IP Library Granted Patent US 11,571,691
Granted Patent B2
US 11,571,691 · App. 17/152,842 · Granted Feb 7, 2023

Pipette-fillable printhead body

Inventors: Adam D. Carrithers (Lexington, KY); James D. Anderson, Jr. (Lexington, KY); Michael A. Marra, III (Lexington, KY)
B01L3/0268B01L2300/0829
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,571,691
App. No.
17/152,842
Granted
Feb 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A unitary, molded fluid reservoir body to which a fluid ejection head substrate is attached. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body includes one or more discrete fluid chambers therein. Each of the one or more fluid chambers have an open top, side walls, and sloped bottom walls attached to the side walls, wherein each of the one or more fluid chambers terminates in a fluid supply via, and wherein the sloped bottom walls have an angle ranging from about 6 to about 12 degrees relative to a plane orthogonal to the sidewalls. An ejection head support face is disposed opposite the open top for attachment of a single fluid ejection device to the ejection head support face for ejecting fluid provided from the one or more chambers through the one or more fluid supply vias.

Claims (22)

1. A unitary, molded fluid reservoir body to which a fluid ejection head substrate is attached, the unitary, molded fluid reservoir body comprising:

one or more discrete fluid chambers therein, wherein each of the one or more fluid chambers is devoid of a backpressure device and has an open top configured for fluid obtained from a fluid filled pipette, side walls, and sloped bottom walls attached to the side walls, each of the one or more fluid chambers terminating in a fluid supply via, wherein the sloped bottom walls have an angle ranging from about 6 to about 12 degrees relative to a plane orthogonal to the sidewalls;

and an ejection head support face disposed opposite the open top for attachment of a single fluid ejection device to the ejection head support face for ejecting fluid provided from the one or more chambers through the one or more fluid supply vias.

2. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , comprising two fluid chambers therein, wherein the two fluid chambers are separated from one another by a dividing wall therebetween.

3. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , comprising three fluid chambers therein, wherein the three fluid chambers are separated from one another by dividing walls therebetween.

4. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , comprising four fluid chambers therein, wherein the four fluid chambers are separated from one another by dividing walls therebetween.

5. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , comprising six fluid chambers therein, wherein the six fluid chambers are separated from one another by dividing walls therebetween.

6. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir body comprises a transparent molded fluid reservoir body.

7. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 6 , wherein the molded fluid reservoir body further comprises indicia thereon for indicating a maximum fluid fill volume.

8. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , further comprising a removable lid for closing the open top of one or more of the fluid chambers.

9. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , further comprising a removable tape for covering the open top of the fluid chambers.

10. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more discrete fluid chambers has a fluid volume ranging from about 200 microliters to about 1 milliliter.

11. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more discrete fluid chambers further comprises a shelf for indicating a fluid fill volume limit.

12. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein prior to use, the one or more discrete fluid chambers are sealed with a removable protective tape.

13. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 12 , where the protective tape is a single-pull tape covering the open top and fluid ejection head substrate.

14. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein the open top further comprises air vent channels therein.

15. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sidewalls is undercut adjacent to the fluid supply via at an angle relative to a plane defined by the sidewalls, the angle ranging from about 8 to about 12 degrees.

16. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more fluid chambers has a different maximum fluid volume.

17. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more fluid chambers has a similar maximum fluid volume.

18. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir body comprises a translucent molded fluid reservoir body.

19. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 18 , wherein the molded fluid reservoir body further comprises indicia thereon in a area of the molded fluid reservoir body for indicating a maximum fluid fill volume.

20. A digital fluid dispense system comprising the unitary, molded fluid reservoir body of claim 1 for accurately dispensing fluid from the single fluid ejection device into wells of a micro-well plate or onto glass slides.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2025
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: BRADY WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 070724/0730 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2021
From: CARRITHERS, ADAM D; ANDERSON, JAMES D, JR; MARRA, MICHAEL A, III
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO. LTD
Reel/Frame 054961/0502 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220226806A1 · Jul 21, 2022
Cited By (1)
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