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US 2003/0202072 A1Published application
Re-circulating fluid delivery systems
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAshley E. Childs, Louis C. Barinaga, Daniel D. Dowell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A re-circulating fluid delivery system includes an air-fluid separator structure, a fluid plenum in fluid communication with the separator structure, and a free fluid reservoir. A fluid re-circulation path fluidically couples the separator structure, the fluid plenum and the free fluid reservoir. A pump structure re-circulates fluid through the re-circulation path during a pump mode, wherein air bubbles may be separated from re-circulated fluid.
Claims48
A re-circulating fluid delivery system, comprising:
- a housing structure;
- an air-fluid separator structure disposed in said housing structure, the separator structure including an air vent;
- a fluid plenum in fluid communication with said separator structure;
- a free fluid reservoir disposed in said housing structure;
- a fluid re-circulation path within said housing structure fluidically coupling said separator structure, said fluid plenum and said free fluid reservoir;
- and
- a pump structure for re-circulating fluid through said re-circulation path during a pump mode, wherein air bubbles may be separated from re-circulated fluid and vented to atmosphere from said air vent region.
4 more elements
A re-circulating fluid delivery system, comprising:
- a housing structure;
- separator means for separating air from fluid and venting air from the housing structure, said separator means disposed in said housing structure;
- a fluid plenum in fluid communication with the separating means;
- reservoir means for holding a supply of fluid in said housing structure;
- a fluid re-circulation path within said housing structure fluidically coupling said separating means, said fluid plenum and said reservoir means;
- and
- re-circulation means for re-circulating fluid through said re-circulation path during a re-circulation mode, wherein air bubbles may be separated from re-circulated fluid and vented from the housing structure.
4 more elements
A method for purging air bubbles from a print cartridge, comprising:
- pumping fluid through a re-circulation path contained within the print cartridge, the path passing through a fluid reservoir of free fluid, an air-fluid separator, and a fluid plenum in fluid communication with a printhead mounted to the cartridge;
- separating air bubbles from the fluid at the separator and collecting the bubbles at an air vent region in the cartridge adjacent the air-fluid separator, wherein air bubbles are separated from fluid at the air-fluid separator and captured in the air vent region or vented to atmosphere.
A re-circulating fluid delivery system, comprising:
- a print cartridge housing structure;
- an air-fluid separator structure in said housing structure;
- an air vent region in communication with the separator structure;
- a fluid plenum disposed in said housing structure in fluid communication with said separator structure;
- a free fluid reservoir disposed in said housing structure;
- a fluid re-circulation path in said housing structure, the fluid recirculation path fluidically coupling said separator structure, said fluid plenum and said free fluid reservoir;
- a pump structure for re-circulating fluid through said re-circulation path during a pump mode;
- a fluid supply external to said housing structure;
- and
- a fluid interconnect structure for removable connection of the fluid supply to the free fluid reservoir to provide replenishment of fluid in the free fluid reservoir during fluid recirculation.
7 more elements
A method of replenishing fluid in an inkjet cartridge, comprising:
- during a replenishment mode, actively pumping fluid through a recirculation path contained within a print cartridge housing structure, the path passing through a fluid reservoir of free fluid, an air-fluid separator, and a fluid plenum in fluid communication with a printhead mounted to the cartridge;
- drawing fluid from an fluid supply through a fluid interconnect into the fluid reservoir by a pressure differential between a back pressure at the fluid plenum and fluid within the fluid supply.
A method of replenishing fluid in an inkjet cartridge, comprising:
- during a replenishment mode, actively pumping fluid through a recirculation path contained within a print cartridge housing structure, the path passing through a fluid reservoir of free fluid, a air-fluid separator structure for holding a supply of fluid under negative pressure, and a fluid plenum in fluid communication with a printhead mounted to the cartridge;
- drawing replenishment fluid from a fluid supply through a fluid interconnect into the fluid reservoir by a pressure differential between a back pressure at the fluid plenum and fluid within the fluid supply, said pressure differential resulting from fluid flow resistance within said air-fluid separator structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.