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US5040002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Regulator for ink-jet pens
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1990-03-16
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2010-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A regulator (20) for an ink-jet pen (24) that has a print head (30) for expelling ink from a fluid volume includes a seat (36) mounted to a pen body (26) and having a port (42) formed through it. A valve element (38) is mounted adjacent to the seat for movement relative to the port (42). Magnetic attraction is employed for urging the seat (36) and valve element (38) together to thereby close the port (42) and permit underpressure to develop in the reservoir (22). The valve element (38) and seat (36) are configured and arranged so that when the underpressure within the reservoir (22) rises above the level that may cause failure of the ink-jet print head (30) the valve element (38) moves away from the seat (36) to permit air to enter the reservoir (22), thereby reducing the underpressure to an operable level.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Pollacek
- 👤 Niels J. Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:58
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7897
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A regulator for an ink-jet pen that has a print head for expelling ink from a fluid volume, the regulator comprising: a seat mounted to the pen, the seat having a port formed therethrough; a valve element mounted adjacent to the seat for movement relative to the seat; and control means for magnetically urging together the seat and the valve element to close the port, and for separating the seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure in the fluid volume is at a predetermined pressure, the valve element being constructed to generated upon separating from the seat a spring force that urges the valve element toward the seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A regulator for an ink-jet pen that has a print head for expelling ink from a fluid volume, the regulator comprising: a seat mounted to the pen, the seat having a port formed therethrough; a valve element mounted adjacent to the seat for movement relative to the seat; and control means for magnetically urging together the seat and the valve element to close the port, and for separating the seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure in the fluid volume is at a predetermined pressure, the valve element being constructed to generated upon separating from the seat a spring force that urges the valve element toward the seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a ferromagnetic part of the seat and a magnetized part of the valve element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a ferromagnetic part of the valve element and a magnetized part of the seat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The regulator of claim 3 wherein the magnetized part of the seat is an electromagnet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a magnetized part of the seat and a magnetized part of the valve element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The regulator of claim 5 wherein the control means includes adjustment means for adjusting the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetized part of the seat in response to changes in the pressure in the fluid volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The regulator of claim 6 wherein the adjustment means includes a pressure sensor disposed within the fluid volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein part of the valve element is formed of deformable material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The regulator of claim 8 wherein the deformable part of the valve element is configured to define a sealing feature that is deformed between the seat and valve element to seal the port when the port is closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The regulator of claim 8 wherein the valve element flexes upon separating from the seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein part of the seat is formed of deformable material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The regulator of claim 11 wherein the deformable part of the seat is configured to define a sealing feature that is deformed between the seat and valve element to seal the port when the port is closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a spring as part of the valve element, the spring being configured for urging together the seat and the valve element to close the port.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein the valve element comprises a flexible flat spring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A regulator for an ink-jet pen that has a print head for expelling ink from a fluid volume, the regulator comprising: a vent for venting the fluid volume to ambient; a flexible valve element mounted adjacent to the vent for movement relative thereto; and control means for urging the valve element into a position for closing the vent, and for moving the valve element into a position for opening the vent whenever the pressure in the fluid volume is at a predetermined pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
A regulator for an ink-jet pen that has a print head for expelling ink from a fluid volume, the regulator comprising: a vent for venting the fluid volume to ambient; a flexible valve element mounted adjacent to the vent for movement relative thereto; and control means for urging the valve element into a position for closing the vent, and for moving the valve element into a position for opening the vent whenever the pressure in the fluid volume is at a predetermined pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The regulator of claim 15 wherein the control means includes a seat mounted near the vent and having a port formed therethrough in fluid communication with the vent, the control means magnetically urging together the seat and the valve element to close the port and vent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The regulator of claim 16 wherein the control means includes a ferromagnetic part of the valve element and a magnetized part of the seat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The regulator of claim 17 wherein the magnetized part of the seat is an electromagnet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The regulator of claim 16 wherein the control means includes a magnetized part of the seat and a magnetized part of the valve element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The regulator of claim 16 wherein part of the valve element is formed of deformable material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The regulator of claim 20 wherein the deformable part of the valve element is configured to define a sealing feature that deforms to seal the port when the port is closed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The regulator of claim 16 wherein part of the seat is formed of deformable material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The regulator of claim 22 wherein the deformable part of the seat is configured to define a sealing feature that deforms to seal the port when the port is closed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The regulator of claim 16 wherein the control means includes a ferromagnetic part of the seat and a magnetized part of the valve element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The regulator of claim 24 wherein the magnetized part of the valve element is an electromagnet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The regulator of claim 15 wherein the control means includes a spring as part of the valve element, the spring configured for urging the valve element into the position for closing the vent.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The regulator of claim 15 wherein the valve element comprises a flat spring.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
86 words
A regulator apparatus for an ink-jet pen comprising: a pen body; a deformable seat mounted to the pen body, the seat having a port formed therethrough; a spherical valve element mounted adjacent to the seat for movement relative to the seat; and control means for magnetically urging together the seat and the valve element to deform the seat and close the port, and for separating the seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure in the fluid volume reaches a predetermined pressure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
86 words
A regulator apparatus for an ink-jet pen comprising: a pen body; a deformable seat mounted to the pen body, the seat having a port formed therethrough; a spherical valve element mounted adjacent to the seat for movement relative to the seat; and control means for magnetically urging together the seat and the valve element to deform the seat and close the port, and for separating the seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure in the fluid volume reaches a predetermined pressure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
82 words
A regulator apparatus for an ink-jet pen comprising: a pen body; a seat mounted to the pen body, the seat having a port formed therethrough; a deformable spherical valve element mounted adjacent to the seat for movement relative to the seat; and control means for magnetically urging together the seat and the valve element to close the port, and for separating the seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure in the fluid volume reaches a predetermined pressure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
A regulator apparatus for an ink-jet pen comprising: a pen body; a seat mounted to the pen body, the seat having a port formed therethrough; a deformable spherical valve element mounted adjacent to the seat for movement relative to the seat; and control means for magnetically urging together the seat and the valve element to close the port, and for separating the seat and the valve element to open the port whenever the pressure in the fluid volume reaches a predetermined pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-12 | 1995-02-11 | 1995-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-12 | 1999-02-11 | 1999-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-12 | 2003-02-11 | 2003-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |