High stability ink delivery systems, and associated print systems and methods
AssigneeElectronics for Imaging, Inc.
InventorsJuan Escudero Gonzalez, Eduardo Bueno Espinal
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Abstract
Disclosed are high stability ink delivery system systems and methods for their use, in which a secondary reservoir is placed upstream of a printhead. The secondary reservoir can be opened to the atmosphere through a valve, such as based on the reading of a pressure sensor placed at a point before the printhead. The purpose of this valve is to open the secondary reservoir to the atmosphere when the pressure sensor indicates that the secondary reservoir can be open while avoiding air aspiration, and closing it when this condition is not satisfied.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- operating a printing system that includes:
- a secondary ink reservoir located between a primary ink reservoir and a printhead;
- a pressure sensor positioned on an ink delivery conduit upstream of the printhead;
- and
- a valve;
- wherein the secondary ink reservoir is configured to be opened to atmosphere through the valve, based on the output signal of the pressure sensor;
- measuring pressure between the secondary reservoir and the printhead;
- comparing the measured pressure any of a setpoint, a threshold, or an operating parameter;
- and
- controllably operating the valve to open or close, based on the comparison.
A method for operating a printing system that includes (i) a secondary ink reservoir located between a primary ink reservoir and a printhead and (ii) a pressure sensor positioned on an ink delivery conduit upstream of the printhead, the method comprising:
- comparing a signal output by the pressure sensor to a threshold in a dynamic manner;
- and
- operating, based on an outcome of said comparing, a valve such that:
- the valve is opened, allowing the secondary ink reservoir to be open to atmosphere, in response to a determination that pressure of the ink delivery conduit meets the threshold, and
- the valve remains closed in response to a determination that the pressure of the ink delivery conduit does not meet the threshold.
A non-transitory medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- obtaining a signal output by a pressure sensor that is situated along an ink delivery conduit upstream of a printhead of a printer;
- comparing, in response to said obtaining, the signal to a threshold;
- and
- controlling, in response to said comparing, a valve connected to an ink reservoir such that:
- the valve is opened, allowing the ink reservoir to be open to atmosphere, in response to a determination that pressure of the ink delivery conduit meets the threshold, and
- the valve remains closed in response to a determination that the pressure of the ink delivery conduit does not meet the threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.