Abstract: An ink tank comprises a housing that defines a container for ink that is substantially free from a negative pressure producing material. In various embodiments, a non-porous capillary member is disposed in the container. The capillary member may be formed by part of the housing, for example, by a channel formed in a side wall of the housing. Alternatively, the capillary member may be a capillary tube. A wick may be situated at an outlet formed in the housing and may be held there by a retaining member, for example, a rib that extends from the housing. The housing may include a cover that allows the container to vent to atmosphere. The cover may include a vent hole that communicates with the container via a tortuous path. Part of the cover may comprise an air permeable material. The housing may also define a spillover area outside of the container.

Abstract: A fluid cartridge for dispensing fluid, such as liquid ink for a drop on demand ink jet printer, includes a housing that encloses a capillary chamber, and has an outlet port through the one wall of the housing into the capillary chamber. Capillary material in the capillary chamber is arranged so that it has a higher density adjacent the outlet port than away from the outlet port, to enhance the flow of the fluid toward the outlet port. The interior of the capillary chamber is structured to provide greater compression to the capillary material around the outlet port, and provide stability to retain the variable compression of the capillary material.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer has a housing for the installation of at least one replaceable ink supply tank. The cartridge has a printhead attached thereto which is in fluid communication with an ink pipe connector integrally formed on the floor of the housing through a passageway in the floor. The ink pipe connector protrudes from the housing floor and is adapted to enter an outlet port of the ink supply tank when the supply tank is installed in the housing. The ink pipe connector has a mesh filter recessed therein and a cover having holes therein positioned over the entrance of the ink pipe connector and spaced above the filter to form an internal chamber in the ink pipe connector. The holes in the cover are sufficiently small to cause the formation of an ink meniscus in each hole when the chamber is filled with ink and the meniscus in the holes prevent the ingestion of air.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge for use in an ink jet printer has replaceable ink supply tanks. The cartridge includes a housing with an integrally mounted printhead, at least one ink pipe connector protruding from a floor thereof, and internal passageways which interconnect the ink pipe connectors and printhead. The replaceable ink supply tanks, one for each color and each ink pipe connector, contain an ink saturated foam or needled felt member, an ink outlet port, and a filter element which covers the ink outlet port. When the ink supply tank is installed in the cartridge housing, the ink pipe connector extends through the outlet port of the tank and deforms the filter element into compressive contact with the foam or needled felt member. Whenever an ink depleted ink supply tank is replaced with a new ink supply tank, a fresh filter element is available for the cartridge, thus preventing degradation of the cartridge filters during the useful life of the cartridge.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for storing and supplying liquid ink to a thermal ink-jet printer includes a printhead that has ink ejection nozzles and an ink supply housing connected to the printhead. The ink supply housing defines an ink storage chamber, and an ink flow path communicating with the printhead and ink storage chamber. An ink storage medium and a scavenger member are placed in the ink storage chamber for retaining, and controllably supplying a quantity of liquid ink from the chamber within a desirable back pressure range at the printhead. The ink storage medium is a medium density non-reticulation process produced copolymer polyurethane foam consisting essentially of a blend of polyether and polyester materials.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing accumulated waste ink from a service or maintenance station of an ink jet printer includes a housing that defines a fluid storage chamber, and at least one output aperture that is formed in a wall of the housing, and communicates with the storage chamber. The cleaning apparatus further includes a cleaning liquid that is stored in the fluid storage chamber for ejecting through the at least one output aperture. The cleaning liquid advantageously includes ink dissolving compositions for dissolving thickened or dried ink waste and other contaminants that have undesirably accumulated in portions of the service or maintenance station.