Vent for an inkjet printhead
First Claim
1. An inkjet printhead for selectively ejecting ink onto an image receiving surface, the inkjet printhead comprising:
- a reservoir for containing a supply of ink and an air space above the supply of ink, the reservoir defined by a plurality of sidewalls, an upper wall, and a lower wall;
an ink inlet formed in one of the plurality of sidewalls, the upper wall, and the lower wall;
a vent opening formed in one of the plurality of sidewalls, the upper wall, and the lower wall; and
a vent member extending from the vent opening, the vent member having a first vent member opening positioned in an air space outside of the reservoir, a second vent member opening positioned in the air space above the supply of ink, and a vent channel configured to couple fluidly the first vent member opening to the second vent member opening, the second vent member opening being positioned within the reservoir to enable the second vent member opening to remain within the air space above the supply of ink regardless of an orientation of the reservoir.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inkjet printhead has been developed that includes an ink reservoir vent, which prevents ink from exiting the ink reservoir through the vent. The inkjet printhead includes a reservoir, an ink inlet, a vent opening, and a vent member. The reservoir contains a supply of ink and an air space above the supply of ink. The vent member extends from the vent opening and includes a first vent member opening positioned in an air space outside of the reservoir, a second vent member opening positioned in the air space above the supply of ink, and a vent channel configured to couple fluidly the first vent member opening to the second vent member opening. The second vent member opening is positioned within the reservoir to enable the second vent member opening to remain within the air space above the supply of ink regardless of a printhead orientation.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inkjet printhead for selectively ejecting ink onto an image receiving surface, the inkjet printhead comprising:
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a reservoir for containing a supply of ink and an air space above the supply of ink, the reservoir defined by a plurality of sidewalls, an upper wall, and a lower wall; an ink inlet formed in one of the plurality of sidewalls, the upper wall, and the lower wall; a vent opening formed in one of the plurality of sidewalls, the upper wall, and the lower wall; and a vent member extending from the vent opening, the vent member having a first vent member opening positioned in an air space outside of the reservoir, a second vent member opening positioned in the air space above the supply of ink, and a vent channel configured to couple fluidly the first vent member opening to the second vent member opening, the second vent member opening being positioned within the reservoir to enable the second vent member opening to remain within the air space above the supply of ink regardless of an orientation of the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A printer for forming and fixing an image upon an image receiving surface comprising:
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a printhead for selectively ejecting ink onto an image receiving surface, the printhead including (i) a reservoir for containing a supply of ink and an air space above the supply of ink, the reservoir defined by a plurality of sidewalls, an upper wall, and a lower wall, (ii) an ink inlet formed in one of the plurality of sidewalls, the upper wall, and the lower wall, (iii) a vent opening formed in one of the plurality of sidewalls, the upper wall, and the lower wall, and (iv) a vent member extending from the vent opening, the vent member having a first vent member opening positioned in an air space outside of the reservoir, a second vent member opening positioned in the air space above the supply of ink, and a vent channel configured to couple fluidly the first vent member opening to the second vent member opening, the second vent member opening being positioned within the reservoir to enable the second vent member opening to remain within the air space above the supply of ink regardless of an orientation of the printhead; and a printhead controller coupled to the printhead for controlling the ejection of ink from the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of venting an ink reservoir in a printhead of an inkjet printer comprising:
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inserting a vent member having a first vent member opening and a second vent member opening fluidly coupled by a vent member channel into a vent opening in an ink reservoir; and positioning the vent member to locate the first vent member opening in an air space outside of the ink reservoir and to locate the second vent member opening at a position within the reservoir that enables the second vent member opening to remain in an air space above a supply of ink contained by the ink reservoir regardless of an orientation of the ink reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification