FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an interlocking connector that can be used to connect an
ink supply container to an ink-jet printer.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ink-jet printers typically have pens that traverse a sheet of paper or other material.
The pen has a print head that selectively ejects tiny droplets of ink to form desired
characters or images. In some ink-jet printers, a supply of ink is contained in a
reservoir at the pen. This type of ink supply allows for the simple delivery of ink
from the reservoir to the print head. The size and weight of the reservoir, however,
may adversely affect printer speed because the entire ink supply is moved with the
print head. In other ink-jet printers, the ink supply is contained and located elsewhere
on the printer, allowing the pen to traverse the paper at a greater speed. A flexible
ink delivery tube connects the pen and a supply container.
[0003] In this latter type of printer, the supply container is occasionally replaced. To
facilitate the replacement, ink-jet printers are generally provided with docking stations.
The docking station houses the supply container. The supply container can be easily
plugged into and uncoupled from the docking station. The docking station includes
a fluid interconnect to connect the supply container to the delivery tube.
[0004] A well-sealed fluid interconnect between the docking station and the supply container
is necessary. Otherwise, ink may leak from the supply container and damage the printer.
In addition, the fluid interconnect should prevent ink from escaping when the supply
container is uncoupled from the docking station so no ink comes in contact with the
user.
[0005] It is also preferred that the components of an ink supply system be as easy to recycle
as possible.
[0006] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an interlocking connector assembly
for a well-sealed fluid interconnect between an ink supply container and an ink delivery
tube. The connector assembly includes an outlet valve carried on the ink supply container
and an inlet valve carried on the docking station. The outlet and inlet valves resist
being opened while they are uncoupled. The outlet and inlet valves are simultaneously
movable into an open position once coupled. The outlet and inlet valves cannot be
uncoupled until the outlet and inlet valves are simultaneously closed, so that ink
cannot escape from the ink supply container or the station.
[0007] As another aspect of this invention, the connector assembly ink supply container
has few parts, and the parts are made from similar materials, thus making the ink
supply easy to recycle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a connector assembly of the present invention.
[0009] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of Fig. 1 in an open, coupled
position.
[0010] Fig. 3 is a section view of the connector assembly of Fig. 1 in an closed, uncoupled
position.
[0011] Fig. 4 is a section view of the connector assembly of Fig. 1 in a open, coupled position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An interlocking connector assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention is
illustrated in Fig. 1. The connector assembly 10 connects an ink supply container
16 to a docking station 33 on an ink-jet printer (not shown). The illustrated connector
assembly 10 has an outlet assembly 12 on the ink container 16 and an inlet assembly
14 connected to the docking station 33.
[0013] In the illustrated embodiment, the supply container 16 has a container base 54, a
flexible ink bag 52, and a hard shell 50. The container base 54 is rectangular with
rounded corners and has a thickened mid-section 112, as seen in Fig. 3. The thickened
mid-section 112 has a frustum-shaped indentation 62. A bore 42 extends between the
wall of the frustum-shaped indentation 62 and the inner edge 120 of the thickened
mid-section 112 to open into the bag 52 that is attached at one end to the mid-section
112. In the preferred embodiment, the container base 54 is made from polyethylene.
[0014] The edge 114 of the container base 54 has an inwardly protruding skirt 110 over which
snap-fits the open end 118 of the shell 50.
[0015] The hard shell 50 is made from a low-cost material such as polyethylene and has an
inwardly facing annular groove 116. The shell 50 is snapped onto the container base
54 such that a ridge on the skirt 110 fits snugly into the groove 116 on the shell
50. The shell 50 protects the ink bag 52.
[0016] The ink bag 52 is attached to the thickened mid-section 112 of the container base
54 by, for example, heat-staking. Fluid can flow from the interior of the ink bag
52 through the bore 42 in the mid-section 112. The ink bag 52 is otherwise enclosed.
[0017] The outlet assembly 12 includes a valve holder 36, an outlet valve 20, and a keeper
member 18. The valve holder 36 is a projecting tube that is either integrally formed
with or attached to the container base 54 by, for example, heat-staking or ultrasonic
welding. The valve holder 36 is preferably made from polyethylene.
[0018] The outlet valve 20 is cylindrical with a frustum-shaped protrusion 56 at the center
of the inward end 64. The outlet valve 20 has an "L" shaped passageway 44 extending
from the outward end 66 of the outlet valve 20, along the axis of the outlet valve
20, and radially to the side of the frustum-shaped protrusion 56. The outward end
of the passageway 44 is countersunk, and the passageway 44 tapers slightly before
extending radially. Preferably, the outlet valve 20 is injection molded from polyethylene
and formed with a void 126 therein to facilitate even cooling of the polyethylene
and to reduce material.
[0019] The outlet valve 20 fits tightly within the valve holder 36 and is recessed therein
so as to resist rotation by hand. The frustum-shaped protrusion 56 of the outlet valve
20 fits tightly within the frustum-shaped indentation 62 in the container base 54.
[0020] When the outlet assembly 12 is not coupled to the inlet assembly 14, the outlet valve
20 is in a closed position, in which the passageway 44 is not aligned with or intersecting
the bore 42. Thus, the walls of the frustum-shaped protrusion 56 block fluid flow
from the bore 42 of the supply container 16, as shown in Fig. 3.
[0021] The outlet valve 20 is rotatable into an open position, in which the passageway 44
is aligned with the bore 42 to allow fluid flow from the supply container 16, as shown
in Fig. 4 and as will be described in greater detail below.
[0022] The outlet valve 20 also has keyways 28, of which there are three in the preferred
embodiment (Fig. 1). Each keyway 28 is a "V"-shaped notch that extends axially along
the edge of the outlet valve 20. The keyways 28 are equally spaced around the perimeter
of the outlet valve 20.
[0023] The outlet valve 20 is held in the valve holder 36 by the stationary keeper member
18. The keeper member 18 is ring-shaped and its inner diameter fits snugly around
the outer diameter of the valve holder 36. The keeper member 18 has legs 68, as best
seen in Fig. 1, extending from the outward edge 72 of the keeper member 18 inwardly
to the interior of the ring. The legs 68 have feet 70 extending radially inward and
perpendicular to the legs 68. The undersides of the feet 70 abut the outward end 66
of the outlet valve 20, thereby to hold the outlet valve 20 tightly against the frustum-shaped
indentation 62 in the container base 54.
[0024] The keeper member 18 also has two hooks 24. The hooks 24 extend radially outward
from diametrically opposed parts of the outer walls 122 and form a right angle before
extending tangential to the keeper member 18. When the outlet and inlet assemblies
12 and 14 are coupled and the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 are rotated into the
open position, the hooks 24 latch onto the inlet assembly 14 to prevent the outlet
assembly 12 from being uncoupled from the inlet assembly 14, as will become clear
below.
[0025] The inlet assembly 14 has an inlet valve 22 and a valve retainer 94. The inlet valve
22 is cylindrical with an outward flange 74 and an inward flange 76. The inward flange
76 has a frustum-shaped projection 82 centered about the axis of the inlet valve 22.
The outward flange 74 has three keys 30 extending outward therefrom and evenly spaced
about the center of the inlet valve 22. In the preferred embodiment the keys 30 are
hexagonal-shaped, although any shape that fits within the keyways 28 could be used.
[0026] When the outlet and inlet assemblies 12 and 14 are coupled, the keys 30 fit into
the keyways 28 on the outlet valve 20. Rotating the inlet valve 22 causes the keys
30 to press on the walls of the keyways 28, thereby to rotate the outlet valve 20.
Thus, the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 can be simultaneously rotated into their
open positions, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
[0027] The inlet valve 22 also has a tapered nozzle 80 extending outwardly from the outward
flange 74 along the axis of the inlet valve 22. The tip 84 of the nozzle 80 is rounded.
[0028] The inlet valve 22 also has a channel 48 extending from the tip 84 of the nozzle
80 along the axis of the inlet valve 22 to the inward flange 76 as best seen in Fig.
4. The channel 48 widens at the outward edge 86 of the outward flange 76 and tapers
until near the end 88 of the frustum-shaped projection 82. At which point, the channel
48 forms a right angle and extends perpendicular to the axis of the inlet valve 22
and opens through the side of the frustum-shaped projection 82.
[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, two elongated latches 26 extend from diametrically opposed sides
124 of the outward flange 74, parallel to the axis of the inlet valve 22. The outermost
ends of the latches 26 form a right angle to extend radially from the inlet valve
22. The latches 26 engage the hooks 24 when the inlet valve 22 and outlet valve 20
are rotated into the open position and prevent the outlet and inlet assemblies 12
and 14 from being uncoupled while the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 are open.
[0030] The inlet valve 22 also has an arm 78 extending radially from the exterior wall 90
of the inlet valve 22 as shown in Fig. 2. The perimeter 92 of the arm 78 has teeth
38 formed therein. The teeth 38 mesh with a gear 40 that is mounted to the docking
station 33. The gear 40 is driven to rotate the teeth 38, which rotate the inlet valve
22. When the inlet valve 22 is coupled with the outlet valve 20 (Fig. 4), as the inlet
valve 22 rotates, the keys 30 push against the walls of the keyways 28 to rotate the
outlet valve 20 simultaneously.
[0031] In ink-jet printers having multiple ink containers, a rack of teeth could be used
instead of the gear 40 to rotate the inlet and outlet valves on all the ink containers
at the same time. Alternatively, a bar linkage could do the same.
[0032] The inlet valve 22 is mounted to the docking station 33, as shown in Figs. 1 and
2. The docking station 33 includes the valve retainer 94 and an ink delivery tube
34. The valve retainer 94 is rectangular with a semi-circular protuberance 100. A
frustum-shaped valve seat 96 protrudes from near the center of the semi-circular protuberance
100. The valve seat 96 has a protruding duct 98 attached thereto that extends outwardly,
parallel to the axis of the valve seat 96. As shown in Fig. 3, the duct 98 is hollow
and extends from an opening 46 on the interior surface 102 of the valve seat 96 to
a distal end 104. The distal end 104 of the duct 98 is connected to the ink delivery
tube 34.
[0033] The inlet valve 22 is rotatable relative to the valve seat 96 from a closed position,
in which the channel 48 is not aligned with the opening 46 of the duct 98, as shown
in Fig. 3, to an open position, in which the channel 48 is aligned with the opening
46 to allow fluid flow through the inlet assembly 14, as shown in Fig. 4.
[0034] In the preferred embodiment, the inlet assembly 14 is recessed within the docking
station 33 so that a user cannot reach the inlet valve 22 and thus cannot manually
turn the inlet valve 22 from the closed to the open position. Preferably, the ink
container 16 protrudes only approximately one inch beyond the docking station when
coupled into the inlet assembly 14.
[0035] Additionally, it is contemplated that the connector assembly 10 could include an
electrical or mechanical switch at the docking station 33 that is triggered upon full
insertion of the supply container 16 to actuate a motor (not shown) to drive the gear
40 to rotate the inlet and outlet valves 22 and 20 into the open position.
[0036] The interlocking connector assembly 10 could be made suitable for use in ink-jet
printers using various colors or types of ink by keying the latches 26 and hooks 24
to allow insertion only of an ink container with the appropriate color or ink.
[0037] When the outlet and inlet assemblies 12 and 14 are uncoupled, both the outlet and
inlet valves 20 and 22 are in the closed position to occlude fluid flow through the
outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 as shown in Fig. 3. As noted, the tight fit and
recession of the outlet valve 20 in the valve body 36 prevent the outlet valve 20
from being rotated by hand into the open position. Similarly, the recession of the
inlet valve 22 in the docking station 33 prevents the inlet valve 22 from being rotated
by hand into the open position. Therefore, neither the outlet valve 20 nor the inlet
valve 22 can be rotated inadvertently into the open position when the outlet and inlet
assemblies 12 and 14 are uncoupled.
[0038] As the outlet assembly 12 is coupled with the inlet assembly 14, the nozzle 80 extends
into the passageway 44 in the outlet valve 20, creating a path through the channel
48 for fluid flow between the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22, but not between the
supply container 16 and the tube 34 because the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22
are still in the closed position. Also, as the outlet assembly 12 is inserted into
the inlet assembly 14, the keys 30 on the inlet valve 22 engage the keyways 28 on
the outlet valve 20. The tapered outer walls of the nozzle 80 form a seal with the
passageway 44 to prevent fluid leakage.
[0039] Once the seal is made, the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 are rotated into the
open positions, as shown in Fig. 4. This is accomplished by rotating the gear 40,
which engages the teeth 38 on the arm 78 to thereby rotate the inlet valve 22 into
the open position. The rotation of the inlet valve 22, and thereby the keys 30, causes
the simultaneous rotation of the outlet valve 20 into the open position.
[0040] Also, as the inlet valve 22 rotates, the latch 26 rotates through the same angle.
The keeper member 18 on the outlet assembly 12, and thereby the hooks 24, remains
stationary. Thus, when the inlet valve 22 is rotated into the open position, the latches
26 engage the hooks 24 so that the inside edges 106 of the latches 26 abut the side
edges 108 of the hooks 24, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. With the hooks 24 and
the latches 26 engaged, the outlet assembly 12 cannot be uncoupled from the inlet
assembly 14. Rather, the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 must be rotated to disengage
the hooks 24 and latches 26. Rotating the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 through
an angle sufficient to disengage them will close the outlet and inlet valves 20 and
22.
[0041] Thus, the hooks 24 and latches 26 prevent the outlet and inlet assemblies 12 and
14 from being uncoupled whenever the outlet and inlet valves 20 and 22 are in the
open position. This ensures that ink is not released from the ink container 16 or
from the tube 34 during uncoupling and thus prevents ink from contacting the user.
This also prevents a user from carelessly extracting the ink container 16 when either
the ink container 16 or the tube 34 has a path open for fluid flow.
[0042] Also, this invention provides an ink container that is easy to recycle. This invention
also prevents the ink from drying out because the inlet and outlet valves are always
closed when the inlet and outlet valves are uncoupled, and thus the ink is never exposed
to ambient air. This invention allows multiple couplings and uncouplings.
[0043] This description illustrates various embodiments of the present invention and should
not be construed to limit the scope thereof in any way. Other modifications and variations
may be made to the assembly described without departing from the invention as defined
by the appended claims and their equivalents.
1. A connector assembly for connecting an ink supply container to a station on an ink-jet
printer, the connector assembly comprising:
βββan outlet assembly (12) connectable to the ink container (16), the outlet assembly
including:
a keeper member (18);
an outlet valve (20) mounted for rotation relative to the keeper member into an open
position to allow ink to flow from the ink container, and into a closed position to
occlude ink flow from the container; and
an outlet latch member (24) mounted to protrude from the keeper member; and
an inlet assembly (14) mounted to the station (33) and couplable with the outlet assembly,
the inlet assembly including:
an inlet valve (22) rotatably mounted to the station and movable into an open position
to allow ink flow through the inlet valve and into a closed position to occlude ink
flow through the inlet valve; and
an inlet latch member (26) connected to the inlet valve and rotatable with the inlet
valve; and wherein the inlet and outlet latch members engage when both the outlet
assembly is coupled with the inlet assembly and the inlet valve and the outlet valve
are rotated into their open positions, so that the inlet and outlet assemblies cannot
be uncoupled when either one of the inlet valve and outlet valve is in the open position.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1 in which moving the inlet and outlet valves (22,
18) into the closed position disengages the inlet and outlet latch members (26, 24),
thereby allowing the inlet and outlet assemblies (14, 12) to be uncoupled.
3. The connector assembly of claim 1 in which the inlet assembly (14) further includes
a key (30) and the outlet assembly (12) further includes a keyway (28), the key being
insertable into the keyway to couple the motion of the inlet assembly with the motion
of the outlet assembly.
4. The connector assembly of claim 1 in which the inlet valve (22) includes teeth (38)
mounted thereon, the teeth being drivable by a gear (40) on the printer, thereby to
move the inlet valve between the open and closed positions.
5. The connector assembly of claim 1 in which the ink container (16) includes a bore
(42) and the outlet valve (20) includes a passageway (44), the bore and the passageway
being configured such that the passageway is aligned with the bore in the open position
to permit the flow of ink from the container and through the outlet valve and such
that the passageway is away from the bore in the closed position thereby to occlude
ink flow from the container.
6. The connector assembly of claim 1 in which the station (33) on the printer includes
an opening (46) and the inlet valve (22) includes a channel (48), the opening and
the channel being configured such that the channel is aligned with the opening in
the open position to permit the flow of ink through the inlet valve into the printer
station and such that the channel is away from the opening in the closed position,
thereby preventing ink flow between the inlet valve and the printer station.
7. An interlocking connector assembly for connecting an ink container to an ink-jet printer,
the connector assembly comprising:
an outlet valve (20) mounted to the ink container (16) rotatable into an open position
to allow flow from the container and into a closed position to occlude the flow from
the container, the outlet valve having a keyway (28);
an inlet valve (22) mounted to the printer and rotatable into an open position to
allow ink flow through the inlet valve into the printer and into a closed position
to occlude ink flow from the printer, the inlet valve being matable with the outlet
valve and having a key (30) insertable into the keyway on the outlet valve such that
rotation of the inlet valve into the open and closed positions causes rotation of
the outlet valve into the open and closed positions, respectively.
8. The connector assembly of claim 7 in which the inlet valve (22) includes teeth (38)
mounted thereon that can be driven by a gear (40) on the printer, whereby the inlet
valve and thereby the outlet valve (20) are rotated between the open and closed positions.
9. The connector assembly of claim 7 in which the ink container (16) has a bore (42)
through which ink may flow out of the container and in which the outlet valve (20)
has a passageway (44), the bore and passageway being configured such that the passageway
is aligned with the bore in the open position to permit the flow of ink from the container
and through the outlet valve and such that the passageway is away from the bore in
the closed position to occlude ink flow from the container.
10. The connector assembly of claim 7 in which the station (33) on the printer has an
opening (46) through which ink may flow into the printer and in which the inlet valve
(22) has a channel (48), the opening and the channel being configured such that the
channel is aligned with the opening in the open position to permit the flow of ink
through the inlet valve into the printer and such that the channel is away from the
opening in the closed position, thereby to prevent ink flow through the inlet valve.