Patent · US Expired

Spring-bag printer ink cartridge with volume indicator

US5359353A · kind A · utility

72Cited by
14References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 1991
Grant dateOct 25, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 19, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2002/17586
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An ink jet pen supply cartridge having a spring biased ink bag with a visual indication of remaining ink quantity. The spring-bag reservoir tends to collapse laterally as the ink supply decreases due to differential pressure exerted thereto. The spring-bag is contained in a rigid cartridge and a pair of flexible tape members are cemented or welded, one to each side of the spring-bag, and extend generally parallel toward a narrow end surface of the cartridge at which they overlap and can be viewed through a window. The overlapping relationship of the tape members provide ink quantity indicia which change as the spring-bag collapse draws them past each other.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.