Patent ID: 6837577

Claim:
A regulator adapted to regulate the throughput of ink between an ink source and a print head, the regulator comprising: a pressurized chamber including an ink inlet adapted to provide fluid communication with an ink source, an ink outlet ad to provide fluid communication with a print head, and an exterior flexible film wall mounted over an opening to the pressurized chamber and having an inner surface of the exterior flexible film wall facing an interior of the pressurized chamber; and a lever including a flexible arm extending along a portion of the exterior flexible film 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 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; wherein a higher pressure differential across the exterior flexible film wall causes the exterior flexible film wall to apply a force against the flexible arm, overcoming the bias, to thereby pivot the lever to the second position, opening the ink a; wherein a lower pressure differential across the exterior flexible film wall decreases the force applied by the exterior flexible film wall against the flexible arm, succumbing to the bias, which pivots the lever back to the first position, closing the ink inlet; wherein a pressure change from the lower pressure differential to the higher pressure differential across the exterior flexible film wall increases the force applied by the exterior flexible film and flexes the flexible arm without overcoming the bias; and wherein the opening covered by the exterior flexible film wall includes a length to a width dimension ratio of abut 1:1 to about 7;1.