Patent ID: 8550612

Claim:
A system for delivering liquid ink in an inkjet printing apparatus comprising: an inkjet printing apparatus configured with an ink reservoir for storing liquid ink to be ejected by the inkjet printing apparatus, a plurality of inkjet ejectors in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, each inkjet ejector configured to receive ink from the ink reservoir and eject ink from an aperture formed in each inkjet ejector; a receptacle mounted proximate to the plurality of inkjet ejectors that is configured to receive ink purged from the ink reservoir through the plurality of inkjet ejectors, the receptacle having an outlet that is fluidly connected to the ink reservoir, the ink reservoir having a port that enables ink to flow into the ink reservoir and ink to be pulled from the ink reservoir; a one-way valve positioned in the outlet of the receptacle, the one-way valve being configured to enable the ink in the receptacle to flow into the ink reservoir and to resist a flow of ink from the ink reservoir into the receptacle through the outlet of the receptacle; a container of liquid ink having an inlet to receive liquid ink and an outlet to supply the liquid ink to the ink reservoir; a conduit fluidly connected to the port of the ink reservoir and to the outlet of the liquid ink container; a pump operatively connected to the conduit and configured for reversible operation; and a controller operatively connected to the pump and configured to operate the pump in a first direction to supply ink from the container of liquid ink to the ink reservoir through the port and to operate the pump in the second direction to generate negative pressure at the port of the ink reservoir to open the one-way valve and pull ink from the receptacle into the ink reservoir through the outlet of the receptacle.