Abstract:
A multi-chamber inkjet print head includes a plurality of individual print head ink chambers that share a common ink filter and are in fluid communication with an ink flow regulator. An associated method of assembling a print head base having at least two separate fluid conduit paths filtered by a single piece of filter includes the steps of: (a) positioning a single piece filter between at least two separate ink receptacles associated with a print head and at least two respective ink conduits; and (b) sealing at least two separate ink paths between the at least two separate ink receptacles associated with the print head and the at least two ink conduits, such that the single piece of filter is in concurrent fluid communication with the at least two separate ink paths.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is directed to a multi-chamber inkjet print head that includes a plurality of individual print head ink chambers that share a common ink filter and are in fluid communication with an ink flow regulator and an associated method of assembling a print head base having at least two separate fluid conduit paths filtered by a single piece of filter. 
   2. Background of the Invention 
   The trend in the printer industry is to make higher resolution images at a faster rate. To do this, printer manufacturers are striving to produce prints with more dots per inch, and to develop a better understanding of dot mixing and color matching. In the case of ink jet printers, much of the control comes from the type of spray port that delivers ink to the receiving medium. The spray ports are extremely small holes through which the ink is forced out and onto the paper. The printer manufacturers can alter the type and number of spray ports. Typical ink jet cartridges may have from approximately 30 to 200 spray ports, and the correct operation of the spray port is critical to the proper operation of the printer. It is therefore important to filter out contamination or agglomerations which may be present in the ink prior to the ink reaching the spray ports. 
   Ink can be forced out the spray ports using a number of different technologies. The ink can be pressed out by a piezoelectric element which expands with a voltage and compresses the ink, creating a pressure to force the ink from a small reservoir. Other methods for forcing the ink through the spray port are referred to as bubble jet and thermal jet techniques. 
   In ink printer systems, it is important to ensure clean delivery of the ink. If contamination clogs the spray ports, the operation of the ink cartridge is hindered. The flow of ink to the paper may be reduced and/or the plugged ports may drip. 
   The trend in the industry is to make the diameter of the spray ports even smaller to improve the resolution of the image produced. It has therefore become increasingly more important and difficult to filter out particles that may plug these smaller spray ports. 
   The most commonly used filter medium is a woven stainless steel screen. These screens can be made with a number of different strands per inch in order to create a pore size for filtration of particles larger than a predetermined size. For example, a screen having 250×1400 strands per inch (98×551 strands per cm) in a double Dutch twill weave, as available from Tetko Inc. will provide filtration for 19 micron nominal diameter and larger particles. 
   The screens used in these applications are typically stainless steel to ensure chemical compatibility with the ink. In most cases, the ink contains surfactants and/or solvents, as well as other compounds, to promote wetting of the paper or printing substrate. Furthermore, the inks may be acidic or basic. 
   One problem with stainless steel screens is that they are difficult to bond and seal to ink jet fluid throughputs. The filter material is typically heat staked to the plastic conduits/cavities of the print head base, and because of the irregular edges of the screen, a complete seal is difficult to produce. When cut into disc shapes, the woven screen has ragged edges that, if not sealed properly, can create a leak path for large particles to pass through. In some cases, the stainless steel screen is applied with an adhesive to ensure a good seal. However, this is a time consuming and costly process. 
   Further, the stainless steel screen can shed loose particles or fibers that can then contaminate or clog the spray ports. When the screen is cut, typically by die cutting, the overlapping metal strands can be pinched and broken. These small screen fragments can shed after the filter disc is adhered to the ink jet cartridge. If one of the shed strands gets downstream of the filter disc, it can clog the spray port head, creating problems with the printer. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is directed to a multi-chamber inkjet print head that includes a plurality of individual print head ink chambers that share a common ink filter and are in fluid communication with an ink flow regulator. Likewise, the invention includes an associated method of assembling a print head base having at least two separate fluid conduit paths filtered by a single piece of filter and are in fluid communication with an ink flow regulator. 
   The flow regulator includes any type of ink regulator that controls the flow of ink between the regulator and one or more nozzles via backpressure. An exemplary ink flow regulator may include a pressurized chamber, generally exhibiting negative gauge pressure therewithin, having an ink flow inlet and an ink flow outlet. A seal is biased against the ink inlet to allow selective fluid communication between the interior of the pressurized chamber and an ink source. A flexible wall, acting as a diaphragm, is integrated with a chamber wall to selectively expand outwardly from and contract inwardly towards the interior of the chamber depending upon the relative pressure differential across the flexible wall. The pressure differential depends upon the pressure of the interior of the chamber verses the pressure on the outside of the flexible wall. 
