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US 7,111,932 B2Granted
Managing contaminants in a fluid-delivery device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMike Steed, Thomas H. Ottenheimer, Joseph R. Elliot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for managing contaminants are described. One exemplary method ejects fluid from multiple ejection chambers of a printing device in a pattern designed primarily to create fluid flow to move a contaminant present in fluid contained in a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to the multiple ejection chambers. Responsive to the ejection, the method moves fluid in the fluid-feed channel sufficiently to move a contaminant in a desired direction within the fluid-feed channel.
Claims33
A device comprising:
- multiple ejection chambers positioned in a print head, individual ejection chambers comprising an ejection element, the print head defining a fluid-feed path configured to supply fluid to the ejection chambers for ejection from the print head;
- a filter extending generally across the fluid-feed path;
- and,
- a controller configured to cause ejection elements to be energized sufficiently to cause fluid to be ejected from one or more of the ejection chambers in a pattern designed to move a bubble to a region where the bubble can pass through the filter.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to a plurality of ejection chambers;
- and,
- a processor configured to cause fluid to be ejected from one or more of the ejection chambers in a contaminant moving pattern that creates fluid flow designed to move a pre-existing contaminant contained in the fluid-feed channel in a desired direction;
- wherein the contaminant moving pattern creates fluid flow from a first end of the fluid-feed channel and a generally opposing second end of the fluid-feed channel toward a region centrally located between the first end and the second end.
1 more element
A printing device comprising:
- a print head comprising multiple ejection chambers and a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to the ejection chambers, wherein the ejection chambers are arranged in a generally linear array extending along a long axis of the fluid-feed channel;
- and,
- a controller configured to cause fluid ejection from individual ejection chambers in a pattern designed to move a pre-existing bubble in a desired direction within the fluid-feed channel by ejecting fluid from individual ejection chambers starting at a first end of the array and progressing to a second generally opposing end of the array.
A method comprising:
- individually ejecting fluid from multiple, adjacently positioned ejection chambers of a printing device with ejection elements of a fluid cartridge that comprises the ejection chambers in a pattern designed primarily to create fluid flow to move a pre-existing contaminant present in fluid contained in a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to the multiple ejection chambers;
- and,
- responsive to said ejecting, moving fluid in the fluid-feed channel sufficiently to move a pre-existing contaminant in a desired direction within the fluid-feed channel.
A method comprising:
- positioning a filter relative to a fluid supply path of a micro electro mechanical systems device so that fluid passes through the filter before reaching one or more ejection chambers of the micro electro mechanical systems device;
- and,
- configuring a processor to cause fluid to be ejected from individual ejection chambers in a pattern intended to create fluid flow sufficient to move a contaminant in a direction generally parallel to the filter to a location designed to handle contaminants.
One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a device, cause the device to:
- selectively energize a first ejection element to cause ejection of fluid from a first ejection chamber;
- and,
- selectively energize at least a second ejection element to cause ejection of fluid from at least a second ejection chamber, wherein said ejection from the first ejection chamber and ejection from the second ejection chamber cooperatively cause fluid flow within a fluid-feed channel supplying fluid to the chambers sufficient to move a contaminant located in the fluid-feed channel.
A method comprising:
- ejecting fluid from multiple ejection chambers of a printing device in a pattern designed primarily to create fluid flow to move a pre-existing contaminant present in fluid contained in a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to the multiple ejection chambers;
- and,
- responsive to said ejecting, moving fluid in the fluid-feed channel sufficiently to move a pre-existing contaminant from the fluid-feed channel to a central position within a slot that feeds the fluid-feed channel.
A system comprising:
- a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to a plurality of ejection chambers;
- and,
- a processor configured to cause fluid to be ejected from one or more of the ejection chambers in a contaminant moving pattern that creates fluid flow designed to move a pre-existing contaminant contained in the fluid-feed channel in a desired direction;
- wherein the contaminant moving pattern creates fluid flow from a first end of the fluid-feed channel toward a generally opposing second end of the fluid-feed channel.
1 more element
A printing device comprising:
- a print head comprising multiple ejection chambers and a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to the ejection chambers, wherein the ejection chambers are arranged in a generally linear array extending along a long axis of the fluid-feed channel;
- and,
- a controller configured to cause fluid ejection from individual ejection chambers in a pattern designed to move a pre-existing bubble in a desired direction within the fluid-feed channel by ejecting fluid from individual ejection chambers starting at a first end of the array and a second generally opposing end of the array and progressing toward a generally central region of the array.
A method comprising:
- individually ejecting fluid from ejection chambers of a printing device with ejection elements of a fluid cartridge that comprises the ejection chambers in a pattern designed primarily to create fluid flow to move a pre-existing contaminant present in fluid contained in a fluid-feed channel configured to supply fluid to the multiple ejection chambers, wherein the ejecting comprises ejecting fluid from pairs of ejection chambers where the ejection chambers comprising each pair are positioned on opposing sides of a long axis of the fluid-feed channel;
- and,
- responsive to said ejecting, moving fluid in the fluid-feed channel sufficiently to move a pre-existing contaminant in a desired direction within the fluid-feed channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.