Air purging pump for ink jet printers

Abstract

Disclosed is an ink system for an ink jet printing apparatus having a replaceable ink bottle ink supply and a receptacle for receiving the ink bottle for coupling of the bottle to the ink system of the printer by an ink supply line. The improved apparatus includes an air purging pump for inhibiting air entry into the ink supply line occurring during ink bottle changes. A syringe type needle is provided in the base of the receptacle for providing fluid communication with the interior of the ink bottle, the air purging pump being placed intermediate the needle and the ink supply line. A pump actuator is coupled to the pump and actuable by entrance and egress of the bottle into and out of the receptacle, the air purging pump operable for withdrawing ink and air into the syringe upon relaxation of said pump by a bottle egressing the receptacle, and for pumping ink and air entrained in the needle back into a fresh bottle upon entrance of the bottle into the receptacle thereby inhibiting air bubbles in the ink supply line due to ink bottle changing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.