Patent ID: 8465133

Claim:
A pumping system for moving ink in a printer comprising: a pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a reservoir configured to store ink, the reservoir having an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet of the pumping chamber; a moving member having a first portion positioned in the pumping chamber to contact and move ink from the inlet of the pumping chamber to the outlet of the pumping chamber and a second portion positioned outside of the pumping chamber; a first one-way valve operatively connected between the inlet of the pumping chamber and the reservoir, the first one-way valve being configured to enable ink to flow from the reservoir through the inlet into the pumping chamber and to impede ink flow from the pumping chamber to the ink reservoir; a second one-way valve operatively connected between the pumping chamber and the reservoir, the second one-way valve being configured to enable ink to flow from the pumping chamber into the reservoir and to impede ink flow from the ink reservoir into the pumping chamber; and a channel configured about the portion of the moving member positioned outside of the pumping chamber, the channel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the channel being directly connected to the pumping chamber and the second end of the channel being directly connected to the reservoir to enable a portion of the ink in the pumping chamber to move from the pumping chamber and lubricate the portion of the moving member outside of the pumping chamber and return to the reservoir.