Patent ID: 6241347
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of color inkjet printing using a plurality of printheads mounted on a moving carriage, each printhead having a different color ink, said each printhead having an inlet valve which is accessible when said each printhead is mounted in said carriage, and said inlet valve is in a normally closed position during a printing operation, with a separate removable printhead service module mounted in a path of the moving carriage to perform ink-related service functions for said each printhead, respectively, comprising the following steps:providing an off-carriage ink container connected to a normally closed container control valve;filling the container with ink;connecting the container control valve to the inlet valve of one of said printheads to provide a fluid path for ink flow between the ink container and the printhead;transferring the ink of said filling step from the container to one of the printheads;disconnecting the container control valve from the inlet valve to disconnect said fluid path;depositing some of said transferred ink on a print medium during a normal printing operation; anddepositing some of the ink of said filling step on said printhead service module associated with said one of the printheads during the normal operation of the printer.