Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080198212 | INK-JET RECORDING APPARATUS, METHOD OF REMOVING AIR OF INK-JET RECORDING APPARATUS AND REMOVING AIR DEVICE - An air removing device is connected to a tank to contain ink through a first supply tube, and an ink-jet head is connected to the air removing device through a second supply tube. The first supply tube and ink-jet head are heated and controlled. Air dissolved in ink is sucked out through a hollow fiber membrane provided in a housing by operating a vacuum pump by supplying ink to the hollow fiber membrane while heating and controlling atmosphere in the housing. Thus, air dissolved in ink is removed, and ink heated to a temperature suitable for ejection is supplied to the ink-jet head. | 08-21-2008 |
20080218571 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an exhaust unit that discharges air accommodated in a second liquid accommodating unit; a liquid transfer unit that transfers liquid from a first liquid accommodating unit to the second liquid accommodating unit via a liquid supply path and retransfers liquid from the second liquid accommodating unit to the first liquid accommodating unit via the liquid supply path; and a control unit that activates the exhaust unit and the liquid transfer unit according to an air bubble detection result of an air bubble detection unit, controls the liquid transfer unit to transfer a predetermined amount of liquid from the first liquid accommodating unit to the second liquid accommodating unit, and controls the liquid transfer unit to retransfer liquid from the second liquid accommodating unit to the first liquid accommodating unit according to a liquid level detection result of a liquid level detection unit. | 09-11-2008 |
20080239040 | LIQUID-DROP EJECTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID CARTRIDGE - A liquid-drop ejecting apparatus comprises: a liquid-drop ejection head, a first tank, a second tank and a negative pressure generation unit. The first tank includes: a liquid storage chamber for storing therein a liquid to be supplied to the liquid-drop ejection head; a gas chamber formed therein; a communication hole connecting the liquid storage chamber and the gas chamber; a gas-permeable membrane which covers the communication hole, and by which the liquid storage chamber and the gas chamber is divided; and a suppression member provided in the gas chamber and configured to contact with the gas-permeable membrane which is deformed to project toward an inside of the gas chamber, so as to suppress the deformation of the gas-permeable membrane. The second tank for storing therein a liquid to be supplied to the liquid storage chamber. The negative pressure generation unit configured to generate a negative pressure in the gas chamber. | 10-02-2008 |
20080252707 | Liquid supply apparatus, liquid supply method and image forming apparatus - The liquid supply apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head which includes: a plurality of bubble generating chambers in which liquid is heated to generate ejection bubbles causing the liquid to be ejected through ejection ports; a common flow channel connected to the plurality of bubble generating chambers and storing the liquid to be supplied to the plurality of bubble generating chambers; and bubble restricting members restricting passage of bubbles between the common flow channel and the plurality of bubble generating chambers; a liquid storage unit which is connected to the common flow channel and which stores the liquid to be supplied to the common flow channel; a first suctioning device which caps and suctions an ejection face of the liquid ejection head on which the ejection ports are arranged; and a pressure reduction device which reduces pressure of the liquid storage unit. | 10-16-2008 |
20080273070 | BUBBLE REMOVING APPARATUS FOR INKJET PRINTER AND METHOD OF REMOVING AIR BUBBLES USING THE SAME - A bubble removing apparatus for removing air bubbles in ink to be supplied to a printer head of an inkjet printer and a method of removing the air bubbles are provided to provide a smooth flow of ink to the inkjet printer head. When an air bubble removing operation is performed, ink in an ink tank is moved towards the printer head through a filter unit by operating the pump in a forward direction, and the ink that has moved towards the printer head is returned to the ink tank through the filter unit by operating the pump in a reverse direction. Air bubbles trapped in the filter unit are moved to the ink tank due to the operation of the pump in the reverse direction and are removed in the ink tank by the gravitational force, and thereby a smooth flowing ink supply can be provided to the printer head. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273071 | FLUIDIC ARRANGEMENT WITH A SUMP FOR A PRINTER - 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. | 11-06-2008 |
20080278558 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND LIQUID CONTROL METHOD - The image forming apparatus comprises: a recording head which discharges droplets of liquid onto a recording medium; a dissolved gas amount estimating device which estimates an amount of dissolved gas contained in the liquid inside the recording head; and a liquid restoring device which carries out restoration processing of the liquid inside the recording head, if an estimated value of the amount of the dissolved gas estimated by the dissolved gas amount estimating device exceeds a prescribed reference value. | 11-13-2008 |
20080291254 | Liquid ejection apparatus and image forming apparatus - The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a plurality of ejection ports which eject liquid; a plurality of pressure chambers which are connected respectively to the ejection ports; pressure generating elements which are provided to correspond respectively to the pressure chambers and create a pressure change in the liquid in the respective pressure chambers; a common flow channel which is connected to the pressure chambers and supplies the liquid to the pressure chambers; a movable member which is disposed inside the common flow channel and can move while making contact with a flow channel wall forming one portion of an internal circumferential surface of the common flow channel; and a movement device which moves the movable member inside the common flow channel. | 11-27-2008 |
20080297578 | LIQUID-DROPLET EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid-droplet ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head having an ejection opening from which a droplet of a liquid is ejected, a first tank in which a liquid storing chamber storing the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head and a gas chamber storing a gas are formed, a second tank storing the liquid to be supplied to the liquid storing chamber, a gas-permeable film which closes a communication portion at which the gas chamber and liquid storing chamber communicate with each other, separates the gas chamber and liquid storing chamber from each other, and allows the gas to pass therethrough but does not allow the liquid to pass therethrough, a suction passage in communication with the gas chamber, a sucking device sucking the gas from the gas chamber through the suction passage, and a pressure control device disposed in the suction passage and communicating an internal space of the suction passage with an external space of the suction passage when an internal pressure of the suction passage decreases below a threshold lower than the atmospheric pressure due to the sucking of the gas by the sucking device, in order to inhibit the internal pressure of the suction passage from excessively decreasing. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297579 | LIQUID-DROPLET EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid-droplet ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head having an ejection opening from which a droplet of a liquid is ejected, a liquid supply passage through which the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting head, a first suction passage normally held in communication with the liquid supply passage, a sucking device sucking a gas in the liquid supply passage via the first suction passage, a gas-permeable film which is disposed at a communication portion at which the liquid supply passage and the first suction passage communicate with each other, and allows the gas to pass therethrough but not allowing the liquid to pass therethrough, a gas tank which is disposed in a portion of the first suction passage between the sucking device and the liquid supply passage, and accommodates the gas to accumulate a suction pressure to suck the gas, and a check valve which is disposed in a portion of the first suction passage between the sucking device and the gas tank, and allows the gas to flow in a first direction from the liquid supply passage to the sucking device, but does not allow the gas to flow in a second direction opposite to the first direction. | 12-04-2008 |
20080309744 | LIQUID-EJECTING HEAD - A liquid-ejecting head is provided whereby it is possible to eject both a main droplet and a satellite in the desired ejection direction, and furthermore, wherein no bias exists in the lifetimes of the heaters of a tip A and a tip B. In order to do so, a stopper is formed inside the ejection nozzle, the stopper limiting the movement of movable valves during bubble formation. | 12-18-2008 |
20080316288 | Liquid Charging Apparatus and Liquid Charging Method - An ink charging injection apparatus for charging ink to an ink pack is disclosed. The ink injection apparatus includes a pressurizing tank for storing ink, piping, a deaeration device, and an air vent pipe. The piping connects the pressurizing tank to the ink pack such that ink stored in the pressuring tank can be supplied from the pressurizing tank to the ink pack. The deaeration device is provided in the piping. The deaeration device is operated to produce suction for deaerating ink in the piping. The air vent pipe branches from a section of the piping and communicates with the deaeration device. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002468 | Image forming apparatus and head unit - An image forming apparatus includes a head unit which has, on a bottom wall of the head unit, a jetting head having a plurality of nozzles for jetting the liquid droplets, and which jets the liquid droplets from the nozzles onto the recording medium while moving in a scanning direction; a gas inlet port which is open through a side wall, the side wall being orthogonal to the scanning direction of the head unit, and via which a gas is taken into the head unit when the head unit moves in the scanning direction; and a pair of gas discharge ports which is open through the bottom wall of the head unit, at positions on both sides in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, to interpose the nozzles therebetween, and via which the gas, taken from the gas inlet port, is discharged toward the recording medium. | 01-01-2009 |
20090015644 | LIQUID INJECTING METHOD AND LIQUID CONTAINER - A method of injecting a liquid into a liquid container detachably mounted on a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container including a liquid containing portion, a liquid supply portion connectable to a liquid ejecting portion of the liquid consuming apparatus, a liquid guide passage for guiding the liquid stored in the liquid containing portion to the liquid supply portion, an air communicating passage communicating the liquid containing chamber with air, a liquid detection unit provided in the liquid guide passage and for outputting different signals between in a case where the liquid guide passage is filled with the liquid and in a case where the liquid guide passage includes air entered thereinto, and a bubble trapping passage provided in the liquid guide passage between a detection position of the liquid detection unit and the liquid containing portion to trap bubbles in the liquid, the method includes: forming an injection port communicating with the liquid containing portion in the air communicating passage; injecting a predetermined amount of the liquid through the injection port; and sealing the injection port after injecting the liquid. | 01-15-2009 |
