Bonded structures formed form multicomponent fibers having elastomeric components for use as ink reservoirs

Abstract

A bonded fiber ink reservoir, an ink jet printer cartridge containing a bonded fiber reservoir, and a ink jet printer using an ink jet cartridge containing a bonded fiber reservoir are disclosed. The bonded fiber reservoir may comprise a three dimensional bonded fiber structure, wherein the three dimensional bonded fiber structure is comprised of a plurality of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact, at least a portion of the fibers being multicomponent fibers having at least one elastomeric fiber component.

1 . An ink reservoir, comprising a three dimensional bonded fiber structure, wherein the three dimensional bonded fiber structure is comprised of a plurality of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact, at least a portion of the fibers being multicomponent fibers having at least one elastomeric fiber component.  
   
   
       2 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastomeric fiber component comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.  
   
   
       3 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastomeric fiber component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric and plastomeric polypropylenes, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyisoprene, polyisobutylene, polychloroprene, butadiene-acrylonitrile, elastomeric block olefinic copolymers, elastomeric block co-polyether polyamides, elastomeric block copolyesters, poly(ether-urethane-urea), poly(ester-urethane-urea), and elastomeric silicones.  
   
   
       4 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the multicomponent fibers are multicomponent fibers comprising: 
 a thermoplastic polymer core material; and    an elastomeric polymer sheath material surrounding the core material.    
   
   
       5 . The ink reservoir of  claim 4 , wherein the elastomeric polymer sheath material comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.  
   
   
       6 . The ink reservoir of  claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic core material comprises a second elastomeric material different from the elastomeric polymer sheath material.  
   
   
       7 . The ink reservoir of  claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic core material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       8 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the multicomponent fibers are melt-blown side-by-side bicomponent fibers.  
   
   
       9 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional bonded fiber structure has at least one dimension along which the structure can be elongating at least 200% while retaining its structural integrity.  
   
   
       10 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers have a diameter in a range from about 1 micron to about 200 microns.  
   
   
       11 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers have a diameter in a range from about 1 micron to about 25 microns.  
   
   
       12 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise materials that are selected, at least in part, for their compatibility with a particular ink formulation.  
   
   
       13 . The ink reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the bonded fiber structure is adapted to take up, hold, and controllably release a particular ink formulation.  
   
   
       14 . An ink jet printer cartridge, comprising: 
 a housing, defining a reservoir cavity; and    a reservoir, disposed within the reservoir cavity, the reservoir comprising a three dimensional bonded fiber structure, wherein the three dimensional bonded fiber structure is comprised of a plurality of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact, at least a portion of the fibers being multicomponent fibers having at least one elastomeric fiber component.    
   
   
       15 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one elastomeric fiber component comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.  
   
   
       16 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one elastomeric fiber component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric and plastomeric polypropylenes, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyisoprene, polyisobutylene, polychloroprene, butadiene-acrylonitrile, elastomeric block olefinic copolymers, elastomeric block co-polyether polyamides, elastomeric block copolyesters, poly(ether-urethane-urea), poly(ester-urethane-urea), and elastomeric silicones.  
   
   
       17 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the multicomponent fibers are multicomponent fibers comprising: 
 a thermoplastic polymer core material; and    an elastomeric polymer sheath material surrounding the core material.    
   
   
       18 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the elastomeric polymer sheath material comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.  
   
   
       19 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the thermoplastic core material comprises a second elastomeric material different from the elastomeric polymer sheath material.  
   
   
       20 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the thermoplastic core material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       21 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the multicomponent fibers are melt-blown side-by-side bicomponent fibers.  
   
   
       22 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the three dimensional bonded fiber structure has at least one dimension along which the structure can be elongating at least 200% while retaining its structural integrity.  
   
   
       23 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the fibers have a diameter in a range from about 1 micron to about 200 microns.  
   
   
       24 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the fibers have a diameter in a range from about 1 micron to about 25 microns.  
   
   
       25 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the fibers comprise materials that are selected, at least in part, for their compatibility with a particular ink formulation.  
   
   
       26 . The ink jet printer cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the bonded fiber structure is adapted to take up, hold, and controllably release a particular ink formulation.  
   
   
       27 . An ink jet printer, comprising: 
 a carriage;    a print-head mounted on the carriage; and    an ink jet printer cartridge associated with the print-head, such that the ink jet printer cartridge provides the print-head with ink, and wherein the ink jet printer cartridge comprises an ink reservoir formed from a plurality of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact, at least a portion of the fibers being multicomponent fibers having at least one elastomeric fiber component.    
   
   
       28 . The ink jet printer of  claim 27 , wherein the multicomponent fibers are multicomponent fibers comprising: 
 a thermoplastic polymer core material; and    an elastomeric polymer sheath material surrounding the core material.