Printhead module with a fluid supply and valve to close the fluid supply
View Patent ↗A printhead module is provided with a printhead chip and at least one passageway that supplies air to the printhead chip. A valve is included to open and close the passageway and hence the supply of air to the printhead chip. The valve may be operated by or be part of a capping device that caps the printhead chip, so the valve is closed when the capping device caps the printhead chip.
1. An inkjet type printhead module including:
at least one printhead chip arranged to eject ink;
at least one passageway for supplying air to said printhead chip; and
at least one valve incorporated in a capping device operable to allow and prevent the ejection of ink by said printhead chip, said valve arranged to open said passageway when the capping device allows ink ejection by said printhead chip and close said passageway when the capping device prevents ink ejection by said printhead chip.
2. The module of claim 1 wherein the capping device is movable between an open position in which the at least one printhead chip may eject ink and a closed position in which said printhead chip is prevented from ejecting ink.
3. The module of claim 2 wherein said valve is operated to provide the open and closed state of the at least one passageway by the operation of the capping device to move between the open and closed positions thereof.
4. The module of claim 2 wherein the capping device is mounted for movement across a first surface, the capping device including a second surface opposed to the first surface, the at least one passageway including at least one first passageway and at least one second passageway, each open to the first surface, the capping device including at least one fluid path open to the second surface that aligns with at least one first passageway and at least one second passageway when in one of the open and closed positions, whereby fluid may flow from the at least one first passageway to the at least one second passageway via the at least one fluid path.
5. The module of claim 4 wherein the at least one fluid path comprises at least one recess in the second surface.
6. The module of claim 4 wherein the at least one second passageway is closed at the first surface by the capping device when the capping device is in the closed position.
7. The module of claim 4 wherein the at least one first passageway is closed at the first surface by the capping device when in the closed position.