INK CARTRIDGE WITH SELF-CLOSING VALVE

摘要

An improved ink cartridge (10) of the type used to dispense ink in automatic lithographic presses. The ink cartridge (10) comprises a hollow cylindrical body (12) for holding a supply of extrudable ink, a plunger (14) and a dispensing fitment (16). The improvement comprises a valve member (50) mounted over a central aperture (38) in the dispensing fitment (16), and a flexible molded plastic spring (44) that biases the valve member (50) in the closed position. The valve member (50) opens when subjected to pressure from the ink and closes automatically and completely when the ink pressure is less than the biasing force of the flexible spring (44).