The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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Alternatively, imaging apparatus 14 may be a standalone unit that is not communicatively linked to a host, such as host 12. For example, imaging apparatus 14 may take the form of an all-in-one, i.e., multifunction, machine that includes standalone copying and facsimile capabilities, in addition to optionally serving as a printer when attached to a host, such as host 12.
Host 12 may be, for example, a personal computer including an input/output (I/O) device, such as keyboard and display monitor. Host 12 further includes a processor, input/output (I/O) interfaces, memory, such as RAM, ROM, NVRAM, and a mass data storage device, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM and/or DVD units. During operation, host 12 may include in its memory a software program including program instructions that function as an imaging driver, e.g., printer driver software, for imaging apparatus 14. Alternatively, the imaging driver may be incorporated, in whole or in part, in imaging apparatus 14.
In the embodiment of
Controller 18 includes a processor unit and associated memory, and may be formed as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Controller 18 communicates with print engine 20 via a communications link 24. Controller 18 communicates with user interface 22 via a communication link 26. Communications link 24 and 26 may be established, for example, by using standard electrical cabling or bus structures, or by wireless connection.
Print engine 20 may be, for example, an ink jet print engine configured for forming an image on a sheet of print media 28, such as a sheet of paper, transparency or fabric. Print engine 20 may include, for example, a reciprocating printhead carrier 30.
Printhead assembly 32 is configured to mount and carry the plurality of removable ink tanks 34, and to facilitate an ink transfer from one or more of the plurality of removable ink tanks 34 to micro-fluid ejection device 36. The plurality of removable ink tanks 34 may be made, for example, from plastic. The plurality of ink tanks 34 are individually identified as ink tanks 34-1, 34-2, 34-3 and 34-4, and may include a monochrome ink tank containing black ink, and three color ink tanks containing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. Micro-fluid ejection device 36 may include an ink jet nozzle array for each color of ink.
Printhead assembly 32 includes a printhead body 44 and a filter cap 46. Micro-fluid ejection device 36 is attached to a snout portion of printhead body 44. Filter cap 46 is attached to printhead body 44 via a hermetic seal, such as by welding or adhesive attachment. Filter cap 46 has a filter cap body 48 configured with a plurality of ink receiving devices 50, individually identified as ink receiving device 50-1, ink receiving device 50-2, ink receiving device 50-3, and ink receiving device 50-4. Each ink receiving device 50-1, 50-2, 50-3, and 50-4 includes a respective wick 52-1, 52-2, 52-3, and 52-4 that operably engages and facilitates fluid communication with the respective ink output ports of ink tanks 34-1, 34-2, 34-3 and 34-4, respectively. Each of wicks 52-1, 52-2, 52-3, and 52-4 may be constructed from a porous material, such as for example, from a porous felt material or a porous foam material. Ink tanks 34-1, 34-2, 34-3 and 34-4 are individually mounted to printhead assembly 32 via individual latches 54-1, 54-2, 54-3 and 54-4.
Ink tank 34-1, includes a free ink chamber 56 and a suspended ink chamber 58. Free ink chamber 56 includes a free-flowing supply of ink F1, and is positioned adjacent to suspended ink chamber 58. Free ink chamber 56 is separated from suspended ink chamber 58 by a divider wall 60. Divider wall 60 has an ink communication port, i.e., bubbler, 62 to provide fluid communication between free ink chamber 56 and suspended ink chamber 58.
Ink tank 34-1 has a floor 64, and a plurality of side walls 66 extending upwardly away from floor 64. Floor 64 includes a first floor portion 64-1 and a second floor portion 64-2. Free ink chamber 56 is located over first floor portion 64-1 of floor 64. Suspended ink chamber 58 is located over second floor portion 64-2 of floor 64 around an ink output port 68 formed through second floor portion 64-2 of floor 64. Ink output port 68 facilitates fluid communication with printhead assembly 32 when ink tank 34-1 is installed on printhead assembly 32. Suspended ink chamber 58 contains an ink suspension material, such as a felt material or a foam material, as will be described in more detail below, to provide a restriction to prevent a free-flow of ink through a suspended ink chamber 58 to ink output port 68 and produce a negative pressure.
The plurality of side walls 66 include, for example, a first side wall 66-1 and a second side 66-2. Side wall 66-2 is separated from side wall 66-1, with divider wall 60 being interposed between and connected to each of side wall 66-1 and side wall 66-2. Ink communication port, i.e., bubbler, 62 is located in a lower portion of divider wall 60 near floor 64 to provide fluid communication between the free ink chamber 56 and suspended ink chamber 58.
Positioned in suspended ink chamber 58 adjacent to floor 64 is a lower ink suspension body 70. An upper ink suspension body 72 is positioned in suspended ink chamber 58 adjacent to and above lower ink suspension body 70. Each of lower ink suspension body 70 and upper ink suspension body 72 may be constructed from a porous material, such as for example, from a porous felt material or a porous foam material. Lower ink suspension body 70 has a porous ink transfer surface 74 positioned above ink output port 68, which is engaged and deflected by ink receiving device 50-1 and its associated wick 52-1 when ink tank 34-1 is installed in printhead assembly 32.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a frame 76 is formed around ink communication port 62, with frame 76 protruding outwardly into suspended ink chamber 58. Lower ink suspension body 70 is positioned in suspended ink chamber 58 to engage frame 76 around ink communication port 62. The engagement of frame 76 with lower ink suspension body 70 reduces the possibility of undesirable bubbling, e.g., bottom bubbling or side bubbling.
All or a portion of frame 76 may be formed, for example, by the lifter used to produce ink communication port, i.e., bubbler, 62 in divider wall 60 of ink tank 34-1 during molding. Alternatively, all or a portion of frame 76 may be defined by the mold used in molding ink tank 34-1.
In the present embodiment, frame 76 may include a first frame portion 76-1, a second frame portion 76-2, a third frame portion 76-3, and a fourth frame portion 76-4.
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While this invention has been described with respect to embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.