Ink supply device

A system and method for supplying ink can include an ink supply device with a first end and a second end located along an axis on opposite sides of the ink supply device. In an example, the first end is frustum shaped, and the second end is frustum shaped. In an example, a first ink connector can be attached to the first end. In an example, a second ink connector can be attached to the second end. In an example, a pump can be connected to the second ink connector to move ink accumulating in the second end through the second ink connector into the ink supply system.

BACKGROUND

Ink can include powdered pigments and pigments that are dissolved or suspended in a liquid. Powdered pigments and pigments that are dissolved or suspended in a liquid can settle or precipitate, respectively. Ink can be stored in a supply device and provided to a printer or other ink consumption device. In some examples, ink can be for use in three dimensional forms and during application can dispensed through a print head of a printer and supplied from an ink supply device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

As discussed above, ink can include powdered dry pigment that can settle and ink that can be dissolved or suspended in a liquid. The settling of a powdered ink or the precipitates of pigment in wet ink can make pumping or movement of the ink difficult. For example, in liquid based systems, inks with heavy pigment particles dissolved or suspended in a liquid may not be easily kept in suspension. These heavier or hard to dissolve inks can precipitate in solid form out of the liquid. These solid particles can settle over time to the bottom of an ink supply device. The settling of ink, whether dry or liquid based can challenge the movement of the ink and also change an optical density of the ink. Settling of ink can also affect an ink shelf life unless some method is used to re-disperse the settled particles and to keep them dispersed afterwards. In an example, these particles are pigment particles.

The re-agitation, re-dispersion, and unsettling of ink can include mechanical agitation of the supply using vibration generating devices. Manual agitation of the supply can include a user physically opening or manipulating an ink supply device to move the ink around. Although simple, the effort to achieve a distributed and unsettled ink result through manual agitation can be time consuming and imprecise. Mechanical or manual agitation can also cause problems with the printer being accessed and moved. Printers can be sensitive to vibration. Therefore systems with mechanical or manual agitation can use additional components, complexity, and expense to offset these and other effects.

In the present disclosure, the ink supply device and system can be designed to significantly reduce the time and effort to re-disperse a settled ink. Further, the present disclosure outlines geometry of an ink supply device to decrease time to unsettle any settled ink when compared to present ink supply devices. In an example, the ink supply device can include a double frustum. A double frustum can include two frustum shapes facing each other on their largest base in vertical orientation. The frustum shapes can be given to the ends of an ink supply device. These ends can have ink connectors on the top and bottom of the ink supply device. The ink connectors can allow ink, whether dry or liquid based, to flow from outside the ink supply device to the inside. Similarly, the ink connectors can allow ink, whether dry or liquid based, to flow from inside of the ink supply device to the outside. In an example, the ink can flow through the ink connectors when a pressure is applied to the ink by a pump. Once initially re-dispersed, optical density of ink can be maintained through the presently disclosed techniques.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an example of an ink supply system100. The schematic here includes arrows to show, in part, a direction of ink and particle flow.

The ink supply system100can include an ink supply device102. The ink supply device can include an area to hold ink. In an example, the ink from an ink supply device can be held for use in a printer104. In an example, the movement of the ink from the ink supply device102to the printer104can be, in part, due to pressure supplied by a pump106. Ink movement from an ink supply device102can also be through passive fluid flow dynamics in an ink supply system100.

A valve108can operationally sit between an ink supply device102and the printer104. The valve108can have a first position and second position. The first position first position of the valve108can be to route ink back to the ink supply device102. The second position of the valve108can be to route ink to the printer104.

