Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead and an ink pressure regulator connected to the printhead via an ink line. The ink pressure regulator includes: an ink chamber having an ink outlet connected to the ink line; an air inlet open to atmosphere; and an air channel connected to the air inlet. The air channel has a constriction defining a bubble outlet, with the bubble outlet being configured as a slot positioned for bubbling air into ink contained in the chamber. A width dimension of the slot is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the ink as result of supplying ink to the printhead, and thereby regulates a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprises: (a) an inkjet printhead having an inlet channel and an outlet channel; (b) an ink reservoir; (c) an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to the printhead; (d) a first ink line connecting the ink outlet and the inlet channel of the printhead; and (e) a second ink line connecting the outlet channel of the printhead and a return inlet of said ink reservoir, such that ink is supplied in a recirculating circuit. The ink pressure regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet; an air inlet open to atmosphere; and an air channel connected to the air inlet. The air channel has a constriction defining a bubble outlet, which is configured as a slot. A width dimension of the slot is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the ink as result of supplying ink to the printhead, and thereby regulates a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluidic arrangement for a printer. The arrangement includes an ink tank for storing ink, and an ink distribution assembly in fluid communication with the ink tank for supplying printhead integrated circuits (ICs) positioned thereon with ink from the ink tank. The arrangement also includes a valve arranged in an ink line between the ink distribution assembly and the ink tank, said valve configured to isolate ink in the ink tank from the printhead ICs whenever the printer is powered down. Further included is a pump located downstream from the ink distribution assembly, and a sump arranged in fluid communication with the pump for receiving excess ink from the ink distribution assembly.

Abstract: A inkjet printer that has an ink supply (112), a printhead integrated circuit (IC) (74) in fluid communication with the ink supply via an upstream ink line (67), the printhead IC (74), a waste ink outlet in fluid communication with the printhead IC (74) via a downstream ink line (106), an upstream shut off valve (138) in the upstream ink line (67), and, a downstream pump mechanism (114) in the downstream ink line. With a valve upstream of the printhead and a pump downstream of the printhead, the user has active control of the ink flow upstream, downstream or in the printhead IC. In the event that problems such as ink flooding, color mixing or printhead depriming occur, the user can follow simple troubleshooting protocols to rectify the situation.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprises a stationary pagewidth inkjet printhead and a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station comprises a chassis having a maintenance roller and a transfer roller mounted thereon. An engagement mechanism reciprocally moves the chassis towards and away from the printhead such that a contact surface of the maintenance roller is sealingly engaged with or disengaged from the face. A rotation mechanism rotates the maintenance roller only when the maintenance roller is disengaged from the face, and the transfer roller receives ink from the maintenance roller during rotation of the maintenance roller.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a body having a slot for removably receiving a printing cartridge, a mesa feature arranged in the slot to cooperate with a complementary slot in the fluid distribution support of the printing cartridge upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer, and protrusions arranged in the slot to cooperate with a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the printing cartridge upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer The printing cartridge has at least one printhead integrated circuit with a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles and a fluid distribution support mounting the printhead integrated circuit. The cooperation of the mesa feature and complementary slot and the protrusions and corners provides information on the location of the nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead, and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. The contact surface of the roller is configured so as to avoid trapping of ink on or in the roller surface.

Abstract: A filter for an inkjet printer that has a chamber divided into an upstream section and a downstream section by a filter membrane. An inlet conduit establishes fluid communication between an ink supply and the upstream section. An outlet conduit establishes fluid communication between the downstream section and a printhead. During use at least part of the inlet conduit is elevated relative to the filter membrane. By elevating the inlet conduit relative to the filter membrane, it acts as a bubble trap to retain bubbles that would otherwise obstruct the filter. This allows the filter size to be reduced for a more compact overall design.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead, and an engagement mechanism for reciprocally moving the pad 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. The engagement mechanism is configured to move the pad rotatably with respect to the printhead such that, during engagement, a first part of the surface is contacted with the face prior to a second part of the surface. During disengagement the second part is disengaged from the face prior to the first part.

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: A printhead maintenance system comprises: a stationary pagewidth printhead having an ink ejection face; an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting the ink ejection face; and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. In use, the printhead remains stationary when the roller is rolled across the face.

Abstract: A composition for the treatment of water comprising a treating component and a support wherein the treating component is a liquid organic compound, and the support is a solid organic compound.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has an elongate array of nozzles for ejecting ink, a plurality of ejection actuators, each configured to eject ink through one of the nozzles respectively, a plurality of ink conduits aligned with a longitudinal extent of the elongate array of nozzles, the ink conduits extending adjacent the elongate array for supplying the array of nozzles with ink and, a plurality of pulse dampers positioned along each of the ink conduits, each pulse damper being individually in fluid communication with one of the ink conduits and each containing a volume of gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink conduits. A pressure pulse moving through an elongate printheads, such as a pagewidth printhead, can be damped at any point in the ink flow line. However, the pulse will cause nozzle flooding as it passes the nozzles in the printhead integrated circuit, regardless of whether it is subsequently dissipated at the damper.

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 priming ejection nozzles of a printhead is provided in which inwardly directed force is applied on an exterior wall of a bag containing fluid for distribution to the nozzles so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the bag, thereby causing fluid to be distributed from the bag to the nozzles, and a biasing member in the bag is caused to apply outwardly directed force on an interior wall of the bag so as to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the bag only once the available fluid volume of the bag has been reduced to a predetermined volume. The printhead is a pagewidth printhead having a pagewidth of greater than 100 millimetres.

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: Provided is a printhead cartridge for a pagewidth printer. The cartridge includes a cartridge body having a base and a number of ink supply bags positioned inside the base. A lid encloses the bags in the base. The cartridge also includes a printhead assembly fast with the base and arranged in fluid communication with the ink bags. Each ink supply bag has two profiled panels sealed together to form an ink holding chamber which is collapsible to reduce a volume of ink stored therein. A folded leaf spring biases the chamber into an expanded condition. Each ink bag also includes a connector assembly providing fluid communication between the chamber and ink supply channels of the printhead assembly.

Abstract: A maintenance assembly for maintaining an ink ejection face of a pagewidth inkjet printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance assembly comprises: a chassis movable between a first position and a second position relative to the printhead; a maintenance roller for receiving ink from the face; a first mechanism for moving the chassis between the first position and the second position; and a second mechanism for rotating the maintenance roller when the chassis is positioned in the second position.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a film for attachment of one or more printhead integrated circuits to an ink supply manifold is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an adhesive polymeric film having a protective liner; (b) depositing photoresist onto the protective liner; (c) photopatterning the photoresist to define a plurality of openings positioned for etching supply holes through the film; (d) etching the plurality of ink supply holes through the film, the photoresist acting as a mask for the etch; and (e) removing the protective liner having the photoresist deposited thereon.

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.