Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Zamtec Limited

Memjet Technology Limited

Raul Perez

Robert Rosati

Jon Lucas

Ryan Root

Jeff Borra

Bob Mallory

Antoni S Murcia

Cesar Fernandez Espasa

David L Berardelli

Tom Alesi

Neal Cekalski

Robert L Mallory

Santiago Garcia-Reyero Vinas

Michael W Munro

Kurt E Thiessen

Mark A Hay

Andrew Nolan Smith

Mark McGarry

Adam J Livingston

Edward P Maher

Kevin J Hasseler

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 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 rotary valve for distributing ink from an ink source to a media width inkjet printhead, the valve having a body, a shaft rotatably mounted to the body, a channel cylinder arranged on the shaft to be rotatable therewith, the channel cylinder having a channel defined along its circumference, a port cylinder fixed to the body relative to the shaft so as to concentrically and sealingly enclose the channel cylinder, the port cylinder having a plurality of ports defined therethrough along its circumference for respective connection to the printhead and ink source, each port being aligned with a portion of the channel and a selection device for selectively rotating the shaft to establish interconnection between the ports and the channel thereby allowing ink flow between the ports via the channel.

Rotary 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 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

Various embodiments of a storage system are disclosed.

Storage system

Imaging head

A fluid-delivery mechanism for a fluid-ejection device includes a fluid-supply station and a bracket that is fluidly and removably connectable between the fluid-supply station and one or more fluid-ejection printheads that are insertable into and controllable by the fluid-ejection device. The bracket supplies fluid from the fluid-supply station to the fluid-ejection printheads.

Fluid-delivery mechanism for fluid-ejection device

An ink delivery system for a printer includes an ink reservoir, a printhead assembly, a pump configured to provide ink from the ink reservoir to the printhead assembly at a selected pressure, and a controller configured to adjust the selected pressure based on a characteristic of an image to be printed.

Printer having adjustable ink delivery system pressure

One embodiment of an imaging device includes a first imaging fluid reservoir connected to a first passive valve, a second imaging fluid reservoir connected to a second passive valve, and a pumping system operatively connected to the first and second imaging fluid reservoirs for selectively flowing imaging fluid from each of the first and second imaging fluid reservoirs.

Imaging device including a passive valve

A recyclable ink container, ink container base assembly, and a method of attaching an ink container to a recyclable ink container base are disclosed. The container and ink container base assembly may be formed of recyclable material. A locking nut and needle assembly are part of the base fixture that hold the ink container assembly in place. The needle assembly is independent of the locking nut such that the ink needle and airline properly align when the locking nut is turned.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Raul Perez