Abstract: An ink tank and ink tank support structure which contains structural elements which are designed to permit proper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank support structure while minimizing the chances of improper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank structure. A primary ink tank seal is provided in the ink tank, and a relatively low compressive force seal is provided between the ink tank support structure and the ink tank to reduce leakage of fluid from the tank and limit evaporation of fluid from the tank despite repeated insertions and removals of the ink tank from the ink tank support structure. A variable capacity ink tank and an ink tank with staggered height walls are disclosed, as well as a code reader for determining characteristics of ink tanks.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge has a rigid housing with a flexible, vent-free pouch containing ink positioned therein. The pouch has a fitment sealed therein with a quick disconnect valve incorporated in the distal end of the fitment which extends from the pouch. The housing protects the ink pouch from handling forces and provides the device to apply an insertion force necessary to install a cartridge into an ink supply station of an ink jet printer. Ink is extracted by a probe resident in the ink supply station which actuates the quick disconnect valve upon insertion of the cartridge. The quick disconnect valve reseals when the cartridge is removed from the probe. The quick disconnect valve has a spring biased ball and a resilient cap releasably snapped on the valve which has an internal conical wall that functions as a valve seat for the spring biased ball. The valve configuration reduces the number of parts and provides a larger and better surface for the ball to seal against.

Abstract: A liquid ink printer, depositing ink drops to form an image, in multiple printing resolutions, on a recording medium moving along a recording medium path. The liquid ink printer includes a pagewidth printbar, including an array of ink ejecting nozzles spaced at a predetermined resolution, aligned substantially perpendicular to the recording medium path, to eject the ink drops on the recording medium during movement of the recording medium along the recording medium path, a positioning device, coupled to the pagewidth printbar, to position the printbar at a plurality of discrete locations, and a controller, coupled to the printbar and to the positioning device, to cause the positioning device to position the printbar at the plurality of discrete locations as a function of the predetermined resolution.

Abstract: A process for precision patterning or cutting of a sheet stock, such as an adhesive tape, includes the step of irradiating a surface of a sheet stock with an irradiation source to pattern or cut a part in the sheet stock. The method is particularly useful for precision cutting adhesive members, such as adhesive fluid seals, for an inkjet print cartridge.

Abstract: A printbar, such as a full width array printbar, filling method and apparatus provides for the selective application of positive pressure to an ink container, such as an ink bag, for forcing the expulsion of ink out of the bag and into the printbar. A steady force is applied until ink appears in a window provided in a vent line adjacent to and in fluid communication with the printbar, at which time the printbar manifold is full. Additional steady pressure forces ink to flow into the ink jet channels, assuring that the channels are fully primed and functional, at which time the positive pressure can be stopped. In an alternative embodiment, a motive force provided by, for example, a solenoid or motor, preferably including a gear and cam, are included to provide the motive force for the application of pressure against the ink bag. Pressure limiting springs may be utilized to provide the desired positive pressure to the ink manifold.

Abstract: An ink jet printer of the type having at least one customer replaceable ink cartridge with an ink monitoring system detects whether or not the ink in the cartridge contains qualified ink or not and adjusts the normal printing mode to a non-normal printing when non-qualified ink is detected, thereby providing the customer the option to print with non-qualified ink with minimized effect on the printer or print quality.

Abstract: A printhead and method of fabrication thereof provides that the printhead reservoir has substantially the same cross-sectional ink flow area as the total cross-sectional area of the plurality of individual ink channels which interconnect the reservoir with the printhead nozzles. Since the flow area of the reservoir is substantially matched to the total flow area of the channels, the ink capacity of the reservoir is relatively low and the flow rate therethrough during a printing operation is relatively high. The small capacity of reservoir, together with the high ink flow rate therethrough, assures short ink residency time during printing, so that any exsolved air bubbles in the ink are swept away with subsequent ink droplet ejections during a printing operation and thus prevents any air bubbles present from coalescing into larger bubbles which can cause print quality defects.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for degassing liquid ink utilizes microwaves. An ink degassing unit includes a microwave heater that heats the liquid ink in an ink line passing through the microwave heater. The liquid ink is heated to supersaturate the ink with air and a vacuum chamber of the ink degassing unit is disposed along the ink line and evacuates the ink to pull the air out of the ink. A control system selectively couples the ink degassing unit onto one or more of a plurality of ink supply lines so that only supply lines of ink currently being used for printing are degassed. The control system selectively diverts at least one ink supply line connected to a printhead through the ink degassing unit.

Abstract: In a liquid ink printer transport belt located between a liquid ink printhead and a vacuum holddown device includes apertures for applying a vacuum to the recording medium and for enabling the liquid ink printhead to purge ink through the apertures in the absence of the recording medium without slowing or stopping the belt. The vacuum holddown device includes a platen located beneath the belt for applying a vacuum through the apertures and gutters or slots for collecting ink from the liquid ink printheads during printing. The combination of belt and platen or apertures and gutters or slots provides continuous communication of the vacuum to the recording media as the belt moves across the platen and through a dryer. The transport belt enables the use of a single transport for both imaging and drying.

Abstract: A valving connector used in a thermal ink-jet printer for filling and draining ink from a manifold of the printbar. The valving connector has two positions depending on the operation of the printer. In the first position, the top portion of the manifold is filled with air, and the bottom portion of the manifold is connected to a vacuum. The ink is drained from the manifold until empty, then the printbar can be removed and replaced. In the second position, the top portion of a manifold is connected to the vacuum and the bottom portion of the manifold is connected to the ink supply. In this second position, the manifold is supplied with ink during printing operations. An ink handling system with such a valving connector delivers ink to the printbar on demand. The ink handling system has a replaceable ink supply and a diaphragm valve to regulate the flow of ink to the manifold. A needle assembly extracts ink from the ink supply and delivers the ink to the diaphragm valve.

Abstract: A priming device for a printbar having an array of print dies employs a vacuum nozzle shorter in width than one print die. At least one wet wiper blade is located adjacent to the vacuum nozzle and is used not only to moisten and wipe the channel outlets of the printbar, but during application of vacuum pressure in priming, the wiper blade serves to block the flow of air into adjacent channels, thereby eliminating cross-talk between groups of channels.