Liquid containment and dispensing device

(19)

(11)

EP 0 870 618 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	27.12.2000 Bulletin 2000/52

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	14.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/42

(21)	Application number: 98106744.0

(22)	Date of filing: 14.04.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: B41J 2/175

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

11.04.1997 US 837040

(71)	Applicant: OWENS-ILLINOIS CLOSURE INC.
	Toledo Ohio 43666 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Kamp, David C. Grand Rapids, OH 43522 (US)

(74)	Representative: Casalonga, Axel et al
	BUREAU D.A. CASALONGA - JOSSE Morassistrasse 8 80469 München 80469 München (DE)

(54)	Liquid containment and dispensing device

(57) An ink containment and dispensing device for an ink-jet printer is provided with a main reservoir in the form of a flexible pouch (14), which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber (36) via a one-way valve (42) which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet (20), which is normally closed to prevent the flow of outward ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer. The pump has a linearly acting pumping member (18) and a flexible diaphragm that overlies the pumping member, the diaphragm being impervious to the transmission of oxygen and moisture therethrough to prevent degradation of the ink within the chamber.

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