20090058968 | INKJET PRINT HEAD AND METHOD OF PRINTING THEREWITH - An inkjet print head having a dummy ink chamber and a dummy heater disposed in the inkjet print head such that air bubbles gathered at edges of an ink feed hole are pushed toward an inner side of the ink feed hole when inks are sprayed. Accordingly, although air bubbles caused by the air introduced from an exterior or separated from inks are gathered at the edges of the ink feed hole, the air bubbles are forcedly pushed toward the center portion of the ink feed hole communicating with an ink storage container such that the air bubbles can flow into the ink storage container. Thus, inks are easily supplied to ink chambers adjacent to the edges of the ink feed hole, so that missing nozzles can be prevented from being generated. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058969 | DROPLET EJECTING DEVICE HAVING FLOW ADJUSTING MEMBER - A droplet ejecting device includes a droplet ejecting head, a channel member, a suction section, and a flow adjusting member. The droplet ejecting head has nozzles that eject droplets. The channel member is formed with a liquid supplying channel that supplies the droplet ejecting head with liquid. The suction section sucks liquid and an air bubble in the liquid supplying channel through the nozzles. The flow adjusting member is provided in the liquid supplying channel and is formed with a low-resistance channel and a high-resistance channel. The high-resistance channel is formed integrally with the low-resistance channel and has a higher flow resistance than the low-resistance channel. | 03-05-2009 |
20090079806 | PRINTHEAD HAVING LOW PRESSURE RISE NOZZLES - A printhead is provided having a plurality of chambers on a substrate which each have a nozzle, a heater arranged in each chamber so as to heat fluid within the chamber to form a gas bubble therein and thereby cause ejection of a drop from the corresponding nozzle, and a plurality of passages formed in the substrate so that each passage supplies the fluid to an associated one of the chambers. Each chamber is configured so that the transient rise in pressure therein when the gas bubble is formed is less than 20 MPa. | 03-26-2009 |
20090096853 | INK PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH IMPROVED LIQUID RETENTION IN REGULATOR CHANNEL - There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end communicating with a headspace of the chamber, the second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining at least some liquid in the regulator channel, thereby ensuring that air entering the headspace first passes through the liquid. The wetting system comprises a first wetting chamber connected to the first end, a second wetting chamber connected to the second end, and a liquid-retaining structure positioned in the second wetting chamber. The regulator channel, the first wetting chamber, the second wetting chamber and the liquid-retaining structure are all in fluid communication with each other. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink. | 04-16-2009 |
20090109268 | Bubbler - Bubblers may be provided between nozzles. Such bubblers may have elongated cross-sections. | 04-30-2009 |
20090115825 | DROPLET EJECTION DEVICE FOR A HIGHLY VISCOUS LIQUID - A droplet ejection device for a highly viscous liquid includes a micro flow channel filled with a highly viscous liquid and having an inlet and an outlet channel; at least a branch channel communicated with the outlet channel; a highly-viscous-liquid supply device connected to the inlet so as to supply the highly viscous liquid to the micro flow channel; a gas supply device connected to the branch channel so as to supply a gas to the outlet channel by way of the branch channel; and at least a control valve mounted between the branch channel and the gas supply device so as to control an intermittent supply of the gas from the branch channel to the outlet channel to interrupt the highly-viscous-liquid flow in the outlet channel and to prompt the highly viscous fluid to form a droplet to be ejected out of the micro flow channel. | 05-07-2009 |
20090147064 | LIQUID SUPPLY APPARATUS AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - Provided is a liquid supply apparatus including a liquid supply path which supplies a liquid from an upstream side, which is a liquid supply source, to a downstream side in which the liquid is consumed; a defoaming chamber which is provided in the liquid supply path and defoams air bubbles included in the liquid; and a depressurization chamber which is provided at a position adjacent to the defoaming chamber with a partition wall interposed therebetween and is depressurized such that the pressure thereof becomes lower than the pressure of the defoaming chamber, wherein the partition wall allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid, and wherein an air bubble integrating portion which collects the air bubbles included in the liquid is provided in the defoaming chamber. | 06-11-2009 |
20090160921 | LIQUID SUPPLY DEVICE AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply path for supplying liquid from an upstream, liquid supply side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed. A defoaming chamber in the middle of the liquid supply path causes bubbles to escape from the liquid. A decompression chamber adjacent to the defoaming chamber has a partition wall interposed therebetween and is decompressed to have lower pressure than the defoaming chamber. The partition wall allows gas to permeate therethrough by decompression of the decompression chamber and regulates permeation of liquid. The partition wall is formed by a separate member from a decompression chamber forming member that forms the decompression chamber. The partition wall forms a part of an inner surface of the liquid supply path, and the liquid supply path passes along the inside of a wall portion of the decompression chamber in the decompression chamber forming member. | 06-25-2009 |
20090167829 | DEGASSING METHOD OF INK-JET INK, PRODUCTION METHOD OF INK-JET INK AND INK-JET PRINTER - A degassing method of an ink-jet ink comprising at least a pigment, and having a viscosity of not less than 10 mPa·second and not more than 50 mPa·second at 25° C., comprising the step of: carrying out degassing employing an external refluxing type hollow fiber degassing module under a condition of a pressure loss of the hollow fiber degassing module during degassing being less than 0.1 MPa. | 07-02-2009 |
20090201352 | INK JET SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING AIR BUBBLES INSIDE OF AN INK JET NOZZLE - An ink jet system according to the present invention is provided with an air bubble removing unit including: an ink jet body having a plurality of ink supply path; a nozzle plate connected to an end of the ink jet body and having a plurality of spaced nozzle holes therein; and a cap configured to cover the nozzle holes formed in the nozzle plate wherein a first ink channel space is formed continuous to the nozzle holes and the plurality of ink supply path, and a second ink channel space is formed between a recess of the cap and a surface of the nozzle plate, so that the second ink channel space and the first ink channel space are continuous through the nozzle holes. | 08-13-2009 |
20090213198 | Ink Jet Print Head Which Prevents Bubbles From Collecting - Ink jet print head comprising a substrate with an upper surface and a lower surface; a plurality of actuators with ejection chambers and ink supply passages, an ink distribution slot formed in the substrate between the lower surface and the upper surface; a manifold formed in the substrate of the upper surface around the slot for the feed to the actuators; and a plurality of bubble prevention elements formed in the feed manifold. The plurality of bubble prevention elements ( | 08-27-2009 |
20090219359 | PRINTHEAD PRIMING SYSTEM WITH FEEDBACK CONTROL OF PRIMING PUMP - A priming system for priming an inkjet printhead having an ink inlet, an ink outlet and a plurality of nozzles, the priming system comprising:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090219360 | BUBBLE-BURSTING BOX FOR AN INK SUPPLY SYSTEM - A bubble-bursting box for bursting bubbles of a liquid entering the box, the box comprising:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090219361 | PRINTER COMPRISING PRIMING/DE-PRIMING SYSTEM WITH COOPERATIVE PUSHING AND PULLING OF INK THROUGH PRINTHEAD - A printer comprising:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090219362 | METHOD OF PRIMING A PRINTHEAD WITH INK BUBBLES PRESENT IN A PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY - A method of priming one or more printhead integrated circuits, the method comprising the steps of:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090219363 | METHOD OF REPLACING A PRINTHEAD IN AN INKJET PRINTER WITH MINIMAL INK WASTAGE - A method of replacing a printhead in an inkjet printer with minimal ink wastage, the method comprising the steps of:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090219364 | PRINTER COMPRISING MULTIPLE COLOR CHANNELS WITH SINGLE AIR PUMP FOR PRINTHEAD PRIMING - A printer comprising:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090219365 | PRINTER COMPRISING PRIMING PUMP AND DOWNSTREAM EXPANSION CHAMBER - A printer comprising:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090219366 | METHOD OF PRIMING A PRINTHEAD HAVING DOWNSTREAM INK LINE CONNECTED TO A PRIMING PUMP - A method of priming one or more inkjet printheads, the method comprising the steps of: | 09-03-2009 |
20090231401 | PRINTER WITH GAS BUBBLE OCCLUSION RESISTANT CONDUITS - An inkjet printer with a printhead and a conduit connected to the printhead. The conduit defines a flow path for the printing fluid and has an internal cross section configured such that the surface tension of printing fluid within it favors gas bubble growth along the conduit length over radial bubble growth that would fully occlude the flow path. | 09-17-2009 |
20090244226 | LIQUID EJECTING DEVICE - Ink is supplied to a supply tank from a second buffer tank, and ink is pressure-fed from the supply tank to a head. Further, ink is supplied from the second buffer tank to a recovery tank, and ink is pressure-fed from the recovery tank to the head. In both pressure-feedings, ink containing air bubbles within the head is recovered at a first buffer tank. The ink, that contains the air bubbles and is recovered at the first buffer tank, is sent to the second buffer tank via an ink flow path. A degassing section is provided on the ink flow path, and a degassing process is carried out while ink is being fed. | 10-01-2009 |
20090290006 | Droplet discharging apparatus - A droplet discharging apparatus has a flow path connected to a liquid supply path. A nozzle is located downstream of the flow path and discharges liquid drops. A pressure generation element generates pressure for discharging the liquid from the nozzle. The flow path is bent and has a first flow path connected to the liquid supply path and a second flow path connected to the downstream side of the first flow path and causing the liquid to flow in the different direction from the first flow path. That portion of the bend which is from an outer corner of the bend to an outer wall portion of the second flow path is formed in a smooth shape. At the connected sections, the width of the second flow path normal to the direction of flow of the first flow path is set smaller than the width of the first flow path. | 11-26-2009 |
