阅读说明：本技术 密封件移除结构 (Seal removal structure ) 是由 杰夫·卢克 肖恩·丹尼尔·菲茨杰拉德 马修·拉维涅 迪恩·里希特斯迈尔 于 2018-05-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种密封件移除结构可以包括壳体和刺穿构件。壳体可以具有第一端部和第二端部。第一端部可以被配置为接纳供应流体容器的供应导管,并且第二端部可以被设定尺寸为接纳容器装置的接纳导管。此外,刺穿构件可以设置在第一端部内以在供应导管被第一端部接纳时穿透供应导管的密封件。此外,在供应导管被第一端部接纳时,当供应导管或刺穿构件旋转时,刺穿构件可以从供应导管切开密封件的至少一部分。(A seal removal structure may include a housing and a piercing member. The housing may have a first end and a second end. The first end may be configured to receive a supply conduit of a supply fluid container, and the second end may be sized to receive a receiving conduit of a container device. Further, a piercing member may be disposed within the first end to penetrate the seal of the supply conduit when the supply conduit is received by the first end. Further, when the supply conduit is received by the first end, the piercing member may cut at least a portion of the seal from the supply conduit as the supply conduit or piercing member is rotated.)

1. A seal removal structure comprising:

a housing comprising a first end of a supply conduit to receive a supply fluid container and a second end of a receiving conduit to receive a container device; and

a piercing member disposed within the first end to (i) penetrate a seal of the supply conduit when the supply conduit is received by the first end, and (ii) cut at least a portion of the seal from the supply conduit when the supply conduit or the piercing member is rotated when the supply conduit is received by the first end.

2. The seal removal structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a conduit extending from the first end to the second end.

3. The seal removal structure according to claim 2, further comprising:

a rotatable component positioned within the conduit of the housing, wherein the rotatable component comprises a conduit and the piercing member.

4. The seal removal structure according to claim 2, further comprising:

a shelf structure positioned within the conduit of the housing, wherein the shelf structure comprises the piercing member.

5. The seal removal structure of claim 2, wherein the conduit of the housing further comprises a retention feature to secure the supply conduit of the supply fluid container.

6. The seal removal structure of claim 5, wherein the retention feature comprises a threaded member.

7. The seal removal structure of claim 1, wherein the receiving conduit comprises a port and the fluid container device is a fluid ejection device.

8. The seal removal structure of claim 7, wherein the fluid ejection device comprises a receiving fluid container, and wherein a receiving conduit extends from the port to a fluid reservoir that receives the fluid container.

9. A fluid ejection device, comprising:

receiving a catheter;

a receiving fluid container including a retaining structure providing a fluid reservoir;

a seal removal structure comprising:

a housing comprising a first end to receive a supply conduit of a supply fluid container and a second end to receive the receiving conduit; and

a piercing member disposed within the first end to (i) penetrate a seal of the supply conduit when the supply conduit is received by the first end, and (ii) cut at least a portion of the seal from the supply conduit when the supply conduit or the piercing member is rotated when the supply conduit is received by the first end.

10. The fluid ejection device of claim 9, wherein the seal removal structure comprises:

a conduit extending from the first end to the second end.

11. The fluid ejection device of claim 10, wherein the seal removal structure further comprises:

a rotatable component positioned within the conduit of the housing, wherein the rotatable component comprises a conduit and the piercing member.

12. The fluid ejection device of claim 10, wherein the seal removal structure further comprises:

a shelf structure positioned within the conduit of the housing, wherein the shelf structure comprises the piercing member.

13. The fluid ejection device of claim 9, wherein the receiving conduit extends from the fluid reservoir of the receiving fluid container.

14. The fluid ejection device of claim 9, wherein a receptacle comprises a port that engages with the second end of the seal removal structure.

15. The fluid ejection device of claim 9, wherein the conduit of the housing further comprises a retention feature to secure the supply conduit of the supply fluid container in a first position.

16. The fluid ejection device of claim 15, wherein the retention feature comprises a threaded member.

17. A fluid-receiving container comprising:

a retention structure providing a fluid reservoir;

a seal removal structure comprising:

a housing comprising a first end of a supply conduit to receive a supply fluid container and a second end of a receiving conduit to receive a container device; and

a piercing member disposed within the first end to (i) penetrate a seal of the supply conduit when the supply conduit is received by the first end, and (ii) cut at least a portion of the seal from the supply conduit when the supply conduit or the piercing member is rotated when the supply conduit is received by the first end.

18. The receiving fluid container of claim 17, wherein the seal removal structure comprises:

a conduit extending from the first end to the second end.

19. The receiving fluid container of claim 18, wherein the seal removal structure further comprises:

a rotatable component positioned within the conduit of the housing, wherein the rotatable component comprises the piercing member.

20. The receiving fluid container of claim 15, wherein the conduit of the housing further comprises a retaining feature to secure the supply conduit of the supply fluid container in a first position, and wherein the retaining feature comprises a threaded member.

Background

The fluid ejection device can include a fluid storage component. In some examples, the fluid storage component may store ink. In other examples, these fluid storage components may store toner. In such an example, the fluid storage component may be fillable.

Disclosure of Invention

Examples provide a seal removal structure having a housing and a piercing member that can mitigate or prevent spillage of fluid material (e.g., ink or toner) during transfer of the fluid material from a supply container to a container device. In some examples, the housing may include a first end of the supply conduit to receive the supply container, and a second end of the receiving conduit to receive the container device. Further, the piercing member may penetrate the seal of the supply conduit when the supply conduit is received by the first end. Further, the piercing member may cut or cut at least a portion of the seal as the supply conduit or piercing member is rotated when the supply conduit is received by the first end. In some examples, the piercing member may form a sufficiently long cut in the seal to form a flap (flap). In that way, the weight of the fluid material in the supply container may cause the valve flap to open and allow the fluid material to enter the container apparatus from the supply container.

As the described examples recognize, the seal-removing structure may cause a fluid or material to pass through the sealing conduit of the fluid container before the seal-removing structure and the sealing conduit are engaged, without first removing the seal of the sealing conduit.

Description of the System

Fig. 1A-1C illustrate an example seal removal structure for mating a supply container to a container device. As shown in the example of fig. 1A, the seal-removal structure 100 may be provided as a separate structure, and the seal-removal structure 100 may be coupled to the containment device 120 or integrated with the containment device 120 to facilitate the transfer of fluid material from the supply vessel 110 to the containment device 120.

According to an example, containment device 120 includes any device configured to receive, hold, and use a fluid material, where the fluid material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, or solid when delivered. Supply vessel 110 may correspond to any vessel that holds a fluid material for supply vessel arrangement 120. In an example, the container device 120 may correspond to an ink cartridge, and the supply container 110 may supply a liquid fluid material in the form of ink. In a variation, the container device 120 may correspond to a toner cartridge, and the supply container 110 may supply a solid (e.g., fine powder) fluid material in the form of toner.

Fig. 1A illustrates an example cross-sectional view of a seal removal structure. As shown, the seal-removal structure 100 may include a housing 102 and a piercing member 108. The seal removal structure 100 may include a first end 104 and a second end 106. In some examples, the thickness of the housing 102 may define an opening at the first end 104 and an opening at the second end 106. In such an example, the seal removal structure 100 may include a conduit extending from an opening of the first end 104 to an opening of the second end 106. Further, the opening of the first end 104 may be sized to receive the supply conduit 112 of the supply vessel 110, and the opening of the second end 106 may be sized to receive the receiving conduit 122 of the container apparatus 120. In such an example, the opening of the first end 104 may be sized larger than the supply conduit 112 and the opening of the second end 106 may be sized larger than the receiving conduit 122 of the containment device 120.

The piercing member 108 may be supported at a depth distance within the conduit extending from the first end 104 to the second end 106. For example, the piercing member 108 may extend from the opening of the first end 104 a depth distance such that the piercing member 108 may penetrate the seal 114 of the supply conduit 112 when the supply conduit 112 is received by the first end 104. In some examples, the piercing member 108 may extend from an inner surface of the conduit to engage the seal 114 of the supply conduit 112.

As described, the seal removal structure 100 may enable the supply vessel 110 to mate with the containment device 120 in the following manner: the seal 114 of the supply vessel 110 is enabled to be removed by a user performing an action (e.g., a twisting action) or a series of actions (e.g., a series of twisting actions) to mate the supply vessel 110 with the container device 120. In this way, the seal removal structure 100 may remove the seal 114 of the supply vessel 110 after the supply vessel 110 and the containment device 120 are aligned and physically engaged. This allows removal of the seal 114 of the supply vessel 110 to accompany the delivery of the fluid material along the respective conduits (e.g., the supply conduit 112 and the receiving conduit 122) of the containment device 120 and the supply vessel 110. Among other benefits, the use of the seal removal structure 100 may prevent spillage that would otherwise result in having to remove the seal from the supply container before the user aligns and couples the supply container to the container device. As described herein, any fluid material (e.g., ink or toner) may pass through the seal-removing structure 100 (e.g., through a conduit of the seal-removing structure 100).

Fig. 1B and 1C illustrate example top and bottom views of the seal removal structure 100 of fig. 1A. Fig. 1B illustrates an example top view of the seal removal structure of fig. 1A or a top view of the first end 104. As shown in fig. 1B, the seal-removal structure 100 includes a housing 102 and a piercing member 108. In some examples, the seal removal structure 100 may include a conduit extending from the first end 104 to the second end 106. Such a catheter, catheter 130, is illustrated in FIG. 1B. Fig. 1C illustrates an example bottom view of the seal removal structure of fig. 1A or a bottom view of the second end 106. As shown in fig. 1C, the seal removal structure 100 includes a housing 102 and a conduit 130.

In some examples, the seal removal structure may include a shelf structure within the conduit of the housing of the seal removal structure to which the piercing member may be coupled. Fig. 2 illustrates an example seal removal structure having a shelf structure. As illustrated in fig. 2, the seal removal structure 200 may include a housing 202, a conduit 204, a shelf structure 208, wherein a piercing member 260 is attached to the shelf structure 208.

As illustrated in fig. 2, the housing 202 may include a first end 210 and a second end 212. Further, the thickness of the housing 202 may define an opening at the first end 210 and an opening at the second end 212, wherein the conduit 204 extends from the opening of the first end 210 to the opening of the second end 212. The opening at the first end 210 may be sized to receive a supply conduit of a supply container and the opening at the second end 212 may be sized to receive a receiving conduit of a container device. In some examples, the opening at the first end 210 may be sized larger than the supply conduit of the supply container, and the opening at the second end 212 may be sized larger than the receiving conduit of the container device.

A shelf structure 208 with piercing members 206 may be positioned within the conduit 204. In some examples, the shelf structure 208 with the piercing member 206 may be at a depth distance below the opening at the first end 210. That way, the piercing member 206 may penetrate the seal of the supply container when the supply container is fitted or received by the opening at the first end 210. For example, the supply container may be mated with the seal removal structure 200 in the following manner: the seal of the supply container is enabled to be removed by a user performing an action (e.g. a twisting action) or a series of actions (e.g. a series of twisting actions). Further, after the supply container is engaged with the seal removal structure 200 (e.g., after the piercing member 206 penetrates the seal of the supply container), the seal removal structure 200 may remove the seal of the supply container. This allows removal of the seal of the supply vessel to accompany the delivery of fluid material through the conduit 204. In some examples, the piercing member 206 may be conical in shape. In other examples, piercing member 206 may be a blade.

In some examples, the seal of the supply container may be removed by cutting or ripping through the secured piercing member 206. In such an example, the shelf structure 208 is attached to an inner wall of the conduit 204, and the conduit 204 may include a retention feature at the first end 210. The retention features may enable the sealed supply container to mate with the seal removal structure 200 by applying a corresponding mating action. For example, the retention feature may be a thread, and the sealing conduit may be shaped to include a corresponding thread. A threaded retention feature may extend to a portion of the conduit 204 such that screwing or rotating the sealed supply container to mate with the seal removal structure 200 may cause the seal of the supply container to be punctured and cut by the fixed piercing member 206.

In other examples, piercing member 206 may cut or cut the seal of the supply container by rotating piercing member 206 within conduit 204 while the supply container is locked within seal removal structure 200. In such an example, the seal removal structure 200 may include a bearing system to allow the shelf structure 208 to rotate within the conduit 204. For example, the shelf structure 208 may be a shaft having a smaller circumference than the conduit 204, the shaft including ball bearings to provide rotational movement within the conduit 204 about a fixed axis. In addition, the conduit 204 may include a retention feature to secure the supply container within the conduit 204 such that the shelf structure 208 with the piercing member 206 may rotate and cut or cut the seal of the supply container.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example three-dimensional cross-sectional view of an example seal removal structure having a retention feature. As illustrated in fig. 2, a first end of the seal removal structure 300 includes a housing 302 with a conduit 304, and a piercing member 306 attached to a top surface of a shelf structure 308. Further, the first end of the seal removal structure 300 may include a retention feature 310. In some examples and as illustrated in fig. 3, the first end of the seal removal structure 300 may include a plurality of retention features 310. The retention feature 310 may include a track that may be shaped to allow the mating element 326 of the supply vessel's sealed conduit 320 to be locked into and move over a predetermined path within the conduit 304. For example, as illustrated in fig. 3, the retention feature 310 may have an "L-shaped" rail with a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The vertical portion of the "L-shaped" track may enable the sealing conduit 320 to travel within the conduit 304 toward the piercing member 306. At the bottom of the vertical portion of the "L-shaped" rail, the piercing member 306 may puncture the seal 324 of the sealed conduit 320. In addition, the sealing conduit 320 with the mating element 326 may be rotated about a fixed axis by traveling along the horizontal portion of the "L-shaped" rail. In some examples, the horizontal portion may be a predetermined pitch to allow further vertical translation as the sealing conduit 320 with mating element 326 is rotated about a fixed axis. In that way, piercing member 306 may cut or cut seal 324 of sealed conduit 320. In some examples, as illustrated in fig. 3, the horizontal portion of the "L-shaped" track may extend a portion of the circumference of the conduit 304 to limit rotational movement of the sealing conduit 320.

In some examples, a container device, such as a receiving fluid container, may include a seal removal structure. Fig. 4 illustrates an example receiving fluid container including an example seal removal structure. As illustrated in fig. 4, the receiving fluid container 420 may include a seal removal structure 400, similar to the seal removal structure 200 of fig. 2. Receiving fluid container 420 may include a retaining structure 422 to provide a fluid reservoir. Further, the conduit 404 may extend from an opening at the first end 410 to an opening at the second end 412 and to a fluid reservoir that receives the fluid container 420.

A shelf structure 408 with a piercing member 406 may be positioned within the conduit 404. In some examples, the shelf structure 408 with the piercing member 406 may be at a depth distance below the opening at the first end 410. In that way, the piercing member 406 may penetrate the seal of the supply container when the supply container is fitted or received by the opening at the first end 410. For example, the supply container may be mated with the seal removal structure 400 in the following manner: the seal of the supply container is enabled to be removed by a user performing an action (e.g. a twisting action) or a series of actions (e.g. a series of twisting actions). Further, after the supply container is engaged with the seal removal structure 400 (e.g., after the piercing member 406 penetrates the seal of the supply container), the seal removal structure 400 may remove the seal of the supply container.

In some examples, the seal of the supply container may be removed by cutting or ripping through the secured piercing member 406. In such an example, the shelf structure 408 is attached to an inner wall of the conduit 404, and the conduit 404 may include a retention feature at the first end 410. The retention features may enable the sealed supply container to mate with the seal removal structure 400 by applying a corresponding mating action. For example, the retention feature may be a thread, and the sealing conduit may be shaped to include a corresponding thread. A threaded retention feature may extend to a portion of the conduit 404 such that screwing or rotating the sealed supply container to mate with the seal removal structure 400 may cause the seal of the supply container to be punctured and cut by the fixed piercing member 406.

In other examples, the piercing member 406 may cut or cut the seal of the supply vessel by rotating the piercing member 406 within the conduit 404 while the supply vessel is locked within the seal removal structure 400. In such an example, the seal removal structure 400 may include a bearing system to allow the shelf structure 408 to rotate within the conduit 404. For example, the shelf structure 408 may be a shaft having a smaller circumference than the conduit 404 that includes ball bearings to provide rotational movement within the conduit 404 about a fixed axis. In addition, the conduit 404 may include a retention feature to secure the supply container within the conduit 404 such that the shelf structure 408 with the piercing member 406 may rotate and cut or cut the seal of the supply container.

The seal removal structure 400 of the receiving fluid container 420 may mitigate and prevent fluid from escaping the fluid container during transfer of fluid from the fluid container to the receiving fluid container 420. For example, the opening at the first end 410 may be sized to receive a supply conduit of a supply container, and the opening at the second end 212 may be coupled to a receiving fluid container 420. In some examples, the opening at the first end 210 may be sized larger than the supply conduit of the supply container. Further, the seal removal structure 400 may enable the supply container 110 to mate with the receiving fluid container 420 in the following manner: the seal of the supply vessel is enabled to be removed by a user performing an action (e.g., a twisting action) or a series of actions (e.g., a series of twisting actions) to mate the supply vessel with the receiving fluid vessel 420. As such, the seal removal structure 400 may remove the seal of the supply container after the supply container and the receiving fluid container 420 are aligned and physically engaged. This allows removal of the seal of the supply vessel with transfer of the fluid material from the supply vessel through the conduit 404 into the fluid reservoir of the retaining structure 422.

