Zamtec Limited

Memjet Technology Limited

Jeff Borra

Jon Lucas

Ryan Root

Robert Rosati

Raul Perez

Bob Mallory

Tom Alesi

Neal Cekalski

Ray Guichard

Robert L Mallory

Christopher Hibbard

Geoffrey Philip Dyer

Edward Ellis Esdaile-Watts

Kent Benjamen Kwan

An inkjet printer includes: an ink container having an outlet port and a return port; a printhead having a first ink port and a second ink port; a first ink line interconnecting the outlet port and the first ink port; a second ink line interconnecting the return port and the second ink port; a bypass line interconnecting the first and second ink lines; a valve system for controlling fluid flow through the first ink line and the bypass line; and a controller for controlling the valve system. During printing, the controller is configured to open the first ink line and the bypass line.

Inkjet printer having bypass line

A fluid distribution system for a printhead. The system having a first fluid container a fluid connector for connection to a fluid input of the printhead; and a second fluid container connected between the first container and the connector for delivering fluid from the first container to the connector, wherein the second container is located relative to the first container and the connector so that a fluid pressure difference between fluid contained within the second container and fluid at the connector is independent of the amount of fluid contained within the first container.

Inkjet printer configured for printhead priming and depriming

A fluid distribution system for a printhead, the system having a fluid container fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a closed fluid flow loop, a gas vent on the closed loop and a multi-path valve on the closed loop for selectively allowing venting of gas in the closed loop via the gas vent.

Fluid distribution system having multi-path valve for gas venting

A system for priming and de-priming a printhead, the system having a fluid container fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a closed fluid flow loop, a gas inlet on the closed loop and a valve on the closed loop for selectively allowing gas to enter the closed loop via the gas inlet, and a pump on the closed loop, wherein the pump is operational to draw fluid from the container in a first direction around the closed loop to prime the printhead with fluid from the container, and the vent is operational to cause fluid in the closed loop and the printhead to de-prime to the container in a second direction around the closed loop.

System for priming and de-priming printhead

A multi-channel valve arrangement for distributing ink from a plurality of ink supplies to a media width inkjet printhead via a plurality of ink tubes each defining an individual ink flow channel, the valve having a body, a plurality of ports defined through the body, each port being configured to receive a respective one of the ink tubes therethrough, a movable pinch element extending across the ports and a pinch drive arrangement for selectively moving the pinch element into and out of pinching contact with the ink tubes so as to respectively block and allow ink flow through the ink tubes.

Multi-channel valve arrangement for printhead

A fluid distribution system for a printhead, the system having a fluid container fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a closed fluid flow loop, a bypass fluid path bypassing the printhead on the closed loop, a gas vent on the closed loop and a four-way valve on the closed loop for selectively allowing fluid flow along the closed loop via the printhead and the bypass path and venting of gas in the closed loop via the gas vent.

Fluid distribution system having four-way valve

A printing system having a media width printhead, a plurality of fluid containers fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of fluid tubes each defining an individual closed fluid flow loop, a first multi-channel valve arrangement for selectively allowing fluid flow along each closed loop via the printhead by selectively moving a pinch element into and out of pinching contact with the fluid tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the fluid tubes, a plurality of gas vents, each gas vent being associated with a respective one of the closed loops and a second multi-channel valve arrangement for selectively allowing venting of gas in each closed loop via the gas vents.

Printing system having valved ink and gas distribution for printhead

A diaphragm valve for distributing ink from an ink source to a media width inkjet printhead, the valve having a body, a plurality of ports on the body for connection to the ink source and printhead, a chamber within the body via which the ports are able to be interconnected, a diaphragm pad having seals for sealing respective ones of the ports and a selection device for manipulating the diaphragm pad to selectively seal and un-seal the ports to establish interconnection between the ports thereby allowing ink flow therebetween.

Diaphragm valve for printhead

A multi-path valve for a media width inkjet printhead, the printhead being connected to an ink source via a closed ink flow loop, the valve having a body, a first port on the body for connection to the ink source, a second port on the body for connection to the printhead, a third port on the body for connection to a bypass ink path which bypasses the printhead on the closed loop, a fourth port on the body for connection to a gas vent on the closed loop, a chamber within the body via which the first, second, third and fourth ports are able to be interconnected and a selection device for selectively establishing interconnection between the first, second, third and fourth ports to allow ink flow therebetween.

Multi-path valve for printhead

A fluid container having a body for containing fluid, a fluid outlet on a first wall of the body at which the contained fluid exits the body and a filter arranged within the body adjoining the first wall so that the contained fluid passes through the filter before exiting the outlet, wherein the filter is inclined relative to the first wall so that filtered fluid is contained in the body between the filter and the outlet.

Fluid container with internal filtration

A fluid distribution system for a printhead, the system having a fluid container, a first fluid path interconnecting the container and a first fluid port of the printhead, a second fluid path interconnecting the container and a second fluid port of the printhead, a third fluid path interconnecting the first and second paths, wherein the first, second and third paths are configured so that fluid from the container flows between the first and second paths via the printhead and via the third fluid path.

Fluid distribution system having printhead bypass from container

A method of priming a media width printhead, the method having controlling operation of the printhead, with a controller of a printing system having the printhead, to draw fluid in a first direction around a closed fluid flow loop from a fluid container to the printhead and controlling operation of a pump on the closed loop, with the controller, to draw fluid from the container in an opposite, second direction around the closed loop.

Method of priming printhead

A fluid distribution system having a first fluid container having a fluid outlet, a second fluid container having a fluid inlet, a fluid line interconnecting the outlet of the first container and the inlet of the second container, an inverted umbrella valve between the fluid line and the inlet, the valve arranged to allow fluid flow from the first container to the second container via the fluid line and a restrictor for restricting the allowed fluid flow through the fluid line.

Fluid distribution system having fluid flow restriction

A system for distributing fluid to a printhead, the system having a printhead a first fluid container and a second fluid container for distributing fluid from the first container to the printhead, the second container having a body for containing the fluid to a predetermined capacity, an inlet connected to the first container, a valve at the inlet, and an outlet connected to the printhead, wherein the valve is operated so that the valve is closed when the body contains fluid at the predetermined capacity and is open when fluid is distributed to the printhead via the outlet.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Jeff Borra