Patent ID: 6139135
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An inkjet printing system comprising:a printer having a carriage and a carriage positioning mechanism for moving the carriage along a path which passes over a print zone;at least one printhead cartridge removably mounted on said carriage and having an inlet port;at least one ink container separate from said at least one printhead cartridge and removably mounted off said carriage for supplying ink to said printhead cartridge, said at least one ink container connected to an outlet control valve which is in a normally closed position to securely hold liquid ink in said ink container said at least one ink container which has an intermittent connection to said printhead cartridge through said outlet control valve;a printhead service module removably mounted on said printer outside of the print zone in the traverse path of said carriage; andwherein said printhead cartridge, said at least one ink container, and said printhead service module constitute three separable components adapted for installation and replacement as a set to provide an integrated ink delivery system when said inlet port of said at least one printhead cartridge is connected to be in fluid communication with said outlet control valve of said at least one ink container.