Ink supply system for ink jet printhead
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United States of America Patent
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Oct 16, 2001
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Jan 14, 1997
filing date -
Jan 14, 1997
priority date (Note) -
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Abstract
An ink supply system for an ink jet printhead having an orifice plate with orifices includes an ink reservoir connected through a valve and a luer connection to an ink supply container and an air pump arranged to produce a vacuum in the ink reservoir to draw ink form the ink supply container into the ink reservoir. The ink reservoir has an ink sensor to detect a desired ink level in the reservoir and to detect a low ink condition along with a control unit which controls the operation of the air pump for a predetermined period established by the control unit in response to signals from the sensor. A restricted passage connects the ink reservoir to the atmosphere through a filter so that the ink in the reservoir is maintained at atmospheric pressure and the level of the ink in the reservoir is selected to provide a desired negative liquid pressure head at the orifices in the ink jet printhead. In addition, a purge reservoir is connected to a supply line leading from the ink reservoir to the printhead and an air pump is arranged to apply air pressure to the purge reservoir and a solenoid valve in the line between the purge reservoir and the ink reservoir is closed for ink refill and purging. As in the ink reservoir, the purge reservoir is connected to the atmosphere through a restricted passage and a filter.
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