Abstract: A container (2) for storing and dispensing a liquid comprises a chamber for holding a liquid, the chamber being defined by rigid chamber walls (4); a liquid outlet port (10) for dispensing the liquid from the chamber; and a gas port (20) configured to allow air into the chamber from the atmosphere outside the chamber only when the pressure outside the chamber exceeds the pressure inside the chamber by more than a predetermined threshold. When liquid is dispensed from the container via its outlet port, the pressure within the chamber will be reduced. When the pressure within the chamber falls below the external, ambient pressure by more than a predetermined amount, the gas port will open to allow air into the chamber from the atmosphere. This allows liquid to continue to be withdrawn readily from the container, by preventing a significant pressure differential from building up between the inside and outside of the chamber.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: A fluid cartridge for an inkjet printer includes an inner reservoir containing a printing fluid. The reservoir includes walls enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage of the printing fluid and a port for dispensing the printing liquid. The reservoir includes a rigid framework and one or more elastically deformable sections. The cartridge further includes an outlet for connection to the printer, an outer housing in which the reservoir is housed, an electronic storage device configured to store data relating to the contents of the cartridge, and at least one electrical contact associated with the electronic storage device and provided on a substrate. The reservoir provides a reduction in pressure of the internal space whereby the equilibrium pressure difference between the internal space and the surrounding atmosphere increases substantially monotonically in magnitude as liquid is dispensed.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: A fluid cartridge for an inkjet printer includes an inner reservoir containing a printing fluid. The reservoir includes walls enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage of the printing fluid and a port for dispensing the printing liquid. The reservoir includes a rigid framework and one or more elastically deformable sections. The cartridge further includes an outlet for connection to the printer, an outer housing in which the reservoir is housed, an electronic storage device configured to store data relating to the contents of the cartridge, and at least one electrical contact associated with the electronic storage device and provided on a substrate. The reservoir provides a reduction in pressure of the internal space whereby the equilibrium pressure difference between the internal space and the surrounding atmosphere increases substantially monotonically in magnitude as liquid is dispensed.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a print head, a gutter, an ink supply system, and a fluid cartridge. The fluid cartridge includes an inner collapsible container for containing a printing fluid. The container includes an outlet for connection to the printer, an outer housing, an electronic storage device, and at least one electrical contact.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer has an ink circuit including a plurality of circuit components and fluid paths for conveying ink between components. A manifold defining the fluid paths and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the paths. A filter module is provided adjacent to the manifold and comprises a housing that houses at least a first filter, the housing having an inlet and an outlet. The filter module is connected to the manifold such that at least one of the inlet or the outlet is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports on the manifold. The filter module may comprise an ink filter and a solvent filter. A second ink filter may be provided upstream of a pump. The modular nature of the filter makes for easy assembly, service and repair. It also provides for improved printer reliability.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer has an ink circuit including a plurality of circuit components and fluid paths for conveying fluid between components. A manifold defines the fluid paths and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the paths. One of the fluid paths is a solvent supply path for connection to a source of solvent. A second of the fluid paths being a solvent flush path for delivering solvent to an outlet for connection to a print head of the printer. A flush pump is disposed at the manifold between the first and second paths and in fluid communication therewith, the pump being configured to pump the solvent into the solvent flush path.

Abstract: A core module for an ink jet printer includes a housing and a connection manifold disposed on the housing and including a plurality of ports providing fluid communication into and out of the module. A plurality of components is disposed within the housing, including a filter module, an ink reservoir, and an ink circuit. The filter module includes a fluid filter disposed in a filter housing. The filter housing has an inlet and an outlet. The ink circuit is in fluid communication with the components and the ports, and includes fluid paths for conveying ink between the components. The filter module is connected to the connection manifold such that the filter housing inlet and outlet are each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports on the manifold.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a docking station where one of more disposable cartridges of ink or solvent are releasably connectable to the printer. The cartridge comprises an inner collapsible container with an outlet that is connectable to an inlet of the ink supply system and a substantially rigid outer housing. A front wall of the housing has an opening providing access to the outlet and a window that provides access to electrical contacts (92) associated with a memory device containing information relating to the contents of the cartridge. The contacts in a fixed relationship relative to the outlet so that when the cartridge is docked to establish fluid communication with the ink supply system the electrical contacts are electrically connected to respective contacts associated with the printer.

Abstract: A condensate recovery system for an ink jet printer includes an ink reservoir and a condenser. The condenser is in fluid communication with the ink reservoir and is adapted to receive exhaust from the ink reservoir and condense solvent from the exhaust. The condenser includes a fluid inlet for receiving the exhaust from the fluid reservoir, a condensing volume in fluid communication with the inlet, a vent in fluid communication with the condensing volume for venting air from the condenser and a fluid outlet for removing condensed solvent from the condenser and returning the condensed solvent to the ink reservoir. A valve is in fluid communication with the condenser fluid outlet and the fluid reservoir. The valve is operable to open and close to control flow of condensed fluid from the condenser to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer has an ink circuit including a plurality of circuit components and fluid paths for conveying ink between components. A manifold defining the fluid paths and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the paths. A filter module is provided adjacent to the manifold and comprises a housing that houses at least a first filter, the housing having an inlet and an outlet. The filter module is connected to the manifold such that at least one of the inlet or the outlet is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports on the manifold. The filter module may comprise an ink filter and a solvent filter. A second ink filter may be provided upstream of a pump. The modular nature of the filter makes for easy assembly, service and repair. It also provides for improved printer reliability.