Ink supply system and method of supplying ink
First Claim
1. A closed ink supply system wherein air is sealed outside the system and not allowed to flow into components of the system, the system comprising:
- (1) an ink source;
(2) a first ink sub-reservoir comprising;
(a) a first top fluid surface at a first sub-reservoir fluid height;
(b) a first sub-reservoir ink inlet fluidly connected to the ink source; and
(c) a first sub-reservoir outlet and a second sub-reservoir outlet that is above the first sub-reservoir outlet;
(3) a print head comprising;
(a) a first print head portion fluidly connected to the first sub-reservoir outlet and having a first pressure at the first print head portion; and
(b) a second print head portion fluidly connected to the second sub-reservoir outlet and having a second pressure at the second print head portion substantially equal to the first pressure, the second print head portion being above the first print head portion by a difference proportional to a difference between the second and first sub-reservoir outlets;
(c) wherein the first and second pressures are primarily caused by capillary forces.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A closed ink supply system wherein air is sealed outside the system and not allowed to flow into components of the system may include an ink source. A first ink sub-reservoir may also be included that comprises a first top fluid surface at a first sub-reservoir fluid height, a first sub-reservoir ink inlet fluidly connected to the ink source, and a first sub-reservoir outlet and a second sub-reservoir outlet that is above the first sub-reservoir outlet. A print head may also be included that comprises a first print head portion fluidly connected to the first sub-reservoir outlet, and a second print head portion fluidly connected to the second sub-reservoir outlet. The second print head portion may be above the first print head portion, whereby a first pressure at the first print head portion is substantially equal to a second pressure at the second print head portion.
42 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A closed ink supply system wherein air is sealed outside the system and not allowed to flow into components of the system, the system comprising:
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(1) an ink source; (2) a first ink sub-reservoir comprising; (a) a first top fluid surface at a first sub-reservoir fluid height; (b) a first sub-reservoir ink inlet fluidly connected to the ink source; and (c) a first sub-reservoir outlet and a second sub-reservoir outlet that is above the first sub-reservoir outlet; (3) a print head comprising; (a) a first print head portion fluidly connected to the first sub-reservoir outlet and having a first pressure at the first print head portion; and (b) a second print head portion fluidly connected to the second sub-reservoir outlet and having a second pressure at the second print head portion substantially equal to the first pressure, the second print head portion being above the first print head portion by a difference proportional to a difference between the second and first sub-reservoir outlets; (c) wherein the first and second pressures are primarily caused by capillary forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of supplying ink to a print head through a closed ink supply system wherein air is sealed outside the system and not allowed to flow into components of the system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) supplying ink from a first ink sub-reservoir to a first print head portion fluidly connected to a first sub-reservoir outlet of the first ink sub-reservoir; (2) supplying ink from the first ink sub-reservoir to a second print head portion above the first print head portion fluidly connected to a second sub-reservoir outlet above the first sub-reservoir outlet of the first ink sub-reservoir; (3) causing a first pressure at the first print head portion to be substantially equal to a second pressure at the second print head portion by capillary forces; (4) sensing a first sub-reservoir fluid height; (5) supplying ink to the first ink sub-reservoir if the first sub-reservoir fluid height is below a first height range; and (6) ceasing supplying ink to the first ink sub-reservoir if the first sub-reservoir fluid height is above the first height range. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A closed ink supply system wherein air is sealed outside the system and not allowed to flow into components of the system, the system comprising:
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(1) an ink source; (2) a first ink sub-reservoir comprising; (a) a first top fluid surface at a first sub-reservoir fluid height; (b) a first sub-reservoir ink inlet fluidly connected to the ink source; and (c) a first sub-reservoir outlet and a second sub-reservoir outlet that is above the first sub-reservoir outlet; (3) a height adjustment mechanism connected to the first sub-reservoir; and (4) a print head comprising; (a) a first print head portion fluidly connected to the first sub-reservoir outlet and having a first pressure at the first print head portion; and (b) a second print head portion fluidly connected to the second sub-reservoir outlet and having a second pressure at the second print head portion; (c) the second print head portion being above the first print head portion by a difference proportional to a difference between the second and first sub-reservoir outlets; (c) wherein the first and second pressures are caused by gravity-fed pressure head, capillary forces, and the relative height to which the first sub-reservoir is adjusted.
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Specification