Patent ID: 6499838
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink supply for providing ink to a printing system, the ink supply comprising:a flexible fluid reservoir for containing a quantity of fluid; a flat spiral spring having an expanded position, and a contracted position; a housing including an interior surface and an aperture, the flexible fluid reservoir and the spring being layered and disposed within the housing; and a pressure regulator that is in fluid communication with both a printhead and the flexible fluid reservoir; wherein the spring is configured to operatively engage the flexible fluid reservoir as the spring transitions from the expanded position to the contracted position; wherein the flexible fluid reservoir is biased by the spring as the spring contracts to produce fluid at a substantially constant fluid pressure at a fluid outlet; and wherein the pressure regulator is configured to receive ink at a positive pressure from the fluid outlet and provide ink at a negative pressure to the printhead.