Printhead assembly with ink supply shut off

US7967425B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd · AU

Inventors

• Geoffrey Philip Dyer · Sydney, AU
• Gregory Michael Tow · Sydney, AU
• David William Jensen · Sydney, AU
• Nicholas Kenneth Abraham · Sydney, AU
• Kia Silverbrook · Sydney, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 31, 2010
• Grant date: Jun 28, 2011
• Expiry date: Jan 31, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J2202/20
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A printhead assembly with a printhead and a shut off (138) valve that has a valve body (200) defining an ink inlet (202) for connection to an ink supply, an ink outlet (67) connected to the printhead IC. A diaphragm (212) is biased into sealing engagement with the valve seat (216) to provide a fluid seal between the ink inlet and the ink outlet. An actuator (204) unseals the diaphragm from the valve seat when energized. The valve protects the ink in the ink supply from contaminants that can migrate up the ink line during shut down periods. The diaphragm is biased to a closed position and so seals the ink supply from the printhead as a default condition even in the event of a power failure. The bias is strong enough to provide the fluid seal so that the seal is not compromised when the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet is small.