Xerox Corporation

Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Brian S Hilton

Eric Alan Merz

Steven Robert Moore

Takatoshi Tsuchiya

Kazuyuki Oda

Arthur J Sobon

Edward M Carrese

James Robert Brown

John Richard Andrews

Gary Alan Kneezel

Donald J Drake

William G Hawkins

Hiroki Murakami

Gary Daniel Redding

Thomas N Taylor

Roger Guy Markham

David S Derleth

Frederick Allen Donahue

Dale R Ims

Roger G Teumer

Michael P O'Horo

Kenneth W Altfather

Hiep H Nguyen

Katsushi Amarume

Robert M Rottman

Richard C Keefe

C Glenn Prince

Roy A Trowbridge, Jr

A fluid container, such as, for example, an inkjet print head cartridge, architecture uses a relatively large filter that is located below a negative pressure material chamber and a free ink chamber in a side-by-side relationship. The negative pressure material volume relative to a free ink chamber value can me made to be approximately one to one. Both chambers overlie an ink manifold/delivery port and are separated from the delivery port by a filter. Flow impedance of the cartridge is reduced, as a result, in any orientation of the cartridge. The filter may be separated from, or in contact with a negative pressure material. A cartridge lid is provided with a negative pressure material chamber which is suspended into the cartridge. A negative pressure material having a fiber felt construction is provided.

Print head pressure control architectures

A method for joining fluid containers and fluid ejectors in a fluid ejecting device are provided. The fluid container includes one or more heat stakes and a substrate includes one or more apertures for receiving the heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures. The fluid ejector and optionally an elastic member are interposed between the fluid container and the substrate. Thermal energy is applied to the one or more heat stakes so that the one or more heat stakes soften to occupy the apertures and three-dimensional features of the substrate and pressure is applied to maintain contact between the fluid container, elastic member, fluid ejector and substrate. The present invention is also directed to substrate including one or more apertures for receiving heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures.

Method for attaching a fluid container to a fluid ejector in a fluid ejection device

A system, method and structures for dissipating heat away from a thermal fluid ejector modules through a thermally-conductive carriage molded from a polymer to the ambient air surrounding the structure upon which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates. The heat is transferred via conduction and convection from the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage across a thin volume of air trapped between a thermally-conductive carriage rod guide, enclosed on each end by thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings, and the thermal contact of the thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings with the surface of at least one thermally-conductive carriage guide rod which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates.

Systems and methods for dissipating heat from a fluid ejector carriage

A refillable fluid reservoir for a fluid ejection head, including a fluid reservoir having top, bottom and side walls defining an interior volume for having fluid; a venting port provided on one of the reservoir walls; and a fluid inlet port provided on one of the reservoir walls, the venting port and the fluid inlet port being located at substantially the same vertical level to increase volumetric efficiency and reduce staining.

Systems, methods and structure for maximizing efficiency of refillable fluid ejection head

A fluid ejection container system provides a first container that contains the fluid, the first container being evacuated to negative gauge pressure when being filled with the fluid, a second container having a capillary medium that contains the fluid, a passage between the first and second containers communicating the fluid at a level wherein the passage is wetted with the fluid, a ventilation port to communicate air between an interior region in the fluid ejection system and ambient, at least one spill over region to communicate the fluid with the second container, and a plurality of channels to communicate at least the air between the interior region and the second container; wherein the at least one spill over region has sufficient volume to contain a quantity of the fluid that migrates out of the second container. The fluid ejection container system also provides a lid for sealing the first and second containers from the ambient, wherein the channels are disposed on the lid.

Systems and methods for vent path leakage prevention

A print cartridge includes a manifold that is molded from a polymer including at least one thermally conductive filler material, and a fluid ejector die module attached to the manifold. A method of manufacturing a print cartridge includes molding a manifold at least partially from a polymer including thermally conductive fillers, forming a fluid ejector die module, and attaching the manifold to the fluid ejector die.

Devices for dissipating heat in a fluid ejector head and methods for making such devices

A drive assembly for a printer includes an endless loop drive path and guide structure that allows a printhead to operate in either reciprocal or endless loop modes in which the printed traverse both a liner and an arcuate portion of the drive path. This provides a printer architecture in which a printhead may be endlessly driven at a constant speed in one direction to provide multiple print swaths separated spatially. This eliminates the need for deceleration/acceleration changes required in reciprocal printer architectures and is capable of increased throughput by defining arcuate turnaround zones that can be traversed by the printhead faster than the time it takes to slow, stop and reverse a conventional reciprocal printhead assembly. This robust printer architecture also allows flexibility in use of multiple printheads with simultaneous printing, simultaneous both side printing, and duplex capabilities.

Printer with printhead fully traveling around drive belt loop

Temperature regulating system for use in fluid ejection devices, such as inkjet printing devices, are provided. Such temperature regulating systems can include an ink reservoir, a printhead and optionally an intermediate ink container. Exchange of ink between the ink reservoir, or optionally the intermediate ink container, and the printhead regulates the temperature of the printhead and makes the temperature substantially uniform from drop ejector to drop ejector. Optionally, the ink is transported in a fluid communication path that is in contact with a thermally conductive substrate to further dissipate heat. Printing devices comprising such inkjet cartridges are also provided.

Systems for regulating temperature in fluid ejection devices

A microelectromechanical system based fluid ejector comprises an ejector nozzle, a chamber that communicates with the ejector nozzle, and a plurality of movable ejection structures associated with the ejector nozzle and arranged to move in the chamber such that a variable volume of fluid is ejected from the associated ejector nozzle. The plurality of movable ejection structures may also be arranged to move in the chamber such that a continuous flow of fluid is ejected from the associated ejector nozzle. A controller may be used to actuate each of the plurality of movable ejection structures independently. The movable ejection structures may comprise a piston, a flexible diaphragm or the like. A plurality of actuators may be provided, with each of the actuators being associated with one of the ejection structures. The actuators may comprise electrostatic, magnetic or thermal actuators, or the like.

Systems and methods for microelectromechanical system based fluid ejection

A refill junction for a fluid container including an exterior surface; a retaining clip having an outer face and an inner face, at least one of the exterior surface and the inner face including at least one capillary.

Systems, methods and structure to capture, store and evaporate split fluid

A refillable fluid container system having a pressure control architecture in which persistent air bubbles are released from a capillary or foam fluid reservoir and are directed from an optical level sensing system in a liquid fluid reservoir.

Pressure control architecture for fluid tanks having fluid level sensing

A fluid reservoir sensing system includes a pair of optical prisms that reflect light when a fluid level is below one of the pair of prisms. The pair of optical prisms includes a low prism usable to sense a low liquid level in the fluid reservoir, and a high prism usable to sense a high liquid level in the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir sensing system optionally includes an emitter and a photosensor. The emitter projects light through at least one of the low prism to the low incident surface and the high prism to the high incident surface. The photosensor senses light reflected from the low prism while the liquid is below the low prism. The photosensor also senses light from the high prism while the liquid level is below the high prism.

Geometry for a dual level fluid quantity sensing refillable fluid container

A controller for a fluid ejecting system having a refillable container includes an ejection count initializing circuit, routine or application, a count incrementing circuit, routine or application, at least one fluid level indicator, and a fluid quantity circuit, routine or application for determining an expended quantity of fluid, a fluid reserve capacity circuit, routine or application for determining a fluid reserve capacity in the container, an ejection job determining circuit, routine or application for determining a fluid job requirement, a reserve comparing circuit, routine or application to compare the fluid reserve capacity and the fluid job requirement, and a refill condition determining circuit, routine or application to determine that the container is to be refilled. Counts for a ejection amount and a reserve capacity are incremented in response to a specific amount of fluid being ejected from the container. The expended quantity of fluid is based on the ejection amount count subsequent to the fluid level being indicated. The fluid reserve capacity is based on the reserve capacity count and the expended quantity of fluid. The fluid job requirement is based on the expended quantity of fluid and a job number of ejected amounts of fluid. The container is determined to be refilled upon at least a condition wherein the fluid job requirement exceeds the fluid reserve capacity, and a condition wherein the fluid level is below a refill threshold.

Systems and methods for controllably refilling a fluid quantity sensing fluid ejection head

A mechanism for sealing a cover to a container for storing ink in an inkjet cartridge is provided. The mechanism includes a container for storing ink, a cover and a gasket. The cover fits over the container and the gasket is interposed between an inside edge of the cover and an outside edge of the container. Inkjet cartridges and printing apparatuses employing such mechanisms are also provided.

Robust gasket seal for an inkjet printhead

A refillable fluid container system having a communication channel between the manifold and fluid reservoir that allows air to vent from the manifold to an air accumulation area with in the fluid resevoir.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Brian S Hilton