Printer having recycling ink and pressure-equalized upstream and downstream ink lines
First Claim
1. A printer comprising:
- a printhead having an ink inlet and an ink outlet;
a pressure-regulating chamber containing ink at a predetermined first level relative to said printhead, said chamber comprising;
an inlet port;
an outlet port;
a return port positioned in a base of the chamber;
a float valve comprising;
(i) an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot;
(ii) a float mounted at one end of said arm; and
(iii) a valve stem attached to said arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat, wherein said valve seat is positioned at the inlet port of said pressure-regulating chamber,a snorkel extending from said return port and terminating at a snorkel outlet positioned above said first level of ink;
an air vent open to atmosphere, said air vent communicating with a headspace above said ink;
an upstream ink line interconnecting said outlet port and said ink inlet; and
a downstream ink line interconnecting said return port and said ink outlet,said downstream ink line having a section looping below said first level of ink, wherein, in a printing configuration, a second level of ink in said snorkel is equal to said first level of ink in said chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A printer comprising a printhead and a pressure-regulating chamber containing ink at a predetermined first level relative to the printhead. The chamber comprises an outlet port, a return port positioned in a base of the chamber, a snorkel extending from the return port and terminating at a snorkel outlet positioned above the first level of ink, and an air vent open to atmosphere. An upstream ink line interconnects the outlet port and an ink inlet of the printhead. A downstream ink line interconnects the return port and an ink outlet of the printhead. The downstream ink line has a section looping below the first level of ink. In a printing configuration, a second level of ink in the snorkel is equal to the first level of ink in the chamber.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A printer comprising:
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a printhead having an ink inlet and an ink outlet; a pressure-regulating chamber containing ink at a predetermined first level relative to said printhead, said chamber comprising; an inlet port; an outlet port; a return port positioned in a base of the chamber; a float valve comprising; (i) an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot; (ii) a float mounted at one end of said arm; and (iii) a valve stem attached to said arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat, wherein said valve seat is positioned at the inlet port of said pressure-regulating chamber, a snorkel extending from said return port and terminating at a snorkel outlet positioned above said first level of ink; an air vent open to atmosphere, said air vent communicating with a headspace above said ink; an upstream ink line interconnecting said outlet port and said ink inlet; and a downstream ink line interconnecting said return port and said ink outlet, said downstream ink line having a section looping below said first level of ink, wherein, in a printing configuration, a second level of ink in said snorkel is equal to said first level of ink in said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification