Check valve for ink jet printing
US6172694A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17596
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention relates to a check valve (19) for use in an ink supply line (13) of an ink jet printing system (1) between an ink reservoir (11) and an inkjet printhead (3) so as to prevent de-priming of the printhead upon the latter being subjected to impact loads or the like. Specifically, the improvement of this invention comprises a one-piece check valve (37) of an elastomeric material having a flapper valve (43) movable between a closed position in which the flapper valve blocks the backflow of ink and an open position in which ink is free to flow past the check valve member to the printhead. The flapper valve (43) is defined by a slot (49) separating the flapper valve from the outer margin (41) of the check valve (37) and the flapper valve is integrally joined to the outer margin by a hinge portion (45) so as to enable movement of the flapper valve between its open and closed positions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.