Xerox Corporation

Nicholas C Hill

Trevor James Snyder

Steven Van Cleve Korol

Isaac S Frazier

Susan June Zoltner

Devin Kyle Byerley

Rodney Bryant Hill

A method for recycling ink in an inkjet printer includes combining purged inks having two or more colors with black ink to form a mixed ink. The printer identifies an optical characteristic of the mixed ink and compares it to the optical characteristic for black ink. A controller for the printer adjusts the operation of the printer to form ink images having an optical characteristic that is closer to black ink than ink images formed with the mixed ink alone.

Method for operating a printer to print recycled ink with process black neutralization

In an inkjet printer, an ink reclamation apparatus receives ink emitted from at least one printhead. The ink reclamation apparatus includes an ink receptacle and a liquid path member that extends from the ink receptacle to contact the face of at least one printhead proximate to a plurality of inkjets in the at least one printhead. The liquid path member draws liquid ink from the plurality of inkjets and the liquid ink enters the ink receptacle. The ink reclamation apparatus returns the ink to a reservoir in the printhead and reduces or eliminates wasted ink during operation of the at least one printhead.

Compliant liquid path member and receptacle for ink recirculation

A method for recirculating ink in an inkjet printer includes applying air pressure to an ink supply to expel liquid ink through a plurality of inkjets in the printhead. An ink receptacle that is positioned at a predetermined distance from the inkjets collects the expelled ink. The ink receptacle moves into fluid communication with an ink supply, and the ink collected in the ink receptacle enters the ink supply.

Method and apparatus for ink recirculation

Method and system for printing recycled ink with process black neutralization

An ink recirculation assembly for an inkjet printer recovers purged ink for recycling. The ink recirculation assembly includes a porous pad configured to absorb ink from a printhead face by capillary action. The porous pad is operatively connected to an actuator, which is configured to move the porous pad to contact the printhead face to absorb ink from the printhead face. The actuator is further configured to move the porous pad to contact a heated member, which releases ink from the porous pad and enables the ink to flow into an ink receptacle for recycle or disposal.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Nicholas C Hill