Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Craig L Malik

Ronald J Ender

Rhonda Lynn Wilson

Mark A Devries

Paul Mark Haines

Norman E Pawlowski

Michael S Ardito

Benjamin Zoladz

Philip S Burkum

Mark Haines

Alexander N Govyadinov

Joseph Edward Scheffelin

Ronald Albert Askeland

Daniel D Dowell

Blair A Butler

Dale Dean Timm, Jr

Si-Lam J Choy

Tanya Schneider

Seth Stephen Haddix

Wenbing Li

Examples of air purging from a fluid delivery tube of an imaging device are described. In an example, air is removed from the fluid delivery tube by an air purging unit prior to coupling a cartridge in the imaging device.

Air purging

A printing fluid pen includes a plurality of fluid ports, a pressure regulator in fluid communication with a first fluid port, and a valve in fluid communication with a second fluid port. The first fluid port is to deliver printing fluid to a fluid ejection device, and the second fluid port is to direct printing fluid out of the pen. In response to negative pressure, the valve is to open to enable fluids within the pen to exit via the second port.

Printing fluid circulation

An example air purging device includes a removable housing. The removable housing includes a first fluid interface to fluidically couple a fluid tube to the housing and a bore housing a plunger. In an example, movement of the plunger from a first orientation to a second orientation allows for the removal of the removable housing.

Air purger with plunger

A pressure regulator apparatus usable with an aerosol supply device containing a fluid includes an inflatable diaphragm unit including an upper surface member, a lower surface member, and a diaphragm chamber formed between the upper surface member and the lower surface member, an output port member having an output cavity and an output port, at least a portion of the output port member is disposed within and in fluid communication with the diaphragm chamber, a valve actuator including an actuator cavity and one or more actuator openings in fluid communication with the output port, at least a portion of the valve actuator is moveably disposed within the output cavity, an input port member having an input port configured to allow the fluid to enter the actuator cavity, at least a portion of the input port member is disposed proximate to the actuator cavity, and an axial flow path extending between the input port and the output port, and configured to allow the fluid to selectively pass in a substantially axial direction therethrough, wherein the valve actuator moves to close and open the input port based on an inflation status of the inflatable diaphragm unit to regulate a pressure of the fluid to be transported from the inflatable diaphragm unit substantially constant.

Aerosol supply device and pressure regulator apparatus used therewith

A removable ink supply comprises an ink container including a coupler configured to removably engage a receiver of an ink supply station of an image forming apparatus. The coupler includes an end portion including an array of key holes with each key hole configured to removably receive a respective one key of an array of at least partially conductive keys of the receiver of the ink supply station. A conductive component of the coupler is positioned within the coupler and spaced apart from the end portion. The conductive component is in axial alignment with at least some of the respective key holes to be positioned for selective, removable contact with at least some of the respective keys of the receiver. An absence or a presence of removable contact between the conductive component and the key indicates an out-of-ink status of the image forming apparatus.

Combination ink status and key arrangement for ink supply

An ink container for an inkjet print head includes a substantially rigid body of polymer material, the body including a base and a side wall integrally formed with the base at a perimeter of the base, the body containing ink in a low pressure chamber, and the polymer material having moderate to high air permeability. A flexible film is sealed over the low pressure chamber, inwardly flexible in response to a decrease in pressure and ink volume in the low pressure chamber, and outwardly flexible in response to an increase in pressure and ink volume in the low pressure chamber. A metal is coated on a perimeter of the polymer body and on an outer exposed surface of the flexible film, the metal to form a metal coating configured to decrease the air permeability of the polymer body, the metal coating being formed from at least copper.

Metallized print head container and method

A fluid supply includes a container () containing a bag () and a valve ().

Fluid supply

A fluid supply includes a container, a bag within the container and a cap. The cap provides a fluid interface in communication with an interior of the bag and a pressurization interface in communication with an interior of the container adjacent an exterior of the bag. The pressurization interface has a channel that concentrically extends about the fluid interface.

Fluid supply cap

In one embodiment an ink pen for an inkjet printer includes: an ink filter chamber; a pressure regulator chamber downstream from the ink filter chamber along a path of ink flow through the pen; a pressure regulator in the pressure regulator chamber; a filter in the ink filter chamber; an inlet to the ink filter chamber upstream from the filter along the ink flow path; and an outlet from the ink filter chamber to the pressure regulator chamber downstream from the filter along the ink flow path such that ink flowing from the inlet to the outlet passes through the filter. In another embodiment a method implemented in an ink delivery system for an inkjet ink pen includes: chambering ink in the pen; filtering the chambered ink; and then regulating the pressure of filtered ink.

Compact ink delivery in an ink pen

In one embodiment a pressure regulator for an ink pen includes: a diaphragm between a lower pressure region and a higher pressure region, the diaphragm movable toward the lower pressure region in response to an increase in a pressure difference across the diaphragm; a valve operative between an open position in which ink may flow into the lower pressure region and a closed position in which ink may not flow into the lower pressure region; a first lever rotatable on a first fulcrum in response to movement of the diaphragm toward the lower pressure region; and a second lever connected to the valve, the second lever rotatable on a second fulcrum in response to rotation of the first lever to move the valve from the closed position to an open position.

Flow control in an ink pen

Embodiments of an apparatus including a rolling contact bearing are disclosed.

Bearing

Techniques are disclosed for improving pressure sensor shock robustness in fluid containment devices by providing a mechanical filter configured to prevent high-frequency pressure shocks from damaging the pressure sensor. One approach includes a body of elastomeric material disposed on an external surface of the sensor. Another approach is a porous plug in a fluid pathway leading to the sensor. Yet another approach is to provide a seal structure with a labyrinth fluid path.

Labyrinth seal structure

Damage is prevented in printing systems by allowing fluid from the printing system's fluid delivery system to expand. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by fluidly connecting a fluid expansion receptacle to the fluid delivery system. The fluid expansion receptacle provides volumetric compliance so that if printing fluid in the system expands, such as due to freezing, the fluid is able to expand into the fluid expansion receptacle and not damage the printing system.

Apparatus and method for preventing damage to printing systems

A method of supplying liquid ink to a printhead assembly including a carrier, a printhead die mounted on the carrier, and a fluid delivery assembly communicated with the carrier includes communicating a fluid manifold of the carrier with the printhead die, communicating the fluid delivery assembly with the fluid manifold of the carrier, and filling the fluid delivery assembly with a quantity of the liquid ink, including purging air from the fluid delivery assembly through a filter, wherein the filter includes a frame having an opening and a fluid passage communicated with the opening formed therein, filter material enclosing the opening and the fluid passage of the frame, first and second fluid ports communicated with the fluid passage, and a permeable material communicated with the first fluid port.

Filter for printhead assembly

A labyrinth seal structure includes a gland structure for providing a fluid seal between a first surface and a second surface, and redundant labyrinth fluid flow paths between a first side of the seal structure and a second side of the seal structure.

Growing community of inventors

Corvallis, OR, United States of America

Craig L Malik