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US 9,168,752 B2Granted
Print head priming systems
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsFrancesc Ros Cerro, Macia Sole Pons, David Ramirez Muela, Li Qian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A print head priming system comprises a vent closure section to close a vent, where the vent is to compensate backpressure in a print head. An inlet to receive pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas is to provide the pressurized gas to the print head. A pressure relief valve is to open in response to pressure in the print head reaching or exceeding a predetermined value by the provision of gas to the print head by the source of pressurized gas.
Claims16
A print head priming system comprising:
- a vent closure section to close a vent during a priming session of a print head to prevent a fluid communication between an ambient pressure and a vent hole of the print head, and to open the vent during a printing session to compensate backpressure in the print head, wherein a control section causes the vent closure section to open and close the vent;
- an inlet to provide pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas to the vent hole of the print head during the priming session, and to terminate the provision of the pressurized gas to the vent hole of the print head during the printing session;
- and
- a pressure relief valve to open in response to a pressure in the print head reaching or exceeding a predetermined value by the provision of the pressurized gas to the print head during the priming session.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- closing, by a control section, a vent of a priming system during a priming mode of a print head to prevent airflow between an ambient pressure and a vent hole of the print head, wherein the vent is to compensate for backpressure in a print head;
- providing pressurized gas into the vent hole of the print head during the priming mode to increase a pressure in a chamber of the print head above ambient pressure;
- and
- opening a pressure relief valve in the priming system to allow a fluid path between the chamber and the ambient pressure in response to the pressure in the chamber of the print head reaching or exceeding a threshold pressure.
1 more element
A device comprising:
- a pump to be activated during a priming session of a print head to provide pressurized gas to a vent hole of the print head and to be deactivated during a printing session of the print head;
- a vent to be closed during the priming session of the print head, and to be open during the printing session to allow a fluid communication between an ambient pressure and the vent hole of the print head, wherein the vent is to compensate for backpressure in the print head, and a control section causes the vent to open and close;
- and
- a passive pressure relief valve to open when a pressure in the print head reaches or exceeds a threshold value.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.