Patent ID: 6030074
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A pressurized ink delivery system for an ink jet printer comprising:a print cartridge having a printhead; and a pressure regulator, said pressure regulator being connected between an ink input into said print cartridge and an ink outlet in fluid communication with said printhead, said pressure regulator detecting a negative ink pressure, relative to atmospheric pressure, in said print cartridge more negative than a preset limit and allowing ink to flow from said ink input to said ink output until said ink pressure is within a preset negative pressure range; andan ink supply for said print cartridge, said ink supply including:a deformable ink bag containing said ink;a rigid container substantially surrounding said ink bag;an ink supply tube connected between said ink bag and said ink input of said print cartridge; anda pressurizing device generating a positive pressure, relative to the atmospheric pressure, said pressurizing device having an outlet connected to said rigid container, said pressurizing device providing said positive pressure internal to said rigid container, causing said ink within said ink bag to be delivered through said ink supply tube to said ink input of said print cartridge at said positive pressure at all times while said printhead is operating.