Cartridge unit for printer
View Patent ↗Provided is a cartridge unit for a printer. The cartridge unit has upper and lower plate members having an ink bag located between the plate members to define an ink volume. The plate members can be displaced towards and away from each other by an external force. A bag constrictor assembly engages the plate members and is configured to act on the bag when the plate members are displaced towards each other to reduce the ink volume. A valve insert has an inlet valve to facilitate refilling of the bag with ink and an outlet valve to facilitate ink delivery to a printhead. A filter cover is positioned between the valve insert and the ink bag to filter contaminants and air bubbles passing between the ink bag and said valve insert.
1. A cartridge unit for a printer, said cartridge unit comprising:
upper and lower plate members having an ink bag located between the plate members to define an ink volume, said plate members displaceable towards and away from each other by an external force;
a bag constrictor assembly engaged with said plate members and configured to act on the bag when the plate members are displaced towards each other to reduce the ink volume;
a valve insert having an inlet valve to facilitate refilling of the bag with ink and an outlet valve to facilitate ink delivery to a printhead; and
a filter cover positioned between the valve insert and the ink bag to filter contaminants and air bubbles passing between the ink bag and said valve insert.
2. The cartridge unit of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing mechanism engaged with the plate members to bias the plate members away from each other such that a negative pressure is maintained in the ink volume.
3. The cartridge unit of claim 1 , wherein the bag constrictor assembly has upper and lower collars, each collar being attached to a respective plate, and operatively inwardly bowed panels extending between the collars to act on the bag when the plates are displaced towards each other.
4. The cartridge unit of claim 1 , wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve are configured to operate in an alternate manner so that one is sealed when the other is open to maintain pressure inside the bag.
5. The cartridge unit of claim 1 , further comprising a lid with four corner struts which operatively engage one of a collar on the bag constrictor, said struts supporting the ink bag between said plate members to allow said upper plate member to be displaced relative to the lower collar.
6. The cartridge unit of claim 5 , wherein the lid defines apertures therein to allow constrictor actuators of a refill unit to extend through the apertures to push the upper collar towards the lower collar causing the panels to bow further.
7. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the ink bag is made from a flexible and air impermeable thermoplastic film which allows ink to be retained therein in a pressurized state.