Object separator for ink jet printer applications

A method of making a subassembly for an ink jet printer, comprising steps of:

• forming a cyclonic flow generator configured to cause vortex flow of ink containing one or both of bubbles and particles and to focus the bubbles into a concentrated bubble stream and the particles into a concentrated particle stream;
• forming a bubble extractor configured to preferentially trap bubbles at the bubble extractor;
• positioning the cyclonic flow generator in an ink flow channel being connected to a print head of the ink jet printer;
• and
• positioning the bubble extractor downstream of the cyclonic generator and within a flow path of the concentrated bubble stream.

An ink jet printer, comprising:

• a print head comprising ink jets configured to selectively eject ink toward a print medium according to predetermined pattern;
• a transport mechanism configured to provide relative movement between the print medium and the print head;
• an object separator, positioned within an ink flow channel connected to the print head comprising:
• a cyclonic flow generator configured to cause vortex flow of ink containing objects comprising bubbles and particles and to focus the bubbles into at least one concentrated bubble stream and to focus the particles into at least one concentrated particle stream;
• a bubble extractor positioned downstream of the cyclonic generator and within a flow path of the concentrated bubble stream;
• at least one object outlet passage configured to allow the objects to exit from the object separator;
• and
• one or more ink outlet passages configured to allow the ink to exit from the object separator.

An ink jet printing method, comprising steps of:

• generating, in an object separator, a vortex flow in ink, the vortex flow focusing bubbles into a concentrated bubble stream and particles into a concentrated particle stream;
• impinging the concentrated bubble stream on a bubble extractor having one or more bubble traps disposed on a surface of the bubble extractor;
• trapping a substantial number of the bubbles at the bubble traps;
• allowing ink to pass out of the object separator along an ink flow path while venting the bubbles out of the ink flow path;
• and
• jetting the ink onto a print medium.