Print head module

• US 10,046,564 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stathem, Ralph L., Stonas, Beverly Asoo, Vasudevan, Sundar, Shala, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmermann, John P
• Application Number:
  US14/960,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20160082734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/19 for removing air bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/377 Cooling or ventilating arrangements

Abstract

A print head module for delivering ink to a print head comprising a module venting system comprising a one-time vent built into the interior of the print head module in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent. A system for delivering ink to a print head comprising a print head, a external reservoir of ink, and a print head module comprising a one-time vent built into the interior of the print head module and fluidly coupling the print head to the external reservoir of ink, in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent within the print head module, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent.

Claims

1. A print head module for delivering ink to a print head comprising:

a vent cavity defined within an interior cavity of the print head module, the interior cavity serving as a reservoir of ink and being separated from the vent cavity by an interior wall; and

a one-time vent built into the vent cavity of the print head module;

in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent via an interior wall bypass structure, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent.

2. The print head module of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the module bypass structure interior wall bypass structure is defined on an outside surface of the print head module that allows an amount of the air and ink to exit the interior cavity of the print head module and reenter the print head module at the vent cavity;

in which the module bypass structure interior wall bypass structure comprises a vent entrance defined through the body at a surface of the print head module.

3. The print head module of claim 2, in which the module bypass structure interior wall bypass structure further comprises a vent channel and a module bypass an interior wall bypass hole defined on the body outside surface and through the surface of the print head module respectively that allows the amount of air and ink exiting the print head module from the vent entrance to bypass exit the interior cavity of the print head module and reenter the print head module via the module bypass interior wall bypass hole at the vent cavity defined within the interior cavity of the print head module.

4. The print head module of claim 1, in which the one-time vent comprises a chemical that causes the one-time vent to swell when the one-time vent comes in contact with an amount of ink.

5. The print head module of claim 4, in which the chemical comprises a crosslinked polyacrylamide, crosslinked polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), styrene maleic anhydride (SMA), or combinations thereof.

6. The print head module of claim 1, in which the one-time vent comprises small pores, in which the sizes of the pores allow ink to pass through the one-time vent while preventing air from passing through the one-time vent.

19. The printhead module of claim 1, wherein the printhead module has a vent entrance defined thereon that connects to the vent cavity, wherein a relative height of the vent entrance on the printhead module corresponds to an amount of ink to be retained within the interior cavity of the printhead module.

7. A system for delivering ink to a print head comprising:

a print head;

an external reservoir of ink; and

a print head module comprising a one-time vent built into a vent cavity defined within an interior cavity of the print head module, the interior cavity serving as a reservoir of ink and being separated from the vent cavity by an interior wall, the printhead module further comprising an inflatable bladder to control pressure within the printhead module, and the print head module fluidly coupling the print head to the external reservoir of ink; and

in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent within the print head module, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent.

8. The system of claim 7, in which the module comprises a vent entrance defined on the body of the print head module that allows an amount of air and ink to leave the interior of the print head module when a level of ink within the module reaches the vent entrance.

9. The system of claim 8, in which the module further comprises a vent channel and a module bypass interior wall bypass hole defined on the body of the print head module that allows the amount of air and ink from the vent entrance to bypass the interior wall of the module and reenter the module at the vent cavity defined within the module.

10. The system of claim 7, in which the one-time vent comprises a chemical that causes the one-time vent to swell when the one-time vent comes in contact with an amount of ink.

11. The system of claim 10, in which the chemical comprises a crosslinked polyacrylamide, crosslinked polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), styrene maleic anhydride (SMA), or combinations thereof.

12. A method of bleeding air from a printing device, comprising:

inflating a bladder within a module cavity of a print head module for delivering ink to open a regulator and check valve; and

pushing an amount of ink and air from an external reservoir, through a number of ink lines, past the regulator and check valve, and into the print head module until the ink contacts a one-time valve vent located within the print head module;

in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising deflating the bladder by positively pressurizing the interior of the module, releasing the pressure, and burping the print head after deflating the bladder.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein hyperinflation of the bladder within the module causes an amount of ink and air located within the external reservoir to be pushed from the external reservoir and into the module.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein pushing an amount of ink and air from an external reservoir into the print head module until the ink contacts a one-tune vent further comprises pushing the ink and air into a vent cavity defined in the module cavity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the vent cavity houses the one-time vent.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein pushing an amount of ink and air from an external reservoir into the print head module until the ink contacts a one-time vent further comprises pushing the ink and air through a module bypass structure defined through an outside surface of the print head module that allows the amount of air and ink to exit the interior of the module and reenter the module at a vent cavity within the module.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the one-time vent comprises a chemical that causes the one-time vent to swell when the one-time vent comes in contact with an amount of ink.