   As the flexible wall of the regulator contracts inwardly towards the interior of the chamber, it actuates a lever. The lever includes a sealing arm and an opposing flexible arm, and pivots on a fulcrum. The sealing arm includes the seal biased against the ink inlet, while the flexible arm is angled with respect to the sealing arm and includes a spoon-shaped aspect contacting the flexible wall. As the flexible wall continues contracting inward, the flexible arm flexes without pivoting the lever until the force of the wall against the flexible arm is sufficient to overcome the bias biasing the sealing arm against the inlet. When the force against the lever is sufficient to overcome the bias, the lever pivots about the fulcrum to release the seal at the ink inlet, thereby allowing ink to flow into the chamber until the pressure differential is reduced such that the bias again overcomes the reduced push created by the inward contraction of the flexible wall. 
   It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a method of securing at least one ink filter to at least two cavities operatively coupled to a print head base including the steps of: (a) positioning a single piece ink filter to span across at least two cavities operatively coupled to a print head base and adapted to supply a predetermined volume of ink to a plurality of nozzles associated with the print head base; and (b) welding the single piece ink filter to the two or more cavities. In a more detailed embodiment, a respective ink flow regulator is mounted in proximity to the single piece filter so as to be in fluid communication with each cavity. In another more detailed embodiment, a respective ink flow regulator is mounted to a filter cap that is mounted in proximity to the single piece filter such each cavity is in fluid communication with a respective ink flow regulator. 
   It is a second aspect of the present invention to provide a method of mounting a single piece ink filter to a print head base adapted to receive throughput of at least two different colored inks including the steps: (a) positioning a single piece filter between at least two separate ink receptacles associated with a print head and at least two respective ink conduits; and (b) sealing at least two respective ink paths between the two or more separate ink receptacles associated with the print head and the two or more ink conduits, such that the single piece of filter is in concurrent fluid communication with the two or more separate ink paths. In a more detailed embodiment, the single piece filter is shaped to be received within the two or more separate ink receptacles coupled to the print head. In another more detailed embodiment, an ink conduit extends from each of the two or more separate ink receptacles coupled to the print head. In an additional detailed embodiment, the two or more ink conduits include a filter cap having at least two respective individual inputs for at least two closed ink paths. In yet another detailed embodiment, the sealing step includes welding the two or more respective ink conduits to either the single piece filter or the print head base. In still a further detailed embodiment, the two or more separate ink receptacles include two or more respective recesses in the print head base. 
   It is a third aspect of the present invention to provide a multi-chamber inkjet print head having a plurality of individual print head ink chambers having a common ink filter. In a more detailed embodiment, the plurality of individual print head ink chambers are adapted to receive at least three colors of ink isolated from one another. In a more detailed embodiment, the plurality of individual print head ink chambers are each in fluid communication with a respective individual fluid regulator. In yet another detailed embodiment, an ink filter cap spans the plurality of individual print head ink chambers and is adapted to be operatively coupled to at least one of an ink source, the outlet of an ink regulator, and an ink conduit. In still a more detailed embodiment, a pressurized chamber includes (a) an ink inlet adapted to provide fluid communication with an ink source; (b) an ink outlet adapted to provide fluid communication with a print head; (c) at least one exterior flexible wall having an inner surface facing an interior of the pressurized chamber; (d) a lever including a first arm extending along a portion of the exterior flexible wall and an opposing arm operatively coupled to a seal, the seal closing the ink inlet when the lever is in a first position and to opening the ink inlet to allow fluid communication between the ink inlet and the pressurized chamber when the lever is pivoted to a second position, the lever being biased to the first position, where a higher pressure differential across the exterior flexible wall causes the exterior flexible wall to apply force against the first arm contacting the exterior flexible wall, overcoming the bias, to thereby pivot the lever to the second position, opening the ink inlet, where a lower pressure differential across the exterior flexible wall causes the force applied by the exterior flexible wall against the first arm contacting the exterior flexible wall to weaken, succumbing to the bias, which pivots the lever back to the first position, closing the ink inlet, and where a pressure change from the lower pressure differential to the higher pressure differential across the exterior flexible wall causes the force applied by the exterior flexible wall to increase without overcoming the bias. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional, schematic, first stage representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional, schematic, second stage representation of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional, schematic, third stage representation of the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is perspective, cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an overhead perspective view of a lever component of the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an underneath perspective view of the lever component of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the embodiment similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 4–7  mounted within an ink cartridge; 
       FIG. 9  is an elevated perspective, cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of an additional exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is an isolated overhead view of the ink outlet of the embodiments of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is an isolated cross-sectional view of the ink outlet of the embodiments of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
