Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a maintenance roller having an elastically deformable contact surface (ii) moving the roller into a first position in which a clean part of said contact surface is sealingly engaged with an ink ejection face of printhead; (iii) moving the roller into a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face; and (iv) rotating the roller to clean ink from the contact surface.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an inkjet printhead is provided. The system including: (a) an ink reservoir for storing ink; (b) and ink conduit providing fluid communication between the ink reservoir and the printhead; and (c) a hammer mechanism for compressing part of the ink conduit.

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 method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a liquid foam on the face, thereby dispersing the particulates in the foam; and (b) transferring the foam, including the particulates, onto a transfer surface moving past the face. Ink consumption is minimized by use of a foam and damage to the face is avoided since the transfer surface typically does not contact the face.

Abstract: A method of priming a printhead in an inkjet printer, the printhead having a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to a media substrate fed past the printhead in a media feed direction, by providing a pad having a contact face dimensioned so that it can encompass all the nozzles in the array, moving the 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, withdrawing the pad such that the contact face disengages the nozzle face.

Abstract: A flow diverter valve is used in controlling the pressure and/or flow rate of a breathable gas supplied to the airways of a patient by a breathable gas flow generator supply apparatus during, for example, ventilatory assistance treatments such as non-invasive positive pressure ventilation and nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The flow diverter valve includes a vane and a housing. The housing has an inlet port, an outlet port, and an exhaust port. The exhaust port opens to atmosphere, and the inlet port is in fluid communication with the flow generator. The outlet port is in fluid communication with a patient mask via a conduit. The vane is configured with respect to the housing such that a blower associated with the CPAP apparatus remains substantially unchoked, regardless of whether the vane is in the open or closed position.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead for printing onto a media substrate, and a reservoir for containing a quantity of ink, the reservoir having a lower portion for holding ink and an upper portion defining a headspace of air above the ink. A fluid connection extends between the printhead and the reservoir. A pump draws air from the headspace to lower its air pressure and thereby controls the hydrostatic pressure of the ink at the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead for printing onto a media substrate, a reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, a pump for drawing ink from the reservoir and pumping ink into the printhead and, a valve arrangement for selectively opening fluid communication between the pump and the printhead, and closing fluid communication between the pump and the printhead while opening fluid communication between the reservoir and the printhead.

Abstract: There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet positioned for bubbling air bubbles into a headspace of the chamber, each air bubble comprising an air cavity trapped inside a film of ink; a capillary channel in fluid communication with ink contained in the ink chamber, said capillary channel supplying ink from the chamber to the bubble outlet by capillary action; and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into said chamber as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.

Abstract: An ink cartridge suitable for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead is provided. The cartridge comprises an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet for bubbling air bubbles into the chamber, each air bubble comprising an air cavity trapped inside a film or a body of ink; and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the chamber as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.

Abstract: There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet for bubbling air bubbles into the chamber, each air bubble comprising an air cavity trapped inside a film or a body of ink; and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the chamber as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.

Abstract: A printhead ink supply system is provided. The system comprises an inkjet printhead; an ink reservoir; an ink pressure regulator and an ink line connecting the printhead and the regulator. The ink pressure regulator regulates a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to the printhead and comprises an ink chamber having an ink outlet; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet for bubbling air bubbles into the chamber and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. Each air bubble comprises an air cavity trapped inside a film or a body of ink and the bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the chamber as result of supplying ink to the printhead.

Abstract: There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; 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, the second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining at least some liquid in the regulator channel, thereby ensuring that air entering the headspace first passes through the liquid. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.

Abstract: There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet positioned for bubbling air into ink contained in the chamber; and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the ink as result of supplying ink to the printhead. Hence, the hydrostatic pressure of the ink is regulated.

Abstract: A method of regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead is provided. The method comprises withdrawing a volume of ink from an ink chamber and simultaneously bubbling air bubbles into the chamber via a bubble outlet to balance the withdrawn volume of ink. Each air bubble is defined by an air cavity trapped inside a film or a body of ink. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of the air bubbles, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.

Abstract: A method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a liquid foam on the face, thereby dispersing the particulates in the foam; and (b) transferring the foam, including the particulates, onto a transfer surface moving past the face. Ink consumption is minimized by use of a foam and damage to the face is avoided since the transfer surface typically does not contact the face.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance system comprises: (a) a printhead having an ink ejection face; (b) a foaming system for providing a liquid foam on the face; and (c) a foam transport assembly comprising: a transfer surface for receiving the foam or a collapsed foam from the face and a transport mechanism for feeding the transfer surface through a transfer zone and away from the printhead. The transfer zone is adjacent to and spaced apart from the face.

Abstract: A printhead assembly suitable for printhead maintenance operations is provided. The printhead assembly comprises: (a) a printhead having an ink ejection face; (b) an ink supply system for supplying ink to the printhead; and (c) a foaming system for providing a liquid foam on the face.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has an ink supply, an ink manifold in fluid communication with the ink supply, a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles mounted to the ink manifold, a pump in fluid communication with the ink manifold and, a gas inlet that can be opened to establish fluid communication between the ink manifold and a supply of gas, and can be closed to form a gas tight seal. The ink manifold can be primed using the pump by closing the gas inlet, and de-primed when the gas inlet is open. This allows the printhead to be deprimed during storage and transport and it allows the printhead IC to be cleaned by a foam formed by air forced through the ink election nozzles.