Rhonda L Wilson

US Patent:

6386675, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Nov 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/437769

Inventors:

Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Eric L. Gasvoda - Salem OR
Susan M. Hmelar - Berlin, DE
David O. Merrill - Corvallis OR
Dennis W. Houpt - Toledo OH
David C. Kamp - Grand Rapids OH
Thomas J. Krall - Toledo OH
Jared E. Neff - Toledo OH
William E. Fillmore - Toledo OH

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 19, 347 50, 347 86

Abstract:

An ink container for holding a supply of liquid ink for use in an inkjet printing system. The container includes a collapsible ink reservoir for holding a supply of liquid ink, and a multiple functioned chassis. The chassis rigidly supports an air inlet for receiving pressurized air from the printing system and an ink outlet for delivering pressurized ink to the system. The chassis supports a collapsible ink container by providing an attach surface over which the collapsible container is attached. The attach surface allows a relatively simple pleated bag construction to be used by providing a surface whose normal is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The chassis is adapted to engage with a pressure vessel opening, providing a seal that separates the pressure vessel from an outside atmosphere. The chassis provides a surface for outside electrical contacts along with locating means for a mating electrical connector, and provides pathways for them to be routed into the pressure vessel region. An efficient method of assembly of an ink container is described.

US Patent:

6431692, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

May 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/861107

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Thielman - St. Corvallis OR
Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Mark A. DeVries - Albany OR

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 84, 347 86

Abstract:

A packaged, degassed printer ink supply is provided, the ink supply including ink-containment vessel, a substantially degassed volume of ink contained within the ink-containment vessel, and a removable, sealable outer protective container having a low permeability to air and surrounding at least part of the ink-containment vessel to define an atmosphere between the ink-containment vessel and the outer protective container. The atmosphere between the ink-containment vessel and outer protective container is modified relative to ambient atmosphere outside of the outer protective container to decrease a diffusion rate of at least one component gas of air into the ink-containment vessel.

US Patent:

6435638, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Oct 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/698900

Inventors:

Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Jeffrey L. Thielman - Corvallis OR

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 2195

US Classification:

347 7

Abstract:

An ink container that includes an outer container, a collapsible ink reservoir disposed in the outer container, and a pressure transducer disposed in the pressure vessel for sensing ink level.

US Patent:

6454375, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Jun 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/888716

Inventors:

Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Jeffrey L. Thielman - Corvallis OR

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 2195

US Classification:

347 7, 347 85

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for measuring an approximate volume of ink remaining in a flexible bag ink supply. A signal is generated from the pressure applied to an ink supply to force ink out of the bag and the pressure of ink expelled from that ink supply. A predictable relationship is disclosed that permits an approximate volume of remaining ink to be determined based on the differential pressure signal. The use of drop counting in combination with pressure measuring is also disclosed. The apparatus and method is also applicable to non-pressurized in supplies.

US Patent:

6467861, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

May 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/574691

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Thielman - Corvallis OR
Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Paul Mark Haines - Lebanon OR
Mark A. DeVries - Albany OR

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 2938

US Classification:

347 6, 347 84, 347 85

Abstract:

An inkjet printing system includes an ink container adapted to hold a supply of liquid ink therein and a printhead communicating with the supply of liquid ink via a flow path. A pressure sensor measures a pressure of liquid ink disposed in the flow path and a volume detector detects a volume of liquid ink delivered through the flow path. In addition, a leak indicator communicates with the pressure sensor and the volume detector, and indicates an ink container leak based on the pressure of liquid ink disposed in the flow path and the volume of liquid ink delivered through the flow path.

US Patent:

6471333, Oct 29, 2002

Filed:

Apr 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/846128

Inventors:

Dan Powell - Corvallis OR
Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Elizabeth Grev - Corvallis OR
Gary Douglas Powell - Albany OR

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 49, 347 86

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention comprise containers for consumable substances, such as ink, and the corresponding receiving stations, such as inkjet printers. The containers and receiving stations have mating keying features indicative of a characteristic of the consumable substance, such as the ink family. Embodiments of the mating features include protuberances with a T-shaped cross section, and corresponding T-shaped slots. Preferred embodiments of containers and receiving stations are disclosed having two keying features with four unique orientations per feature, for a total 16 key permutations.

US Patent:

6547377, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Jan 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/758746

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Thielman - Corvallis OR
Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Mark A. DeVries - Albany OR

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 85

Abstract:

Techniques for air management in an inkjet printing systems. A method includes providing an ink supply for holding a supply of liquid ink, the ink supply including high barriers to air diffusion, filling the ink supply with a quantity of liquid unsaturated ink, storing the filled ink supply for a storage time interval or until needed, installing the ink supply in an inkjet printing system including an inkjet printhead, supplying unsaturated ink from the ink supply to the inkjet printhead for printing, and allowing the unsaturated ink to absorb air introduced into the printing system, and ejecting droplets of the liquid ink from the printing system during the printing. A semipermanent inkjet printhead for the inkjet printing system includes a printhead body with an internal plenum, a pressure regulator for regulating pressure in the plenum, a nozzle array for ejecting droplets of ink, a fluid inlet mounted to the printhead body and coupled to the plenum for connection to an ink supply path for ink delivered from a replaceable ink supply, and a supply of unsaturated ink disposed in the plenum, the unsaturated ink having an air solubility level sufficient to absorb air introduced into the printhead.

US Patent:

6585359, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Jun 4, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/868773

Inventors:

Eric L. Gasvoda - Salem OR
Susan M. Hmelar - Corvallis OR
David O. Merrill - Corvallis OR
Rhonda L. Wilson - Monmouth OR
Dennis W. Houpt - Toledo OH
David C. Kamp - Grand Rapids OH
Thomas J. Krall - Toledo OH
William E. Fillmore - Toledo OH

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 86, 347 7

Abstract:

An ink container for an off-carriage printing system including an ink supply station. The ink container contains a collapsible reservoir filled with ink that is in fluidically connectable to a conduit that leads to a pressure regulator. The outlet of the regulator delivers ink to a printhead. A pressure vessel surrounds the reservoir. The system pressurizes the pressure vessel, which results in pressurized ink being delivered to the regulator. The ink container has a sensor that infers the actual volume of ink in the reservoir by sensing the relative position of the reservoir walls. This sensor is mounted between the pressure vessel and the collapsible reservoir. The sensor is electrically connected to pads that are accessible from the outside of the ink container. Leads route from the pads, through a seal zone, and to the sensor. The seal is provided by a compressed o-ring.