Inkjet printhead with controlled de-prime

US7661803B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd · AU

Inventors

• John Douglas Peter Morgan · Sydney, AU
• Kia Silverbrook · Sydney, AU
• Vesa Karppinen · Sydney, AU
• David John Worboys · Chatswood, AU
• Patrick John McAuliffe · Parramatta, AU
• Norman Micheal Berry · Sydney, AU
• David William Jensen · Sydney, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 31, 2006
• Grant date: Feb 16, 2010
• Expiry date: Jul 31, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J2/1707
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An inkjet printer that has an ink supply, an ink manifold in fluid communication with the ink supply, a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles mounted to the ink manifold, a pump in fluid communication with the ink manifold and, a gas inlet that can be opened to establish fluid communication between the ink manifold and a supply of gas, and can be closed to form a gas tight seal. The ink manifold can be primed using the pump by closing the gas inlet, and de-primed when the gas inlet is open. This allows the printhead to be deprimed during storage and transport and it allows the printhead IC to be cleaned by a foam formed by air forced through the ink election nozzles.