Patent ID: 7874662

Claim:
A method of replacing a printhead in an inkjet printer with minimal ink wastage, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a printhead comprising: an ink distribution manifold having an ink inlet and an ink outlet; one or more printhead integrated circuits mounted on said manifold, each printhead integrated circuit comprising a plurality of nozzles; (ii) providing an ink supply system comprising: an ink chamber in fluid communication with said ink inlet via an upstream ink line; a reversible air pump communicating with a headspace of said ink chamber; and a downstream ink line connected to said ink outlet; (ii) actuating said pump so as to negatively pressurize said headspace, thereby depriming said printhead by drawing ink from said downstream ink line and said printhead into said ink chamber; (iii) deactuating said pump and allowing an ink level in said ink chamber to equalize with an ink level in said upstream ink line; (iv) removing said printhead from said printer, said removing including disconnecting said ink inlet and said ink outlet from respective upstream and downstream ink lines; (v) replacing said printhead with a replacement printhead, said replacing including connecting an ink inlet and an outlet inlet of said replacement printhead with respective upstream and downstream ink lines; (vi) actuating said pump so as to positively pressurize said headspace, thereby priming said printhead by drawing ink from said ink chamber, through said printhead and into said downstream ink line; and (vii) deactuating said pump and allowing an ink level in said ink chamber to equilibrate to a predetermined level.