Patent ID: 6172694
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A check valve for an ink supply line of an ink jet printing system between an ink reservoir and a inkjet printhead so as to prevent de-priming of said printhead upon said printhead being subject to impact loads, said check valve comprising a body having an inlet adapted to be connected to said ink reservoir and an outlet adapted to be connected to said printhead such that ink from said reservoir may be supplied to said printhead via said check valve, said check valve body having a chamber therewithin between said inlet and said outlet, and a check valve member within said chamber, said check valve having a flapper valve member movable between a closed position in which ink backflow from said chamber into said inlet is prevented and an open position in which ink from said inlet is substantially free to flow to said outlet and thence to said printhead, wherein the improvement comprises: said check valve member being a planar elastomeric member having an outer margin portion adapted to be mounted relative to said body, said outer margin surrounding said flapper valve, a slot separating said outer margin from said flapper valve with said flapper valve being movable relative to said outer margin between said open and closed positions, and a hinge integral with said flapper valve and with said outer margin so as to enable movement of said flapper valve from said closed position to said open position in response to ink flow to said printhead for enabling printing by said printhead and so as to enable movement of said flapper valve from said open position to said closed position in response to said printhead being subjected to impact loads thereby to minimize the tendency of said printhead to de-prime.