IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,744,202

Granted Patent B2

US 7,744,202 · App. 10/768,412 · Granted Jun 29, 2010

Printing-fluid container

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,744,202
App. No.: 10/768,412
Granted: Jun 29, 2010
Kind: B2

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USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A printing-fluid container includes a printing-fluid reservoir configured to hold printing fluid. A printing-fluid interface is configured to output printing fluid from the printing-fluid reservoir and an air-interface is configured to regulate an operating pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir.

Claims (47)

1. A method of supplying printing fluid, comprising:

storing a free volume of printing fluid and air mixed together in a reservoir having an air-interface configured to provide bi-directional flow and a printing-fluid interface configured to provide bi-directional flow;

establishing one bi-directional connection with the air-interface and one bi-directional connection with the printing-fluid interface;

allowing printing fluid to exit the reservoir through the printing-fluid interface and allowing air to enter the reservoir through the air-interface as printing fluid is moved out of the reservoir through the printing-fluid interface during a first mode of operation; and

allowing printing fluid to return to the reservoir through the printing-fluid interface and allowing air to exit the reservoir through the air-interface as the printing fluid is returned to the reservoir through the printing-fluid interface during a second mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein allowing printing fluid to exit the reservoir includes laterally delivering printing fluid from the reservoir.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein allowing printing fluid to return to the reservoir includes laterally returning printing fluid to the reservoir.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein allowing printing fluid to return to the reservoir includes returning printing fluid and at least one of air and froth.

5. A printing-fluid container, comprising:

an off-axis printing-fluid reservoir configured to hold a free volume of printing fluid and air mixed together therein, the printing-fluid reservoir having a leading surface configured for lateral insertion into a printing system;

a printing-fluid interface on the leading surface of the printing-fluid reservoir and extending into the reservoir, wherein the printing-fluid interface is configured to provide bi-directional flow and output printing fluid from the printing-fluid reservoir during a first mode of operation and return printing fluid to the printing-fluid reservoir during a second mode of operation; and

an air-interface on the leading surface of the printing-fluid reservoir and extending into the reservoir, wherein the air-interface is configured to provide bi-directional flow and regulate pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir by inputting air into the printing-fluid reservoir as printing fluid is moved out of the printing-fluid reservoir through the printing-fluid interface during the first mode of operation and by outputting air from the printing-fluid reservoir as printing fluid is returned to the printing-fluid reservoir through the printing-fluid interface during the second mode of operation,

wherein the printing-fluid interface and the air-interface are both configured to provide bi-directional flow while the printing-fluid container is installed in the printing system.

6. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the leading surface has a substantially planar profile.

7. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface is above the printing-fluid interface on the leading surface of the printing-fluid reservoir.

8. The printing-fluid container of claim 7 , wherein the air-interface is vertically aligned above the printing-fluid interface on the leading surface of the printing-fluid reservoir.

9. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein a single structural piece forms the leading surface.

10. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the printing-fluid interface is configured to laterally input and output the printing fluid.

11. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface is configured to laterally input and output the air.

12. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface is configured to regulate pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir to an operating pressure substantially equivalent to an ambient atmosphere pressure.

13. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface is configured to regulate pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir to an operating pressure above an ambient atmosphere pressure.

14. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface is configured to regulate pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir to an operating pressure below an ambient atmosphere pressure.

15. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface actively regulates pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir.

16. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface passively regulates pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir.

17. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the printing-fluid interface includes a ball and septum assembly.

18. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the printing-fluid interface is configured to receive a fluid connector that is in fluid communication with a printing-fluid ejector upon installation of the printing-fluid container into a printing system.

19. The printing-fluid container of claim 18 , wherein the printing-fluid interface is configured to deliver printing fluid to the printing-fluid ejector via the fluid connector during the first mode of operation.

20. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface includes a ball and septum assembly.

21. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the air-interface is configured to receive a fluid connector that is in fluid communication with a venting assembly upon installation of the printing-fluid container into a printing system.

22. The printing-fluid container of claim 21 , wherein the air-interface is configured to vent air to the venting assembly via the fluid connector during the second mode of operation.

23. The printing-fluid container of claim 5 , wherein the printing-fluid interface and the air-interface are respectively configured to conditionally block input and output of printing fluid and air unless the printing-fluid interface is engaged by a fluid connector and the air-interface is engaged by a fluid connector.

24. A printing-fluid container, comprising:

an off-axis printing-fluid reservoir configured to hold a free volume of printing fluid and air mixed together therein;

a ball and septum printing-fluid interface on a leading surface of the printing-fluid reservoir, wherein the printing-fluid interface is configured to provide bi-directional flow and output printing fluid from the printing-fluid reservoir during a first mode of operation and return printing fluid to the printing-fluid reservoir during a second mode of operation; and

a ball and septum air-interface vertically aligned above the printing-fluid interface on the leading surface of the printing-fluid reservoir, wherein the air-interface is configured to provide bi-directional flow and regulate pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir by inputting air into the printing-fluid reservoir as printing fluid is moved out of the printing-fluid reservoir through the printing-fluid interface during the first mode of operation and by outputting air from the printing-fluid reservoir as printing fluid is returned to the printing-fluid reservoir through the printing-fluid interface during the second mode of operation;

wherein the printing-fluid interface and the air-interface are configured to block input and output of printing fluid and air until the printing-fluid container is laterally installed into a printing system and a first fluid connector engages the printing-fluid interface and a second fluid connector engages the air-interface,

wherein the printing-fluid interface and the air-interface are both configured to provide bi-directional flow while the printing-fluid container is installed in a printing system.

25. The printing-fluid container of claim 24 , wherein a single structural piece forms the leading surface of the printing-fluid reservoir.

26. A method of supplying printing fluid, comprising:

wherein the printing-fluid interface and the air-interface are both configured to provide bi-directional flow while the reservoir is installed in a printing system.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein allowing printing fluid to exit the reservoir includes laterally delivering printing fluid from the reservoir.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein allowing printing fluid to return to the reservoir includes laterally returning printing fluid to the reservoir.

29. The method of claim 26 , wherein allowing printing fluid to return to the reservoir includes returning printing fluid and at least one of air and froth.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing one bi-directional connection with the air-interface and one bi-directional connection with the printing-fluid interface includes establishing the one bi-directional connection with the air-interface for both the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, and establishing the one bi-directional connection with the printing-fluid interface for both the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2005

From: STEINMETZ, CHARLIE; GONZALES, CURT; HWANG, PETER G.

To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.

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