Abstract: A fluid distribution system having a first fluid container having a fluid outlet, a second fluid container having a fluid inlet, a fluid line interconnecting the outlet of the first container and the inlet of the second container, an inverted umbrella valve between the fluid line and the inlet, the valve arranged to allow fluid flow from the first container to the second container via the fluid line and a restrictor for restricting the allowed fluid flow through the fluid line.

Abstract: A method of controlling fluid pressure at a printhead with a fluid distribution arrangement, the method having providing the fluid distribution arrangement with a first fluid container, a fluid connector for connection to a fluid input of the printhead, and a second fluid container connected between the first container and the connector for delivering fluid from the first container to the connector and locating the second container relative to the first container and the connector so that a fluid pressure difference between fluid contained within the second container and fluid at the connector is independent of the amount of fluid contained within the first container.

Abstract: A system for sensing a predetermined pressure change at a port of a liquid container for supplying liquid to a printer, the system having a liquid delivery apparatus connected to a liquid container via a fluid line and a sensing arrangement connected to the fluid line, wherein the liquid container has an internal fluid pressure changing member configured so that contact with liquid being delivered by the liquid delivery apparatus causes the predetermined pressure change in the fluid line, and the sensing arrangement is configured to sense the predetermined pressure change in the fluid line.

Abstract: Provided is an ink cartridge unit for an inkjet printer. The cartridge unit includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs, each reservoir having a layered stack of absorbent material forming a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. The unit also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, and a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body. The unit further includes a capper assembly for operatively capping the printhead assembly to prevent damage to micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements defined on a printing surface of the printhead assembly. The lid assembly includes a refill facility whereby the ink reservoirs are refillable with ink from a suitable ink refill unit.

Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is providing. The refill unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject between 6 ml and 50 ml per increment of fluid from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing.

Abstract: A dispenser unit for dispensing ink to refill a supply of printing fluid in a printing unit includes a body assembly; a plurality of ink outlets provided on a bottom side of the body assembly, the plurality of ink outlets each for engaging with respective ink inlets of the printing unit; a compressible ink storage volume provided within the body assembly, the compressible ink storage volume having a sealed end and an outlet end connected to no more than one of the plurality of ink outlets; a plunger provided within the housing and abutting the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume; and a compressing actuator for compressing the plunger against the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume, thereby facilitating a dispensing of ink from within the compressible ink storage volume into the printing unit via the ink outlet to which the outlet end of the compressible ink storage volume is connected.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance facility is provided having a storage reservoir for storing fluid ejected by a printhead, and a core movable relative to the printhead. The core has an internal structure defining the storage reservoir and having a port in fluid communication with the storage reservoir, and an external structure movable relative to the internal structure and having a drain movable into registration with the port to establish fluid communication between the drain and storage reservoir. The printhead is pagewidth and the internal and external structures are at least as long as the pagewidth.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit with nozzles for ejecting ink, and a support structure for supporting the printhead IC. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the nozzles with ink and a fluidic damper containing gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink within the ink conduits to dissipate the pressure pulse. Damping pressure pulses using gas compression can be achieved with small volumes of gas. This preserves a compact design while avoiding any nozzle flooding from transient spikes in the ink pressure.

Abstract: An ink priming system for a cartridge includes a priming inlet provided on a pagewidth printhead assembly, the priming inlet including a valve incorporating an elastomeric seal; an ink flow passage providing fluid connection between the pagewidth printhead assembly and an ink storage compartment of the cartridge, the ink flow passage terminating at the ink storage compartment to form an ink outlet; an ink filter provided across the ink outlet; a vent hole defined through a surface of the ink storage compartment, the vent hole being defined through a surface opposite the ink outlet; and an ink retaining member provided within the ink storage compartment for receiving and storing ink, the ink retaining member being interposed between the ink outlet and the vent hole. Ink is supplied to the priming inlet of the pagewidth printhead assembly to flow from the pagewidth printhead assembly into the ink storage compartment via the ink flow passage and across the ink filter.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead; an ink reservoir containing a supply of ink; and a pressure-regulating chamber for maintaining ink contained therein at a predetermined first level. The chamber includes: an inlet port connected to the ink reservoir via an ink supply line; an outlet port connected to an ink inlet of the printhead via an upstream ink line; an air vent open to atmosphere; and a float valve for maintaining the predetermined first level of ink. The float valve includes: an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot; a float mounted at one end of the arm; and a valve stem attached to the arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat, the valve seat being positioned at the inlet port of the pressure-regulating chamber.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer is disclosed. The printhead has one or more a printhead integrated circuits (ICs) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink. A support structure of the printhead supports the printhead ICs. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each respective cavity has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The upstream edge contacts the ink before the downstream edge during initial priming of the ink conduits from an ink supply. The upstream edge has a transition face between the ink conduit and the cavity interior. The transition face is configured to inhibit ink from filling the cavity by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit. This causes gas to be trapped within the cavity. The gas acts to compress pressure pulses in the ink.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge. The cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The compartment includes porous absorbent material located inside the compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the priming inlets. A port is arranged in a side wall of the compartment for receiving a needle from a syringe to prime the reservoir compartment with printing fluid.

Abstract: A print engine for an inkjet printer includes an inkjet cartridge having a cartridge body, a pagewidth printhead, a capper unit extending a length of the pagewidth printhead and housing a capping element which is movable between a capped position in engagement with the pagewidth printhead and a retracted position spaced from the pagewidth printhead, and an ink supply. The cartridge body supports the pagewidth printhead, the capper unit and the ink supply for simultaneous removal and replacement as a unitary component. The print engine further includes a cradle having a body for receiving the removable inkjet cartridge and to control the operation of the printhead for printing, the cradle having a capper drive for engaging the capper unit and drawing the capping element to the uncapped position; and a print controller board received in the cradle, the print controller board including one or more electrical terminals for engaging with corresponding electrical terminals on the inkjet cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printer having an ink cartridge unit. The cartridge unit includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs. Each reservoir has a layered stack of absorbent material arranged to form a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. A base of each ink storage reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds an ink outlet. The raised portions are molded into the main body to separate each outlet from the base of the ink storage reservoir to facilitate a sufficient flow rate of ink from the reservoir. The cartridge unit also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, as well as a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink via the ink outlets from the ink reservoirs in the main body for printing onto a printing medium.

Abstract: A refill unit for refilling an ink cartridge that forms part of an inkjet printer. The printer also having a printhead, control circuitry and an interface for releasably engaging the refill unit. The refill unit has a body containing a quantity of ink, an ink outlet, and a memory circuit for storing information relating to at least one characteristic of the ink. During use the memory circuit allows to the control circuit to interrogate it to verify that the ink in the refill unit is suitable for the printer.

Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly having a piston and cylinder reservoir, said piston having a thread which engages a screw thread in an internal wall of the cylinder, the piston rotationally biased by a wound spring and the ejector assembly having a pawl-and-ratchet detent preventing the biased piston threading into the reservoir until the pawl is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing to incrementally eject fluid from the reservoir.

Abstract: A printer comprising a printhead and a pressure-regulating chamber containing ink at a predetermined first level relative to the printhead. The chamber comprises an outlet port, a return port positioned in a base of the chamber, a snorkel extending from the return port and terminating at a snorkel outlet positioned above the first level of ink, and an air vent open to atmosphere. An upstream ink line interconnects the outlet port and an ink inlet of the printhead. A downstream ink line interconnects the return port and an ink outlet of the printhead. The downstream ink line has a section looping below the first level of ink. In a printing configuration, a second level of ink in the snorkel is equal to the first level of ink in the chamber.

Abstract: A print engine for a printhead assembly includes a refillable cartridge having a body defining a plurality of fluid chambers, the body having a lid assembly with a plurality of ink refill ports leading to respective fluid chambers, the lid assembly having an actuator to actuate a refill unit; a number of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements configured to operatively eject printing fluid onto a printing medium; and a fluid distribution member operatively arranging the nozzle arrangements in fluid communication with respective fluid chambers. The lid assembly engages with the refill unit to actuate the refill unit. The refill unit includes an outlet adapted to engage with the plurality of ink refill ports, a fluid reservoir, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject fluid from the reservoir when the ejector assembly is actuated by the actuator during operative engagement of the print cartridge by the lid assembly.

Abstract: A printing cartridge comprises a body configured to removably engage with an inkjet printer; a printhead assembly mounted to the body, the printhead assembly including at least one printhead integrated circuit and an ink distribution support, the at least one printhead integrated circuit being mounted to an underside of the ink distribution support; a plurality of conduits provided through an underside of the ink distribution support, the conduits providing fluidic communication between a plurality of ink paths of the ink distribution support and the underside of the ink distribution support; and a sealing film for adhesively mounting the printhead integrated circuit to the ink distribution support, the sealing film including a plurality of through-holes which correspond to and align with the conduits. The sealing film provides a seal preventing mixing of ink from each of the plurality of ink paths at an underside of the ink distribution support.

Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and a plunger having a toothed thread which engages with a screw thread provided in an internal wall of the housing, the ejector having a drive gear so that actuation of the drive gear imparts rotation to the toothed thread so as to rotate the plunger within the screw thread of the housing to incrementally eject fluid from the fluid reservoir when the drive gear is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing.