Ink pressure regulator with regulator channel fluidically isolated from ink reservoir
US7794038B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 2007 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/19
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end communicating with a headspace of the chamber, the second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining at least some liquid in the regulator channel, thereby ensuring that air entering the headspace first passes through the liquid. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.