20090295890 | Liquid Container - A liquid container mountable in a liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid container includes a liquid storage section that stores liquid, an air communication section that allows the liquid storage section and an outside of the liquid container to communicate with each other, a bubble separation unit that separates bubbles from the liquid, a communication path that allows the bubble separation unit and the liquid storage section to communicate with each other and has at one end thereof an exit connected to the bubble separation unit and at the other end thereof an entrance connected to the liquid storage section, the exit having a cross section whose area continuously increases toward the bubble separation unit, a liquid supply unit through which the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting apparatus, and a detection unit that is connected to the liquid supply unit and the bubble separation unit and detects an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid container. | 12-03-2009 |
20090295891 | Liquid Container - A liquid container mountable in a liquid ejecting apparatus is provided. The liquid container includes a liquid storage section that stores liquid, a liquid supply section through which the liquid stored in the liquid storage section is supplied to the liquid ejecting apparatus, an air communication section that allows the liquid storage section and an outside of the liquid container to communicate with each other, a bubble separation section that separates bubbles from the liquid, a vertical communication path that has an entrance communicating with the liquid storage section and an exit provided at a higher level in a vertical direction than the entrance and communicating with the bubble separation section, and a detection section that communicates with the liquid supply section and the bubble separation section and is adapted to detect a depletion of the liquid stored in the liquid container. | 12-03-2009 |
20090322840 | LIQUID CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A liquid container includes: a case in which a flow channel of a liquid is exposed from an opening; a sensor base, disposed in the opening of the case to face the flow channel; a sensor chip, including: a piezoelectric element, mounted on a surface opposite to a surface of the sensor base which faces the flow channel; and a sensor cavity, disposed opposite to the piezoelectric element and adapted to receive the liquid as a detection target; a film, adapted to hold the sensor base in the opening and sealing the opening; a partition wall, partitioning the flow channel in the case into an upstream buffer chamber and a downstream buffer chamber; and a bubble trapping section, disposed upstream of the upstream buffer chamber. The bubble trapping section includes: a bubble trapping chamber, adapted to trap bubbles upside by allowing the liquid level to be lowered with reduction in an amount of remaining liquid at a time of consuming the liquid; an inlet, communicating at a vertical upper position of the bubble trapping chamber to introduce the liquid at the time of consuming the liquid; and an outlet, communicating at a vertical lower position of the bubble trapping chamber to discharge the liquid at the time of consuming the liquid. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322841 | INKJET PRINTER, PRINTING METHOD AND INK DRYER - An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head, an electromagnetic-wave supplier, a wave guide, and a ventilator. The inkjet head is configured to eject ink onto a surface of a medium. The electromagnetic-wave supplier is configured to generate electromagnetic waves. The wave guide has an internal space into which the medium is to be fed. The wave guide is connected to the electromagnetic-wave supplier to apply the electromagnetic waves to the medium. The ventilator is configured to flow a gas in the internal space of the wave guide. | 12-31-2009 |
20100039486 | INK DEGASSING FOR CIRCULATING INK SUPPLY SYSTEMS IN INK JET PRINTERS - An ink circulation system includes a supply subtank for supplying ink to an ink jet print head and a return subtank returning the ink not ejected by the ink jet print head. A print circulation path links the supply subtank with the ink jet print head and the return subtank for providing a print flow of ink from the supply subtank to the ink jet print head, the return subtank, and back to the supply subtank. A degas circulation path links the supply subtank with a through-flow degassing unit for providing a degas flow of ink from the supply subtank to the through-flow degassing unit and back to the supply subtank. The ink circulation system improves the degassing quality of the ink supplied to the ink jet print head of a printing apparatus is provided. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045757 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, DEFOAMING MECHANISM, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus that is used for ejecting a liquid. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head unit that ejects the liquid, a liquid supplying path that is used for leading the liquid to the head unit, a defoaming chamber that is disposed in the liquid supplying path and is used for eliminating air bubbles inside the liquid, a broaden chamber that is disposed in the liquid supplying path and can collect the liquid due to having a cross-section area larger than that of the liquid supplying path, and a decompression unit that is used for decompressing the defoaming chamber and the broaden chamber. | 02-25-2010 |
20100053283 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus that is used for ejecting a liquid. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head unit that ejects the liquid, a liquid supply path that is used for directing the liquid to the head unit, a decompression defoaming unit that eliminates air bubbles from the liquid by decompressing at least a part of the liquid supply path, and a pressurizing unit that pressurizes at least a part of the liquid supply path. | 03-04-2010 |
20100053284 | BUBBLE CONTROL UNIT, LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - Provided is a bubble control unit for a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle formed on a nozzle surface. The bubble control unit includes a liquid channel through which the liquid is supplied to the nozzle. In the bubble control unit, the liquid channel includes: a first chamber; a second chamber disposed on the upstream side from the first chamber; a first communicating path which has a bubble chamber extending upward from the first chamber, and makes the liquid within the second chamber to flow into the first chamber from a first communicating path inlet of the second chamber; and a second communicating path which is provided with a second communicating path inlet below the first communicating path inlet, separately from the first communicating path inlet, and makes the liquid within the second chamber to flow into the first chamber from the second communicating path inlet. | 03-04-2010 |
20100053285 | DEFOAMING MECHANISM AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - There is provided a defoaming mechanism that is used for eliminating air bubbles from a liquid flowing through the inside of a liquid supply path included in a liquid ejecting apparatus. The defoaming mechanism includes a defoaming chamber that has a side wall extending in the vertical direction and is used for capturing the air bubbles contained in the liquid and a communication portion that allows the defoaming chamber and the liquid supply path to be communicated with each other in the side wall. | 03-04-2010 |
20100073445 | Printer With Ink Pressure Regulator - An inkjet printer includes a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to print media; an ink supply reservoir for storing ink; an ink supply line defining a flow path from the ink supply reservoir to the printhead IC; a valve in the ink supply line proximate the printhead IC selectively closing the flow path to the printhead IC; an ink purge actuator for forcing a volume of ink out of the printhead under pressure; a printhead maintenance system having a collection roller for rotating such that the collection roller surface collects ink purged from the printhead and draws the ink away; and a pressure regulator provided in the ink supply reservoir downstream from the ink supply reservoir. The pressure regulator is normally biased shut, and operable to open upon a threshold pressure difference between ink upstream of the pressure regulator and ink downstream of the pressure regulator. | 03-25-2010 |
20100079566 | INK-JET HEAD, INK-JET PRINTER, AND INK-JET RECORDING METHOD - Disclosed is an inkjet recording method wherein an image is formed on a recording medium by spraying an ink containing at least a photopolymerizable compound onto the recording medium through a nozzle of an inkjet head. This inkjet recording method enables to perform a stable image recording by suppressing formation of a precipitate in the head. This inkjet recording method is characterized in that in an inkjet head, which is used for forming an image on a recording medium by spraying an inkjet ink containing at least a photopolymerizable compound through a nozzle, the surface of at least a part of metals constituting the internal member of the inkjet head which is in contact with the inkjet ink is subjected to a passivation treatment or an insulation coating treatment. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079567 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid containing chamber that contains liquid; a depressurizing unit that brings the liquid contained in the liquid containing chamber to a boil at reduced pressure; and an air open valve that opens an inner chamber space of the liquid containing chamber to air after the boiling of the liquid at reduced pressure. | 04-01-2010 |
20100085405 | DEGASSING INK IN DIGITAL PRINTERS - A method of degassing ink in a printer having an ink storage tank containing a body of ink having an ink surface is described. The method comprises causing the body of ink to move in the storage tank, so as to increase the surface area of the ink surface in comparison with a flat ink surface that an equivalent stationary body of ink would have in the storage tank, and extracting gas from the ink body. | 04-08-2010 |
20100103233 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid container which contains a liquid; a liquid ejecting unit which ejects the liquid supplied from the liquid container; a cavitation generator which generates cavitation in the liquid; and a gas discharging port which discharges a gas separated from the liquid by the cavitation. | 04-29-2010 |
20100123765 | LIQUID JETTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID SUPPLY UNIT OF LIQUID JETTING APPARATUS - A liquid jetting apparatus includes a liquid jetting head; a liquid supply channel which supplies the liquid to the liquid jetting head; an air discharge mechanism which discharges air existing in the liquid, the air discharge mechanism including an air storage portion, an air discharge passage, a valve, and a flexible member. When a negative pressure is generated in the air discharge passage, the flexible member is deformed to open the valve, and to discharge the air inside the air storage portion via the air discharge passage. Accordingly, the size of the apparatus can be made small while making it possible to discharge the air accumulated in the head unit. | 05-20-2010 |
20100134576 | FLOTATION APPARATUS - A flotation apparatus F includes a tank | 06-03-2010 |
20100134577 | Inkjet Printhead With Pressure Pulse Priming - 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. | 06-03-2010 |
20100141721 | Liquid-jet head chip, liquid-jet head, and liquid-jet recording apparatus - To simplify a head-chip is provided with an actuator including grooves and a cover plate bonded onto the one surface of the actuator and including an opening portion including an ink chamber having an aperture plane being open on an upper end surface and slits extending from the ink chamber to be in communication with the grooves, and an flow path for bringing the upper end surface and one end surface extending in a thickness direction into communication with each other, the opening portion and the flow path being provided independently of each other. In the head-chip, foreign substance removal filter for removing a foreign substance is provided at a position at which the aperture plane of the ink chamber is substantially closed, and a filter for allowing passage of air bubbles, is provided at a position at which an opening of the flow path is substantially closed. | 06-10-2010 |
20100141722 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus has: a recording head having a liquid chamber and nozzles; a tank that stores the liquid which is supplied to the recording head; a liquid supply path that supplies the liquid from the tank to the liquid chamber; a supply pump provided on the liquid supply path; a liquid return path that returns the liquid from the liquid chamber to the tank; a return pump provided on the liquid return path; and a control unit that controls the supply pump and the return pump, wherein when the liquid is initially filled into the liquid chamber, the control unit drives the return pump so as to set the liquid chamber into a negative pressure state and subsequently drives the supply pump. The recording apparatus which can fill the liquid at a high speed without raising a pressure of a flow path can be provided. | 06-10-2010 |
20100182387 | RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPLYING FLUID TO PRINTHEAD - A fluid reservoir assembly for supplying fluid to a printhead is provided. The assembly has a reservoir compartment in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying the fluid to the printhead via a fluid outlet, the reservoir compartment having an air vent and a bypass fluid path interconnecting the fluid outlet and a well region within the compartment, and a valve in the bypass fluid path for priming the reservoir compartment with fluid via the bypass fluid path. | 07-22-2010 |
20100201765 | INKJET PRINT HEAD AND INK STORAGE APPARATUS - An objective of the invention is to provide an improved ink storage apparatus and an inkjet print head including the ink storage apparatus. Furthermore, an effective elimination of the air bubbles flowed into or generated in the print head is realized by an ink storage apparatus and an inkjet print head including the ink storage apparatus. | 08-12-2010 |
20100201766 | INKJET PRINTER WITH BUBBLEPOINT PRESSURE REGULATOR HAVING SLOT-SHAPED BUBBLE OUTLET - 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. | 08-12-2010 |
20100231667 | LIQUID CONTAINERS - A liquid container includes an air introduction portion configured to introduce air into a liquid chamber. The air introduction portion includes an air communication passage, and a blocking member positioned in the air communication passage and configured to block the air communication passage. The air introduction portion also includes a movable member positioned in the air communication passage and configured to move toward the blocking member, such that blockage of the air communication passage by the blocking member is released. The movable member includes an air passage formed therethrough, and the air passage is in fluid communication with the air communication passage. The air introduction portion further includes a gas-permeable film positioned on the movable member and closing the air passage. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231668 | BUBBLE REMOVING METHOD - A method removes bubbles from a liquid in a liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid storing chamber that stores a liquid and a first pressure control chamber adjacent to the liquid storing chamber with a first partition wall portion having flexibility and gas permeability interposed therebetween. A pressure control valve opens or seals an inlet of the liquid storing chamber in response to displacement of the first partition wall portion. A switching valve connects to the first pressure control chamber. A depressurizing pump is connected to the switching valve. An ejection port on the downstream side of the liquid storing chamber ejects the liquid. The method includes communicating the first pressure control chamber with the depressurizing pump by controlling the switching valve, depressurizing the first pressure control chamber by driving the depressurizing pump, and sealing the first pressure control chamber by controlling the switching valve. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231669 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid, including: a depressurizing pump: a liquid storing chamber which includes an inlet for the liquid and stores the liquid; a first partition wall portion which has flexibility and gas permeability; a first pressure control chamber which is adjacent to the liquid storing chamber with the first partition wall portion interposed therebetween; a pressure control valve which opens or seals the inlet in response to displacement of the first partition wall portion; and a switching valve which is connected to the first pressure control chamber and the depressurizing pump and selects an arbitrary state among a first communication state where the first pressure control chamber communicates with an atmosphere, a second communication state where the first pressure control chamber communicates with the depressurizing pump, and a sealed state where the first pressure control chamber is sealed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100277558 | INKJET PRINTHEAD WITH BUBBLE TRAP AND AIR VENTS - An inkjet printhead that has an array of ink chambers arranged to remove air bubbles entrained in the ink supply flow. Each of the ink chambers has a nozzle and a thermal actuator respectively, the array of ink chambers defined by sidewalls extending between a nozzle plate and an underlying wafer substrate. The printhead also has ink inlets extending through the underlying wafer substrate. Each of the ink inlets has an ink permeable trap and a vent sized such that the surface tension of an ink meniscus across the vent prevents ink leakage. The ink permeable trap has columns extending from the underlying wafer substrate to the vent to direct gas bubbles entrained in a flow of ink through the ink inlet towards the vent. | 11-04-2010 |
20100283822 | Apparatus and Methods for Purging Air from a Fluid Conveying Tube - An apparatus for purging air from a fluid conveying tube includes a housing member comprising an inner bore having an inlet and an outlet ( | 11-11-2010 |
20100309267 | INKJET PRINTER HAVING ROBUST BUBBLE-POINT INK PRESSURE REGULATOR - An inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead and an ink pressure regulator in fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line. The regulator includes an ink chamber having an ink outlet connected to the ink line; an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining liquid in the regulator channel. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink. | 12-09-2010 |
20100328408 | INK EJECTION HEAD UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An ink ejection head unit includes a head that ejects ink drops from plural two nozzles. The head includes a common liquid chamber connected to the plural nozzles. The common liquid chamber has a supply opening and an ejection opening. A tank is connected to the head and includes an ink containing section that contains ink to be supplied to the head. Also included is a supply path to supply the ink from the ink containing section to the supply opening of the head. An ejection path is provided to eject the ink ejected from the ejection opening of the head to an outside of the ink ejection head unit. A communication path is also provided to communicate the highest section of a seal of the containing section with the ejection path higher than the highest section of the seal. A fluid resistance of the communication path is larger than the total fluid resistance of a path starting from the supply opening to the ejection opening. | 12-30-2010 |
20110025793 | Inkjet head and method of manufacturing the same - An inkjet head according to an aspect of the invention may include: a flow path plate having a plurality of ink chambers therein; a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles connected to the ink chambers in order to eject ink in the ink chambers to the outside; and air traps provided inside the flow path plate and the nozzle plate to prevent crosstalk in which vibrations for driving the ink chambers affect another adjacent ink chamber. | 02-03-2011 |
20110037816 | INK PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH REGULATOR CHANNEL POSITIONED IN CHAMBER ROOF - An ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator includes an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line. A roof of the ink chamber includes: an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end communicating with a headspace of the chamber, the second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining liquid in the regulator channel, thereby ensuring that air entering the headspace first passes through the liquid. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to the printhead. | 02-17-2011 |
20110074894 | Reducing Ink Droplets Generated By Bursting Bubbles In An Ink Developer - An apparatus for reducing ink droplets generated by bursting bubbles within an ink developer includes a surface directing an ink flow into a channel; and a protrusion within the channel that reduces ink droplets generated by bursting bubbles entrained within the ink flow. An ink developer includes an ink source supplying ink to the ink developer; an electrode which develops a portion of the ink onto a developer roller; and a splash guard which directs an undeveloped ink flow into a channel which has a reduced cross-section area configured to reduce bubbles exiting the channel and bursting. | 03-31-2011 |
20110080456 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - The inkjet recording apparatus includes: a supply manifold having an inlet port to which a first main flow channel is connected, the liquid supplied from a tank through the first main flow channel being stored in the supply manifold, the supply manifold being connected to supply ports of head modules; a collection manifold having an outlet port to which a second main flow channel is connected, the liquid to be collected to the tank through the second main flow channel being stored in the collection manifold, the collection manifold being connected to discharge ports of the head modules; and a first bypass flow channel which connects the supply manifold to the collection manifold, wherein an end of the first bypass flow channel is connected to an upper side of an end of the supply manifold on a side opposite to a side where the inlet port is arranged. | 04-07-2011 |
20110085012 | DROPLET EJECTION HEAD, DROPLET EJECTION APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF COLLECTING BUBBLES IN DROPLET EJECTION HEAD - The droplet ejection head includes: a plurality of droplet ejection units which include ejection ports through which droplets of liquid are ejected, pressure chambers which are connected to the ejection ports through connection channels, drive elements which apply pressure to the liquid in the pressure chambers, supply channels through which the liquid is supplied to the pressure chambers, and return channels through which the liquid is returned from the connection channels; a common supply channel through which the liquid is supplied to the supply channels; and a common return channel through which the liquid is returned from the return channels, the common return channel including a stagnant flow region having a bubble collection section where bubbles are collected, wherein pressure variation occurring in each pressure chamber when ejecting a droplet of the liquid propagates more readily in the common return channel than in the common supply channel. | 04-14-2011 |
20110102524 | INK SUPPLY SYSTEM - An ink supply system including a reservoir and a foam regulator. The reservoir is configured to hold a volume of ink and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid ejection structure. The foam regulator is operable in a first state in which the foam regulator permits application of negative pressure through the foam regulator to apply negative pressure to the fluid ejection structure and to the reservoir, and a second state in which the foam regulator blocks passage of ink foam through the foam regulator. | 05-05-2011 |
20110109706 | AIR EXTRACTION DEVICE FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD - An inkjet printhead assembly comprising an array of nozzles fed by a corresponding ink inlet. An ink chamber corresponding to the array of nozzles is fluidly connected to the ink inlet. An air extraction chamber includes an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having an open position that allows venting of the air chamber to ambient, and a closed position that does not allow venting of the air chamber to ambient. A compressible member forces air to be vented from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve in its open position. It also applies a reduced air pressure to a membrane while the one-way relief valve is in its closed position. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109707 | AIR EXTRACTION METHOD FOR INKJET PRINTER - A method of extracting air from an inkjet printhead includes using an air extraction chamber connected to the printhead. The air extraction chamber comprises an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having open and closed positions used in venting of the air chamber. A compressible member is provided to vent a quantity of air from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve when it's compressed. The compressible member also expands so that a reduced air pressure is applied to the printhead when the one-way relief valve is in its closed position. | 05-12-2011 |
20110122209 | INKJET PRINTER WITH PRESSURE REGULATOR - An inkjet printer has an inkjet printhead and an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to the printhead. The regulator includes a bubble outlet positioned in a headspace of an ink chamber for bubbling air bubbles directly into the headspace at all operative ink levels. A capillary channel supplies ink from the chamber to the bubble outlet by capillary action and an air channel connects an air inlet with the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the ink chamber as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink. | 05-26-2011 |
20110181673 | FLUID-JET PRECISION-DISPENSING DEVICE HAVING ONE OR MORE HOLES FOR PASSING GASEOUS BUBBLES, SLUDGE, AND/OR CONTAMINANTS DURING PRIMING - A fluid-jet precision-dispensing device includes a layer, one or more first holes within the layer, and one or more second holes within the layer. The first holes are adapted to pass fluid therethrough during usage of the device to precisely dispense the fluid at accurately specified locations. The second holes are adapted to not pass the fluid therethrough during usage of the device to precisely dispense the fluid at the accurately specified locations. The second holes may be adapted to at least substantially maximally pass gaseous bubbles therethrough during performance of a priming operation of the device. The second holes may be adapted to at least substantially maximally pass sludge and/or contaminants therethrough during performance of the priming operation of the device. | 07-28-2011 |
20110187801 | INKJET RECORDING DEV ICE - An inkjet recording device, wherein air can be retained in an ink supply pipe by using a simple structure without applying substantial changes to the inkjet recording device, a variation in an ink supply pressure is mitigated by the retained air, and ink can be ejected with high stability. An inkjet recording device is provided with an inkjet head for ejecting ink, an ink flow path for supplying the ink, which is supplied from an ink supply source, to a pressure chamber of the inkjet head and having at least a portion thereof constructed from an ink supply pipe, and an air retaining member inserted in the ink supply pipe, with the ink allowed to pass through the air retaining member, and retaining air in at least a portion of a space formed between the air retaining member and the inner surface of the ink supply pipe. | 08-04-2011 |
20110228020 | DROPLET DISCHARGING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND BUBBLE SEPARATING METHOD - A droplet discharging apparatus for discharging droplets of a recording fluid includes a negative pressure portion and a pressurizing portion connected to the negative pressure portion via a valve. The pressurizing portion is disposed upstream of the valve in a direction of a flow of the recording fluid. The pressurizing portion includes a bubble storing area configured to separate and store bubbles of the recording fluid. | 09-22-2011 |
20110242238 | ORIENTATION OF AIR-PERMEABLE MEMBRANE IN INKJET PRINTHEAD - An inkjet printhead assembly for use in an inkjet printer, the inkjet printhead assembly includes an array of nozzles disposed along a nozzle array direction; an ink chamber including an ink outlet that is fluidly connected to the array of nozzles; and an air-permeable membrane positioned in the ink chamber at an angle that is inclined relative to the nozzle array direction. | 10-06-2011 |
20110279593 | MULTI-CHANNEL GAS VENT APPARATUS FOR INK CONTAINERS - A multi-channel gas vent apparatus for venting gas at ink containers which supply inks to a multi-channel printhead is provided having a body having a sidewalls and an interior surface, discrete chambers defined on one side of the interior surface by internal sidewalls and being sealed within the body, and a compartments defined on the opposite side of the interior surface by internal sidewalls and being sealed within the body. Each chamber is for connection to a gas port of a corresponding one of the ink containers. Each ink container has an ink port connected to a corresponding one of the ink channels. Each compartment is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere. The interior surface in each chamber has a recess in which apertures connect the chambers with one of the compartments through the interior surface. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279594 | PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING VALVED INK AND GAS DISTRIBUTION FOR PRINTHEAD - A printing system is provided having a media width printhead, a plurality of ink containers fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of ink tubes, a plurality of gas vents fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of gas tubes, and a multi-channel valve arrangement for selectively moving a first pinch element into and out of pinching contact with the ink tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the ink tubes and selectively moving a second pinch element into and out of pinching contact with the gas tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the gas tubes. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279595 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING MULTI-PATH VALVE FOR GAS VENTING - 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. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279596 | PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING MULTI-PATH VALVE FOR GAS VENTING - A printing system having a media width printhead, 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. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279597 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING MULTI-PATH, MULTI-CHANNEL VALVE FOR GAS VENTING - A fluid distribution system for a printhead, the system having a plurality of fluid containers fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of closed fluid flow loops, a plurality of gas vents, each gas vent being associated with a respective one of the closed loops and a multi-path, multi-channel valve for selectively allowing venting of gas in each of the closed loops via the gas vents | 11-17-2011 |
20110279598 | PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING MULTI-PATH, MULTI-CHANNEL VALVE FOR GAS VENTING - A printing system having a media width printhead, a plurality of fluid containers fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of closed fluid flow loops, a plurality of gas vents, each gas vent being associated with a respective one of the closed loops and a multi-path, multi-channel valve for selectively allowing venting of gas in each of the closed loops via the gas vents. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279599 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING FOUR-WAY VALVE - 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. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279600 | PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING FOUR-WAY VALVE FOR PRINTHEAD - A printing system having a media width printhead, 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. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279601 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING MULTI-CHANNEL FOUR-WAY VALVE - A fluid distribution system for a printhead, the system having a plurality of fluid containers fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of closed fluid flow loops, a plurality of bypass fluid paths bypassing the printhead, each bypass path being associated with a respective one of the closed loops and a plurality of gas vents, each gas vent being associated with a respective one of the closed loops and a multi-channel four-way valve for selectively allowing fluid flow along each closed loop via the printhead and the bypass paths and venting of gas in each closed loop via the gas vents. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279602 | PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING MULTI-CHANNEL FOUR-WAY VALVE FOR PRINTHEAD - A printing system having a media width printhead, a plurality of fluid containers fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of closed fluid flow loops, a plurality of bypass fluid paths bypassing the printhead, each bypass path being associated with a respective one of the closed loops and a plurality of gas vents, each gas vent being associated with a respective one of the closed loops and a multi-channel four-way valve for selectively allowing fluid flow along each closed loop via the printhead and the bypass paths and venting of gas in each closed loop via the gas vents. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279603 | SYSTEM FOR PRIMING AND DE-PRIMING PRINTHEAD - 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. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279604 | SYSTEM FOR FLUSHING PRINTHEAD AND PRINTHEAD BYPASS - A fluid distribution system for a media width printhead, the system having a fluid container having a gas vent; a first fluid path interconnecting the container and a first fluid port at one longitudinal end of the media width of the printhead, a second fluid path interconnecting the container and a second fluid port at the other longitudinal end of the media width of the printhead, a third fluid path interconnecting the first and second paths, pump on the second path, the pump being operational to draw fluid from the container through the first and second paths via the printhead and via the third fluid path to flush gas in the paths to the container for venting via the gas vent. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279605 | PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING VALVED INK AND GAS DISTRIBUTION FOR PRINTHEAD - 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. | 11-17-2011 |
20110298875 | MAINTENANCE APPARATUS, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND MAINTENANCE METHOD - A maintenance apparatus that removes bubbles from a nozzle is provided in a printer that includes a recording head having a nozzle capable of ejecting ink from a nozzle opening formed in a nozzle formation surface. The maintenance apparatus includes: a pressurizing pump that pressurizes the ink in the nozzle in a direction in which the ink is discharged from the nozzle opening; and a contact member having an upper surface that makes contact with the nozzle formation surface so as to cover the nozzle opening, and that has, formed therein, a flow channel whose pressure loss is greater than that of the nozzle and that allows air to pass through from the side of the upper surface. The ink within the nozzle is pressurized by the pressurizing pump in a state in which the contact member is in contact with the nozzle formation surface. | 12-08-2011 |
20110316948 | BUBBLE TOLERANT MANIFOLD DESIGN FOR A LIQUID EJECTING HEAD - A liquid ejecting head includes pressure generating chambers; nozzles that communicate with respective pressure generating chambers; a manifold that communicates with a liquid introduction opening and that serves as a common flow channel for the multiple pressure generating chambers; liquid supply channels, having liquid supply openings that open into the manifold, that communicate between the manifold and the pressure generating chambers; and a pressure generating element that causes liquid to be ejected through the nozzles by generating pressure within the pressure generating chambers. At least one of the liquid supply openings is physically separated from at least one adjacent liquid supply opening, such as by a partition, which prevents air bubbles from moving between adjacent liquid supply openings. | 12-29-2011 |
20120081483 | THERMAL DEGASSING DEVICE FOR INKJET PRINTER - An inkjet printhead having a drop ejector array, an ink passageway for providing ink to the drop ejector array, and a thermally actuated degassing unit. The degassing unit itself includes a body enclosing an air chamber, a check valve configured to allow air to vent from the air chamber to ambient when the pressure in the air chamber exceeds ambient air pressure by a predetermined amount. The thermal degassing unit includes a thermally-induced pressure build-up time to increase the pressure in the air chamber. The air chamber is allowed to cool which causes internal pressure to drop below ambient and draws gas out of the ink. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081484 | METHOD OF THERMAL DEGASSING IN AN INKJET PRINTER - A method of reducing air in an ink passageway in an inkjet printer by pressurizing a thermally actuated degassing unit that includes an air chamber, venting air through a check valve configured to allow air to vent from the air chamber to ambient when the pressure in the air chamber exceeds ambient air pressure by a predetermined amount The pressurizing is performed by heating an element inside the air chamber. A power supply is connected to the heating element, and power is applied to the heating element during a first time interval to increase the pressure in the air chamber above ambient pressure. Gas is vented from the check valve which allows the heating element to cool during a second time interval to reduce the pressure in the air chamber below ambient pressure. Gas is then drawn from the ink passageway through the membrane into the air chamber. | 04-05-2012 |
20120098909 | PRINTER - A printer reduces the amount of ink wastefully consumed by purging bubbles from the ink supply path. The printer has a bubble collection unit | 04-26-2012 |
20120140004 | Bubble Removal for Ink Jet Printing - Approaches to remove bubbles from ink in an ink jet printer are described. Bubble removal may be implemented using one or more separator elements configured to separate bubbles of a vapor from ink. Each separator element includes wicking features having dimensions sufficient to allow capillary movement of the ink in the wicking features and to substantially exclude the bubbles from the wicking features. One or more inlets allow passage of the ink that includes the bubbles into the separator element. At least one vapor outlet allows vapor that has been separated from the ink to exit from the separator element. The ink exits from the separator element thought one or more ink outlets. | 06-07-2012 |
20120236094 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING RECORDING HEAD FOR EJECTING LIQUID DROPLETS - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a head tank, an exhaust unit, and a suctioning device. The head tank has liquid chambers with exhaust ports. The exhaust unit includes an exhaust channel connected to the suctioning device to exhaust air from the head tank, an exhaust chamber connected to the ports of the liquid chambers, a valve member to collectively open and close the ports, a valve driving chamber communicating with the exhaust channel and having a flexible member forming a wall face thereof, a valve driving member disposed at the flexible member to open and close the valve member, and a choke channel communicating the exhaust chamber with the valve driving chamber. When the suctioning device suctions air through the exhaust channel with the liquid being in the choke channel, a volume of the valve driving chamber contracts and the valve member opens the ports. | 09-20-2012 |
20120274711 | AIR EXTRACTION PISTON DEVICE FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD - An inkjet printhead assembly comprising an array of nozzles fed by a corresponding ink inlet. An ink chamber corresponding to the array of nozzles is fluidly connected to the ink inlet. An air extraction chamber includes an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having an open position that allows venting of the air chamber to ambient, and a closed position that does not allow venting of the air chamber to ambient. A piston in the form of a disk forces air to be vented from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve in its open position. It also applies a reduced air pressure to a membrane while the one-way relief valve is in its closed position. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274712 | AIR EXTRACTION METHOD FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD - A method of extracting air from an inkjet printhead includes using an air extraction chamber connected to the printhead. The air extraction chamber comprises an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having open and closed positions used in venting of the air chamber. A piston in the form of a disk is provided to vent a quantity of air from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve when it's pushed through a cylinder. The piston is moved in an opposite direction through the cylinder so that a reduced air pressure is applied to the printhead when the one-way relief valve is in its closed position. | 11-01-2012 |
20120293592 | INK DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING GAS VENTING - An ink distribution system for a printhead, the system having a first ink container having an ink outlet, a second ink container having an ink inlet, an ink line interconnecting the outlet of the first container and the inlet of the second container and a gas vent on the ink line. | 11-22-2012 |
20130002774 | DEGASIFIER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A degasifier includes a gas chamber, a degasification unit and a resistance applying unit. The gas chamber is separated from a liquid flow path by a transmission member capable of transmitting a gas dissolving in a liquid in the liquid flow path. The degasification unit expels the gas dissolving in the liquid from the liquid by discharging the gas in the gas chamber through a discharge path so that a pressure in the gas chamber is negative. The resistance applying unit applies an inflow resistance to atmosphere which flows into the discharge path so that the gas chamber is maintained at a pressure at which the liquid can be degasified at the time of the discharging by the degasification unit while the discharge path is open to the atmosphere at all times. | 01-03-2013 |
20130002775 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING RECORDING HEAD FOR EJECTING LIQUID DROPLETS - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head disposed to eject droplets of liquid upward to form an image on a lower face of a recording medium conveyed to a position above the recording head. The recording head includes nozzles, individual liquid chambers, a common liquid chamber, a liquid supply port, a bubble discharge channel, and a valve unit. The nozzles eject droplets of the liquid. The individual liquid chambers are communicated with the nozzles. The common liquid chamber is communicated with the individual liquid chambers. The liquid supply port supplies the liquid to the common liquid chamber. The bubble discharge channel is communicated with the common liquid chamber to communicate the common liquid chamber with an outside of the recording head. The valve unit is disposed at the bubble discharge channel to open and close the bubble discharge channel. | 01-03-2013 |
20130057623 | LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS - A printer includes a filter unit having a distribution flow path through which the introduced ink flows into a recording head, and an air bubble trap in which air bubbles which have entered ink in the distribution flow path are collected, the air bubble trap being provided with a waterproof member having a waterproof property and an air permeability that forms part of a wall of the air bubble trap. A printer includes an air bubble suction mechanism that suctions air bubbles collected in the air bubble trap through the waterproof member. | 03-07-2013 |
20130120511 | INKJET PRINTER - A printer includes an ink tank for retaining ink, nozzles for ejecting the ink, an ink flow passage for connecting the ink tank and the nozzles, and a filter chamber in which a filter is arranged. A first room is disposed downstream of the filter and a second room is disposed upstream of filter in the filter chamber. An ink discharge opening is disposed in the first room for supplying the ink to the nozzles. An ink supply opening to which the ink is supplied from the ink tank and an air bubble storage unit for storing air bubbles flowing with the ink are disposed in the second room. The ink supply opening and the ink discharge opening are displaced from each other in a horizontal direction. The air bubble storage unit is arranged upward of the ink discharge opening in such a manner as to sandwich the filter therebetween. | 05-16-2013 |
20130127958 | INKJET PRINTER - An ink/air separator for an ink jet printer has one or more plates | 05-23-2013 |
20130135404 | AIR EXTRACTION MOMENTUM PUMP FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD - An ink chamber for an inkjet printer is fluidically connected to the ejector die and includes an air accumulation chamber with an air vent opening and a mass movable along the air accumulation chamber toward and away from the air vent opening. A one-way valve covers the air vent opening, is outside the air accumulation chamber, and includes a flapper valve having a free end. | 05-30-2013 |
20130135405 | AIR EXTRACTION MOMENTUM METHOD - A method of printing using a carriage with an ink container and an ejector die mounted thereon, the ink container includes a vent hole for removing air from the ink container. Air is extracted from the ink container by moving a mass within the ink container toward the vent hole, wherein said movement of the mass toward the vent hole is generated by momentum forces arising in the mass from the back and forth movement of the carriage. | 05-30-2013 |
20130141502 | Liquid Ejecting Head - Disclosed herein is a liquid ejecting head in which a liquid introducing portion includes a liquid introducing flow passage which introduces a liquid from a liquid storage member having the liquid stored therein, a bubble chamber which accommodates a bubble entrained into the liquid introducing flow passage and a filter that is provided at a bottom of the bubble chamber, and a liquid ejecting head main body which introduces the liquid from the liquid introducing portion to a pressure chamber through a liquid flow passage and is able to discharge the liquid in the pressure chamber from nozzles as liquid droplets, wherein a lyophobic region having a lyophobic property is provided on a surface of the filter facing the bubble chamber side. | 06-06-2013 |
20130155158 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, includes a liquid jet head; a container main body; an air opening mechanism configured to open and close an air opening path in the container main body. The air opening mechanism includes a holding part, and an opening member movably provided at the holding part. The opening member includes an air communicating path, a filter member, and an air room. An opening cross-sectional area of the air room in a direction perpendicular to an air flow-in direction is greater than an opening cross-sectional area of the air communicating path in a direction perpendicular to an air flow-in direction. | 06-20-2013 |
20130162736 | Object Separator for Ink Jet Printer Applications - Approaches to remove objects from ink in an ink jet printer are described. An object separator for an ink jet printer includes one or more inlets configured to allow passage of ink that includes objects such as bubbles and particles into the object separator. The object separator has a number of stacked plates. Some of the plates have curved channels which are connected through other plates that include vias. The plates are arranged to form at least one cyclonic flow generator, the cyclonic flow generator configured to focus the objects into one or more focused flow streams. The object separator includes one or more object outlets that allow objects to exit the object separator and at least one ink outlet that allows the ink to exit the object separator. | 06-27-2013 |
20130194360 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting head includes a head body; and a flow path member having a liquid flow path circulating a liquid, supplied from a liquid storage unit, and a bubble chamber formed in the middle of the liquid flow path and in which air bubbles are caused to stay, wherein a compliance section (a sealing film) displaced according to a volume change in the air bubbles inside the bubble chamber is formed at upstream side of the bubble chamber so that an amount of the volume change in the compliance section due to the displacement of the compliance section is larger than an amount of a volume change in the air bubbles due to a change in the ambient temperature. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194361 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING AIR BUBBLES IN INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - An inkjet recording apparatus is capable of an operation of removing air bubbles in a recording head that includes the ink supply step, the ink ejection step, and the refilling step. The ink supply step supplies ink to a common flow-passage in the state in which movement of the ink inside a second ink-flow passage is tolerated with an inflow side valve, and movement of the ink inside a third ink-flow passage is restricted with an outflow side valve. The ink ejection step ejects the ink together with the air bubbles inside the common flow-passage from an outflow port into the third ink-flow passage by tolerating movement of the ink inside the third ink-flow passage with the outflow side valve. The refilling step refills the ink in the state in which movement of the ink inside the second ink-flow passage is restricted with the inflow side valve. | 08-01-2013 |
20130222495 | PRINTER - A printer reduces the amount of ink wastefully consumed by purging bubbles from the ink supply path. The printer has a bubble collection unit | 08-29-2013 |
20130235133 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an inkjet printing apparatus capable of achieving thorough stirring by producing a flow in a main tank and a sub tank. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a printing head, a main tank, and a sub tank. The apparatus includes an ink reservoir unit formed of a flexible member, disposed between the sub tank and the printing head. The ink is supplied from the sub tank to the printing head by increasing the volume of the ink reservoir unit, and air in the sub tank is sent to the main tank by reducing the volume of the ink reservoir unit. | 09-12-2013 |
20130242010 | METHOD FOR VENTING AIR WITH A MEMBRANE - A method for passing a liquid from a first location to a second location in which gas is selectively vented, the method includes passing the liquid from the first location; receiving the liquid in a conduit having a vent covered by a membrane for permitting gas to be vented; an inlet for receiving the liquid from the first location; and an outlet for passing the liquid to the second location; and selectively permitting and inhibiting flow of gas to the vent; wherein when the liquid in the conduit is below a predetermined threshold, a movable element is placed at a venting position that allows flow of gas to the membrane, and when the ink in the conduit is at or above the predetermined threshold, the movable element is placed at a sealing position that does not allow flow of gas to the membrane. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242011 | VENT PATH FOR A LIQUID CONTAINER - In one example, a structure for supporting a printhead includes: a substrate having a first side and a second side; multiple inlets each protruding from the first side of the substrate through which liquids may be introduced into the structure from the outlets of liquid containers that can be attached to the structure; multiple openings through the substrate from the first side to the second side, each opening positioned near one of the inlets at a location exposed to the outlet of a corresponding one of the containers when the container is attached to the structure; and an air channel on the second side of the substrate connecting each of one or more of the openings to another opening. | 09-19-2013 |
20130286116 | INK SUPPLY APPARATUS AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes a print head that ejects ink for printing, an ink tank from which ink is fed to the print head, a first channel provided between the print head and the ink tank to feed ink in the ink tank to the print head, a second channel through which the ink in the first channel is transferred, and a pump connected to the second channel to transfer the ink in the first channel. The pump allows air or the ink in the first channel to be discharged via the second channel. | 10-31-2013 |
20130321541 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEGASSING FLUID - In an embodiment, a method of degassing ink in a fluid ejection device includes generating a localized nucleation site within an ejection chamber of a fluid ejection device. An air bubble is formed at the nucleation site, and the air bubble is prevented from venting into an ink supply slot using a bubble-impeding structure. The air bubble is vented through a nozzle associated with the ejection chamber and into the atmosphere. | 12-05-2013 |
20130335492 | FLUID CONTAINER WITH BUBBLE ELIMINATOR - A container for holding a volume of fluid includes a first fluid chamber having an entry port and a bubble eliminator with at least one bubble-piercing protrusion for pricking bubbles as the volume of fluid flows through the bubble eliminator. The container further includes a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber for receiving the volume of fluid from the first fluid chamber. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335493 | VALVE SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING AIR IN A FLUID EJECTION SYSTEM - Valve systems for managing air in a fluid ejection system are described herein. One example valve system includes an inlet chamber ( | 12-19-2013 |
20130342619 | Object Separator for Ink Jet Printer Applications - Approaches to remove objects from ink in an ink jet printer are described. An object separator for an ink jet printer includes one or more inlets configured to allow passage of ink that includes objects such as bubbles and particles into the object separator. The object separator has a number of stacked plates. Some of the plates have curved channels which are connected through other plates that include vias. The plates are arranged to form at least one cyclonic flow generator, the cyclonic flow generator configured to focus the objects into one or more focused flow streams. The object separator includes one or more object outlets that allow objects to exit the object separator and at least one ink outlet that allows the ink to exit the object separator. | 12-26-2013 |
20140002555 | AIR CHAMBER MECHANISM | 01-02-2014 |
20140036013 | INKJET PRINTER HAVING DUAL VALVE ARRANGEMENT - An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead having a first port and a second port; an ink container having an outlet port and a return port; a first ink line interconnecting the first port with the outlet port; a second ink line interconnecting the second port with the return port; an air line connected to the first ink line, the air line having an inlet open to atmosphere; a reversible pump positioned between the second port and the return port for pumping ink in the second ink line; and a dual valve arrangement including: a first valve for selectively controlling ink flow through the first ink line, the first valve being positioned in the first ink line between the ink container and the air line; and a second valve for selectively controlling air flow through the air line. | 02-06-2014 |
20140063153 | GAS REMOVAL FROM A FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM - Systems and methods of automatically bleeding air from a primary ink delivery system, so little or no air is mixed with the ink once it reaches a secondary ink system containing print heads. An air bleeder return assembly with a flow restrictor orifice that is configured to remove air from ink pumped to the carriage of print heads, thereby minimizing jet dropouts. Additionally, this setup provides the added advantage of the ability to run the bulk bags dry without ingesting large quantities of air to the ink delivery system. | 03-06-2014 |
20140071214 | FILTER UNIT, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND BUBBLE REMOVAL METHOD - A filter unit includes: a space portion, through which a liquid passes, whose outer cross-sectional shape when cut along the direction orthogonal to the axial direction is circular or polygonal; a filter provided at the surface on one end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof; a protruding member, provided at the surface on the other end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof, that protrudes toward a center area of the surface on the one end side of the space portion; an inflow channel that allows the liquid to flow into the space portion from a direction tangential to the side circumferential surface of the space portion; and an outflow channel that allows the liquid to pass through the filter and flow out from the space portion. | 03-13-2014 |
20140078228 | PRINTER - A printer reduces the amount of ink wastefully consumed by purging bubbles from the ink supply path. The printer has a bubble collection unit | 03-20-2014 |
20140111585 | PRINTER, INK SUPPLY DEVICE AND PRINTING METHOD - To properly perform deaeration of ink in an ink-jet printer. An ink supply portion includes an ink tank, a deaeration portion, an upstream-side ink flow path and a downstream side ink flow path, in which the deaeration portion includes an ink branching portion, plural deaeration modules arranged in parallel in an ink flow path, plural pumps, and an ink converging portion. Respective plural deaeration modules are arranged between the ink branching portion and the ink converging portion in corresponding branch flow paths, and respective pumps are arranged in series to corresponding deaeration modules in the branch flow paths, allowing ink to flow in corresponding deaeration modules. | 04-24-2014 |
20140218449 | RECORDING HEAD - A recording head includes an ejection portion configured to eject ink, a first flow path forming member and a second flow path forming member joined to each other between which a flow path for supplying ink to the ejection portion, a buffer chamber for keeping gas, and a communication passage between the flow path and the buffer chamber are formed, a through-hole formed on the second flow path forming member configured to penetrate the second flow path forming member to open onto a surface on an opposite side of a joint surface facing the first flow path forming member, and a communication port formed at a position facing an interior of the buffer chamber, configured to communicate with the through-hole, wherein the communication port is arranged at a position higher than a wall of a top surface that constitutes a communication passage in a usage state of the recording head. | 08-07-2014 |
20140285596 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes a discharge head which discharges a radiation curable ink to a recording medium, an ink container which stores the radiation curable ink to be supplied to the discharge head, an ink circulation flow path which is formed so that the radiation curable ink supplied from the ink container returns back to the ink container, and is connected to the discharge head, a degassing module which is provided in the middle of the ink circulation flow path, and a vacuum controller which controls the degree of vacuum of the degassing module, and the vacuum controller controls the degree of vacuum so that the degree of vacuum is −60 kPa to −20 kPa. | 09-25-2014 |
20140362149 | SYSTEMS, STRUCTURES AND ASSOCIATED PROCESSES FOR INLINE ULTRASONICATION OF INK FOR PRINTING - Enhanced printing systems, structures, and processes provide ultrasonication of ink, such as to degas the ink, and/or to maintain the size of particles within the ink. At least one ultrasonic module, such as comprising any of an ultrasonic probe or an ultrasonic bath, is located within an ink delivery system. Ink is delivered to the ultrasonic module, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the ink, such as at a sufficient level and duration to degas the ink, and/or to reduce the size of particles within the ink. In some embodiments, the particles may be agglomerates, wherein the applied energy is configured to reduce the size of the agglomerates to a size that can be jetted through the print head. In other embodiments, the particles may be metallic particles, wherein the applied energy is configured to create smaller metallic particles that can be jetted with the ink through the print head. | 12-11-2014 |
20150015645 | DEGASSING APPARATUS AND METHODS THEREOF - A degassing apparatus for a liquid delivery system is provided. The degassing apparatus includes a first chamber disposed along a liquid delivery path to capture gas within the liquid delivery path. The degassing apparatus also includes a set of membranes having at least one membrane, the set of membranes disposed along the liquid delivery path to selectively allow the gas to pass through the set of membranes. The degassing apparatus further includes a second chamber disposed above the set of membranes to evacuate the gas from the first chamber. Moreover, the degassing apparatus includes a one-way valve configured to vent the gas from the second chamber when pressure inside the second chamber exceeds a first predetermined value. | 01-15-2015 |
20150085033 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRESSURIZING AND DEPRESSURIZING - A degassing process where gas is removed by depressurizing a liquid to be less than atmospheric pressure and a pressurizing process where the liquid is pressurized to be more than the atmospheric pressure are executed at a low cost and taking up less space. There is provided a head configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle, a supply section configured to supply the liquid to the head and including a degassing section in which the liquid supplied to the head is depressurized to be less than atmospheric pressure, and a pressurizing section in which the liquid is pressurized to be more than the atmospheric pressure, and a single pump having an action of depressurizing the degassing section and an action of pressurizing the pressurizing section. | 03-26-2015 |
20150091990 | LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS - A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head including: a reservoir tank; an inlet opening; and ejection openings; an air-discharge passage for discharging air from the reservoir tank to an outside; a first sucking device for sucking air from the reservoir tank via the air-discharge passage; a semipermeable membrane dividing a space in the reservoir tank and the air-discharge passage, into a reservoir-tank-side space and a first-sucking-device-side space and allowing communication of the air and inhibiting communication of liquid between the reservoir-tank-side space and the first-sucking-device-side space; and a first valve mechanism dividing the reservoir-tank-side space into a first space on a semipermeable-membrane side and a second space on an inlet-opening side, inhibiting fluid from flowing from the first space to the second space, and allowing fluid to flow from the second space to the first space. The first space is located above the ejection openings. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091991 | LIQUID EJECTION DEVICE - An ink ejection device comprises: an ink supply section including a plurality of ink chambers respectively containing the plural kinds of inks; and a head section having plural groups of nozzles and ejecting the plural kinds of inks to be supplied from the ink supply section. The head section includes a plurality of supply ports which are aligned in the scanning direction and through which the plural kinds of inks are supplied. The ink supply section includes: a plurality of connection passages respectively connecting the plurality of supply ports to the ink chambers containing the inks to be supplied respectively to the supply ports; and a plurality of air discharge passages connected respectively to the plurality of ink chambers. Then, the plurality of ink chambers are aligned in the conveying direction. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091992 | ARRANGEMENT TO SUPPLY A PRINT HEAD UNIT HAVING AT LEAST ONE PRINT HEAD WITH INK IN AN INK PRINTING APPARATUS - In an arrangement to supply ink to a print head unit having a print head, an input, and an output, a back-pressure tank having ink is provided and connected with the input of the print head unit. A degassing unit for ink and having an input and an output is also provided. A first selector valve is connected to the degassing unit input, the first selector valve in a first position establishing a connection of the degassing unit with the output of the print head unit. A second selector valve is connected to the degassing unit output, the second selector valve in a first position establishing a connection of the degassing unit with the back-pressure tank. | 04-02-2015 |
20150145933 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND BUBBLE EXHAUST METHOD THEREFOR - An embodiment of this invention implements both suppression of occurrence of a print failure, and suppression of wasteful ink consumption along with bubble exhaust. Bubble sucking is performed as follows in a printing apparatus including a printhead in which a plurality of orifices are provided for discharging ink, an ink tank for supplying ink to the printhead through an ink channel, and a suction unit configured to suck ink from the orifices. A bubble is injected to the ink channel by using, for example, a pump and hollow needle. After injecting the bubble to the ink channel, the suction unit is operated to suck the injected bubble from the orifices. | 05-28-2015 |
20150343793 | LIQUID STORAGE UNIT, LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF REMOVING BUBBLES FROM LIQUID STORAGE UNIT - A liquid storage unit including a first liquid storage chamber having a constant volume and being capable of holding liquid supplied from a liquid tank; a second liquid storage chamber communicating with the first liquid storage chamber; a pressure control chamber configured to change a pressure of the pressure control chamber through actuation of a pressure control unit; and an elastic member being configured to tightly partition the second liquid storage chamber and the pressure control chamber from each other and being deformable so as to increase and decrease a volume of the second liquid storage chamber in accordance with the pressure of the pressure control chamber. The elastic member is capable of removing bubbles in the first liquid storage chamber by increasing and decreasing the volume of the second liquid storage chamber through the deformation. | 12-03-2015 |
20160001570 | LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE - A liquid discharge device includes: a head in which an ejection port to eject liquid as a droplet is formed; a buffer tank which is connected with the head through a supply channel and a collection channel and in which the liquid is housed; a deaeration module which is provided on the side of the supply channel; and a main tank in which the liquid supplied to the buffer tank through the supplement channel is stored, where: the supply channel is connected with a side surface of the buffer tank; the supplement channel penetrates the side surface of the buffer tank and has an exit of the supplement channel in the buffer tank; and the liquid supplied from the supplement channel has speed when the liquid collides with an inner wall surface of the buffer tank facing the exit of the supplement channel. | 01-07-2016 |
20160009100 | LIQUID CONTAINER | 01-14-2016 |
20160075145 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID SUPPLY METHOD - There are provided a head ejecting a liquid, a retaining section retaining the liquid, a degassing section with a degassing unit, a first supply flow path flowing the liquid from the retaining section to the degassing section, and a second supply flow path flowing the liquid degassed in the degassing section to the head. The degassing section further includes a degassing flow path having the degassing unit to flow the liquid while reducing pressure, a bypass flow path flowing the liquid without reducing the pressure, a branching section dividing the liquid flowing in the first supply flow path into the degassing flow path and the bypass flow path, and a joining section joining the liquid flowing in the degassing flow path and the liquid flowing in the bypass flow path to flow in the second supply flow path. | 03-17-2016 |
20160185124 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEGASSING FLUID - Systems and methods for degassing fluid are disclosed. An example fluid ejection device including a channel having an entrance and an exit; a supply slot in communication with the channel; a vent; a first bubble impeding structure at the entrance of the channel; and a second bubble impeding structure at an exit of the channel, the first and second bubble impeding structures to retain a bubble within the channel to enable the bubble to be vented through a vent and to deter the bubble from entering the ink supply slot. | 06-30-2016 |
20160193848 | INKJET INK DEGASSING METHOD, INKJET RECORDING METHOD, AND RECORDING APPARATUS | 07-07-2016 |
20160200117 | CONTAINERS WITH A VENT | 07-14-2016 |
20160250859 | FLOW PATH MEMBER, LIQUID EJECTING HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS | 09-01-2016 |
20170232757 | LIQUID CONTAINER, LIQUID JET APPARATUS | 08-17-2017 |
20190143709 | INKJET RECORDING DEVICE | 05-16-2019 |