Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Robert S Wickwire

Anthony Donald Studer

Ashley E Childs

Mark C Donning

Carey E Yliniemi

David J Benson

John Farrar Wilson

A froth coalescing unit for a fluid delivery system for a fluid ejection system, the froth coalescing unit including a coalescing chamber including a sump, an inlet to receive froth into the coalescing chamber, the froth comprising a mixture of fluid and gas, the coalescing chamber to coalesce the fluid from the froth with the coalesced fluid collecting at least in the sump, an outlet to communicate coalesced fluid from the sump, and a fluid level sensor to provide a level over a range of levels of coalesced fluid in the coalescing chamber including in the sump.

Froth coalescing

A froth coalescing device comprises a froth receiving chamber with a vent and an umbrella valve arranged between the vent and a gas out port. The vent may be arranged to vent gas in a direction different from a direction of travel of froth in the receiving chamber.

Froth coalescing device

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluid interface device () is described. The device includes a collar () to receive a fluid container (). The collar has an aperture in one end surface. A needle () of the fluid interface device passes through the aperture and allows fluid to pass from the fluid container () into a reservoir (). The needle is slideable within the aperture from a dosed position to an open position upon reception of the fluid container. A seal () is radially disposed around the needle () and seals against the end surface of the collar () when the needle is in the dosed position.

Fluid interface device with sliding needle

A froth coalescing device includes a froth receiving chamber with a vent, and a vertical membrane arranged between the vent and a gas out port of the froth coalescing device. The vent is arranged to vent gas in a direction that is different from a direction of travel of froth in the froth receiving chamber.

An example device includes a defrothing portion to separate froth into a coalesced fluid and air, an air vent to vent the air from the defrothing portion, and a membrane on an outer surface of the defrothing portion, the membrane sealing the air vent. The membrane is formed of a material to prevent fluid from passing therethrough.

Froth coalescing vent

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure a device for coalescing a frothy fluid is described. The device includes a housing and alignment devices. The alignment devices receive a number of coalescing filters, space the number of coalescing filters to form a gap between adjacent coalescing filters, and seal the number of coalescing filters against the housing to enclose the gap. The device also includes an inlet port to drive incoming frothy fluid through the gap, an outlet port to drain coalesced fluid, and an air vent to allow air to escape the gap.

Coalescing frothy fluids

An example device includes a frame having at least one outer opening and at least one inner opening recessed from the outer opening, at least one filter screen mounted on a perimeter of the at least one inner opening to form an inner chamber, at least one cover layer mounted on a perimeter of the at least one outer chamber to form an outer chamber, and a series of bubblebreaking features positioned within the inner chamber. The bubble-breaking features are positioned along a depth and a height of the inner chamber. The filter screen separates the inner chamber from the outer chamber, and the filter screen prevents froth from crossing and allows coalesced fluid to cross into the outer chamber.

An example device includes a frame having at least one outer opening and at least one inner opening recessed from the outer opening, at least one filter screen mounted on a perimeter of the at least one inner opening to form an inner chamber, and at least one cover layer mounted on a perimeter of the at least one outer chamber to form an outer chamber. The filter screen separates the inner chamber from the outer chamber, and the filter screen prevents froth from crossing and allows coalesced fluid to cross into the outer chamber.

In one example, a multi-part flow structure with multiple flow passages includes a first part sandwiched between a second part and a third part, the parts joined together with adhesive along bonding surfaces surrounding the flow passages where each of the bonding surfaces on one part is symmetrical to and diverges from a corresponding one of the bonding surfaces on another part.

Multi-part fluid flow structure

In one example, parts to be assembled into a fluid flow structure include: a first part having a first opening therein and a first adhesive bonding surface surrounding the first opening; a second part having a second opening therein and a second bonding surface surrounding the second opening; and the first and second bonding surfaces are each configured, when the parts are assembled for bonding and an adhesive is squished between the parts, to create a capillary force along the bonding surface urging adhesive away from the opening.

A fluid supply system for a printing device is disclosed. The fluid supply system includes an ink reservoir adapting member operatively disposed within an ink cartridge. The adapting member has an open end and an end opposed to the open end. The open end is adapted to have a filter disposed thereon. The opposed end is substantially angularly offset from the open end in a manner sufficient to substantially promote fluid and air migration toward a fluid conduit. A depth between the open end and the opposed end substantially varies along a length between two opposed sides of the adapting member. A predetermined area of the opposed end defines the fluid conduit, and the predetermined area is located at a region where the depth is substantially greatest. Further, the conduit is adapted to release fluid and air from the adapting member.

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Corvallis, OR, United States of America

Robert S Wickwire