200927499 九、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係有關一種印表機，尤指噴墨印表機 構。 【先前技術】 噴墨列印是一種普遍且多功能型態的印刷成 人經發展出經MEMS列印頭1C噴出墨水的印表 列印頭1C(積體電路）是使用用以製造半導體的微 沈積技術來形成的。 在MEMS列印頭1C內的微尺寸噴嘴結構可 嘴密度（每一單位1C表面積所有的噴嘴）、高列 、低電源消耗量、自身冷卻作業，故而高列印速 印頭經詳細的敘述在申請人於2 002年6月4曰提 USSN 10/160273號申請案，及於2003年12月8曰 的USSN 1 0/72 8 804號申請案中。該等文獻的內 文以供參考。 微小的噴嘴結構及高噴嘴密度會產生噴嘴阻 動注給、噴嘴乾化（decap)、混色、噴嘴氾濫、 流內的氣泡污染等的困擾。該等事件對列印品質 利的影響。印表機的構件係設計成可減少該等問 機率。最理想的情況是，印表機構件本身的功能 該等問題的發生。事實上，許多不同種類的運作 在運送或日常作業時的災難或不適當的粗魯處理 的流體建 像。申請 機。該等 影蝕刻及 允許高噴 印析像度 。此種列 出申請的 提出申請 容併入本 塞、反起 在墨水股 會產生不 題發生的 即可排除 條件、及 ，使得不 -5- 200927499 可能藉由「被動的」控制構件設計、材料選擇等即可克服 上述困擾。 針對此問題，申請人經發展出可主動的控制流體系統 的印表機。此種主動流體系統經敘述在申請人提出申請的 USSN 11/482982 ； 11/482983 ； 11/482984 ； 11/495818 ； 11/495819; 11/677049: 11/677050; 11/677051等申請案 中。該等文獻的內容倂入本文以供參考’。雖然該等系統提 0 供使用者可主動處理整體印表機內的靜態及動態流體條件 ，但經發現在印表機內的主動構件卻是造成大部分墨水攜 帶的污染物的主因。尤其是泵易散佈顆粒進入墨水流中， 而會對噴嘴的運轉產生不利的影響。相互作用的表面的磨 耗及摩擦終究會產生直接困陷在墨水流內的顆粒。許多上 述流體設計使用蠕動式的泵，而導入額外的問題。在泵內 的撓性管路終究會裂開及逸漏，管路失去彈性而不再恢復 完全敞開的條件，且泵需具備高扭矩規定，因爲其需充分 Q 的壓縮管路以形成一密封。爲符合扭矩需求，泵需相當的 大，而此對整體印表機需要精簡形狀的要求而言是相違背 的。 墨水攜帶的污染物可藉在列印頭上游的過濾器來移除 。然而，由於顆粒的尺寸而使得過濾器的細孔尺寸必須是 微小的。爲了維持高速、頁寬列印頭所要求的墨水流率， 過濾器表面積必須是不切實際的巨大，而無法達到市場所 要求的精簡度。 -6- 200927499 【發明內容】 因此，本發明提供一種噴墨印表機’包含： 一列印頭，用以列印至一介質基底上； 一儲器，用以供應墨水至該列印頭； 一泵，用以自該儲器抽引墨水，及泵送墨水進入該列 印頭；及 一閥配置，用以在打開該儲器及列印頭之間的流體連 0 通的同時，選擇性的打開該泵及列印頭之間的流體連通， 及選擇性的關閉該栗及列印頭之間的流體連通。 本發明的實現是基於認知栗的沖洗及起動注給功能可 在與列印頭成流體連通時執行，然後在列印時與列印頭成 流體的相隔離。藉將泵自儲器及列印頭之間的直接流體管 線移除，閥配置在只有需要時可允許其連接至儲器或列印 頭。沖洗及起動注給作業經變成兩階段作業’其中泵首先 自儲器抽引墨水，然後將其輸送到列印頭。可令來自泵的 φ 墨水通過一精微的過濾器以移除任何顆粒污染物，使得在 正常列印作業時不致壓縮來自儲器的墨水。 較佳者，印表機另包含一過濾器’以提供由該泵流至 該列印頭的墨水使用，該過濾器係設置成使得，當該閥配 置係建構成可提供該儲器及列印頭之間的流體連通時，該 過濾器並非與該列印頭成流體連通的。 較佳者，該閥配置係建構成使得’當該泵係與該列印 頭成流體連通時，該泵是並非與該儲器成流體連通的。 較佳者，該閥配置係建構成使得’當該儲器係與該列 200927499 印頭成流體連通時，該泵是並非與該儲器成流體連通的。 較佳者，印表機另包含一上游管線’用以建立該儲器 及列印頭之間的流體連通，其中該閥配置係一在該上游管 線內的三通閥，且該泵藉一支線連接至該三通閥’該三通 閥具有三項設定；第一設定是在關閉該支線的同時，將至 該儲器的上游管線與至該列印頭的上游管線相連接’第二 設定是在將至該列印頭的上游管線加以關閉的同時’將至 上游管線的該支線與該儲器相連接’而第三設定是在將至 該儲器的上游管線加以關閉的同時’將至上游管線的該支 線與該列印頭相連接。 較佳者，該泵具有一配設有往復柱塞的室。在另一具 體實施例，該泵是由彈性材料製成、可固持墨水容積的球 狀體，及一可選擇性的壓縮該球狀體的引動器。 較佳者，該儲器具有一壓力調節器，用以建立一位在 該儲器內，在墨水上方的頂部空間內的預定壓力，該預定 壓力係小於大氣壓者。在另一較佳型態中，該栗自該儲器 抽引墨水，以將在該頂部空間內的壓力減小至成爲準備列 印用的預定壓力。 較佳者，經由該泵自該儲器抽引的墨水係栗送入該準 備好可列印的列印頭內。較佳者，該列印頭具有一分配歧 管及複數安裝至該分配歧管的列印頭積體電路，使得以墨 水起動注給該分配歧管時，也起動注給該等列印頭積體電 路。 200927499 【實施方式】 較佳具體實施例的詳盡說明 參見圖1至3，爲了說明起見，印表機流體系統在此以 槪意的方式顯示。該等圖式顯示的流體建構僅是提供一顏 色的單一墨水管線。一彩色印表機對各墨水顏色會有個別 的管線及墨水槽。在系統內的大部分構件經詳細的敘述在 申請人於2007年3月21日提出申請’且正在審查中的 USSN 11/688863號申請案，該案的內容併入本文以供參考 。本系統的構件，如未見示於該參考案者’是可在市場上 取得的。 圖1至3所示的流體系統具有一列印頭2 ’墨水46經一 上游墨水管線20自墨水槽8提供給列印頭2。上游墨水管線 20具有三通閥18，其經一過濾器32連接至泵30。下游管線 24經一關斷閥26連接列印頭2至液池28。列印頭具有一維 護站22，用以覆蓋（capping)、吸乾（blotting)及擦拭噴嘴 。一排洩管線34將維護站22連接至液池28。 列印頭2是墨水分配歧管4的組件’一系列的列印頭積 體電路（IC)6安裝於墨水分配歧管4上。列印頭1C 6界定出 將墨水噴至介質基底的噴嘴陣列。噴嘴係可熱引動的 MEMS裝置，例如於2006年7月1〇曰申請的 USSN 11 /4 82953號申請案所揭示者，或是可機械式引動者，例 如於2002年6月4日申請的USSN 1 0/1 60273號申請案所示 者。 墨水分配歧管4是一 LCP塑模，具有一巨大槽路系統 200927499 ，供養較小槽路的網路，以將墨水供應至在各列印頭IC 6 長度上的許多點。分配歧管4及列印頭1C 6的一具體實施 例經詳細的揭示於前述在2 007年3月21日提出申請的 USSN 1 1/688863號申請案中。此文獻也詳細的敘述如何以 墨水起動注給列印頭的方式，或是如有需要的話，如何沖 洗墨水以修正任何槽路相跨越的顏色污染及/或泡沬消除 的方式。 φ 墨水槽8及起泡點壓力調節器10揭示於申請人在2007 年10月16日提出申請的USSN 11/8 72 714號申請案中，該 案的內容併入本文以供參考。然而，爲了方便敘述起見， 調節器10係以在墨水槽頂部空間（headspace)12內的氣泡出 口 76，且藉延伸至一空氣入口 78的微槽路74通氣至大氣來 顯示。墨水藉毛細管作用而固持在微槽路74內。由於列印 頭1C 6會消耗墨水，故墨水槽8內的壓力下降，直到在氣 泡出口 76處的壓力差將空氣吸入墨.水槽內爲止。空氣經由 Q 一·空氣濾清器16抽引以移除可能會阻塞或妨礙微槽路74的 污染物。經過濾的空氣在微槽路74內的墨水內形成一氣泡 ，而該氣泡移至出口 76。此壓力差是起泡點壓力，且依據 微槽路74的直徑（或最小的尺寸）及墨水彎月面（meniscus) 的拉普拉斯（Laplace)壓力而改變。此在頂部空間12內維持 一不變的負壓力。在出口至墨水槽8的墨水內的液體靜壓 會因墨水水位下降而改變。爲減少此變化，可將墨水槽8 設計成短小且矮胖。 圖1顯示在待命模式下的印表機。列印頭2係藉三通閥 -10- 200927499 18與墨水槽8成流體的相隔離。此可防止在列印頭IC 6的 噴嘴上相互混合的任何墨水向上擴散入墨水槽8內。閥18 經支線36將墨水槽8連接至泵30。栗30是在一室40內往復 運動的活塞38。雖然可使用一蠕動式栗，但會面臨在上文 中本發明背景所述及的問題。該等問題是：管路會有故障 的潛在危機、因管路無法恢復其原始的未壓縮形狀及高扭 矩需求而會有不精確的情事。較適當的栗是圖5所示的。 φ 支線36進水給彈性材料製成的球狀體30。引動器38壓縮或 鬆開球狀體30，以泵送墨水至列印頭或自墨水槽抽引墨水 〇 在長待命期間，頂部空間12內的壓力可升高而大於起 泡點壓力。已溶解氣體的放氣（釋氣），及每日的溫度變化 可造成壓力增加。最壞的情況是頂部空間1 2的壓力相對於 大氣而言不再是負値。 圖2顯示經脫離待命而準備執行一列印工作的印表機 〇 。活塞38在室40內縮回，以將墨水46自墨水槽8抽出。該 墨水移置使得在頂部空間12內的空氣壓力下降，直到起泡 點調節器1〇允許空氣進入墨水槽8爲止。在頂部空間是在 起泡點壓力下，墨水的負液體靜壓是在列印頭2所需要的 期待運作範圍內。 圖3顯示列印頭2準備進行列印前的起動注給（priming) 或沖洗（purging)。閥18重新建構以關閉栗30及墨水槽8之 間的流體連通’及打開泵3 0及列印頭2之間的流體連通。 在泵內的墨水藉由壓下活塞38而自室40被驅迫出。墨水被 -11 - 200927499 驅迫經過濾器32，以移除任何由泵脫落的顆粒污染物。欲 起動注給列印頭2時，墨水被驅迫進入墨水分配歧管4的主 槽路，而自該處，毛細管作用起動注給在各列印頭1C 6內 的小導管及噴嘴。此是在將下游管線24內的關斷閥26加以 打開的情形下爲之，以使任何過量的墨水可直接餵送至液 池28。 如果當列印頭2脫離待命時容裝有墨水，可能需要移 除空氣氣泡或混合的墨水。墨水混合的問題經詳細的敘述 在上述於2007年3月21日提出申請的USSN 1 1 /68 8863號申 請案中。簡言之，來自一顏色的噴嘴的墨水可能會跨越列 印頭1C 6的表面，而擴散入另一顏色的噴嘴及供應管線內 的墨水。此乃藉列印頭的沖洗來修正之。將下游關斷閥26 加以關閉，及將來自泵30的過濾墨水驅迫通過分配歧管4 ，以淹沒列印頭1C 6。維護站22則將該淹沒的墨水清除。 圖4顯示在列印模式下的印表機。三通閥18是建構成 將墨水槽8流體的連接至列印頭2。閉塞端44將連至泵30的 支線36封鎖。列印頭1C 6上的噴嘴噴出的墨水係自墨水槽 8抽引墨水爲之。上游墨水管線20並沒有受到過濾器32或 任何泵30的結構性元件的壓縮。2007年3月21日提出申請 的USSN 11 /6 88873號申請案中所顯示的的具體實施例中 ，列印頭2是一以照相品質析像度列印全顔色的頁寬 (pagewidth)列印頭，其速率大於每秒一頁。其需要高墨水 供應流率，不能受在上游墨水管線20內任何不必要的元件 所阻塞。 -12- 200927499 列印工作完成後，印表機可回到如圖1所示的待命模 式。閥18使閉塞端44在上游墨水管線20上移動’以使列印 頭2與墨水槽8之間相密閉。此可防止任何在列印頭處混合 的墨水流至墨水槽。在墨水槽內的墨水污染是無法恢復的 ，而必須加以更換。爲了防止混色，進一步的防護機制是 ，在待命期間將關斷閥26維持在打開的狀態。液池28是處 在比列印頭1C 6爲低的水平。此允許在下游墨水管線24內 I 的墨水柱得以自分配歧管4「垂懸」，以在列印頭1C 6處 〇 產生一負液體靜壓。在噴嘴處的負壓力會將墨水彎月面 (meniscus)抽引向內，而防止混色。 在待命期間密封噴嘴的維護站22，可避免列印頭1C 6 脫水，及使噴嘴板避開紙屑及其他顆粒。維護站22也建構 成可擦拭噴嘴板以移除乾化的墨水及其他污染物。列印頭 1C 6的脫水是當墨水溶劑、一般上是水，蒸發而提升墨水 的黏性時發生的。若墨水的黏性太高，墨水噴出引動器無 φ 法噴出墨水滴。在電源關閉或待命期間之後，欲重啓動印 表機時，脫水的噴嘴常會形成困擾。 上述問題在印表機的運作壽命中是極普遍的，但可有 效的藉圖式所示的相當簡單的流體建構來修正之。其也允 許使用者使用簡單的故障排除協定，即可初始的起動注給 印表機、在移動印表機前將其排空（deprime)、或將印表機 恢復到習知的準備列印狀態。該等情況的數個範例經詳細 的敘述在上述於2007年2月21日提出申請的 USSN 1 1/677049號申請案中。 -13- 200927499 本發明僅藉一些範例來敘述。精於本技藝的人士應了 解任何變化及修飾均應視爲在本發明的精神及範疇內。 【圖式簡單說明】 本發明的較佳具體實施例將在參照附圖及針對範例來 敘述之。 圖1顯示依據本發明的印表機流體系統在待命模式下 的槪意圖式； 圖2顯示圖1的流體系統，其在墨水槽加壓模式下； 圖3顯示圖1的流體系統，其在列印頭起動注給/沖洗 (priming/purging)模式下； 圖4顯示圖1的流體系統，其在列印模式下；及 圖5槪意的顯示流體系統的另一墨水泵配置。 【主要元件符號說明】 2 :列印頭 4 :墨水分配歧管 6 :列印頭積體電路 8 :墨水槽 1 〇 :起泡點壓力調節器 1 2 :墨水槽頂部空間 16 :空氣濾清器 18 :三通閥 20 :上游墨水管線 -14 - 200927499 22 :維護站 24 :下游墨水管線 26 :關斷閥 2 8 :液池 30 :泵 3 2 :過濾器 3 4 :排洩管線BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to an inkjet printer. [Prior Art] Inkjet printing is a popular and versatile type of printing. The printing head 1C (integrated circuit) developed by the MEMS printing head 1C is used to manufacture semiconductors. Deposition techniques are formed. The micro-sized nozzle structure in the MEMS print head 1C can have a mouth density (all nozzles per unit of 1 C surface area), a high column, low power consumption, and self-cooling operation, so the high print speed print head is described in detail. Applicant's application No. USSN 10/160,273, filed on June 4, 2003, and in the application Serial No. PCT Application Serial No. The text of these documents is hereby incorporated by reference. The tiny nozzle structure and high nozzle density can cause problems such as nozzle resistance injection, nozzle decap, color mixing, nozzle flooding, and bubble contamination in the flow. The impact of these events