The ink supply device102can have a first ink connector110and a second ink connector112. As discussed above, the first ink connector110can allow ink to flow from the valve108back to the inside of the ink supply device102. The second ink connector112can allow ink to flow from inside the ink supply device102to the valve108or printer104as a result of pressure exerted by the pump106. In an example, the pump106may not be present. In an example, movement of ink to a printer can be accomplished based on passive pressure of the ink and particles in the ink supply system100. Although the ink connectors are referred to as a first ink connector110and a second ink connector112, these ink connectors can be interchangeable with one another in certain embodiments. In an example, the ink supply device102can vertically symmetrical and the ink connectors can be bi-directional. In an example, bi-directional for ink flow through ink connectors can allow the ink supply device102to be flipped and maintain function as presently shown. Further, for ink and particles to pass through in either direction of the ink connectors a threshold pressure may be reached to enable the movement of ink. For example, if flipped, the second ink connector112could be on top and accept returning ink from the valve108. Similarly in an example, if flipped, the first ink connector110can be on bottom and allow ink, and settled particles, to flow from the bottom of the ink supply device102towards the pump106, valve108, and printer104.

The ink supply device102can have a first end114and a second end116. The second end116can be shaped to funnel settled ink towards the second ink connector112for re-circulation, re-distribution, agitation, and withdrawal for use in the printer104. In an example, the second end116can be frustum shaped. A frustum shape can be the geometric portion of a solid, like a cone or pyramid, that lies between two parallel planes cutting the solid. In an example, the plane sections of a frustum can be a floor or base of the frustum. A frustum can be circular if it has a circular base. A frustum can be rectangular if the frustum has a square base For example, if the ink supply device102has a cylindrical shape, the frustum shape of the second end116can be a conic frustum shape or a circular frustum.

The second end116of the ink supply device102can be a frustum as the frustum shape can act as a funnel for settled and settling particles. In an example, the funneling of a frustum can direct these particles towards the second ink connector112where they can be pumped or sucked from the ink supply device102. Once out of the bottom of the ink supply device102, the ink can be recirculated through the valve108back to the top of the ink supply device102. At the top of the ink supply device102, the ink can be replaced into the ink supply device in a more dispersed density. In an example, the increased dispersion of the ink can be from agitation of settled ink particles back to the top of the ink supply device102.

As discussed above, the interior shape of the first end114and the second end116can be frustum shaped, and together double frustum shaped. In an example, when a first end114and a second end116are frustum shaped, the ink supply device102can be reversed and flipped and maintain function. In a flipped ink supply device102with a double frustum, the first end114can also be at the bottom of the ink supply device102and continue to provide funneling of settled ink towards an ink connector. In an example, this interchangeability can lead to fewer incorrect installations of the ink supply device102. In another example, the ink supply device102with a frustum shaped end on the bottom of the device can decrease the amount of time it can take to re-disperse ink with settled heavy pigment particles.

Further, the re-circulation of ink back to the top of the ink supply device102can reduce the amount of space and complexity involved in re-circulation. In an example, the ink supply device102can be recirculated within itself with a pump compared to what may have previously included an ink supply with two ink holding chambers that can transfer ink contents back and forth. In an example, the use of a frustum shape in the first end114and second end116can keep the ink dispersed after the re-dispersion process using the same circulation method as described above.

In an example, the ink supply device102can be used without an interior bag for the ink. In an example, an ink supply device102without a bag can include a vent to allow pressure to equalize as ink leaves the ink supply device102for consumption by a printer104. In an example, an ink supply device102without a bag can also include a flexible middle that can collapse as ink leaves the ink supply device102for consumption including consumption by a printer104.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of an example cylindrical exterior200of an ink supply device102. Like numbered items are as described inFIG. 1.

The dashed lines that can be seen through the cylindrical exterior200of the ink supply device102can represent the first end114and the second end116. As discussed above, the frustum shape of the first end114and the second end116can be affected by the shape of the ink supply device102. In an example, when the interior of an ink supply device102matches the cylindrical exterior200, and the cylindrical exterior200is a cylinder shape, then the frustum shape can be conical.

FIG. 3is a block diagram of an example exterior of a cuboid ink supply device300with an ink bag. Like numbered items are as described inFIG. 1.

In an example, a cuboid ink supply device300with a rectangular exterior302can lead to a pyramidal frustum shape for a first end and a second end. Additionally, compared to systems that use rigid walls for holding ink and structure, an ink bag304can hold the ink and fit inside the interior of the cuboid ink supply device300to take on the frustum shaped structures of the cuboid ink supply device300.

The ink bag304can join to the second ink connector112discussed above. Joining can these two components becoming physical linked or physically connected such that ink can flow from one to the other on the inside of both. In an example, an ink bag304containing ink that is joined to a second ink connector112has a physical connection and ink can flow from the inside of the ink bag304into the second ink connector112.

In an example, the ink bag304can be flexible and can expand or contract depending on the ink inside. An ink bag304with flexibility can allow for more equal pressure to be applied to an ink while avoiding the use of a vent to an ink holding chamber. This can occur through the change in volume of the bag changing while the volume of the ink supply device may not need to change. In an example, the design of a cuboid ink supply device300can include a bag within more rigid walls of the rectangular exterior302. If the ink bag304flexes, then the ink bag can conform to the frustum shape of the first end and second end of the rigid cuboid ink supply device.

In an example, the cuboid ink supply device300can include a bag having two spouts. One of the two spouts can join to a first ink connector and can be centered on one side of the ink bag304. The second spout can join to a first ink connector and can be centered on the opposite side of the ink bag304. An ink bag304can maintain a distance between the two spouts using shaped or rigid separators to keep the shape of the cuboid ink supply device300itself.

As discussed above, the two spouts, also referred herein as ink connectors, can be can be interchanged. In an example, fluid containing the settled heavy pigment particles can be pump-drawn from the bottom suction point and returned on top return point. Use of a frustum shape can shape a flexible bag to match the shape of a hopper. This frustum shape aids the re-circulation of ink and unsettling of any heavy particles. The funneling of more settled particles can be done through the use of the ink bag304assumed hopper in a frustum shape. The shaping hopper can be used to collect the heavy pigment particles over the suction point and to prevent areas of no circulation from forming in the ink bag304.

FIG. 4is a block diagram of an example of a cross-section of a cuboid ink supply device400with an ink bag. Like numbered items are as described here and as inFIGS. 1 and 3.

As described above, the cuboid ink supply device400can include a hollow cavity formed by rigid walls of the cuboid ink supply device400. Within the cuboid ink supply device, an ink bag304with flexibility can sit on the second end116. The frustum shaped second end and frustum shaped first end are interchangeable allowing the direction of installation to be less error prone.

FIG. 5is a block diagram of an example a second end hopper500of an ink supply device. The like numbered item is as shown inFIG. 1.

The second end116using the second end hopper500can be pyramidal for cuboid ink supply devices. In an example, no ink connector may be shown for the second end ofFIG. 5. The second end116shown can be a second end hopper500to funnel an ink bag of settled particles that can be aided through recirculation and redistribution.

FIG. 6is a process flow diagram of an example method for ink circulation with an ink supply device. The method600shown here can be implemented on the systems shown inFIGS. 1-5. Process flow begins at block602.

At block602, the method600can include pumping ink from a suction point of an ink supply device. The ink supply device can include a first end and a second end aligned along an axis on opposite sides of the ink supply device. As used herein, an axis is an imaginary line that can serve as a fixed reference line for placement of components including the first end and the second end. For example, if a first end and a second end are aligned along an axis on opposite sides of the ink supply device, they may both be located in a straight line where both the first end and the second end are also centered on the imaginary line, also called the axis. The first end can be frustum shaped and can include a return point. The second end can be frustum shaped and comprises the suction point.

At block604, the method600can include returning the ink to the ink supply device through the return point. The return point can be the first ink connector as described above. In an example, the method600can include switching a position of a valve between the suction point and the return point of the ink supply device. In an example, the first position can be to route ink to the return point. In an example, the second position of the valve can be to route ink to a printer.

While the present techniques may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, the examples discussed above have been shown by way of example. It may be understood that the techniques are not intended to be limited to the particular examples disclosed herein. Indeed, the present techniques include alternatives, modifications, and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.