Patent ID: 7357496

Claim:
A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer, the printhead assembly comprising: a pagewidth printhead structure having an array of nozzles and a plurality of ink ports in fluid communication with corresponding nozzles in the array; an ink cartridge docking frame for receiving a plurality ink cartridges, the cartridge docking frame having ink inlet valves for sealed connection to outlets on each of the ink cartridges respectively; and, resilient connectors for sealed fluid communication between the ink inlet valves and the corresponding ink port, the resilient connectors having an outer collar and an inner collar joined by an annular web to accommodate longitudinal expansion and contraction of the pagewidth printhead structure relative to the ink cartridge docking frame, wherein each inlet valve has an inlet opening and a moveable valve member biased into sealing engagement with the inlet opening, and each outlet has a complememtary member for depressing the moveable valve member out of engagement with the inlet opening to open the valve, the inlet opening having an external formation about its periphery for sealing against the outlet before the complementary member depresses the moveable valve member; and wherein the complementary member has a stem with a flange portion on its end, the flange portion having a recess complementary with a conical head of the moveable valve member, the flange portion having a diameter sized for a loose sliding fit within the inlet opening to displace substantially all the air from between the complementary member and the conical head before the inlet valve is opened.