Ejection head priming mechanism

A method for priming a fluid cartridge comprising:

• providing a priming device for a fluid ejection head comprising:
• a Venturi tube having a motive fluid inlet, a suction inlet, a fluid outlet, and a motive fluid source configured to provide pressurized fluid to the fluid inlet of the Venturi tube and configured to provide a reduced pressure at the suction inlet of the Venturi tube, and
• an ejection head sealing device in fluid flow communication with an ejection head of a fluid cartridge and the suction inlet of the Venturi tube;
• attaching the ejection head sealing device to the ejection head of the fluid cartridge;
• and
• flowing pressurized fluid through the Venturi tube from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the Venturi tube at a pressure and in an amount sufficient to provide the reduced pressure at the suction inlet of the Venturi tube thereby priming the ejection head.

A priming station for a fluid cartridge comprising:

• a fluid cartridge holder having a fluid outlet fitted with a seal configured to seal around a periphery of an ejection head of the fluid cartridge;
• and
• a Venturi tube in fluid flow communication with the fluid cartridge holder, the Venturi tube comprising:
• a suction inlet in fluid flow communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid cartridge holder;
• a motive fluid inlet to the Venturi tube configured to provide a motive fluid through the Venturi tube and to create a reduced pressure at the suction inlet of the Venturi tube, and
• a Venturi tube outlet configured to flow fluid out of the Venturi tube from the fluid cartridge holder.