       FIG. 13  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the embodiment similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 9 and 10  mounted horizontally within an ink cartridge; 
       FIG. 14  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the embodiment similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 9 and 10  mounted vertically within an ink cartridge; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective, exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention representing an ink cartridge with multiple ink reservoirs and respective ink regulators according to the present invention provided therein; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective overhead view of another embodiment of the present invention representing an ink cartridge with multiple ink reservoirs and respective ink regulators according to the present invention provided therein; and 
       FIG. 17  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention incorporating a single piece ink filter; and 
       FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate exemplary embodiment incorporating a single piece ink filter. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below as ink regulators and/or ink cartridges (reservoirs) utilizing such regulators, for regulating the volumetric flow of ink between an ink source and a point of expulsion, generally encompassing a print head. The various orientational, positional, and reference terms used to describe the elements of the inventions are therefore used according to this frame of reference. Further, the use of letters and symbols in conjunction with reference numerals denote analogous structures and functionality of the base reference numeral. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the preferred embodiments may also be used in combination with one or more components to produce a functional ink cartridge for an inkjet printer. In such a case, the orientational or positional terms may be different. However, for clarity and precision, only a single orientational or positional reference will be utilized; and, therefore it will be understood that the positional and orientational terms used to describe the elements of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are only used to describe the elements in relation to one another. For example, the regulator of the exemplary embodiments may be submerged within an ink reservoir and positioned such that the lengthwise portion is aligned vertically therein, thus effectively requiring like manipulation with respect to the orientational explanations. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–3 , an ink regulator  10  for regulating the volumetric flow of ink traveling between an ink source  12  and a print head in fluid communication with an ink outlet  14  generally includes: a pressurized chamber  16  including an ink inlet  18  in fluid communication with the ink source  12 , the ink outlet  14  in fluid communication with the print head, and at least one flexible wall  22  or diaphragm; and a lever  24 , pivoting on a fulcrum  20 , including a flexible arm  26  having a spoon-shaped end  28  extending along a portion of the flexible wall  22  (diaphragm) and an opposing arm  30  operatively coupled to an inlet sealing member  32 . The lever  24  is pivotable between a first position as shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the sealing member  32  presses against the ink inlet  18  to close the ink inlet, to a second position as shown in  FIG. 3 , in which the sealing member  32  is moved away from the ink inlet  18  to open the ink inlet and allow fluid communication between the ink inlet and the pressurized chamber  16 . The lever  24  is biased (as shown by arrow A) to be in the first position, closing the ink inlet  18 . The pressure within the pressurized chamber is set to be lower than that of the ambient pressure (shown by arrow B) outside of the flexible wall/diaphragm  22 ; and, as long as the ink inlet  18  remains closed, the pressure differential along the flexible wall will increase as ink flows through the outlet  14  to the print head. Consequently, a lower pressure differential across the flexible wall  22  causes the flexible wall  22  to expand/inflate and, thereby, pull the spoon-shaped end  28  of the flexible arm  26  contacting the flexible wall to pivot the lever  24  to the first position (closing the ink inlet in  FIG. 1 ). Actually, the bias (represented by arrow A) causes the lever  24  to pivot when the flexible wall  22  no longer applies sufficient force against the spoon-shaped end  28  of the flexible arm to overcome the bias. A higher pressure differential across the flexible wall  22  causes the flexible wall to contract/deflate and, thereby, actuate the flexible arm contacting the flexible wall  22  so as to pivot the lever  24  to the second position (opening the ink inlet  18  as shown in  FIG. 3 ), overcoming the bias (represented by arrow A). Also, when the pressure differential increases from the lower pressure differential to the higher pressure differential across the flexible wall  22  (resulting from ink flowing from the chamber  16  to the print head), the flexible wall  22  is caused to begin contracting/deflating and, thereby, actuate and flex the flexible arm  26  without causing the lever  24  to substantially pivot (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
   The regulator will typically function in a cyclical process as shown in  FIGS. 1–3 . Referencing  FIG. 1 , the regulator is mounted to an ink outlet  14 , such as a print head, and the inlet  18  is in fluid communication with an ink source  12 . Generally, the contents of the chamber  16  will be under a lower pressure than the surrounding atmosphere (represented by Arrow B), thereby creating “back pressure” within the chamber  16 . At this stage, the chamber  16  contains a certain amount of ink therein and the closed seal  32  prohibits ink from entering the chamber from the ink source  12 , as the pressure differential across the flexible wall  22  is relatively low. The flexible wall  22  is in contact with the spoon-shaped end  28  of the lever&#39;s flexible arm  28 . The lever is also biased (by a spring, for example) in this closed orientation. 
   Referencing  FIG. 2 , as ink continues to leave the chamber  16 , the pressure within the chamber  16  begins to decrease, which, in turn, causes the pressure differential across the flexible wall  22  to increase (assuming the pressure on the outside of the flexible wall remains relatively constant). This increasing pressure differential causes the flexible wall  22  to begin to contract/deflate. Because the flexible wall  22  is in contact with the spoon-shaped end portion  28  of the lever&#39;s flexible arm  26 , this contraction/deflation of the flexible wall causes the lever to flex, but not substantially pivot since the force of the flexible wall against the lever&#39;s flexible arm is not yet strong enough to overcome the bias. 
   Referencing  FIG. 3 , as ink continues to leave the chamber  16  and further increase the pressure differential across the flexible wall, the flexible wall  22  will contract/deflate to an extent that the inward pressure of the flexible wall against the flexible arm  26  of the lever overcomes the static force of the bias to pivot the lever  24  to its open position, thereby releasing the seal between the seal  32  and the ink inlet  18 . 
   Thus, the bias and the properties of the lever enable the lever  24  to flex first, and thereafter when the amount of force applied to the lever is greater than the force applied by the spring to bias the lever closed, the lever pivots. This relatively high pressure differential between the contents of the chamber and the environment causes ink from the higher pressure ink source to pour into the chamber. The incoming volume of ink reduces the pressure differential such that the flexible wall expands outward from the chamber (inflating) to arrive again at the position as shown in  FIG. 1 , thus starting the three part cycle over again. 
     FIGS. 4–7  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the regulator  10 ′ for regulating volumetric flow of ink traveling between an ink source (not shown) and a print head in fluid communication with an ink outlet  14 ′. As introduced above, the regulator  10 ′ includes a pressurized chamber  16 ′ having an ink inlet  18 ′ in fluid communication with the ink source and the ink outlet  14 ′, which is in fluid communication with the print head (not shown). In this exemplary embodiment, the pressurized chamber  16 ′ is formed by an injection molded base  34  having a floor  36 , a pair of elongated opposing side walls  38  and a pair of elongated opposing end walls  40  which collectively form a generally rectangular top opening bounded by the four interior walls. The elongated side walls each include a pair of vertical ribs forming a bearing seat for receiving bearing pins  42  of the lever  24 ′, thereby forming the lever&#39;s fulcrum  20 ′. 
   The floor  36  includes a generally cylindrical orifice forming the ink outlet  14 ′ and a generally oval orifice  44  over which the flexible wall/diaphragm  22 ′ is mounted. A pair of perpendicular, diametrical spring supports  46  (forming a cross) are positioned within the cylindrical channel of the outlet  14 ′, where the central hub of the cross formed by the pair of diametrical supports  46  extends upwardly to form an axial projection for seating a spring  50  thereabout. Circumferentially arranges gaps  49  between the supports  46  provide fluid communication between the chamber  16 ′ and the ink outlet  14 ′ (see  FIG. 5 ). The spring  50  provides the bias represented by arrow A in  FIGS. 1–3 . 
   The lever  24 ′ includes a strip of spring metal  52  with a spoon-shaped first end  28 ′ and an encapsulated second end  54 . The spoon-shaped end  28 ′ is angled with respect to the encapsulated end  54 . The encapsulated end  54  is encapsulated by a block  56  of plastic material where the block  56  includes the pair of bearing pins  42  extending axially outward along the pivot axis of the fulcrum  20 ′; and also includes a counter-bored channel  58  extending therethrough for seating an elastomeric sealing plug  60  therein. The strip  52  of spring metal also includes a hole  62  extending therethrough that is concentric with the channel  58  in the encapsulated body  56  for accommodating the sealing plug  60 . The plug  60  includes a disk-shaped head  64  and an axial stem  66  extending downwardly therefrom. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the plug  60  is axially aligned with the spring  50 , and the encapsulated body  56  is seated within the spring  50  by a dome-shaped, concentric projection  68  extending downwardly from the encapsulated body. The spring metal construction of the strip  52  provides the flexibility of the arm  26 ′ described above with respect to  FIGS. 1–3 . 
   The base  34  is capped by a plastic lid  70  having a generally rectangular shape matching that of the rectangular opening formed by the elongated side walls  38  and end walls  40  of the base  34 . The lid  70  has a generally planar top surface with the exception of a generally conical channel extending there through to form the inlet  18 ′ of the pressurized chamber  16 ′. The lower side of the lid  70  includes a series of bases or projections  72  for registering the lid on the base  34 . In an alternate embodiment, the lid may include a cylindrical tube (coupled to element  71  of  FIG. 8 , for example), aligned with the inlet  18 ′ forming a hose coupling. The lid  70 , of course, is mounted to the body  34  to seal the chamber  16 ′ there within. 
   The flexible wall  22 ′ is preferably a thin polymer film attached around the outer edges of the oval opening  44  extending through the floor  36  of the base  34 . The area of the film  22 ′ positioned within the opening  44  is larger than the area of the opening  44  so that the flexible film  22 ′ can expand outwardly and contract inwardly with the changes of the pressure differential between the pressurized chamber  16 ′ and the outer surface  74  of the film (where the pressure on the outer surface  74  of the film may be ambient pressure, pressure of ink within and ink reservoir, etc.). 
   Assembly of the regulator includes providing the base  34 ; positioning the spring  50  on the seat  48 ; positioning the pins  42  of the lever  24 ′ within the bearing seats formed in the elongated side walls  38  of the base  34  and seating the dome  68  on the spring  50  such that the spoon-shaped end  28 ′ of the lever contacts the inner surface  76  of the flexible wall  22 ′; and mounting the lid  70  thereover so as to seal the pressurized chamber  16  therein. Operation of the regulator  10 ′ is as described above with respect to the regulator  10  of  FIGS. 1–3 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the regulator  10 ′ may be mounted within an ink reservoir  78  of an ink cartridge  80 , having a print head  82 . The outlet  14 ′ of the regulator  10 ′ is coupled to an inlet  84  of the ink filter cap  122  (that is operatively coupled to the print head  82 ) by an adapter  85 . The adapter  85  is mounted to the regulator outlet  14 ′ and circumscribes a seal  87  that provides a fluidic seal between the adapter  85  and the ink filter cap  122 . An collar  86  circumscribes the adapter  85  for additional support. A siphon hose (not shown) provides fluid communication between the lowest point  88  of the reservoir  78  and the hose coupling  71 , which is in fluid communication with the regulator&#39;s ink inlet  18 ′. In this embodiment, pressure provided against the outer surface  74  of the flexible wall  22 ′ will be the pressure within the ink reservoir  78 . 
     FIGS. 9–12  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the regulator  10 A for regulating the volumetric flow of ink traveling between an ink source (not shown) and a print head (not shown) in fluid communication with an ink outlet  14 A. The regulator  10 A includes a majority of the same structural features of the regulator  10 ′ (See  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) discussed above, and may utilize the same lever mechanisms as described above (See  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). However, the regulator  10 A of this exemplary embodiment includes a cylindrical opening  73  in the floor  36 A in fluid communication that abuts a smaller diameter cylindrical ink outlet  14 A (smaller with respect to the cylindrical opening  73 ), thereby allowing throughput of ink from the pressurized chamber  16 A by way of the ink outlet  14 A. 
   The cylindrical opening  73  in the floor  36 A includes a spring seat  75  for seating the lower portion of the spring  50 A therein. The spring seat  75  includes a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the walls of the cylindrical opening  73  that provide substantially L-shaped ribs  77  (four in this exemplary embodiment) in elevational cross-section. The vertical portion of the L-shaped ribs  77  tapers and transitions inward toward the interior walls to provide a relatively smooth transition between the rib surfaces potentially contacting the spring  50 A and the interior walls of the cylindrical opening  73 . The horizontal portion of the L-shaped rib  77  provides a plateau upon which the spring  50 A is seated thereon. The tapered portions of the ribs  77  work in conjunction to provide a conical guide for aligning the spring  50   a  within the spring seat  75 . 
   In assembling this exemplary embodiment, the tapered portion of the L-shaped ribs  77  effectively provides a conical guide for aligning the spring  50 A within the spring seat  75 . In other words, the L-shaped ribs  77  within the cylindrical opening  73  provides ease in assembly as the spring  50 A is placed longitudinally approximate the throughput  79  and becomes gravitationally vertically aligned within the opening  73 , thereby reducing the level of precision necessary to assembly this exemplary embodiment. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 13–14 , the regulator  10 A may be mounted within an ink reservoir  78 A of an ink cartridge  80 A operatively coupled to a print head  82 A. The ink outlet  14 A of the regulator  10 A includes an annular groove  89  on the outer circumferential surface of the outlet stem that is adapted to mate with a corresponding annular protrusion  91  of an adapter  93  to provide a snap fit therebetween. The adaptor  93  extends from, or is coupled to the inlet of the print head  82 . The above-described coupling mechanism can thus be used to orient the regulator  10 A in a generally vertical manner as shown in  FIG. 14 , or a generally horizontal manner as shown in  FIG. 13 . To ensure a sealed fluidic interface is provided between the outlet  14 A of the regulator  10 A and the adapter  93 , an O-ring  95  or analogous seal is circumferentially arranged about the ink outlet  14 A radially between the outlet stem and the adaptor  93 . Upon snapping the regulator  10 A into place so that the annular groove  89  receives the protrusion  91  of the adapter  93 , the O-ring  95  is compressed, resulting in a radial compression seal between the adapter  93  and the ink outlet  14 A. 
   A siphon hose (not shown) may be operatively coupled to the ink inlet  18 A to by way of the hose coupling  71 A to provide fluid communication between a lower ink accumulation point  88 A of the reservoir  78 A and the ink inlet  18 A. While the above exemplary embodiments have been described and shown where the coupling adapter  93  is integrated into, and functions concurrently as a filter cap for the print head  82 , it is also within the scope and spirit of the present invention to provide an adapter that is operatively mounted in series between a filter cap of the print head  82  and the regulator  10 A. 
   As shown in  FIG. 15 , another second exemplary embodiment of the present invention representing a multi-color print head assembly  90  with three ink sources (not shown) and three respective ink regulators  10 ″ for controlling the volumetric flow of colored inks from the respective ink sources to the tri-color print head  92 . Generally, a simple three-color print head will include ink sources comprising yellow colored ink, cyan colored ink, and magenta colored ink. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide multi-color print head assemblies having two or more ink sources, as well as single color print head assemblies. Thus, this exemplary embodiment provides a compact regulation system accommodating multi-color printing applications. For purposes of brevity, reference is had to the previous exemplary embodiments as to the general functionality of the individual regulators  10 ″. 
   The print head assembly  90  includes a multi-chamber body  34 ″, a top lid  70 ″ having three inlet hose couplings  71 ″ for providing fluid communication with the three ink sources, three levers  24 ″, three springs  50 ″, a seal  92 , three filters  94 , a nose  96 , and the tri-color print head heater chip assembly  101 . Each chamber  16 ″ is generally analogous to the chamber described in the previous exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 15  provides a view of the vertical ribs  98  provided on the elongated side walls  38 ″, and optionally on the underneath side of the top lid  70 ″, providing the bearing seats for the bearing pins  42 ″ of the levers  24 ″ as discussed above with respect to the above exemplary embodiments. Further, each chamber includes internal bearing seats, an opening accommodating inward movement of the flexible wall (not shown), and a spring guide (not shown). Likewise, each lever  24 ″ is analogous to that described in the above exemplary embodiment. 
