print at speeds greater than 40 pages per minute.
  • each of the apertures in the socket has a shut off valve that is biased closed, the shut off valve being held open when engaged with the corresponding spout.
  • the printhead cartridge has an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, both the inlet and outlet manifolds having a fluid coupling according to the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows the printhead cartridge of the present invention installed the print engine of a printer
  • Figure 2 shows the print engine without the printhead cartridge installed to expose the inlet and outlet ink couplings
  • Figure 3 is a perspective of the complete printhead cartridge according to the present invention.
  • Figure 4 shows the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3 with the protective cover removed;
  • Figure 5 is an exploded partial perspective of the printhead assembly within the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3;
  • Figure 6 is a partial front elevation of the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3; and, Figure 7 is a partial perspective of the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3, and
  • FIG. 2 shows the print engine 3 with the printhead cartridge removed reveal the apertures 122 in each of the sockets 120.
  • Each aperture 122 receives one of the spouts 52 on the inlet and outlet manifolds.
  • the ink tanks have an arbitrary position and configuration but simply connect to hollow spigots 124 at the rear of the sockets 120.
  • Figure 4 shows the printhead assembly 2 with its protective cover 42 removed to expose the printhead ICs on the bottom surface and the line of contacts 33 on the side surface.
  • the protective cover is discarded to the recycling waste or fitted to the printhead cartridge being replaced to contain leakage from residual ink.
  • Figure 5 is a partially exploded perspective of the printhead assembly 2.
  • the top cover 44 has been removed reveal the inlet manifold 48 and the outlet manifold 50.
  • the inlet and outlet shrouds 46 and 47 have been removed to better expose the five inlet and outlet spouts 52.
  • the inlet and outlet manifolds 48 and 50 form a fluid connection between each of the individual inlets and outlets and the corresponding main channel in the LCP molding.
  • Figure 6 is an exploded perspective of the printhead assembly without the inlet or outlet manifolds or the top cover molding.
  • the main channels 24 for each ink color and their associated air cavities 26 are formed in the channel molding 68 and the cavity molding 72.
  • Adhered to the bottom of the channel molding 68 is a die attach film 66.
  • the die attach film 66 mounts the printhead ICs 31 to the channel molding such that the fine channels on the underside of the are in fluid communication with the printhead ICs 31 via small laser ablated holes through the film.
  • Figure 7 shows the inlet and outlet manifolds, 48 and 50, in elevation. Both manifolds have an interface plate 76 from which the spouts 52 extend.
  • the spouts 52 have a relatively large internal diameter (approx. 2mm) compared to, say, a needle valve. This accommodates the high ink flow rate used by a pagewidth printhead, printing A4 sheets at speeds greater than 40 ppm (typically 60ppm) at a resolution of 1600dpi.
  • the inlet and outlet manifolds bear directly onto the outer reference datums (see Fig. 1) so that their reaction force is directed though the centre of the five spouts 52.
  • the centre datum 128 provides a reaction force directly opposing the force of the latch 126 holding the printhead cartridge in place.
  • Disengaging the printhead cartridge 2 from the apertures 122 in the sockets 120 can cause residual ink to dribble from the spouts 52.
  • the spouts on each manifold are clustered together.
  • Grooves 110 are formed in the interface plates 76 to control the flow direction of any residual ink as it runs from a spout under gravity. Without any flow control measures, there is a good chance that the residual ink from one spout would flow onto the spout of a different color. The resulting color mixing is reasonably rapid and pervasive throughout the printhead cartridge 2. If the cartridge is subsequently re-installed in the print engine, the color mixing changes the color balance and is detrimental to image quality.
  • the grooves 110 define a flow path that is generally vertically downwards to be consistent with the gravity feed of the residual drops.
  • the grooves 110 deviate from the vertical in order to avoid other spouts.
  • the grooves 110 terminate in a recess 112 beneath the circle of spouts 52. Residual ink collects in the recess 112 so as to avoid inadvertent spillage and ink stains.
  • the grooves 110 can be small relative to the size of the residual ink drops draining from the spout 52. Rather than contain the flow, the grooves can merely define a preferred flow path that the drop chooses in preference to all others. For this, the grooves need only be enough to draw and guide the drop by capillary action. The ordinary worker will appreciate that the preferential flow path may also be defined by a ridge, or a series of discrete formations spaced along the interface plate.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

A fluid coupling for an inkjet printhead, that has an interface plate supporting a plurality of spouts positioned for sealed engagement with corresponding apertures in a complementary socket in order to establish fluid communication between an inkjet printhead and an ink supply. The interface plate has surface formations individually associated with each of the spouts respectively. The surface formations define a preferred flow path along the interface plate for any residual ink draining away from the spouts under gravity. The preferred flow paths are configured to avoid any of the other spouts.

Description

MULTIPLE CONDUIT FLUID COUPLING WITH LEAKAGE FLOW CONTROL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of fluid couplings and in particular, fluid couplings for supplying ink to inkjet printheads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Applicant has developed a wide range of printers that employ pagewidth printheads instead of traditional reciprocating printhead designs. Pagewidth designs increase print speeds as the printhead does not traverse back and forth across the page to deposit a line of an image. The pagewidth printhead simply deposits the ink on the media as it moves past at high speeds. Such printheads have made it possible to perform full colour 1600dpi printing at speeds in the vicinity of 60 pages per minute; speeds previously unattainable with conventional inkjet printers.
Printing at these speeds consumes ink quickly and this gives rise to problems with supplying the printhead with enough ink. Not only are the flow rates higher but distributing the ink along the entire length of a pagewidth printhead is more complex than feeding ink to a relatively small reciprocating printhead.
Some of the Applicant's printers provide the printhead as a user removable cartridge. This recognizes that individual ink ejection nozzles may fail over time and eventually there are enough dead nozzles to cause artifacts in the printed image. Allowing the user to replace the printhead maintains the print quality without requiring the entire printer to be replaced. It also permits the user to substitute a different printhead for different print jobs. A draft quality printhead can be installed for some low resolution documents printed at high speed, and subsequently removed and replaced with the original high resolution printhead.
A number of the Applicant's printhead cartridges do not have an inbuilt ink supply for the printhead. These printhead cartridges need to be fluidically coupled to the ink supply upon installation. The supply flowrate to the pagewidth printhead is too high for needle valves because of the narrow internal diameter. This requires the coupling conduits to be relatively large and while the complementary structures on each side of the coupling may be self sealing upon disengagement, the wet surfaces can have enough residual ink to drip or run over the exterior surface of the coupling. Cross contamination of different colored inks is very detrimental to print quality. A drip from the black ink conduit onto the yellow ink conduit can change the color balance for many pages of printing. To avoid this, the conduits should be spaced from each other and positioned such that one conduit is never likely to be vertically above another during installation or removal. However, spacing the conduits apart is counter to compact design and structurally there is less flex in the components during engagement and disengagement if the conduits are clustered around a central axis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a fluid coupling for an inkjet printhead, the fluid coupling comprising: an interface plate supporting a plurality of spouts positioned for sealed engagement with corresponding apertures in a complementary socket in order to establish fluid communication between an inkjet printhead and an ink supply; wherein, the interface plate has surface formations individually associated with each of the spouts respectively, the surface formations defining a preferred flow path along the interface plate for any residual ink draining away from the spouts under gravity, the preferred flow paths being configured to avoid any of the other spouts.
The invention recognizes that subtle surface modifications can be used to define a fluid flow path that residual drops will follow with good reliability. This permits the spouts to be clustered together with little chance of any cross contamination between the colors.
Preferably, the surface formations are grooves in the interface plate. In a further preferred form, the spouts are arranged in a circular formation on the interface plate. In a particularly preferred form, the inkjet printhead is provided as a user replaceable cartridge for installation in a printer body that has the ink supply, the interface plate being positioned on the exterior of the printhead cartridge and the socket being positioned on the printer body. In a particularly preferred form, the grooves extend in a generally vertical direction when the printhead cartridge is oriented as it would be when installed, the grooves deviating from generally vertical to avoid one of the spouts of different color. In some embodiments, the printhead cartridge has a recess feature the grooves begin at their respective spouts and end at the recess feature. In particularly preferred embodiments, the printhead is a pagewidth printhead. In some embodiments, the printer is an A4 printer and the printhead can print at speeds greater than 40 pages per minute. In some embodiments, each of the apertures in the socket has a shut off valve that is biased closed, the shut off valve being held open when engaged with the corresponding spout. Preferably, the printhead cartridge has an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, both the inlet and outlet manifolds having a fluid coupling according to the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 shows the printhead cartridge of the present invention installed the print engine of a printer;
Figure 2 shows the print engine without the printhead cartridge installed to expose the inlet and outlet ink couplings;
Figure 3 is a perspective of the complete printhead cartridge according to the present invention;
Figure 4 shows the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3 with the protective cover removed; Figure 5 is an exploded partial perspective of the printhead assembly within the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3;
Figure 6 is a partial front elevation of the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3; and, Figure 7 is a partial perspective of the printhead cartridge of Fig. 3, and
Figure 8 is a partial perspective of the inlet and outlet manifolds.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a printhead cartridge 2 installed in a print engine 3. The print engine 3 is the mechanical heart of a printer which can have many different external casing shapes, ink tank locations and capacities, as well as media feed and collection trays. The printhead cartridge 2 is inserted and removed by the user lifting and lowering the latch 126. The print
Rectified Sheet Under Rule 91 below) and a fluid coupling via the sockets 120 and the inlet and outlet manifolds, 48 and 50 respectively. Figure 2 shows the print engine 3 with the printhead cartridge removed reveal the apertures 122 in each of the sockets 120. Each aperture 122 receives one of the spouts 52 on the inlet and outlet manifolds. As discussed above, the ink tanks have an arbitrary position and configuration but simply connect to hollow spigots 124 at the rear of the sockets 120.
Figure 3 is a perspective of the complete printhead cartridge 2. The printhead cartridge 2 has a top molding 44 and a removable protective cover 42. The top molding 44 has a central web for structural stiffness and to provide grip textured surfaces 58 for manipulating the cartridge during insertion and removal. The base portion of the protective cover 42 protects the printhead ICs (not shown) and line of contacts (not shown) prior to installation in the printer. Caps 56 are integrally formed with the base portion and cover the ink inlets and outlets (see 54 and 52 of Fig. 5).
