Patent ID: 9604457
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: B41J

Claim:
1. An apparatus comprising: an inkjet head that includes a plurality of ink channels for ejecting ink, a supply manifold, and a return manifold; wherein each of the ink channels includes a diaphragm, a first restrictor, a chamber, a second restrictor, and a nozzle; wherein the first restrictor fluidly connects the supply manifold to the chamber; wherein the second restrictor fluidly connects the chamber to the return manifold; a means for selectively vibrating the diaphragm on each of the plurality of ink channels to eject ink from the chamber out of the nozzle during print operations; a means for circulating ink through each of the plurality of ink channels during the print operations by regulating the pressure between the supply manifold and the return manifold to cause ink to flow from the supply manifold through the first restrictor into the chamber, and to cause non-ejected ink to flow from the chamber through the second restrictor into the return manifold; and a means for circulating ink in a reverse direction through each of the plurality of ink channels during the print operations by regulating the pressure between the supply manifold and the return manifold to cause ink to flow from the return manifold through the second restrictor into the chamber, and to cause non-ejected ink to flow from the chamber through the first restrictor into the supply manifold.