Patent ID: 7661803
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An inkjet printer comprising: an ink supply; an ink manifold connected to the ink supply via an upstream ink line; a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles mounted to the ink manifold; a downstream pump in fluid communication with the ink manifold via a downstream ink line; a sump for collecting waste ink in fluid communication with the ink manifold via the downstream ink line; a gas inlet that is configured to be opened to establish fluid communication between the ink manifold and a supply of gas, and configured to be closed to form a gas tight seal; such that, the ink manifold is primed with ink when the gas inlet is closed, and de-primed of ink when the gas inlet is open; and, an accumulator for holding a volume of ink such that the volume of ink is ejected when the accumulator is activated to cause a positive pressure pulse, the accumulator being positioned in the upstream ink line such that the positive pressure pulse primes the printhead IC with ink from the ink manifold wherein the downstream ink line connects the ink manifold to the ink supply via the downstream pump and the outlet of the ink manifold is in fluid communication with a gas vent for expelling gas drawn into the ink manifold during depriming.