Abstract: A sensing system is described for detecting the presence of ink at a predetermined level in an ink reservoir for an ink jet printer. The reservoir includes a perimetric wall having first and second wall sections, wherein at least a portion of said first wall section and a portion of the second wall section are substantially transmissive to light. A light emitter is located proximate to the first wall section and positioned at the predetermined level. A photo detector is positioned at the predetermined level and located proximate to the second wall section for detecting the light emitted from the light emitter, the light emitter being oriented to direct light at the photodetector. The light from the light emitter follows a first path when ink is present in the reservoir at the predetermined level and follows a second path when ink is not present in the reservoir at the predetermined level, the photodetector receiving the light from the light emitter traveling only one of the first path or the second path.

Abstract: An inkjet printer having an expandable ink container biased to expand and configured to receive refill ink and an ink reservoir to provide refill ink to the expandable ink container. The printer also has an electronic volume detector to detect a refill value and a full value of the volume of the expandable ink container. The flow of refill ink begins when the volume of the expandable ink container decreases to the refill value and ceases when the volume of the expandable ink container increases to the full value.

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 printhead cartridge for use with an ink jet printer is disclosed. The printhead cartridge includes a memory element for storing jet characteristics of the cartridge. These characteristics can be measured during fabrication, upon installation into the printer, or during the operation of the printer. The printer adjusts printing parameters to compensate for the out of specification characteristics for optimized image quality. The compensation is done through adjusting drop ejection energy, thermal control, or replacing failed jets with substitute jets in the printhead. Alternatively, the printer accesses the measured characteristics to determine if they are within specification. If the printhead cartridge does not meet specifications, the user is instructed to remove the printhead cartridge since its use may adversely affect the quality of the resulting image. The printer accesses the measured characteristics throughout the life of the cartridge to ensure the quality of the resulting image does not degrade.

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: Inkjet cartridge assemblies are provided for shipping with the internal pressure of their ink containers set during assembly at a reduced level at least 2 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level to avoid leaking during shipping. Preferably, the ink containers have an internal pressure set at least 9 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Abstract: Inkjet cartridge assemblies are provided for shipping with the internal pressure of their ink containers set during assembly at a reduced level at least 2 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level to avoid leaking during shipping. Preferably, the ink containers have an internal pressure set at least 9 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge assembly includes a pen body housing having an ink container, a jet plate coupled to the pen body for ejecting droplets of ink, and an ink inlet port through one wall of the housing. A connection tube is attached to the ink inlet. The connection tube has a septum which is remote from the inlet port, whereby the septum is adapted for connection to an ink supply.

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 column of ink ejection nozzles on an ink jet print head is arranged in a plurality of sub-columns. The number of sub-columns and the assignment of nozzles to the sub-columns is selected to reduce cross-talk between nozzles, to prevent overlap of ejection pulses between sub-columns, and to minimize the complexity of the electronics required to actuate the ink ejection nozzles for droplet deposition.

Abstract: An inkjet printer having an expandable ink container biased to expand and configured to receive refill ink and an ink reservoir to provide refill ink to the expandable ink container. The printer also has an electronic volume detector to detect a refill value and a full value of the volume of the expandable ink container. The flow of refill ink begins when the volume of the expandable ink container decreases to the refill value and ceases when the volume of the expandable ink container increases to the full value.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge for use with an ink jet printer is disclosed. The printhead cartridge includes a memory element for storing jet characteristics of the cartridge. These characteristics can be measured during fabrication, upon installation into the printer, or during the operation of the printer. The printer adjusts printing parameters to compensate for the out of specification characteristics for optimized image quality. The compensation is done through adjusting drop ejection energy, thermal control, or replacing failed jets with substitute jets in the printhead. Alternatively, the printer accesses the measured characteristics to determine if they are within specification. If the printhead cartridge does not meet specifications, the user is instructed to remove the printhead cartridge since its use may adversely affect the quality of the resulting image. The printer accesses the measured characteristics throughout the life of the cartridge to ensure the quality of the resulting image does not degrade.

Abstract: A column of ink ejection nozzles on an ink jet print head is arranged in a plurality of sub-columns. The number of sub-columns and the assignment of nozzles to the sub-columns is selected to reduce cross-talk between nozzles, to prevent overlap of ejection pulses between sub-columns, and to minimize the complexity of the electronics required to actuate the ink ejection nozzles for droplet deposition.

Abstract: A method to eliminate ink trajectory errors when an inkjet printhead is fabricated is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a nozzle member containing an array of orifices is affixed to a barrier layer formed on a having heater elements formed thereon. The nozzle member is affixed to the barrier layer using heat and pressure. The back surface of the nozzle member extends beyond the outer edges of the substrate. During the heating and pressure step used to affix the nozzle member to the barrier layer, the nozzle member tends to undesirably bend over the outer edges of the barrier layer, causing the nozzles to be tilted outward. To avoid the foregoing the barrier layer is formed with one or more trenches parallel to the long edges of the barrier layer to cause the nozzle member to dip and bend over the trenches in an amount approximately equal to the bend into the ink channels on the outer edge of the substrate.

Abstract: A means is provided to eliminate ink trajectory errors when an inkjet printhead is fabricated as described below. In a preferred embodiment, a nozzle member containing an array of orifices is affixed to a barrier layer formed on a substrate, the substrate having heater elements formed thereon. The nozzle member is affixed to the barrier layer using heat and pressure. Each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a single heating element formed on the substrate. The back surface of the nozzle member extends beyond the outer edges of the substrate. During the heating and pressure step used to affix the nozzle member to the barrier layer, the nozzle member undesirable bends over the outer edges of the barrier layer, causing the nozzles to be tilted outward.