   Referencing  FIGS. 16 and 17 , three of the regulators  10 ′ are housed within respective ink reservoirs  100 ,  102  and  104  contained within a multi-color printer ink cartridge  106 . The regulators  10 ′ are generally oriented in a vertical fashion with the ink inlets  18 ′ and ink outlets  14 ′ positioned toward the bottom of the respective reservoirs, and the spoon-shaped ends  28 ′ of the levers  24 ′ directed upwards. Each of the regulators  10 ′ includes an adapter  107  that mounts the outlet  14 ′ of the regulator to the filter cap  122 . The ink filter cap  122  is operatively coupled to the print head  108 . Each adapter  107  circumscribes a seal  109  that maintains a sealed fluidic interface between the outlet  14 ′ of the regulator and the inlet  84  of the ink filter cap  122 . In such an arrangement it is possible for each of the three respective regulators to function independently of one another, and thus, the fluid level within one of the respective reservoirs has no bearing upon the functional nature of the regulators in the opposing reservoirs. It should also be noted that each of the regulators may include a siphon/hose providing fluid communication between the fluid inlet  18 ′ and the floor of the respective fluid reservoirs, such that the lower pressure within the fluid regulator is able to draw in almost all of the fluid within a respective chamber. Each of the respective reservoirs provides an individual fluid conduit to the multi-color print head  108  while functioning independent of whether or not the respective regulator is submerged completely within ink, partially submerged within ink or completely surrounded by gas. It should also be understood that this exemplary embodiment could easily be adapted to provide two or more individual fluid reservoirs by simply isolating each respective reservoir having its own individual fluid regulator contained therein and operatively coupled to the regulator such that the ink flow from the reservoir must be in series or must go through the regulator before exiting the respective reservoir. 
   As shown in  FIG. 18 , the fluid regulator  10 ″ of the present invention may be in positioned to be in fluid communication with one or more ink chambers  120 ,  122 ,  124  associated with the print head base  126  that are in fluid communication with one or more nozzles (not shown) to regulate the flow of ink between the fluid regulator  10 ″ and the point at which the ink is ejected from the nozzles. In this exemplary embodiment, a single piece of filter material  128  spans more than one of the individual chambers  120 ,  122 ,  124  to provide filtration of the ink between the ink regulator  10 ″ and the individual chambers without necessitating individual ink filters associated with each chamber. Assembly of this exemplary embodiment includes heating the walls  132  and pushing the single piece of filter  128  downward into the walls  132  of the print head base  126  to seat the ink filter within the walls. It is preferred to seat the ink filter  128  within the walls such that the wall material seeps through the ink filter  128  and encapsulates the ink filter forming a wetting ring on top of the ink filter. The fluid regulators  10 ″ or a gasket  130  may be mounted to this wetting ring to provide a sealed fluid interface. In either instance, a sealed fluid system may be attained. 
   Referencing  FIG. 19 , an alternate exemplary embodiment, includes an ink filter cap  134  sandwiching the single piece of filter material  128 ′ between the walls  132 ′ of the print head base  126 ′. In this alternate exemplary embodiment, the ink filter cap  134  is seated upon a wetting ring formed as a result of pressing the single piece of filter material  128 ′ on top of the walls  132 ′ of the respective ink chambers  120 ′,  122 ′ associated with the print head base  126 ′. As stated above, the wetting ring (not shown) provides a fluidic seal interface for the filter cap  134  to be bonded thereto to exclude fluid contamination across the respective fluid inlets  140 ,  142  representing generally a two color system. 
   It is also within the scope and spirit of the present invention to mount one or more of the individual fluid regulators  10 ″ of  FIG. 18  to the respective ink inlets  140 ,  142  of the ink filter cap  134 . It is further within the scope and spirit of the present invention to sandwich the gasket  130  between the fluid regulators  10 ″ and the ink filter cap  134 . Likewise, it is within the scope of the invention to provide more than two fluid inlets. It is even further within the scope and spirit of the present invention for the gasket  130  to include O-rings that may be compressed in a radial and/or an axial direction. 
   It is also within the scope and spirit of the present invention to omit the one or more of the individual fluid regulators  10 ″ of  FIG. 18  and provide one or more ink reservoirs being in fluid communication with the respective ink inlets  140 ,  142 ,  144  of the ink filter cap  134 . Such ink reservoirs may include foam regulators or be operatively coupled to other pressure manipulation sources. 
   The single piece filter invention may utilize a laser welding process that simplifies the machining and process steps by which filters are attached to the print head base, print head cartridge, or ink cartridge. Aligning a single component, as opposed to multiple components attributable to each ink chamber, brings about such a simplification in the size of each filter alone. Likewise, the single piece filter invention may make use of a technique, laser welding, which is capable of orienting the respective components to be bound together before the very bonding has started to occur. Still further, the single piece filter is less expensive to produce and less complicated to assemble than prior art counterparts. 
   Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the inventions contained herein are not limited to these precise embodiments and that changes may be made to them without departing from the scope of the inventions as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are to be incorporated into the meanings of the claims unless such limitations or elements are explicitly listed in the claims. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.