Ink supply unit for a printhead in an inkjet printer

• US 7,669,964 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lamson D
• Application Number:
  US11/604,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20070070133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 347/12, 347/40, 347/42, 347/15, 347/43
• US Class Current: 347/40
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/21 for multi-colour printing

Abstract

An ink supply unit is provided for supplying ink to a printhead in a printer. An elongate manifold defines a plurality of sets of ink passages and further defines a recess in which the printhead can be received so that the ink passages are in fluid communication with respective ink inlets of the printhead. An ink supply includes an elongate housing encasing a partitioning unit to define a plurality of ink chambers which can each contain a respective type of ink. The ink supply is engageable with the manifold so that ink from the ink chambers can be provided to respective sets of ink passages.

Claims

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

supply unit comprising:

an elongate manifold defining a plurality of sets of ink passages and a recess in which the printhead can be received so that the ink passages are in fluid communication with respective ink inlets of the printhead;

an ink supply comprising an elongate housing encasing a partitioning unit that defines a plurality of ink chambers which can each contain a respective type of ink, the ink supply being engageable with the manifold so that ink from the ink chambers can be provided to respective sets of ink passages, and wherein the partitioning unit is a baffle unit that comprises a number of spaced apart baffles extending into each ink chamber to reduce acceleration of the ink in the ink supply.

2. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ink supply further comprises a filter which can be located between the manifold and the partitioning unit to filter ink provided from each ink chamber to a respective set of ink passages.

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

4. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein each ink passage tapers inwardly towards the printhead.

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

6. An ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partitioning unit is ultrasonically welded to the housing.

7. 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 ingress of air during the egress of ink from the chambers.