Printer with active fluidic architecture

US7771029B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd · AU

Inventors

• John Douglas Peter Morgan · Sydney, AU
• Patrick John McAuliffe · Parramatta, AU
• Vesa Karppinen · Sydney, AU
• David John Worboys · Chatswood, AU
• Miao Wang · Beijing, CN
• Kia Silverbrook · Sydney, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 21, 2007
• Grant date: Aug 10, 2010
• Expiry date: May 17, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J2202/20
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A inkjet printer that has an ink supply (112), a printhead integrated circuit (IC) (74) in fluid communication with the ink supply via an upstream ink line (67), the printhead IC (74), a waste ink outlet in fluid communication with the printhead IC (74) via a downstream ink line (106), an upstream shut off valve (138) in the upstream ink line (67), and, a downstream pump mechanism (114) in the downstream ink line. With a valve upstream of the printhead and a pump downstream of the printhead, the user has active control of the ink flow upstream, downstream or in the printhead IC. In the event that problems such as ink flooding, color mixing or printhead depriming occur, the user can follow simple troubleshooting protocols to rectify the situation.