Patent ID: 8506061

Claim:
An inkjet printing apparatus comprising: an ink reservoir configured to store ink, a port extending into the ink reservoir that fluidly communicates with the ink reservoir; a weir extending from a floor of the ink reservoir to a position within the ink reservoir that divides the ink reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber; a wall extending from a ceiling of the ink reservoir to a position within the first chamber that is below the position to which the weir extends, a portion of a volume between the wall, the ceiling of the ink reservoir, and a side of the first chamber being configured to hold a predetermined volume of air; a membrane having pores that is positioned in the first chamber of the ink reservoir below the wall and between the weir and the port in the ink reservoir to enable all ink passing from the port to the second chamber to flow through pores in the membrane; a plurality of inkjet ejectors in fluid communication with the second chamber, each inkjet ejector configured to receive ink from the second chamber and eject ink from an aperture formed in each inkjet ejector; and a receptacle mounted proximate to the plurality of inkjet ejectors, the receptacle having a first opening that is configured to receive ink purged from the ink reservoir and a second opening that fluidly communicates with the port in the ink reservoir.