| 主权项 |
1. A liquid replenishment system for replenishing liquid composition in a dispensing vessel that supplies liquid composition to a printing apparatus, the dispensing vessel having a collapsible secondary container therein,
the liquid replenishment system comprising:
a receptacle for storing a replenishment liquid composition;a volume sensor operable to generate a signal representative of the volume of liquid composition within the secondary container;a volume control network operably associated with the volume sensor and responsive to the volume signal therefrom for generating a volume control signal; anda pump responsive to the volume control signal, the pump being operable to inject a replenishment liquid from the receptacle into the secondary container at a pressure at least substantially equal to the pressure in the secondary container and at a flow rate selectable in accordance with the volume control signal such that the volume of liquid composition in the secondary container is maintained at a predetermined reference level; wherein the dispensing vessel itself comprises:
a outer can and corresponding lid, the lid being conjoinable to the outer can in an air-tight manner, when conjoined the outer can and lid cooperating to define an enclosed chamber, the lid having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the lid having a replenishment liquid inlet port and a liquid supply outlet port being formed therethrough, the replenishment liquid inlet port being connected to the pump,
in use, the interior chamber having a pressurized driving fluid therein, the pressurized driving fluid being able to collapse the secondary container to force a liquid composition therefrom; and wherein the dispensing vessel is improved in that:
the secondary container is fabricated of a material that is impervious to a driving fluid contained within the interior chamber of the dispensing vessel,the secondary container having a fixed end and a freely movable end, the secondary container being attached to the interior surface of the lid such that the fixed end of the secondary container surrounds the replenishment liquid inlet port and the outlet port in the lid, whereby the interior of the secondary container is in fluid communication with both the replenishment liquid inlet port and the outlet port. |
