Baffled ink supply for reducing ink accelerations
A printhead comprises a plurality of nozzle chambers that house an ink ejection actuator for ejecting ink from said nozzle chamber. An ink jet supply unit connects directly to the printhead which includes a storage chamber for holding ink and for communicating ink to the nozzle chambers. The ink supply unit has a series of spaced apart baffles disposed between the storage chamber and the nozzle chambers which is configured to reduce acceleration of the ink within the unit as may be induced by movement of the portable printer, whilst allowing for flows of the ink to the printhead in response to active demand from the printhead.
1. A printhead for a portable printer, the printhead comprising:
an elongate array of nozzle chambers, each nozzle chamber housing an ink ejection actuator for ejecting ink from said nozzle chamber; and
an elongate baffle unit connected directly to said nozzle chambers and including;
at least one elongate ink storage chamber for holding ink, the ink storage chamber having a series of spaced apart baffles disposed therein; and
an ink distribution manifold disposed between said ink storage chamber and said nozzle chambers for distributing ink therebetween, said ink distribution manifold tapering from a first width at an ink storage chamber side to a narrower second width at a nozzle chamber side; and
at least ink supply conduit arranged to engage with, and supply ink, to the ink storage chamber of the baffle unit,
wherein said series of spaced apart baffles are configured so as to reduce acceleration of the ink within the ink storage chamber as may be induced by movement of the portable printer, whilst allowing for flows of the ink to the nozzle chambers in response to active demand from said printhead.
2. A printhead according to claim 1 , wherein the baffles are configured across the width of the elongate storage chamber.
3. A printhead according to claim 1 , wherein each ink storage chamber holds a separate color ink.
4. A printhead according to claim 1 , wherein the printhead is a printhead chip.
5. A printhead according to claim 1 , wherein the ink storage chamber is constructed from molded components.
6. A printhead according to claim 5 , constructed from two or more interconnected components.
7. A printhead according to claim 6 , wherein the baffle unit includes three or more said ink storage chambers, each having said baffles disposed therein.
8. A printhead according to claim 7 , wherein at least some of the baffles extend in directions transverse to the longitudinal extent of the printhead.
9. A printhead according to claim 5 , wherein said components are injection molded.
10. A printhead according to claim 7 , including a piercable wall portion in each said ink storage chamber for connection thereto of the ink supply conduit connecting to a bulk ink supply source.
11. A printhead according to claim 1 , wherein said baffle unit includes a housing having a series of hydrophobically sealed breather holes.