Patent ID: 6508546
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A printhead and ink supply arrangement for a portable inkjet printer that comprisesan elongate pagewidth printhead having a plurality of ink supply passages, an elongate pagewidth ink distribution manifold connected to said printhead and substantially coextensive therewith, the manifold including a plurality of ink outlets corresponding to said ink supply passages on the printhead, and further including a plurality of ink inlets positioned along the manifold, an elongate pagewidth ink supply unit connected to said manifold and substantially coextensive therewith and including a baffle unit and a housing that encloses the baffle unit, the baffle unit and the housing defining at least one elongate pagewidth storage chamber for holding ink for supply to said manifold, said baffle unit defining a series of baffles spaced along the storage chamber and extending transversely so that consecutive baffles and the housing define a series of chamber portions within the at least one elongate storage unit, the baffle unit being configured to define holes so that each chamber portion is in fluid communication with each one of said ink inlets so that ink in the chamber portions can flow into the manifold, the baffles acting to reduce excessive acceleration of ink along the storage chamber from one said chamber portion to another as may be induced by movement of the portable printer, whilst allowing for flows of the ink from said chamber portions to the manifold inlets via said holes in response to active demand from said printhead.