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US 2004/0104959 A1Published application
Printing apparatus
AssigneeZipher Limited
InventorsSteven Robert Brown, Martin McNestry, Steven John Buckby, David John Byrne
Life of this patent
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AssigneeZipher Limited
InventorsSteven Robert Brown, Martin McNestry, Steven John Buckby, David John Byrne
Estimating the term…
An inkjet printer in which a printhead defines an elongate array of orifices from which jets of ink are projected into a space within which substrates to be printed are presented. An air curtain generator fixed in position relative to the printhead extends along one side only of the array of orifices so as to direct a curtain of air across the array a of orifices and across an open portion of the printhead on the side of the array of orifices remote from the air curtain generator. The air curtain cleans the printhead. A pressure pulse may be applied to ink within the printhead sufficient to discharge ink form each orifice when not in use to project ink. The pressure pulse has a relatively rapidly rising leading edge and a relatively slowly falling edge. An ink reservoir is coupled to the printhead for supplying ink to the orifices. The orifices may be arranged in at least two vertically offset groups, the reservoir being divided into vertically offset reservoir sections including a lowermost section and an upper section with each reservoir section being coupled exclusively to a respective group of orifices. The upper reservoir section is arranged to overflow into the immediately adjacent reservoir section which is spaced therebelow. Each reservoir section includes an ink level detector, and ink is supplied to the reservoir section which is vertically uppermost if any level detector detects an ink level below a predetermined level.
An apparatus for cleaning an inkjet printer printhead which defines an elongate array of orifices from which in use Jets of ink are projected into a space within which substrates to be printed are presented, comprising an air curtain generating means fixed in position relative to the printhead and extending along one side only of the array of orifices so as to direct a curtain of air across the array of orifices and across a portion of the printhead which is open to the said space and which is on the side of the array of orifices remote from the air curtain generating means.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the air curtain generating means comprises an elongate slot extending along the said one side of the array of orifices and means for pumping air through the slot towards the orifices.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means for applying a pressure pulse to ink within the printhead sufficient to discharge ink from the orifices.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a reservoir coupled to the printhead for supplying ink to the orifices, and means for supplying ink to the reservoir, the orifices being arranged in at least two vertically offset groups, the reservoir being divided into vertically offset reservoir sections including a lowermost section and at least one upper section with each reservoir section being exclusively coupled to a respective group of orifices, and the or each upper reservoir section being arranged to overflow into the immediately adjacent reservoir section which is spaced therebelow, wherein each reservoir section includes means for detecting the level of ink within that section, and the ink supply means is arranged to deliver ink to the reservoir section which is vertically uppermost if any level detecting means detects an ink level in the respective reservoir section below a predetermined level.
An apparatus for maintaining an inkjet printer printhead in a working state, the printer defining an array of orifices from which in use jets of ink are projected, the apparatus comprising means for applying a pressure pulse to ink within the printhead sufficient to discharge ink from each orifice when not in use to project ink, the pressure pulse having a relatively rapidly rising leading edge and a relative slowly falling trailing edge.
An inkjet printer ink supply apparatus for supplying ink to a printhead defining an array of orifices from which ink may be projected the apparatus comprising a reservoir coupled to the printhead for supplying ink to the orifices, and means for supplying ink to the reservoir, the orifices being arranged in at least two vertically offset groups, the reservoir being divided into vertically offset reservoir sections including a lowermost section and at least one upper section with each reservoir section being coupled exclusively to a respective group of orifices, and the or each upper reservoir section being arranged to overflow into the immediately adjacent reservoir section which is spaced therebelow, wherein each reservoir section includes means for detecting the level of ink within that section, and the ink supply means is arranged to deliver ink to the reservoir section which is vertically uppermost if any level detecting means detects an ink level in the respective reservoir section below a predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.