Patent US5574490A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5574490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet hard copy apparatus ink cartridge
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1993-12-21
•
Granted: 1996-11-12
•
Expires: 2013-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible ink reservoir structure to facilitate assembly of a replaceable or refillable printer ink cartridge is comprised of a relatively rigid inner frame and flexible membranes forming an ink reservoir having side walls which collapse to a substantially flat shape to minimize the amount of ink remaining in the reservoir structure after computer generated printing has depleted the ink from the cartridge. The reservoir structure is a separate unit from the ink discharge aperture device which is assembled and mounted in an outer housing and includes the inner frame and ink bags formed of films to form the cartridge assembly. Multiple reservoirs can be formed within the structure to permit the use of different colorants in each reservoir. The structure preferably contains an ink pressure regulator within each reservoir to maintain a negative pressure therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian D. Gragg
- 👤 James E. Clark
- 👤 David W. Swanson
- 👤 George T. Kaplinsky
- 👤 Tofigh Khodapanah
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:26
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17506; B41J2/17513; B41J2/1752; B41J2/17523; B41J2/17526; B41J2/17536; B41J2/17553; B41J2/17556; B41J2/17566; B41J2002/17516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An ink reservoir structure for an ink-jet printing cartridge, having an ink discharge aperture device coupled thereto, said structure comprising: a substantially rigid frame having a pair of peripherally extending edges on opposite sides thereof and at least a first ink discharge port and a second ink discharge port therethrough; at least three flexible, ink-impervious membranes, each of said membranes having a periphery, said membranes being sealingly joined only about each respective periphery, thereby forming at least a first ink reservoir and a second ink reservoir by sharing a central one of said membranes, wherein said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir are in fluid communication with said first ink discharge port and said second ink discharge port, respectively; and a first ink pressure regulator means within said first ink reservoir coupled to a first one of said membranes and said central one of said membranes, and a second ink pressure regulator means within said second ink reservoir coupled to said central one of said membranes and a third one of said membranes, each of said first pressure regulator means and second ink pressure regulator means for urging adjacent membranes apart from each other such that a negative pressure is maintained at said ink discharge aperture device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
An ink reservoir structure for an ink-jet printing cartridge, having an ink discharge aperture device coupled thereto, said structure comprising: a substantially rigid frame having a pair of peripherally extending edges on opposite sides thereof and at least a first ink discharge port and a second ink discharge port therethrough; at least three flexible, ink-impervious membranes, each of said membranes having a periphery, said membranes being sealingly joined only about each respective periphery, thereby forming at least a first ink reservoir and a second ink reservoir by sharing a central one of said membranes, wherein said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir are in fluid communication with said first ink discharge port and said second ink discharge port, respectively; and a first ink pressure regulator means within said first ink reservoir coupled to a first one of said membranes and said central one of said membranes, and a second ink pressure regulator means within said second ink reservoir coupled to said central one of said membranes and a third one of said membranes, each of said first pressure regulator means and second ink pressure regulator means for urging adjacent membranes apart from each other such that a negative pressure is maintained at said ink discharge aperture device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said membranes are joined to said frame to form a fluid tight seal thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first ink pressure regulator means and said second pressure regulator means are adapted to maintain negative pressure in each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir with respect to said first ink discharge port and said second ink discharge port, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said first ink reservoirs and said second ink reservoirs contains an individual pressure regulator having a predetermined negative pressure setting value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said regulator means comprises: a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, flat-sided plates abutting said adjacent membranes, respectively, and means for urging said plates apart from each other and into engagement with adjacent membranes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said plates is bonded to a respective adjacent membrane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
An ink-jet hard copy apparatus ink cartridge device, containing ink reservoirs adapted to maintain ink under a negative pressure with respect to an ink discharge aperture device connected to said ink cartridge device, said ink cartridge device comprising: a substantially rigid housing having a pair of peripheral edges on opposite sides thereof, a pair of cover plates, wherein each of said cover plates is adapted to mate with one of said peripheral edges to form an enclosure, and at least a first ink discharge port and a second ink discharge port through said housing; at least three flexible, fluid impervious membranes, each of said membranes having a periphery, said membranes being sealingly joined together only about respective periphery within said housing to form a first ink reservoir and a second ink reservoir for holding a supply of ink within each of said reservoirs, wherein each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir is adapted to be in fluid communication with one of said first ink discharge port and said second discharge port, respectively; and means for regulating pressure within each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir, respectively, so as to maintain said negative pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
199 words
An ink-jet hard copy apparatus ink cartridge device, containing ink reservoirs adapted to maintain ink under a negative pressure with respect to an ink discharge aperture device connected to said ink cartridge device, said ink cartridge device comprising: a substantially rigid housing having a pair of peripheral edges on opposite sides thereof, a pair of cover plates, wherein each of said cover plates is adapted to mate with one of said peripheral edges to form an enclosure, and at least a first ink discharge port and a second ink discharge port through said housing; at least three flexible, fluid impervious membranes, each of said membranes having a periphery, said membranes being sealingly joined together only about respective periphery within said housing to form a first ink reservoir and a second ink reservoir for holding a supply of ink within each of said reservoirs, wherein each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir is adapted to be in fluid communication with one of said first ink discharge port and said second discharge port, respectively; and means for regulating pressure within each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir, respectively, so as to maintain said negative pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device as set forth in claim 7, further comprising: means within said housing for sealing said membranes in order to form said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir, such that each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir has a predetermined shape and size.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for sealing said membranes comprises an inner frame formed within said housing for sealingly mounting said membranes upon to form said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: means, within said housing, and being sealingly joined to the membranes, for maintaining an approximate predetermined peripheral shape and size for each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means for maintaining the approximate predetermined peripheral shape and size for each said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir formed by said membranes comprises a ridge located on an inner surface of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means for maintaining the approximate predetermined peripheral shape and size comprises an inner frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said housing and said inner frame are formed of plastic and said inner frame is formed of a plastic that has a lower melting point than the plastic used to form said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said means for regulating pressure further comprises: a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, side plates; and a spring means, mounted between said plates, for urging said plates apart from each other into engagement with at least two adjacent membranes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said housing further comprises: a snout section having said first ink discharge port and said second ink discharge port therethrough, adapted for mounting said printhead thereon; means for filtering ink outflow from said first ink reservoir and said second ink reservoir through said first ink discharge port and said second ink discharge port; and means, within said snout section, for holding said means for filtering, said means for holding having at least two inlet ports, two outlet ports, and two individual channels connecting each individual inlet port to a respective outlet port, such that each said first ink reservoir and second ink reservoir is in fluid communication with only one of said first ink discharge port and second discharge port through one of said means for filtering, respectively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
180 words
In an ink-jet cartridge for a printer, said cartridge having an ink reservoir housing and a ink discharge aperture device attached thereto having ink discharge orifices in fluid communication with three ink discharge ports in said housing, an improved, multiple compartment, ink reservoir system for containing different color inks comprising: a first reservoir section, having a first collapsible bag of a predetermined shape and size and a first pressure regulator within said bag, connected to a first of said ink discharge ports; a second reservoir section, adjacent said first reservoir section, having a second collapsible bag of a predetermined shape and size and a second pressure regulator within said bag, connected to a second of said ink discharge ports; a third reservoir section, adjacent said second reservoir section, having a third collapsible bag of a predetermined shape and size and a third pressure regulator within said bag, connected to a third of said ink discharge ports; and a pressure regulator mechanism within each of said reservoir sections that maintains a negative pressure with respect to said ink discharge aperture device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
180 words
In an ink-jet cartridge for a printer, said cartridge having an ink reservoir housing and a ink discharge aperture device attached thereto having ink discharge orifices in fluid communication with three ink discharge ports in said housing, an improved, multiple compartment, ink reservoir system for containing different color inks comprising: a first reservoir section, having a first collapsible bag of a predetermined shape and size and a first pressure regulator within said bag, connected to a first of said ink discharge ports; a second reservoir section, adjacent said first reservoir section, having a second collapsible bag of a predetermined shape and size and a second pressure regulator within said bag, connected to a second of said ink discharge ports; a third reservoir section, adjacent said second reservoir section, having a third collapsible bag of a predetermined shape and size and a third pressure regulator within said bag, connected to a third of said ink discharge ports; and a pressure regulator mechanism within each of said reservoir sections that maintains a negative pressure with respect to said ink discharge aperture device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein adjacent collapsible bags share a common wall therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein each said pressure regulator can be tuned to provide equal or different negative pressure in the reservoir sections.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as set forth in claim 16, further comprising: means within said housing for maintaining each reservoir section in predetermined peripheral shape and size.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4422084A
Cited
US4719475A
Cited
US4771295A
Cited
US4771295B1
Cited
US5315317A
Cited
US5119115A
Cited
US5359353A
Cited
US5280300A
Cited
US5440333A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-12 | 2000-05-13 | 2000-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-12 | 2004-05-13 | 2004-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-12 | 2008-05-13 | 2008-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |