Apparatus and methods for water-based ink printing
US7396119B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17509
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A printer that includes at least one printhead mounted to a carriage of a printing system, and a secondary ink container mounted to the carriage and which holds an ink and is in fluid communication with the at least one printhead. A pressure source in fluid communication with the secondary ink container provides a pressure to the secondary ink container during a purging operation to cause the ink to flow from the at least one printhead. The secondary ink container has a large enough volume to hold a sufficient amount of ink for a purge operation of at least about seven seconds. The secondary ink container has a minimum ink level, and an inlet that is located below the minimum ink level so as to minimize aeration of the ink as it flows through the inlet. The printer can also include a manifold having a pair of inlets, each inlet providing ink to a respective printhead, and a connector which connects the secondary ink container to the manifold, and diverts the ink to the respective manifold inlets before the ink enters the manifold. A filter can be used to filter the ink before it enters the secondary ink container, the filter having a vertical orientation to minimize the accumulatio…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.