# US 9,751,308 B2 · Apparatus for controlling ink pressure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,308 B2 - Document ID: US9751308B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/100,082 - Filed: 2014-12-05 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-05 - Assignees: Tonejet Limited - Applicants: Tonejet Limited - Inventors: Ammar Lecheheb; Ewan Hendrik Conradie; Jerzy Marcin Zaba; Ian Philip Butler Ingham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751308B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/1433: {Structure of nozzle plates} - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - B41J 2/18: Ink recirculation systems - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract An apparatus for controlling ink pressure in a printhead, the apparatus comprising: an integrally formed structure having: at least one control reservoir separated into first and second chambers by a weir; at least one inlet passageway, extending from the first chamber to an inlet port on an edge of the structure, for supplying ink from a remote source into the first chamber of the reservoir; at least one fluid outlet passageway, extending from the second chamber to an outlet port on an edge of the structure, for recirculating fluid from the reservoir to the remote source of ink; and at least one ink supply port, in communication with the first chamber, for supplying ink to, or receiving ink from, a printhead. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus (1) for controlling ink pressure in a printhead, the apparatus comprising: an integrally formed structure (5) having: at least one control reservoir (10, 10′) separated into first (14, 14′) and second (15, 15′) chambers by a weir (13, 13′); at least one inlet passageway (11, 11′), extending from the first chamber (14, 14′) to an inlet port (21, 21′) on an edge of the structure (5), for supplying ink from a remote source into the first chamber (14, 14′) of the reservoir (10, 10′); at least one fluid outlet passageway (20, 20′), extending from the second chamber (15, 15′) to an outlet port (23, 23′) on an edge of the structure (5), for recirculating fluid from the reservoir (10, 10′) to the remote source of ink; at least one ink supply port (22, 22′), in communication with the first chamber (14, 14′), for supplying ink to, or receiving ink from, a printhead; and a pressure control system having a pressure sensing passageway, extending from the reservoir (10, 10′) to a pressure port (26, 26′) on the edge of the structure (5), for sensing the air pressure within the reservoir (10, 10′), wherein the pressure sensing passageway includes an air chamber (24, 24′), wherein the air chamber (24, 24′) includes one or more baffles (25, 25′). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one ink connection passageway extending from the first chamber to the at least one ink supply port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structure is formed by an additive manufacturing process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the additive manufacturing process is stereolithography. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each reservoir has a dedicated inlet passageway and/or a dedicated fluid outlet passageway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baffles are angled such that, in use, fluid between the baffles and the pressure port drains back into the reservoir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor connected to or retained within the pressure port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure control passage extending from a part of the pressure sensing passageway to a pressure control port on the edge of the structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pressure control passageway extends from the air chamber to the pressure control port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each reservoir has a dedicated pressure control system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more passageways for allowing rinse fluid and/or air to flow through the structure for supply to a printhead. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising at least one rinse passageway and at least one air passageway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the rinse and one of the air passageways merge to form a combined flow. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a rinse passageway exits into an air passageway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrally formed structure is a single structure containing two or more reservoirs, each reservoir having: at least one inlet passageway, extending from the first chamber to an inlet port on an edge of the structure, for supplying ink from a remote source into the first chamber of the reservoir; at least one fluid outlet passageway, extending from the second chamber to an outlet port on an edge of the structure, for recirculating fluid from the reservoir to the remote source of ink; and at least one ink supply port, in communication with the first chamber, for supplying ink to, or receiving ink from, a printhead. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15, each reservoir further having at least one ink connection passageway extending from the first chamber to the at least one ink supply port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes one or more additional integrally formed structures, each having: at least one control reservoir separated into first and second chambers by a weir; at least one inlet passageway, extending from the first chamber to an inlet port on an edge of the structure, for supplying ink from a remote source into the first chamber of the reservoir; at least one fluid outlet passageway, extending from the second chamber to an outlet port on an edge of the structure, for recirculating fluid from the reservoir to the remote source of ink; and at least one ink supply port, in communication with the first chamber, for supplying ink to, or receiving ink from, a printhead. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, each additional integrally formed structure further having at least one ink connection passageway extending from the first chamber to the at least one ink supply port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein one or more of the additional integrally formed structures contains two or more reservoirs, each reservoir having: at least one inlet passageway, extending from the first chamber to an inlet port on an edge of the structure, for supplying ink from a remote source into the first chamber of the reservoir; at least one fluid outlet passageway, extending from the second chamber to an outlet port on an edge of the structure, for recirculating fluid from the reservoir to the remote source of ink; and at least one ink supply port, in communication with the first chamber, for supplying ink to, or receiving ink from, a printhead. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An apparatus according to claim 19, each reservoir further having at least one ink connection passageway extending from the first chamber to the at least one ink supply port.