Ink supply unit for an ink jet printer

• US 7,350,901 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Do; An H.
• Application Number:
  US11/544,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/42, 347/54, 347/85
• US Class Current: 347/42
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04528 aiming at warming up the head
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04553 detecting ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04563 detecting head temperature; Ink temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04573 Timing; Delays
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04585 controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04588 using a specific waveform
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04591 Width of the driving signal being adjusted
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04596 Non-ejecting pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04598 Pre-pulse
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 : thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 : Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• 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 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing

Abstract

An ink supply unit is provided for supplying ink to a printhead in a printer. The supply unit includes an elongate housing defining a longitudinally extending channel. A baffle member is configured to be received in the channel to define ink chambers which can each contain a respective type of ink. The baffle member is configured to inhibit excessive movement of ink in each chamber. An elongate manifold defines a plurality of sets of ink passages and is configured to be located with respect to the baffle member so that ink from each ink chamber can be provided to a respective set of ink passages. The manifold further defines a recess in which an ink ejecting printhead can be received. Each ink passage tapers to define a respective outlet located within the recess which can be engaged in fluid communication with the printhead.

Claims

1. An ink supply unit for supplying ink to a printhead in a printer, the supply unit comprising:

an elongate housing defining a longitudinally extending channel;

an ink flow baffle member configured to be received in the channel, the housing and the baffle member defining a plurality of ink chambers which can each contain a respective type of ink, the ink flow baffle member including a series of slats of alternating height fixed between two end wall portions, the series of slats provided within each of the plurality of ink chambers and the baffle member being configured to inhibit excessive movement of ink in each chamber; and

an elongate manifold defining a plurality of sets of ink passages and engageable with a flow regulator so that ink from each ink chamber can be provided to a respective set of ink passages, the manifold further defining a recess in which an ink ejecting printhead can be received and each ink passage tapering to define a respective outlet located within the recess which can be engaged in fluid communication with the printhead.

2. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the printhead adhered within the recess.

3. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a filter which is located between the manifold and the baffle member to filter ink provided from each ink chamber to a respective set of ink inlets.

4. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle member defines a plurality of baffles extending across each ink chamber.

5. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each set of ink passages is arranged in a row.

6. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of inlets with covers configured to be pierced, in fluid communication with respective ink chambers so that ink can be supplied to the ink chambers.

7. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle member is ultrasonically welded to the housing.

8. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing defines a plurality of air inlets each in fluid communication with a respective ink chamber to facilitate the egress of ink from the chambers.