Method and apparatus for recovering an ink discharging condition of an ink jet recording apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for recovering an ink discharging condition in an ink jet recording apparatus having a die reservoir and at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir, the method comprising:
- heating ink in the die reservoir to increase vapor pressure of the ink to cause mass transfer of water vapor molecules across an interface between an air bubble and the ink to enlarge the air bubble; and
removing air bubbles entrapped within the die reservoir and the ink channel, comprising applying a pressure differential across the die reservoir and the ink channel, wherein the pressure differential is approximately −
250 to −
450 mm Hg and is applied for a duration of at least about 200 ms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ink jet recording apparatus includes a die reservoir and at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir. The method and apparatus contemplate heating ink in the die reservoir to increase vapor pressure of the ink to cause mass transfer of water vapor molecules across an interface between the air bubble and the ink and removing air bubbles entrapped within the die reservoir and the ink channel. An ink jet recording apparatus may also include a heat sink provided to the die reservoir to cool the die reservoir below predetermined threshold temperatures. The heat sink may be fixably attached to either a carriage or maintenance station of the ink jet recording apparatus, or the heat sink may be integrally formed with the die reservoir and the ink channel as part of the replacement cartridge.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for recovering an ink discharging condition in an ink jet recording apparatus having a die reservoir and at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir, the method comprising:
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heating ink in the die reservoir to increase vapor pressure of the ink to cause mass transfer of water vapor molecules across an interface between an air bubble and the ink to enlarge the air bubble; and
removing air bubbles entrapped within the die reservoir and the ink channel, comprising applying a pressure differential across the die reservoir and the ink channel, wherein the pressure differential is approximately −
250 to −
450 mm Hg and is applied for a duration of at least about 200 ms.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:
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a die reservoir containing ink;
at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir;
a heating element in the at least one ink channel operable to heat the ink in a recording mode in which a heat-induced ink jet bubble is created to jet the ink onto a recording medium and to heat the ink in an ink discharging condition recovery mode in which vapor pressure of the ink is increased to cause mass transfer of water vapor molecules across an interface between the ink and an air bubble remaining after the recording mode; and
a heat sink provided to the die reservoir to cool the die reservoir to below a predetermined threshold temperature, the heat sink fixedly attached near a maintenance station of the ink jet recording apparatus, wherein at least the die reservoir is attachable to the heat sink when the ink jet recording apparatus is in a maintenance mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:
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a die reservoir containing ink;
at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir;
a heating element in the at least one ink channel operable to heat the ink in a recording mode and an ink discharging condition recovery mode; and
a heat sink provided to the die reservoir to cool the die reservoir below a predetermined threshold temperature, the heat sink fixedly attached near or within a maintenance station of the ink jet recording apparatus.
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22. A method for recovering an ink discharging condition in an inkjet recording apparatus having a die reservoir and at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir, the method comprising:
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heating ink in the die reservoir to increase vapor pressure of the ink to cause mass transfer of water vapor molecules across an interface between an air bubble and the ink to enlarge the air bubble;
removing air bubbles entrapped within the die reservoir and the ink channel;
cooling the die reservoir below a predetermined threshold temperature by use of a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is fixedly attached near a maintenance station of the ink jet recording apparatus so that the die reservoir may contact the heat sink when the ink jet recording apparatus is in a maintenance mode. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An inkjet recording apparatus, comprising:
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a die reservoir containing ink;
at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir;
a heating element in the at least one ink channel operable to heat the ink in a recording mode in which a heat-induced ink jet bubble is created to jet the ink and to a recording medium and to heat the ink in an ink discharging condition recovery mode in which vapor pressure of the ink is increased to cause mass transfer of water vapor molecules across an interface between the ink and an air bubble remaining after the recording mode; and
a pressurized air source that creates a pressure differential after the heating element heats the ink in the ink discharging condition recovery mode, wherein the pressurized air source has a duration of at least about 200 ms. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification