Patent ID: 7878640

Claim:
A method of priming one or more inkjet printheads, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a printhead assembly comprising: an ink distribution manifold having an ink inlet and an ink outlet; one or more inkjet printheads mounted on said manifold, each inkjet printhead comprising an array of nozzles; an upstream ink line connected to said ink inlet; and a downstream ink line connected to said ink outlet; (ii) providing an ink chamber in fluid communication with said ink inlet via said upstream ink line; (iii) providing an air pump having a pump outlet in fluid communication with a headspace of said ink chamber, and a pump inlet in fluid communication with said downstream ink line; (iii) actuating said air pump so as to draw ink from said ink chamber, through said manifold and into said downstream ink line, thereby priming said inkjet printheads; (iv) receiving said ink in an expansion chamber in said downstream ink line; and (v) deactuating said wherein said downstream ink line comprises a loop section passing below a level of ink in said ink chamber, wherein an ink level in said loop section equalizes with an ink level in said ink chamber after deactuation of said pump in step (v).