Patent ID: 7887148
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method of depriming a printhead, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a printhead having a plurality of nozzles for ejection of ink, an ink inlet and an ink outlet; (ii) providing an ink chamber having an outlet port connected to said ink inlet via an upstream ink line, said ink chamber having an inlet port controlled by a float valve positioned in said ink chamber; (iii) depriming said printhead by pumping ink from a downstream ink line connected to said ink outlet, through said printhead and into said ink chamber; and (iv) closing said float valve when a level of ink in said chamber reaches a predetermined first level, thereby isolating said ink chamber from an ink reservoir in fluid communication with said inlet port, wherein said float valve comprises: an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot; a float mounted at one end of said arm; and a valve stem attached to said arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat when the float reaches said predetermined first level, wherein said valve seat is partitioned at the inlet port of said chamber.