The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 24, 1996
Norman Bidwell, Marietta, GA (US);
Dataproducts Corporation, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
A cartridge of the type used with a printer is provided for supplying liquid to the printer. The cartridge includes a container that has first through sixth walls and a partition in the form of an inner wall that substantially divides the container into first and second compartments. The partition extends from the third wall to near the fourth wall to form a communication gap between the partition and the fourth wall. The container also has a first opening in the first compartment for allowing air to enter, and a second opening in the first compartment for interfacing with the printer's print head. A stranded material is disposed in the first compartment so that it extends along the first partition to a location between the end of the first partition and the fourth wall. A foam material is disposed in and substantially fills the remainder of the first compartment. The stranded material functions to regulate the internal pressure of the cartridge by selectively providing a low resistance path for air to pass from the first compartment, through the stranded material and the gap, and into the second compartment. This allows the cartridge to supply ink to the print head while keeping the pressure in the cartridge, and thus the vacuum in the print head, substantially constant.