In some examples, a container device, such as a fluid ejection device (e.g., a printer device), may include a receiving fluid container and a seal removal structure. FIG. 5 illustrates an example fluid ejection device having an example receiving fluid container and an example seal removal structure. As illustrated in fig. 5, the fluid ejection device 520 can include a seal removal structure 500 and a receiving fluid container 530, the receiving fluid container 530 having a retention structure 532 to provide a fluid reservoir. The seal removal structure 500 may be similar to the seal removal structure 200 in fig. 2.

In some examples, the fluid-ejection device 520 may include a port 514, and the port 514 may include a port conduit 516 extending from the port 514 to a receiving fluid container 530. In such an example, port 514 may be an opening on a surface of fluid ejection device 520. Further, in such an example, the seal removal structure 500 may include a housing 502, and the conduit 504 of the seal removal structure 500 may extend from an opening at the first end 510 to an opening at the second end 512. Housing 502 at second end 512 may be coupled to port 514. In that way, fluid material may travel through the seal removal structure 500, through the conduit 504 and the port conduit 516, into the receiving fluid container 530. Further, the receiving fluid container 530 may include a retaining structure 532 to provide a fluid reservoir for fluid that has passed through the seal removal structure 500 and the port conduit 516.

The seal removal structure 500 of the fluid ejection device 520 can mitigate and prevent fluid from spilling from the supply fluid container during transfer of fluid from the supply fluid container to the receiving fluid container 530. For example, the housing 502 may include an opening at the first end that may be sized to receive the sealed conduit of the supply vessel by applying a corresponding mating action (e.g., a twisting action or series of twisting actions). Further, the catheter 504 may include a piercing member 506. The piercing member 506 may be positioned within the conduit 504 such that when the mating end of the housing 502 mates with the sealing conduit, the piercing member 506 may penetrate the sealing conduit of the supply fluid container. For example, as illustrated in fig. 5, the piercing member 506 may be coupled to the shelf structure 508 at a depth distance below the opening at the first end 410. That way, the piercing member 506 may penetrate the seal of the supply container when the supply container is fitted or received by the opening at the first end 510. Further, in some examples, once piercing member 506 penetrates the sealed conduit, piercing member 506 may remove the seal of the sealed conduit by cutting or lancing the seal. In such an example, once the piercing member 506 forms a sufficiently long cut in the sealed conduit, a flap is formed. In that way, the weight of the fluid material in the supply fluid container may cause the valve flap to open and allow the fluid material to pass from the supply fluid container, through the seal removal structure 500, the port 514, and the port conduit 516, and into the retaining structure 532 of the receiving fluid container 530.

In some examples, the sealed conduit of the supply container may be severed or cut by a fixed piercing member 506. In such an example, the housing 502 may include a retention feature on the first end 510. The retention feature may enable the sealed conduit of the fluid container to mate with the seal removal feature 500 by applying a corresponding mating action. For example, the retention feature may be a thread, and the sealing conduit may be shaped to include a corresponding thread. A threaded retention feature may extend to a portion of the conduit 504 such that screwing or rotating the supply container to mate with the seal removal structure 500 may cause the seal sealing the conduit to be punctured and cut by the fixed piercing member 506.

In other examples, the piercing member 506 may cut or cut the sealed conduit by rotating within the conduit 504 while the sealed conduit of the supply container and the housing 502 are locked into place with one another. In such an example, the shelf structure 508 may include a bearing system to allow the piercing member 506 coupled to the shelf structure 508 to rotate within the conduit 504. For example, the shelf structure 508 has bearing elements (e.g., a shaft having a smaller circumference than the conduit 504 including ball bearings) to provide rotational movement within the conduit 504 about a fixed axis while the housing 502 remains in place. In addition, the conduit 504 may include a retention feature to secure the sealed conduit of the supply container within the conduit 504 so that the piercing member 506 may cut or cut the sealed conduit.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein.

Drawings

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an example cross-sectional view of a seal removal structure;

FIG. 1B illustrates an example top view of a seal removal structure;

FIG. 1C illustrates an example bottom view of the seal removal structure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example seal removal structure having a shelf structure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example three-dimensional cross-sectional view of an example seal removal feature having a retention feature;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example receiving fluid container including an example seal removal structure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an example fluid ejection device having an example receiving fluid container and an example seal removal structure.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Further, the figures provide examples and/or embodiments consistent with the description. However, the description is not limited to the examples and/or embodiments provided in the drawings.