Reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge. The cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The compartment includes porous absorbent material located inside the compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the priming inlets. A port is arranged in a side wall of the compartment for receiving a needle from a syringe to prime the reservoir compartment with printing fluid.
1. A reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge having a fluid distribution molding with priming ports in fluid communication with respective fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits, said assembly comprising:
a plurality of reservoir compartments arranged in respective fluid communication with the fluid channels via the priming ports; and
porous absorbent material located inside each compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the respective priming ports,
wherein each priming port is arranged in the respective reservoir compartment below the porous absorbent material located inside that compartment and has a priming path between the respective compartment and fluid channel and a bypass path between a well region below the porous absorbent material located inside the respective compartment and the respective fluid channel.
2. The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , each compartment further comprising a port arranged in a side wall of the compartment for receiving a needle from a syringe to prime the reservoir compartment with printing fluid, wherein the port is arranged in the side wall at a position below an upper surface of the absorbent material in the compartment.
3. The reservoir assembly of claim 2 , wherein each port is configured so that the needle operatively supplies the printing fluid towards a lower portion of the absorbent material to prevent wetting of an uppermost portion of the absorbent material.
4. The reservoir assembly of claim 2 , wherein each port includes a valve which is configured to facilitate penetration of the needle and sealing of the port when the needle is extracted.
5. The reservoir assembly of claim 4 , wherein each valve includes an elastomeric seal.
6. The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein each compartment defines a vent hole to equalise pressure in the compartment.
7. The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material is configured so that the printing fluid is absorbed via capillary action.