Air supply arrangement for a print engine
View Patent ↗Provided is an air supply arrangement for a print engine having a pagewidth printhead and a driving assembly for feeding print media past the printhead. The print engine has a chassis molding for receiving the air supply arrangement. The air supply arrangement includes a receptacle cover molding defining an air supply channel leading to the printhead when the cover molding is operatively received by the chassis molding, the cover molding further defining air inlet and outlet openings. The air supply arrangement also includes an air pump attached to the cover molding and arranged to pump air from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening, the outlet opening arranged in fluid communication with the air supply channel. Also included is an air filter assembly operatively fitted to the receptacle cover so that air is able to be pumped through the filter to the air inlet opening to facilitate cleaning of the printhead.
1. An air supply arrangement for a print engine having a pagewidth printhead and a driving assembly for feeding print media past the printhead, the print engine having a chassis molding for receiving the air supply arrangement, said air supply arrangement comprising:
a receptacle cover molding defining an air supply channel leading to the printhead when said cover molding is operatively received by the chassis molding, the cover molding further defining air inlet and outlet openings;
an air pump attached to the cover molding and arranged to pump air from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening, said outlet opening arranged in fluid communication with the air supply channel; and
an air filter assembly operatively fitted to the receptacle cover so that air is able to be pumped through the filter to the air inlet opening to facilitate cleaning of the printhead, the air filter assembly including a lid with an opening sealed by a film, wherein
the chassis molding includes a pin tube extending from a channel of the air inlet opening, said pin tube configured to engage the air filter assembly and pierce the film of the air filter assembly to establish fluid communication with the air inlet opening.
2. The air supply arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the air filter assembly includes a canister case for engaging the lid, with a filter element arranged inside a cavity formed by the lid and case when so engaged.
3. The air supply arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the pump includes an impeller closed off by an end cap, the cover molding defining a receptacle for the impeller.