Ink delivery system
First Claim
1. An ink delivery system comprising:
- a first tank including a fill sensor;
a second tank including a fill sensor, wherein the first tank is in direct fluid communication with the second tank;
a pump configured to pump ink supplied from the first tank to the second tank;
a third tank including a fill sensor; and
a plurality of flow-through, drop-on-demand print heads 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 on demand from the print heads, a pressure differential across the print heads causes unjetted ink to flow through the print heads and directly into one of the second tank or third tank by conduit or passageway, a substantially constant meniscus pressure can be maintained at the print heads, and ink can be controllably jetted from the print heads at substantially the same velocity irrespective of the orientation of the print head with respect to the direction of gravity.
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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.
57 Citations
23 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 including a fill sensor, wherein the first tank is in direct fluid communication with the second tank; a pump configured to pump ink supplied from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank including a fill sensor; and a plurality of flow-through, drop-on-demand print heads 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 on demand from the print heads, a pressure differential across the print heads causes unjetted ink to flow through the print heads and directly into one of the second tank or third tank by conduit or passageway, a substantially constant meniscus pressure can be maintained at the print heads, and ink can be controllably jetted from the print heads at substantially the same velocity irrespective of the orientation of the print head with respect to the direction of gravity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An ink delivery system comprising:
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a first tank; a second tank, wherein the first tank is in fluid communication with the second tank; a means for supplying ink from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank, wherein the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank, negative pressure is provided in the third tank, and the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank; a means for sensing fill levels in the first tank, the second tank, and the third tank; a plurality of flow-through drop-on-demand means for printing, the drop-on-demand means for printing in direct fluid communication by conduit or passageway with the second tank and the third tank; and a means for controlling a pressure differential across the means for printing, whereby the ink can be controllably jetted on demand from the means for printing, the pressure differential across the means for printing causes unjetted ink to flow through the means for printing and directly into one of the second tank or third tank by conduit or passageway, a substantially constant meniscus pressure can be maintained at the means for printing, and the ink can be controllably jetted from the means for printing irrespective of the orientation of the print head with respect to the direction of gravity. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification