VALVE AND REGULATOR ARRANGEMENT FOR A PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE
Provided is an inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement for a printhead cartridge. The arrangement includes an inlet body having a skirt engaging portion with a depressible member, and a spacer with a central hub. Also included is a diaphragm with a central opening and a spring positioned by a regulator outlet portion so that said spring biases the central opening of the diaphragm against the central hub. An increase in fluid pressure when the depressible member is operatively depressed overcomes the spring bias to allow fluid to flow from the inlet body to the regulator outlet.
1 . An inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement for a printhead cartridge, said arrangement comprising:
an inlet body having a skirt engaging portion with a depressible member;
a spacer with a central hub;
a diaphragm with a central opening; and
a spring positioned by a regulator outlet portion so that said spring biases the central opening of the diaphragm against the central hub such that an increase in fluid pressure when the depressible member is operatively depressed overcomes the spring bias to allow fluid to flow from the inlet body to the regulator outlet.
2 . The inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the inlet body includes a skirt engaging portion defining an inlet opening.
3 . The inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the inlet opening has a frusto-conical shape to facilitate engagement with a fluid reservoir.
4 . The inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement of claim 1 , which includes an ink filter between the depressible member and the spacer for filtering fluid passing through the arrangement.
5 . The inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the depressible member defines a flanged end on top of a stem to facilitate fluid-tight sealing against the inlet body.
6 . The inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the ink filter extends beyond a radial extent of the depressible member so that fluid flow contacts a large surface area of the filter.
7 . The inlet valve and pressure regulator arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the regulator outlet portion includes a resilient connector.