Patent ID: 7837297

Claim:
A printhead for an inkjet printer, the printhead comprising: a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; a support structure for supporting the printhead IC, the support structure having ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink and an ink inlet for connection to an ink supply; and, a plurality of cavities, each cavity having an opening that establishes fluid communication with the ink conduits and being a blind recess such that the opening defines an area substantially equal to that of the blind end, the openings each face one of the ink conduits only and being configured to inhibit ink filling the recess by capillary action, wherein the openings to each respective cavity have an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the upstream edge contacting the ink before the downstream edge during initial priming of the ink conduits from the ink supply, and the upstream edge having a transition face between the conduit and the cavity interior, the transition face being configured to inhibit ink from filling the cavity and purging the gas by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit.