Inkjet cartridge with air management system
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsJulio A. Rodriguez Mojica, William F. King, Ivan Baiges
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet cartridge for use with a thermal inkjet printer includes a standpipe area and an entrained ink chamber that are connected in fluidic communication. The entrained ink chamber and standpipe area can be enclosed by a wall that can have a plurality of panels or facets. The inkjet cartridge also includes a duct or passage that is connected in fluidic communication to both the standpipe area and the entrained ink chamber, wherein the connection to the entrained ink chamber is operatively located above the standpipe area, thus enabling anomalous air bubbles to migrate from the standpipe area and into the entrained ink chamber.
Claims24
An inkjet cartridge including an entrained ink chamber and a standpipe area that are connected in fluidic communication, the inkjet cartridge comprising a duct that has an outlet opening and an opposite distal inlet opening, wherein the outlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the entrained ink chamber, and wherein the outlet opening is operatively located above the standpipe area, and wherein the inlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the standpipe area.
An inkjet cartridge including an entrained ink chamber, a free ink chamber adjacent thereto, and a standpipe area that is connected in fluidic communication with the entrained ink chamber, the inkjet cartridge comprising a duct that has an outlet opening and an opposite distal inlet opening, wherein the outlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the entrained ink chamber, and wherein the outlet opening is operatively located above the standpipe area, and wherein the inlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the standpipe area.
An inkjet cartridge, comprising a wall that encloses an entrained ink chamber and a standpipe area, wherein the wall defines therein an elongated duct having an outlet opening and an opposite and distal inlet opening, wherein the outlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the entrained ink chamber, and the inlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the standpipe area.
An inkjet cartridge, comprising a wall that defines an entrained ink chamber and a standpipe area, and wherein the wall comprises:
- a substantially flat bottom panel, substantially adjacent to which the standpipe area is located;
- a substantially flat top panel through which is defined a vent opening and which is spaced apart from, and oriented in substantially parallel juxtaposed relation to, the bottom panel;
- and,
- a plurality of substantially flat spaced-apart side panels oriented in substantially parallel juxtaposed relation to one another and extending between, and in substantially normal relation to, the top panel and the bottom panel, whereby the entrained ink chamber is substantially enclosed thereby, and wherein one of the side panels defines therein an elongated substantially vertical duct having an outlet opening and an opposite and distal inlet opening, and wherein the outlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the entrained ink chamber and is operatively located above the standpipe area, and wherein the inlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the standpipe area.
An inkjet cartridge, comprising a wall that defines:
- a standpipe area;
- an entrained ink chamber;
- and,
- a free ink chamber, wherein the wall comprises:
- a substantially flat bottom panel, substantially adjacent to which the standpipe area is located;
- a substantially flat top panel through which is defined a vent opening and which is spaced apart from, and oriented in substantially parallel juxtaposed relation to, the bottom panel;
- and,
- a plurality of substantially flat spaced-apart side panels oriented in substantially parallel juxtaposed relation to one another and extending between, and in substantially normal relation to, the top panel and the bottom panel, whereby the entrained ink chamber and the free ink chamber are substantially enclosed thereby;
- and,
- a divider panel extending between, and in substantially normal relation to, the top panel and the bottom panel, wherein the divider panel substantially separates the free ink chamber from the entrained ink chamber, and wherein the divider panel defines therein an elongated duct having an outlet opening and an opposite distal inlet opening, and wherein the outlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the entrained ink chamber and is operatively located above the standpipe area, and wherein the inlet opening is connected in fluidic communication with the standpipe area.
An inkjet cartridge, comprising:
- a wall that encloses an entrained ink chamber and a standpipe area;
- and,
- a means for venting gas bubbles from the standpipe area to the entrained ink chamber.
A method of operating an inkjet cartridge, comprising:
- providing an inkjet cartridge with an entrained ink chamber and a standpipe area;
- and,
- venting gas bubbles from the standpipe area into the entrained ink chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.