on the quality of the print. The components of the printer are designed to reduce the probability of such problems. The most ideal situation is the function of the printer components themselves. In fact, many different types of fluids operate in the event of a disaster or improper rude handling during shipping or daily operations. Apply for a machine. This etch and allow high print resolution. Such an application for listing an application can be incorporated into the singer, and the reversed occurrence of the ink stock will result in the exclusion of the condition, and so that the non--5-200927499 may be controlled by the "passive" control component, material You can overcome the above problems by choosing. In response to this problem, the applicant has developed a printer that can actively control the fluid system. Such an active fluid system is described in the applications filed by the applicants in USSN 11/482,982, 11/482,983, 11/482,984, 11/495,818, 11/495,819, 11/677,049, 11/677,050, and 11/677,051. The contents of these documents are incorporated herein by reference. While these systems provide users with the ability to actively handle static and dynamic fluid conditions within the overall printer, it has been found that active components within the printer are the primary cause of contaminants carried by most inks. In particular, the pump is prone to disperse particles into the ink stream, which can adversely affect the operation of the nozzle. The wear and friction of the interacting surfaces will eventually result in particles that are trapped directly within the ink stream. Many of the above fluid designs use peristaltic pumps to introduce additional problems. The flexible pipe inside the pump will eventually crack and escape, the pipe loses its elasticity and will not return to the fully open condition, and the pump needs to have a high torque regulation because it requires a sufficient Q compression line to form a seal. . In order to meet the torque requirements, the pump needs to be quite large, which is contrary to the need for a compact shape for the overall printer. Contaminants carried by the ink can be removed by a filter upstream of the printhead. However, the pore size of the filter must be small due to the size of the particles. In order to maintain the ink flow rate required for high speed, page width print heads, the filter surface area must be unrealistically large and cannot achieve the market's required compactness. -6- 200927499 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides an ink jet printer comprising: a print head for printing onto a dielectric substrate; a reservoir for supplying ink to the print head; a pump for drawing ink from the reservoir and pumping ink into the print head; and a valve arrangement for selecting a fluid connection between the reservoir and the print head Sexually opening the fluid communication between the pump and the printhead, and selectively closing the fluid communication between the pump and the printhead. The present invention is based on the fact that the flushing and priming function of the cognitive pump is performed in fluid communication with the printhead and then is fluidly isolated from the printhead during printing. By removing the pump from the direct fluid line between the reservoir and the printhead, the valve is configured to allow it to be connected to the reservoir or printhead only when needed. The flushing and priming operations are turned into a two-stage operation where the pump first draws ink from the reservoir and then delivers it to the printhead. The φ ink from the pump can be passed through a subtle filter to remove any particulate contaminants so that the ink from the reservoir is not compressed during normal printing operations. Preferably, the printer further includes a filter 'to provide ink for use by the pump to the print head, the filter being arranged such that when the valve is configured to provide the reservoir and column The filter is not in fluid communication with the printhead when in fluid communication between the printheads. Preferably, the valve arrangement is constructed such that when the pump system is in fluid communication with the print head, the pump is not in fluid communication with the reservoir. Preferably, the valve arrangement is constructed such that when the reservoir is in fluid communication with the column 200927499 printhead, the pump is not in fluid communication with the reservoir. Preferably, the printer further includes an upstream line 'for establishing fluid communication between the reservoir and the print head, wherein the valve arrangement is a three-way valve in the upstream line, and the pump borrows one The branch line is connected to the three-way valve. The three-way valve has three settings. The first setting is to connect the upstream line of the reservoir to the upstream line to the print head while closing the branch line. The setting is to connect the branch line to the upstream line to the reservoir while the upstream line to the print head is closed, and the third setting is to close the upstream line to the reservoir. The branch line to the upstream line is connected to the print head. Preferably, the pump has a chamber provided with a reciprocating plunger. In another embodiment, the pump is a spheroid body made of an elastic material that holds the volume of the ink, and an actuator that selectively compresses the spheroid. Preferably, the reservoir has a pressure regulator for establishing a predetermined pressure within the headspace above the ink in the reservoir, the predetermined pressure being less than atmospheric. In another preferred form, the pump draws ink from the reservoir to reduce the pressure in the headspace to a predetermined pressure for preparation for printing. Preferably, the ink drawn from the reservoir via the pump is fed into the ready-to-print printhead. Preferably, the print head has a distribution manifold and a plurality of print head integrated circuits mounted to the distribution manifold, so that when the ink is injected into the distribution manifold, the print heads are also activated. Integrated circuit. 200927499 [Embodiment] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figures 1 through 3, the printer fluid system is shown here in a succinct manner for purposes of illustration. The fluid construction shown in these figures is merely a single ink line that provides a color. A color printer has individual lines and ink slots for each ink color. Most of the components within the system are described in detail in the Applicant's application Serial No. 11/688, 863, filed on March 21, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The components of the system, if not shown in the reference, are commercially available. The fluid system shown in Figures 1 through 3 has a row of print heads 2'. Ink 46 is supplied from ink tank 8 to print head 2 via an upstream ink line 20. The upstream ink line 20 has a three-way valve 18 that is coupled to the pump 30 via a filter 32. The downstream line 24 connects the print head 2 to the liquid bath 28 via a shut-off valve 26. The print head has a maintenance station 22 for capping, blotting, and wiping the nozzle. A drain line 34 connects the maintenance station 22 to the liquid pool 28. The print head 2 is a component of the ink distribution manifold 4. A series of print head integrated circuits (ICs) 6 are mounted on the ink distribution manifold 4. The print head 1C 6 defines an array of nozzles that eject ink onto the media substrate. The nozzle is a thermally actuable MEMS device, such as disclosed in the application of USSN 11/4, 82, 953, filed July 1, 2006, or a mechanically motivated person, for example, filed on June 4, 2002. The application shown in the application of USSN 1 0/1 60273. The ink distribution manifold 4 is an LCP mold having a large tank system 200927499 that supplies a network of smaller tanks to supply ink to a number of points over the length of each of the print head ICs 6. A specific embodiment of the distribution manifold 4 and the print head 1C 6 is disclosed in detail in the aforementioned application Serial No. 1 1/688,863 filed on March 21, 2007. This document also details how to inject the ink into the print head or, if necessary, how to flush the ink to correct any color contamination and/or bubble removal across any of the channels. The φ ink tank 8 and the bubble point pressure regulator 10 are disclosed in the application of the applicant's application Serial No. 11/8,726, filed on Oct. 16, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, for ease of description, the regulator 10 is shown as a bubble outlet 76 in the headspace 12 of the ink reservoir and vented to the atmosphere by a microchannel 74 extending to an air inlet 78. The ink is held in the microchannel 74 by capillary action. Since the printing head 1C 6 consumes ink, the pressure in the ink tank 8 drops until the pressure difference at the bubble outlet 76 draws air into the ink tank. Air is drawn through the Q-air filter 16 to remove contaminants that may block or interfere with the microchannel 74. The filtered air forms a bubble in the ink within the microchannel 74 and the bubble moves to the outlet 76. This pressure difference is the bubble point pressure and varies depending on the diameter (or smallest dimension) of the microchannel 74 and the Laplace pressure of the meniscus. This maintains a constant negative pressure within the headspace 12. The hydrostatic pressure in the ink discharged to the ink tank 8 changes due to the drop in the ink level. To reduce this variation, the ink tank 8 can be designed to be short and chunky. Figure 1 shows the printer in standby mode. The print head 2 is separated from the ink tank 8 by a three-way valve -10- 200927499 18 . This prevents any ink mixed with each other on the nozzles of the printing head IC 6 from being diffused upward into the ink tank 8. Valve 18 connects ink tank 8 to pump 30 via branch line 36. The pump 30 is a piston 38 that reciprocates within a chamber 40. Although a peristaltic pump can be used, it will face the problems described above in the context of the present invention. These problems are: the potential crisis of a pipeline failure, inaccuracies due to the inability of the pipeline to recover its original uncompressed shape and high torque requirements. A more appropriate chestnut is shown in Figure 5. The φ branch line 36 is fed with water into the spheroid 30 made of an elastic material. The actuator 38 compresses or loosens the spheroid 30 to pump ink to or from the ink reservoir. 〇 During long standby periods, the pressure in the headspace 12 can rise above the bubble point pressure. The deflation of the dissolved gas (outgassing) and the daily temperature change can cause an increase in pressure. In the worst case, the pressure in the headspace 12 is no longer negative compared to the atmosphere. Figure 2 shows a printer 准备 ready to perform a print job after being out of standby. The piston 38 is retracted within the chamber 40 to draw the ink 46 from the ink reservoir 8. The ink is displaced such that the air pressure in the headspace 12 drops until the bubble point regulator 1 〇 allows air to enter the ink tank 8. In the headspace, at the bubble point pressure, the negative hydrostatic pressure of the ink is within the desired operating range of the print head 2. Figure 3 shows the priming or purging of the print head 2 before it is ready for printing. Valve 18 is reconfigured to close fluid communication between pump 30 and ink reservoir 8 and to open fluid communication between pump 30 and printhead 2. The ink in the pump is forced out of the chamber 40 by depressing the piston 38. The ink is forced through the filter 32 by -11 - 200927499 to remove any particulate contaminants that are lost by the pump. When the print head 2 is to be activated, the ink is forced into the main tank path of the ink distribution manifold 4, from which the capillary action is initiated to the small conduits and nozzles in each of the print heads 1C6. This is done in the event that the shut-off valve 26 in the downstream line 24 is opened so that any excess ink can be fed directly to the bath 28. If ink is contained when the print head 2 is out of standby, it may be necessary to remove air bubbles or mixed ink. The problem of ink mixing is described in detail in the above-referenced application Serial No. 1 1/68,8,863, filed on March 21, 2007. In short, ink from a nozzle of one color may span the surface of the print head 1C 6 and diffuse into the nozzle of another color and the ink in the supply line. This is corrected by the flushing of the print head. The downstream shut-off valve 26 is closed and the filtered ink from the pump 30 is forced through the distribution manifold 4 to flood the print head 1C6. Maintenance station 22 then purges the flooded ink. Figure 4 shows the printer in print mode. The three-way valve 18 is constructed to connect the ink tank 8 fluidly to the print head 2. The occlusion end 44 blocks the spur line 36 that is connected to the pump 30. The ink ejected from the nozzles on the printing head 1C 6 draws ink from the ink tank 8. The upstream ink line 20 is not compressed by the structural elements of the filter 32 or any of the pumps 30. In the specific embodiment shown in the application of USSN 11/6 88,873, filed on March 21, 2007, the print head 2 is a page width column that prints full color in photographic quality resolution. The print head has a speed greater than one page per second. It requires a high ink supply flow rate and cannot be blocked by any unnecessary components in the upstream ink line 20. -12- 200927499 After the printing work is completed, the printer can return to the standby mode as shown in Figure 1. The valve 18 moves the occlusive end 44 over the upstream ink line 20 to seal the print head 2 and the ink reservoir 8. This prevents any ink mixed at the print head from flowing to the ink tank. Ink contamination in the ink tank is unrecoverable and must be replaced. In order to prevent color mixing, a further protection mechanism is to maintain the shut-off valve 26 in an open state during standby. The liquid pool 28 is at a level lower than the print head 1C 6 . This allows the ink column in the downstream ink line 24 to "hang" from the distribution manifold 4 to produce a negative hydrostatic pressure at the print head 1C6. The negative pressure at the nozzle draws the ink meniscus inward and prevents color mixing. The maintenance station 22, which seals the nozzles during standby, avoids dewatering of the print head 1C6 and allows the nozzle plate to avoid paper dust and other particles. Maintenance station 22 is also constructed to wipe the nozzle plate to remove dried ink and other contaminants. The dewatering of the print head 1C 6 occurs when the ink solvent, generally water, evaporates to increase the viscosity of the ink. If the viscosity of the ink is too high, the ink ejecting actuator does not φ eject the ink droplets. Dehydrating nozzles often cause problems when the printer is to be restarted after the power is turned off or during standby. The above problems are extremely common in the operational life of printers, but can be effectively corrected by the relatively simple fluid construction shown in the figure. It also allows the user to use a simple troubleshooting protocol to either prime the printer to the printer, deprime it before moving the printer, or return the printer to a custom printout. status. A number of examples of such cases are described in detail in the above-referenced application Serial No. 1 SN 677 049 filed on Feb. 21, 2007. -13- 200927499 The present invention is described by way of example only. Those skilled in the art should understand that any changes and modifications are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and by way of example. 1 shows an intent of a printer fluid system in a standby mode in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 shows the fluid system of FIG. 1 in an ink tank pressurized mode; FIG. 3 shows the fluid system of FIG. The print head is primed/purging mode; Figure 4 shows the fluid system of Figure 1 in print mode; and Figure 5 shows another ink pump configuration of the fluid system. [Main component symbol description] 2: Print head 4: Ink distribution manifold 6: Print head integrated circuit 8: Ink tank 1 〇: Bubble point pressure regulator 1 2: Ink tank head space 16: Air filter 18: Three-way valve 20: upstream ink line - 14 - 200927499 22: Maintenance station 24: downstream ink line 26: shut-off valve 2 8 : liquid pool 30: pump 3 2: filter 3 4: drain line
3 6 :支線 38 :活塞 40 :室 44 :閉塞端 4 6·墨水 74 ·'微槽路 76 :氣泡出口 78 :空氣入口3 6 : Branch line 38 : Piston 40 : Chamber 44 : Blocking end 4 6 · Ink 74 · 'Microchannel 76 : Bubble outlet 78 : Air inlet
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