Abstract: An ink delivery system delivers ink from a stationary ink supply to a print cartridge on a movable carriage. The system comprises an ink container, a reservoir, and a flexible tubing connecting the reservoir to the print cartridge. The ink container has an internal cavity not open to atmosphere holding a supply of ink, and an air inlet channel and an ink exit channel. The ink reservoir has fluid channels to mate with the air inlet channel and ink exit channel on the ink container, and an air opening on the upper portion to connect the internal space of the reservoir to atmosphere and an ink exit port. The ink level in the ink reservoir is controlled by allowing the ink to rise to a level where the ink blocks the air channel into the ink container thereby preventing air to flow there through.

Abstract: An ink delivery system in an inkjet printer includes a printhead mounted on a carriage in the inkjet printer. The printhead has nozzles to eject ink droplets for image printing. The system includes an ink reservoir for delivering ink to the printhead. The ink reservoir is positioned so that the ink level is from 0 to 8 inches below the printhead. A pulsation dampener is connected between the ink reservoir and the printhead. The pulsation dampener includes two chambers within a body, wherein a weir separates the chambers. A resilient member is located in one of the chambers and a membrane covers the chambers and the resilient member. The resilient member provides a recovering force against the membrane. Embodied herein is a method of delivering ink to a printhead mounted on a movable carriage using the embodied ink delivery system.

Abstract: An ink jet printer apparatus is adapted to secure a print cartridge which includes an open container having a top opening; a porous ink-absorbent in the container; a print head in ink communication with the porous ink-absorbent; a top cover lid adapted to be placed on the container, over the top opening, to close the container; and an ink conduit needle mounted on the top cover lid to longitudinally extend in a horizontal orientation above the porous ink-absorbent when the cover lid is placed on the container, so that a print ink can descend freely by the force of gravity from the ink conduit needle onto the porous ink-absorbent and from the porous ink-absorbent down to the print head.

Abstract: A replaceable ink supply tank that can be mounted to a pen body of a printhead system for use with an ink jet printer. The ink supply tank provides the necessary back pressure for successful operation of the printhead and includes a siphon break in the conduit that supplies ink from the supply tank to the pen body. A conduit connects the ink supply tank to the pen body. The conduit contains a raised portion that is at a level higher than the ink level in the supply tank. The conduit contains a siphon break chamber between the raised portion and the pen body. The conduit further contains an accumulator in the raised portion of the supply tank. The accumulator maintains back pressure in the preferred range to discourage drooling from the nozzle plate during ambient temperature swings.

Abstract: A replaceable ink supply tank that can be mounted to a pen body of a printhead system for use with an ink jet printer. The ink supply tank provides the necessary back pressure for successful operation of the printhead and includes a siphon break in the conduit that supplies ink from the supply tank to the pen body. A conduit connects the ink supply tank to the pen body. The conduit contains a raised portion that is at a level higher than the ink level in the supply tank. The conduit contains a siphon break chamber between the raised portion and the pen body. The conduit further contains an accumulator in the raised portion of the supply tank. The accumulator maintains back pressure in the preferred range to discourage drooling from the nozzle plate during ambient temperature swings.

Abstract: A device and method for supplying ink to ink jet printer heads comprising first and second carriage portions non-rigidly coupled such that the two carriage portions are free to rotate independently about their guide rod axis, but are constrained to move together axially. The first carriage portion contains one or more ink jet cartridges supplied with ink via connecting tubes having self-sealing septum attached to corresponding ink outlets on the second carriage portion. The ink outlets on the second carriage portion preferably comprise valves with actuators. The actuators preferably act to secure the septum within the ink outlets, and are preferably disposed such that the valve is closed when the actuator is raised, and open when the actuator is lowered.

Abstract: A device and method for supplying ink to ink jet printer heads comprising first and second carriage portions non-rigidly coupled such that the two carriage portions are free to rotate independently about their guide rod axis, but are constrained to move together axially. The first carriage portion contains one or more ink jet cartridges supplied with ink via connecting tubes having self-sealing septum attached to corresponding ink outlets on the second carriage portion. The ink outlets on the second carriage portion preferably comprise valves with actuators. The actuators preferably act to secure the septum within the ink outlets, and are preferably disposed such that the valve is closed when the actuator is raised, and open when the actuator is lowered.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a plastic platen and a structural member extending upward from the base of the printer. The printing surface is supported by the upper surface of the structural member. This surface is held flat to within very tight tolerances. The bottom of the platen printing surface is retained against this surface so that it conforms to the shape of this surface structural member to create a substantially flat printing surface.