Ink delivery system
First Claim
1. An ink delivery system comprising:
- a first tank including a fill sensor;
a second tank, wherein the first tank is in fluid communication with the second tank;
a first pump configured to pump ink supplied from the first tank to the second tank;
a third tank;
a second pump configured to pump ink directly from the second tank to the third tank;
a drop-on-demand flow-through print head in direct fluid communication by conduit or passageway with each of the second tank and the third tank,wherein the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank, the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank, negative pressure is provided in the third tank, ink can be controllably jetted from the print head and a pressure differential across the print head causes unjetted ink to flow through the flow-through print head and directly into one of the second tank or third tank by conduit or passageway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ink delivery system includes a first tank including a fill sensor; a second tank including a fill sensor; a pump configured to pump ink from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank including a fill sensor; a print head in fluid communication with the second tank and the third tank. In an embodiment, the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank and may be configured to provide a closed loop system, the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank, and a pressure differential across the print head causes ink to flow through the print head. For some embodiments, pumps may be provided to control pressure differentials and print heads may print at one or more angles.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An ink delivery system comprising:
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a first tank including a fill sensor; a second tank, wherein the first tank is in fluid communication with the second tank; a first pump configured to pump ink supplied from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank; a second pump configured to pump ink directly from the second tank to the third tank; a drop-on-demand flow-through print head in direct fluid communication by conduit or passageway with each of the second tank and the third tank, wherein the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank, the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank, negative pressure is provided in the third tank, ink can be controllably jetted from the print head and a pressure differential across the print head causes unjetted ink to flow through the flow-through print head and directly into one of the second tank or third tank by conduit or passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An ink delivery system comprising:
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a first tank; a second tank, wherein the second tank is in fluid communication with the first tank; a first pump configured to pump ink supplied from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank, wherein the third tank is in fluid communication with the second tank; a second pump configured to pump ink directly from the second tank to the third tank; at least one flow-through drop-on-demand print head in direct fluid communication by conduit or passageway with each of the second tank and the third tank; a third pump configured to pump ink from the third tank to the first tank; wherein the system is configured such that a negative pressure provided in the third tank and a pressure differential across the print head causes unjetted ink to flow through the flow-through drop-on-demand print head and directly into one of the second or third tank by conduit or passageway. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification