Bubble-bursting box for an ink supply system
View Patent ↗A bubble-bursting box for bursting bubbles of a liquid entering the box. The box comprising has one or more bubble-bursting chambers; each chamber has a respective chamber inlet for connection to a liquid conduit. The chamber inlets are defined in a base of each chamber. The box also has a common air chamber in fluid communication with each bubble-bursting chamber, the air chamber having an air outlet defined in the base. A cover for the bubble-bursting chambers and the air chamber; the cover forms a roof of the box. The cover has one or more air channels that provide in fluid communication between a respective bubble-bursting chamber and the common air chamber.
1. A bubble-bursting box for bursting bubbles of a liquid entering said box, said box comprising:
one or more bubble-bursting chambers, each bubble-bursting chamber having a respective chamber inlet for connection to liquid conduit, said chamber inlet being defined in a base of said each bubble-bursting chamber;
a common air chamber in fluid communication with each bubble-bursting chamber, said air chamber having an air outlet defined in said base thereof; and
a cover for said bubble-bursting chambers and said air chamber, said cover defining a roof of said box, said cover having one or more air channels defined therein, each air channel providing fluid communication between a respective bubble-bursting chamber and said common air chamber; wherein,
at least one of said bubble-bursting chambers is configured for use with an optical sensor, said optical sensor sensing a level of liquid in said at least one chamber.
2. The box of claim 1 , wherein said liquid is ink.
3. The box of claim 2 , wherein said bubble-bursting box comprises a plurality of bubble-bursting chambers, each bubble-bursting chamber corresponding to a respective ink channel of an ink supply system for a printer.
4. The box of claim 1 , wherein said each bubble-bursting chamber is dimensioned to promote expansion and bursting of liquid bubbles entering said bubble-bursting chamber via said chamber inlet.
5. The box of claim 4 , wherein said each bubble-bursting chamber has curved sidewalls, wherein a curvature of said sidewalls is greater than a curvature of said liquid conduit.
6. The box of claim 5 , wherein said each bubble-bursting chamber is generally crescent-shaped, thereby maximizing said curvature in a minimal volume.
7. The box of claim 1 , wherein said each air channel is a serpentine channel for minimizing transfer of liquid to said air chamber when said box is tipped.
8. The box of claim 7 , wherein said each air channel is hydrophobic.
9. The box of claim 7 , wherein said each air channel comprises at least one liquid-trapping stomach.
10. The box of claim 7 , wherein said each air channel terminates at a channel outlet defined in a roof of said air chamber, each channel outlet being positioned to deposit liquid into said air chamber.
11. The box of claim 10 , wherein said each channel outlet is offset from said air outlet.
12. The box of claim 11 , wherein a snorkel extends from said air outlet towards said roof, thereby maximizing an effective liquid-collecting volume of said air chamber.
13. The box of claim 1 , wherein said air chamber has an air vent defined therein.
14. The box of claim 13 , wherein said air chamber has one or more air vents defined therein, the number of air vents regulating a pressure in said bubble-bursting box when said air outlet is connected to a pump.
15. The box of claim 1 , wherein one of said bubble-bursting chambers comprises a float ball chamber in fluid communication with a primary bubble-bursting chamber, said float ball chamber containing a float ball.
16. The box of claim 1 , wherein said at least one bubble-bursting chamber is transparent.
17. A liquid sensing device comprising:
(A) a bubble-bursting box comprising:
one or more bubble-bursting chambers, each bubble-bursting chamber having a respective chamber inlet in a base thereof for connection to liquid conduit; and
a common air chamber in fluid communication with said each bubble-bursting chamber, said air chamber having an air outlet defined said a base thereof; and
a cover for said bubble-bursting chambers and said air chamber, said cover defining a roof of said box, said cover having one or more air channels defined therein, each air channel providing fluid communication between a respective bubble-bursting chamber and said common air chamber; and
(B) an optical sensor positioned to sense liquid above a bubble-bursting point in at least one of said bubble-bursting chambers.
18. The device of claim 17 , wherein said liquid sensing device is configured to minimize phantom sensing of liquid caused by liquid bubbles in said liquid conduit.
19. The device of claim 17 , wherein said bubble-bursting box is transparent.