Figure 4 shows the printhead assembly 2 with its protective cover 42 removed to expose the printhead ICs on the bottom surface and the line of contacts 33 on the side surface. The protective cover is discarded to the recycling waste or fitted to the printhead cartridge being replaced to contain leakage from residual ink. Figure 5 is a partially exploded perspective of the printhead assembly 2. The top cover 44 has been removed reveal the inlet manifold 48 and the outlet manifold 50. The inlet and outlet shrouds 46 and 47 have been removed to better expose the five inlet and outlet spouts 52. The inlet and outlet manifolds 48 and 50 form a fluid connection between each of the individual inlets and outlets and the corresponding main channel in the LCP molding. The main channel extends the length of the LCP molding and it feeds a series of fine channels on the underside of the LCP molding. A line of air cavities are formed above each of the main channels 24. Any shock waves or pressure pulses in the ink are damped by compressing the air the air cavities.
Figure 6 is an exploded perspective of the printhead assembly without the inlet or outlet manifolds or the top cover molding. The main channels 24 for each ink color and their associated air cavities 26 are formed in the channel molding 68 and the cavity molding 72. Adhered to the bottom of the channel molding 68 is a die attach film 66. The die attach film 66 mounts the printhead ICs 31 to the channel molding such that the fine channels on the underside of the are in fluid communication with the printhead ICs 31 via small laser ablated holes through the film.
Figure 7 shows the inlet and outlet manifolds, 48 and 50, in elevation. Both manifolds have an interface plate 76 from which the spouts 52 extend. The spouts 52 have a relatively large internal diameter (approx. 2mm) compared to, say, a needle valve. This accommodates the high ink flow rate used by a pagewidth printhead, printing A4 sheets at speeds greater than 40 ppm (typically 60ppm) at a resolution of 1600dpi.
As best shown in Figure 8, the inlet and outlet manifolds 48 and 50, form a fluid connection between spouts 52 and the LCP moldings 20 via the connectors 60. The spouts in each manifold are arranged in a circle. Keeping the spouts 52 clustered close together on the inlet and outlet manifolds is less structurally stressful on the plastic moldings of the printhead cartridge. A single force applied at the centre of the spouts 52 can engage the socket instead of distributed forces acting across widely spaced spouts, or a single force that needs to be distributed by a structure stiffened to resist bending. Referring back to Figure 2, the print engine 3 has three structurally stiff reference datums 128. The inlet and outlet manifolds bear directly onto the outer reference datums (see Fig. 1) so that their reaction force is directed though the centre of the five spouts 52. The centre datum 128 provides a reaction force directly opposing the force of the latch 126 holding the printhead cartridge in place.
Disengaging the printhead cartridge 2 from the apertures 122 in the sockets 120 can cause residual ink to dribble from the spouts 52. As discussed above, the spouts on each manifold are clustered together. Grooves 110 are formed in the interface plates 76 to control the flow direction of any residual ink as it runs from a spout under gravity. Without any flow control measures, there is a good chance that the residual ink from one spout would flow onto the spout of a different color. The resulting color mixing is reasonably rapid and pervasive throughout the printhead cartridge 2. If the cartridge is subsequently re-installed in the print engine, the color mixing changes the color balance and is detrimental to image quality. The grooves 110 define a flow path that is generally vertically downwards to be consistent with the gravity feed of the residual drops. The grooves 110 deviate from the vertical in order to avoid other spouts. The grooves 110 terminate in a recess 112 beneath the circle of spouts 52. Residual ink collects in the recess 112 so as to avoid inadvertent spillage and ink stains.
The grooves 110 can be small relative to the size of the residual ink drops draining from the spout 52. Rather than contain the flow, the grooves can merely define a preferred flow path that the drop chooses in preference to all others. For this, the grooves need only be enough to draw and guide the drop by capillary action. The ordinary worker will appreciate that the preferential flow path may also be defined by a ridge, or a series of discrete formations spaced along the interface plate.
The above embodiments are purely illustrative and not restrictive or limiting on the scope of the invention. The skilled worker will readily recognize many variations and modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the broad inventive concept.

Claims

1. A fluid coupling for an inkjet printhead, the fluid coupling comprising: an interface plate supporting a plurality of spouts positioned for sealed engagement with corresponding apertures in a complementary socket in order to establish fluid communication between an inkjet printhead and an ink supply; wherein, the interface plate has surface formations individually associated with each of the spouts respectively, the surface formations defining a preferred flow path along the interface plate for any residual ink draining away from the spouts under gravity, the preferred flow paths being configured to avoid any of the other spouts.
2. A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein the surface formations are grooves in the interface plate.
3. A fluid coupling according to claim 2 wherein the spouts are arranged in a circular formation on the interface plate.
4. A fluid coupling according to claim 3 wherein the inkjet printhead is provided as a user replaceable cartridge for installation in a printer body that has the ink supply, the interface plate being positioned on the exterior of the printhead cartridge and the socket being positioned on the printer body.
5. A fluid coupling according to claim 4 wherein the grooves extend in a generally vertical direction when the printhead cartridge is oriented as it would be when installed, the grooves deviating from generally vertical to avoid one of the spouts of different color.
6. A fluid coupling according to claim 5 wherein the printhead cartridge has a recess feature and the grooves begin at their respective spouts and end at the recess feature.
7. A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.
8. A fluid coupling according to claim 7 wherein the printer is an A4 printer and the printhead can print at speeds greater than 40 pages per minute.
9. A fluid coupling according to claim 8 wherein each of the apertures in the socket has a shut off valve that is biased closed, the shut off valve being held open when engaged with the corresponding spout.
10. A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein the printhead cartridge has an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, both the inlet and outlet manifolds having a fluid coupling according to the present invention.
EP08700340A 2008-01-16 2008-01-16 Multiple conduit fluid coupling with leakage flow control Ceased EP2237965B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/AU2008/000042 WO2009089564A1 (en) 2008-01-16 2008-01-16 Multiple conduit fluid coupling with leakage flow control

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2237965A1 true EP2237965A1 (en) 2010-10-13
EP2237965A4 EP2237965A4 (en) 2011-02-23
EP2237965B1 EP2237965B1 (en) 2012-09-26

Family

ID=40884979

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08700340A Ceased EP2237965B1 (en) 2008-01-16 2008-01-16 Multiple conduit fluid coupling with leakage flow control

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2237965B1 (en)
TW (1) TWI461308B (en)
WO (1) WO2009089564A1 (en)

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4591875A (en) * 1985-04-12 1986-05-27 Eastman Kodak Company Ink cartridge and cooperative continuous ink jet printing apparatus
WO2000001976A1 (en) * 1998-07-07 2000-01-13 Imation Corp. Valve assembly for a removable ink cartridge
EP1281897A1 (en) * 2001-07-30 2003-02-05 Hewlett-Packard Company Elastomeric valve
US20030197765A1 (en) * 2002-04-23 2003-10-23 Dod Eric S. Pinch seal providing fluid interconnects between fluid delivery system components
US20040104950A1 (en) * 2002-11-28 2004-06-03 Hirotake Nakamura Ink-jet recording apparatus and method of introducing ink in the same
EP1519095A2 (en) * 2003-09-29 2005-03-30 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tube fixing structure and fixing member used therefor
US20060238570A1 (en) * 2000-05-23 2006-10-26 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Pagewidth printhead assembly with ink distribution arrangement
US20070206057A1 (en) * 2006-03-03 2007-09-06 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Printhead with non-priming cavities for pulse damping

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5852459A (en) * 1994-10-31 1998-12-22 Hewlett-Packard Company Printer using print cartridge with internal pressure regulator
US5997128A (en) * 1997-05-30 1999-12-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Translational service station for imaging inkjet printheads
US7448734B2 (en) * 2004-01-21 2008-11-11 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Inkjet printer cartridge with pagewidth printhead
US7118189B2 (en) * 2004-05-28 2006-10-10 Videojet Technologies Inc. Autopurge printing system
JP2006198984A (en) * 2005-01-24 2006-08-03 Canon Finetech Inc Recovery mechanism, recovery unit and image forming apparatus
JP4744243B2 (en) * 2005-08-31 2011-08-10 富士フイルム株式会社 Ink tank, ink jet recording apparatus, and ink filling method and apparatus

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4591875A (en) * 1985-04-12 1986-05-27 Eastman Kodak Company Ink cartridge and cooperative continuous ink jet printing apparatus
WO2000001976A1 (en) * 1998-07-07 2000-01-13 Imation Corp. Valve assembly for a removable ink cartridge
US20060238570A1 (en) * 2000-05-23 2006-10-26 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Pagewidth printhead assembly with ink distribution arrangement
EP1281897A1 (en) * 2001-07-30 2003-02-05 Hewlett-Packard Company Elastomeric valve
US20030197765A1 (en) * 2002-04-23 2003-10-23 Dod Eric S. Pinch seal providing fluid interconnects between fluid delivery system components
US20040104950A1 (en) * 2002-11-28 2004-06-03 Hirotake Nakamura Ink-jet recording apparatus and method of introducing ink in the same
EP1519095A2 (en) * 2003-09-29 2005-03-30 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tube fixing structure and fixing member used therefor
US20070206057A1 (en) * 2006-03-03 2007-09-06 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Printhead with non-priming cavities for pulse damping

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2009089564A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TWI461308B (en) 2014-11-21
EP2237965A4 (en) 2011-02-23
EP2237965B1 (en) 2012-09-26
WO2009089564A1 (en) 2009-07-23
TW200932555A (en) 2009-08-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6488368B2 (en) Manifold for providing fluid connections between carriage-mounted ink containers and printheads
US7134747B2 (en) Ink container, recording head and recording device using same
US6644796B2 (en) Fluid interconnect in a replaceable ink reservoir for pigmented ink
EP1368198B1 (en) Inkjet printing system using filter for pigmented inks
CN101817259A (en) Image forming apparatus
JP4185578B2 (en) Fluid adapter for inkjet print cartridge
JP4415849B2 (en) Liquid ejector
EP4098450B1 (en) Inkjet printing apparatus and ink tank
EP2043869B1 (en) Print cartridge
JP4242655B2 (en) Replaceable ink container and method for forming a seal
US7726773B2 (en) Waste liquid recovery apparatus, relay and liquid jetting apparatus
US20090179967A1 (en) Multiple conduit fluid coupling with leakage flow control
US8905528B2 (en) Ink tank with a compliant wick
EP2237965B1 (en) Multiple conduit fluid coupling with leakage flow control
JPS6315752A (en) Ink cartridge mechanism for color printer
JPH03227653A (en) Ink jet cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus usable same cartridge
US20110157274A1 (en) Liquid supply apparatus and printer
JPH0229345A (en) Ink jet recorder
US20090179977A1 (en) Compact ink filter assembly
JP4054979B2 (en) Inkjet head unit and printer equipped with the same
JP4600094B2 (en) Valve device and liquid injection device
KR100832590B1 (en) Ink tank, printing head and inkjet printing apparatus
US8591017B2 (en) Liquid ejecting head
EP2367689B1 (en) Ink manifold with multiple conduit shut off valve
US8622531B1 (en) Ink tank having a single gasket

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20100716

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA MK RS

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20110121

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 576850

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20121015

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602008018975

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20121122

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121226

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 576850

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20120926

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

Effective date: 20120926

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121227

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130126

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130106

RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: ZAMTEC LIMITED

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130128

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: SD

Effective date: 20130620

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121226

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20130718 AND 20130724

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130131

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20130627

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602008018975

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: ZAMTEC LTD., IE

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LTD., BALMAIN, AU

Effective date: 20130805

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602008018975

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: ZAMTEC LTD., IE

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LTD., BALMAIN, NEW SOUTH WALES, AU

Effective date: 20130805

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602008018975

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: MEMJET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, IE

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LTD., BALMAIN, NEW SOUTH WALES, AU

Effective date: 20130805

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602008018975

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20130627

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130131

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602008018975

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: MEMJET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, IE

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ZAMTEC LTD., DUBLIN, IE

Effective date: 20141103

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: CA

Effective date: 20141118

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: CD

Owner name: MEMJET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, IE

Effective date: 20141118

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: TD

Effective date: 20150128

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120926

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130116

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20080116

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 9

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 10

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Payment date: 20210127

Year of fee payment: 14

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20210126

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20220125

Year of fee payment: 15

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20220201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220116

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20230127

Year of fee payment: 16

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20230127

Year of fee payment: 16

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230417

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230131

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602008018975

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20240116

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20240801

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20240116

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20240116

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20240801