Ink chamber having a baffle unit
View Patent ↗An ink chamber for an ink supply system in a printer. The ink chamber comprises a baffle unit housed within a housing. The baffle unit comprises a plurality of baffles. The baffle unit is divided into a plurality of separate sections.
1. An ink chamber for an ink supply system in a printer, the ink chamber comprising:
a housing; and,
a baffle unit housed within the housing, the baffle unit comprising a plurality of baffles,
wherein the baffle unit is divided into a plurality of separate sections, each separate section corresponding to a different colored ink, and
wherein the housing comprises a plurality of positioning protuberances.
2. The ink chamber according to claim 1 , wherein the housing sealingly cooperates with the baffle unit.
3. The ink chamber according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles comprises a plurality of first baffles and a plurality of second baffles, wherein the first baffles are larger than the second baffles.
4. The ink chamber of claim 3 , wherein the second baffles are positioned between the first baffles.
5. The ink chamber according to claim 1 , wherein the baffles are arranged to restrict ink flow fluctuations in the ink supply system.
6. The ink chamber of claim 1 , wherein the baffle unit is elongate and divided into a plurality of elongate sections.
7. The ink chamber of claim 1 , wherein the baffle unit comprises a plurality of transverse baffles.
8. The ink chamber of claim 1 , wherein the baffle unit comprises a longitudinally recessed base for mounting an ink manifold.
9. The ink chamber of claim 8 , wherein the recessed base comprises a plurality of ink outlets for fluid communication with a corresponding plurality of ink inlets in the ink manifold.
10. The ink chamber of claim 1 , wherein each separate section of the baffle unit comprises a pierceable end wall portion for providing fluid communication with a corresponding ink reservoir.
11. The ink chamber of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of hydrophobically sealed breather openings, the openings being permeable to air and impervious to ink.
12. The ink chamber of claim 1 , wherein the baffle unit is welded to the housing.
13. The ink chamber of claim 1 , wherein the baffle unit is ultrasonically welded to the housing.
14. The ink chamber according to claim 1 , wherein the baffles are configured to reduce acceleration of ink in the ink supply system during movement of the printer.