Bubble removal for ink jet printing
First Claim
1. An ink jet print head subassembly, comprising:
- one or more separator elements configured to separate bubbles of a vapor from ink, each separator element comprising wicking features having one or more of corners and/or angled surfaces with dimensions sufficient to allow capillary movement of the ink in the wicking features and to substantially exclude the bubbles of the vapor from the wicking features;
one or more inlets configured to allow passage of the ink that includes the bubbles of the vapor into the separator element;
at least one vapor outlet configured to allow the vapor that has been separated from the ink to exit from the separator element; and
one or more ink outlets configured to allow the ink to exit from the separator element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Approaches to remove bubbles from ink in an ink jet printer are described. Bubble removal may be implemented using one or more separator elements configured to separate bubbles of a vapor from ink. Each separator element includes wicking features having dimensions sufficient to allow capillary movement of the ink in the wicking features and to substantially exclude the bubbles from the wicking features. One or more inlets allow passage of the ink that includes the bubbles into the separator element. At least one vapor outlet allows vapor that has been separated from the ink to exit from the separator element. The ink exits from the separator element thought one or more ink outlets.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An ink jet print head subassembly, comprising:
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one or more separator elements configured to separate bubbles of a vapor from ink, each separator element comprising wicking features having one or more of corners and/or angled surfaces with dimensions sufficient to allow capillary movement of the ink in the wicking features and to substantially exclude the bubbles of the vapor from the wicking features; one or more inlets configured to allow passage of the ink that includes the bubbles of the vapor into the separator element; at least one vapor outlet configured to allow the vapor that has been separated from the ink to exit from the separator element; and one or more ink outlets configured to allow the ink to exit from the separator element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising:
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moving ink that includes bubbles of a vapor into a separator element of an ink jet print head, the separator element including a central region and wicking features having one or more of corners and/or angled surfaces; separating the ink from the bubbles of vapor in the separator element, wherein separating the ink includes moving the ink in the wicking features by capillary action, wherein the bubbles are substantially excluded from the wicking features; passing the vapor through the central portion of the separator element towards a vapor outlet; moving the ink from the separator element to ink jets of an ink jet print head, wherein the ink that exits the separator element to the ink jets includes fewer bubbles of the vapor than the ink that enters the separator element; and ejecting the ink from the ink jets onto print media. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A layered structure, comprising:
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an inlet layer configured to form inlets for ink that includes bubbles of a vapor; an outlet layer configured to form a vapor outlet that allows passage of the vapor which has been separated from the ink and to form one or more ink outlets that allow passage of ink; and a separator layer disposed between the inlet layer and the outlet layer, the separator layer comprising a separator element that includes wicking features configured to separate the ink from the bubbles of the vapor, the wicking features having one or more of corners and/or angled surfaces dimensioned to allow entry of the ink into the wicking features and to transport the ink through capillary action and to substantially exclude the bubbles from the wicking features. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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forming an inlet layer, the inlet layer including at least one inlet configured to contain ink that includes bubbles of a vapor; forming an outlet layer that includes at least one vapor outlet configured to allow passage of the vapor which has been separated from the ink and one or more ink outlets; forming a separator layer disposed between the inlet layer and the outlet layer, the separator layer comprising a separator element that includes wicking features configured to separate the ink from the bubbles of the vapor, the wicking features having one or more of corners and/or angled surfaces dimensioned to allow entry of the ink into the wicking features and to transport the ink through capillary action and to substantially exclude the bubbles from the wicking features; and attaching the separator layer between the inlet layer and the outlet layer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An ink jet printer, comprising:
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a print head comprising jets configured to selectively eject ink toward a print medium according to predetermined pattern; a transport mechanism configured to provide relative movement between the print medium and the print head; a bubble separator configured to separate bubbles of vapor from the ink before the ink enters the jets, the bubble separator including; a separator element comprising wicking features having one or more of corners and/or angled surfaces with dimensions sufficient to allow capillary movement of the ink in the wicking features and to substantially exclude the bubbles of the vapor from the wicking features; one or more inlet passages configured to allow passage of the ink that includes the bubbles of the vapor into the separator element; at least one vapor outlet passage configured to allow exit of the vapor that has been separated from the ink from the separator element; and one or more ink outlet passages configured to allow the ink to exit from the separator element. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An ink jet print head subassembly, comprising:
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means for separating bubbles of a vapor from an ink with wicking features having one or more of corners and/or angled surfaces with dimensions sufficient to allow capillary movement of the ink in the wicking features and to substantially exclude the bubbles of the vapor from the wicking features; one or more inlet passages configured to allow passage of the ink that includes the bubbles of the vapor into the means for separating; at least one vapor outlet passage configured to allow the vapor that has been separated from the ink to exit from the means for separating; and one or more ink outlet passages configured to allow the ink to exit from the means for separating.
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Specification