Fluid supply integration module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10464333-B2
Application number	US-201615763495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2016
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A fluid supply integration module in a fluid dispensing device includes an on-board reservoir to store fluid, and a fluid interconnect to fluidically couple an external fluid supply container to the on-board reservoir. The fluid supply integration module includes a check valve system disposed between the on-board reservoir and the fluid interconnect. The check valve system includes a first check valve to permit fluid to flow in a first direction and a second check valve to permit air to flow in a second direction opposite the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid supply integration module in a fluid dispensing device, the module comprising:
an on-board reservoir to store fluid;
a fluid interconnect to fluidically couple an external fluid supply container to the on-board reservoir; and
a check valve system disposed between the on-board reservoir and the fluid interconnect, the check valve system including a first check valve to permit fluid to flow in a first direction and a second check valve to permit air to flow in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. A fluid supply integration module as in claim 1 , further comprising a valve seat in which the first check valve is seated in a first orientation and the second check valve is seated in a second orientation which is opposite the first orientation.

3. A fluid supply integration module as in claim 2 , wherein the first check valve operates at a first cracking pressure to permit fluid to flow through the valve seat in the first direction and the second check valve operates at a second cracking pressure to permit air to flow through the valve seat in the second direction.

4. A fluid supply integration module as in claim 3 , wherein the first cracking pressure is the same as the second cracking pressure.

5. A fluid supply integration module as in claim 1 , further comprising an air port through which air is to be pumped to pressurize the external fluid supply container and to push fluid from the external fluid supply container into the fluid interconnect.

6. A fluid supply integration module as in claim 1 , wherein the fluid interconnect comprises a needle to penetrate a septum of the external fluid supply container.

7. A method of providing fluid to a printhead assembly (PHA) comprising:
sensing a fluid level in a reservoir of a supply integration module (SIM);
when the fluid level is below a threshold, pushing fluid into the reservoir from a removable fluid container coupled to the SIM by pressurizing the container to a first pressure sufficient to overcome a first cracking pressure of a first check valve;
depressurizing the container when the fluid level in the reservoir rises above the threshold; and,
providing fluid from the reservoir to a PHA through a fluid path.

8. A method as in claim 7 , wherein pushing fluid into the reservoir comprises pushing fluid from the container through a fluid interconnect of the SIM and past the first check valve and valve seat positioned between the fluid interconnect and the reservoir.

9. A method as in claim 7 , wherein pushing fluid into the reservoir generates a second pressure within the reservoir sufficient to overcome a second cracking pressure of a second check valve and cause air to flow out of the reservoir into the fluid interconnect.

10. A method as in claim 9 , wherein the first and second check valves are disposed within a valve seat located between the fluid interconnect and the reservoir, the first check valve disposed in a first orientation to enable flow in a first direction and the second check valve disposed in a second orientation to enable flow in a second direction opposite the first direction.

11. A method as in claim 7 , wherein pressurizing the fluid container comprises generating a first pressure within the range of 10 to 20 inches of water.

12. A method as in claim 7 , wherein:
sensing a fluid level in a reservoir of a SIM comprises sensing a fluid level in a reservoir of a stationary, off-axis SIM; and
providing fluid from the reservoir to a PHA comprises providing fluid from the reservoir to a scanning, on-axis PHA.

13. A method as in claim 7 , wherein pressurizing the fluid container comprises pumping air through an air port of the SIM and into the fluid container.

14. A printing device comprising:
a fluid supply integration module (SIM) to fluidically couple an external fluid supply container to the printing device;
a fluid interconnect to enable fluid from an external fluid device to flow into the printing device;
a fluid reservoir on-board the SIM to enable the printing device to continue printing after the external fluid supply container is empty; and
a check valve system disposed between the fluid reservoir and the fluid interconnect to prevent fluid from flowing out of the printing device when there is no external fluid supply container coupled to the printing device.

15. A printing device as in claim 14 , wherein the check valve system comprises:
a valve seat incorporating a first check valve and a second check valve, wherein the first check valve is installed in the valve seat in a first orientation to permit a flow in a first direction from the fluid interconnect into the fluid reservoir, and the second check valve is installed in the valve seat in a second orientation to permit a flow in a second direction from the fluid reservoir into the fluid interconnect.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Arnold Chris

Classifications

• B41J2/175

  Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} · CPC title

• B41J2002/17579

  Measuring electrical impedance for ink level indication · CPC title

• B41J2/17596

  Ink pumps, ink valves · CPC title

• B41J2/17523

  Ink connection · CPC title

• B41J2/17556

  Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge · CPC title