Abstract: A detachable fluid coupling for connecting an inkjet printhead with an ink supply, the detachable coupling having a fixed valve member defining a valve seat, a sealing collar (146) for sealing engagement with the valve seat (148), a resilient sleeve (126) having one annular end fixed relative to the fixed valve member (128), and the other annular end engaging the sealing collar to bias it into sealing engagement with the valve seat. The coupling also having a conduit opening (150) that is movable relative to the fixed valve member for engaging the sealing collar (146) to unseal it from the valve seat. Unsealing the sealing collar from the valve seat compresses the resilient sleeve (126) such that an intermediate section of the sleeve displaces outwardly relative to the annular ends. With a resilient sleeve that buckles or folds outwardly, the diameter of the coupling is smaller that the conventional couplings that use an annular resilient element that biases the valve shut remaining residual tension.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printhead for printing onto a media substrate, the printhead defining a plurality of nozzles from which ink is expelled; an ink tank provided upstream of the printhead; a sump provided downstream of the printhead for collecting unused ink from the printhead, the sump having a lower portion for holding the unused ink and an upper portion defining a headspace of air above the unused ink; a first fluid conduit extending between the printhead and the sump for communicating the unused ink from the printhead to the sump, the first fluid conduit connecting the sump to a position in the printhead upstream of the plurality of nozzles; and a pump connected to the sump, the pump for drawing air from the headspace of the sump into atmosphere and effecting a negative pressure in the printhead upstream of the nozzles. Communication of ink from the ink tank to the printhead is effected by the negative pressure generated by the drawing of air from the headspace of the sump.

Abstract: An ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator includes an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line. A roof of the ink chamber includes: an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end communicating with a headspace of the chamber; and a liquid-retaining structure in fluid communication with the regulator channel. The liquid-retaining structure is positioned and configured for capturing ink from the headspace of the ink chamber. The regulator channel is dimensioned to regulate a hydrostatic pressure of the ink supplied to the printhead.

Abstract: A structure for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead structure has an elongate support structure for supporting a printhead integrated circuit, and ink conduits formed in the elongate support structure for supplying ink to an array of nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each 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 being 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: An inkjet printer that has a printhead with an array of ink ejection nozzles, an upstream ink line for connecting the printhead to an ink supply, a downstream ink line for connecting the printhead to a sump, a pump in the downstream ink line for drawing fluid out of the printhead, a gas inlet in communication with the printhead, the gas inlet being configured to open to atmosphere during a printhead de-priming operation, and close to atmosphere during a printhead priming operation and, an accumulator positioned in the upstream ink line for generating a positive pressure pulse for priming the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system for maintaining a printhead having an ink ejection face is provided. The maintenance system comprises: (a) a foaming system for providing liquid foam on the face, (b) a foam transfer surface for receiving the foam from said face, (c) a transport mechanism for feeding said transfer surface through a transfer zone and away from said printhead, and (d) a valve configurable in first and second positions, the first position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and an ink supply system and the second position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and said foaming system. The transfer zone is adjacent to and spaced apart from said ink ejection face.

Abstract: A method of minimizing ink consumption during printhead priming in an inkjet printer. The printhead has a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to a media substrate. The method includes the steps of: providing a porous pad having a contact face dimensioned so that it can encompass all the nozzles in the array; moving the porous pad such that the contact face engages the nozzle face to cover the array of nozzles; forcing ink into the printhead under pressure until ink flows out the nozzles in the array and into the porous pad engaged with the nozzle face; and withdrawing the porous pad such that the contact face disengages the nozzle face.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge for an inkjet printer is removably receivable in the printer. The cartridge comprises: a pagewidth printhead, an ink delivery system and a maintenance station. The maintenance station comprises: a chassis reciprocally moveable between a first position and a second position, and a printhead maintenance system mounted on the chassis. The printhead maintenance system is moveable by the chassis between the first position in which the printhead is maintained by the maintenance system and the second position in which the maintenance system is disengaged from the printhead. The chassis comprises an engagement formation for complementary engagement with an engagement arm of an engagement mechanism in the printer. The chassis is moveable by means of the engagement mechanism.

Abstract: A method of locating a printhead on a printer is provided in which a printhead is provided which has at least one integrated circuit having a plurality of ejection nozzles, the printhead is mounted to the printer by bringing each of a slot defined with respect to the x-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with a mesa feature of the printer, an angled surface defined with respect to the x- and y-coordinates of the printhead into cooperation with a protrusion across the slot of the printer, and a flat surface defined with respect to the z-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with protrusion located within the slot of the printer, and the location of the nozzles with respect to the x-, y- and z-coordinates is determined from the cooperation.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has an inkjet printhead and a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station includes a maintenance roller which is rotatable and moveable between a first position in which a capping portion is sealingly engaged with the printhead and a second position in which the capping portion is disengaged from the printhead. The maintenance roller is mounted on a chassis which is reciprocally moveable between the first and second positions. The printer includes an engagement mechanism for moving the chassis between the first and second positions by complementary engagement with engagement formations on the chassis.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided in which a pad is moved between a first position in which the pad is sealingly engaged with the printhead, a second position in which the pad is disengaged from the printhead and a third position in which the pad is engaged with a pad cleaner. The pad is biased towards the second position relative to the third position.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station has an elastically deformable pad coextensive with the printhead. The pad is a one-piece elastomer pad having a uniform contact surface configured for sealing contact with all nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. A mechanism is configured for reciprocally moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with all nozzles in the ink ejection face, and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The pad and the mechanism cooperate such that the contact surface is progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during peeling disengagement.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. Also included is a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a printhead maintenance station configured to facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element.

Abstract: An inkjet printer with a printhead and a conduit connected to the printhead. The conduit defines a flow path for the printing fluid and has an internal cross section configured such that the surface tension of printing fluid within it favors gas bubble growth along the conduit length over radial bubble growth that would fully occlude the flow path.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station includes a housing operatively positioned with respect to an ink ejection face to be maintained. The housing defines a pair of slots. A support arm has lugs at each end that are slidably received in respective slots. A support is mounted on the support arm. A pad is mounted on the support and is suitable for wiping ink. A motor is operatively mounted with respect to the housing. A pair of cams is rotatable by the motor and engaged with respective lugs such that the motor can slide the arms with respect to the housing, thereby moving the pad between a first operative position and a second, inoperative position.

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising a printhead mounted on a substrate, an elastically deformable pad and an ink removal system mounted on the substrate. The pad has a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The pad being linearly moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. In order to provide a cleaning action, the contact surface is configured to progressively contact the face during sealing engagement and peel away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead with an ink ejection face, an ink supply system for supplying ink to the printhead and a foaming system for generating a liquid foam on the ejection face. The liquid foam is a matrix of liquid membranes forming randomly-packed Voronoi polyhedra.

Abstract: A structure for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead structure has an elongate support structure for supporting a printhead integrated circuit, and ink conduits formed in the elongate support structure for supplying ink to an array of nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each 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 being 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: An inkjet printer includes a printhead for printing onto a media substrate, the printhead defining a plurality of nozzles from which ink is expelled; an ink tank provided upstream of the printhead; a sump provided downstream of the printhead for collecting unused ink from the printhead, the sump having a lower portion for holding the unused ink and an upper portion defining a headspace of air above the unused ink; a first fluid conduit extending between the printhead and the sump for communicating the unused ink from the printhead to the sump, the first fluid conduit connecting the sump to a position in the printhead upstream of the plurality of nozzles; and a pump connected to the sump, the pump for drawing air from the headspace of the sump into atmosphere and effecting a negative pressure in the printhead upstream of the nozzles. Communication of ink from the ink tank to the printhead is effected by the negative pressure generated by the drawing of air from the headspace of the sump.

Abstract: Provided is a print cradle assembly for a printhead cartridge. The cradle assembly includes a docking bay molding and a media feed drive assembly positioned on the docking bay molding and configured to feed media through the assembly. The cradle assembly also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a printer controller for controlling the media feed drive assembly and operation of the cartridge, as well as a heatshield mounted to the PCB for shielding the printer controller from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and user contact with the PCB.