Filter for an ink jet pen
View Patent ↗An inkjet pen is disclosed having an interior chamber containing a pressure regulator. A filter within the interior chamber substantially surrounds the pressure regulator, providing a large filter surface area, and hence a low resistance to ink flow. The filter may be formed of a pleated filter material; the filter material may be retained by a rigid ink passage flange and a filter cap.
1. An inkjet pen, comprising:
a pen body having an interior chamber;
a pen cap;
an ink filter within the pen body interior chamber, the ink filter having a hollow interior encircled by a filter material, the filter material formed in pleats comprising multiple substantially parallel folds with adjacent folds alternating in direction, the filter having at least one open end;
a pressure regulator within pen body interior chamber, the pressure regulator nested within the hollow interior of the filter;
the pen cap substantially closing the pen body interior chamber when the pen cap and pen body are coupled together.
2. The inkjet pen of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator is affixed to the pen cap and suspended within the filter hollow interior.
3. The inkjet pen of claim 1 , wherein the pen cap further comprises an ink entrance.
4. The inkjet pen of claim 1 , wherein the filter material has a pore size substantially in the range of 2 microns to 10 microns.
5. The inkjet pen of claim 1 , wherein the ink filter further comprises a substantially rigid ink passage flange supporting the pleated filter material.
6. The inkjet pen of claim 5 , wherein the substantially rigid ink passage flange is attached to the pleated filter material with an adhesive.
7. The inkjet pen of claim 1 , wherein the ink filter further comprises a substantially rigid filter cap supporting the pleated filter material.
8. The inkjet pen of claim 7 , wherein the substantially rigid filter cap is attached to the pleated filter material with an adhesive.