Patent ID: 6174052
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A priming system for an ink jet printer of the type including a remote printhead including a nozzle (16) having an inlet and an outlet from which droplets are projected, an ink catcher (52), an ink line (14) for conveying pressurized ink from an ink supply (11, 12 or 109) to said nozzle inlet; a return line (54) for conveying ink from said catcher back to said supply, said priming system comprising:a nozzle valve (15) having an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle valve outlet being connected to said nozzle inlet;a bypass line (18) connected to said nozzle valve inlet and to said ink supply (11, 12 or 109); anda source (30, 31, 55 or 103, 107) of below atmospheric pressure (vacuum) connected to said bypass line (18) to draw ink from said nozzle valve inlet, through said bypass line, back to the ink supply (11, 12 or 109);whereby the ink jet printer may be primed with ink and substantially purged of air by drawing a vacuum in the bypass line to cause ink to flow from the ink supply, through the ink line to the nozzle valve inlet and back to the supply via the bypass line without passing through said nozzle.