WIDE FORMAT PRINTER WITH PUMP TO CREATE PRESSURE DIFFERENCE ACROSS PRINTHEADS
A wide format printer that has an ink supply, a feed line coupled to the ink supply, a return line coupled to the ink supply, a plurality of printheads collectively spanning a paper path more than 432 mm (17 inches) wide, the printheads each coupled to the feed line and the return line and, a pumping system to generate a pressure difference between the feed line and the return line during a printhead replacement operation.
1 . A wide format printer comprising:
an ink supply;
a feed line coupled to the ink supply;
a return line coupled to the ink supply;
a plurality of printheads collectively spanning a paper path more than 17 inches wide, the printheads each coupled to the feed line and the return line; and,
a pumping system to generate a pressure difference between the feed line and the return line during a printhead replacement operation.
2 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 wherein the pumping system is inoperative during a printing operation.
3 . The wide format printer according to claim 2 wherein the pumping system is configured to individually de-prime a printhead prior to removal of the printhead from the wide format printer.
4 . The wide format printer according to claim 3 wherein the pumping system is configured to individually prime any one of the printheads after installation.
5 . The wide format printer according to claim 4 wherein the pumping system is configured to purge bubbles from any of the printheads through the return line.
6 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of accumulator reservoirs, one of the accumulator reservoirs being connected to each of the printheads respectively, wherein during use, the accumulator reservoirs receive air from the respective printheads during a priming operation.
7 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 further comprises a bypass line connecting the feed and return lines such that ink can bypass the printheads when flowing from the feed line to the return line.
8 . The wide format printer according to claim 7 further comprising a bypass valve for closing the bypass line such that any fluid communication between the feed line and the return is via one or more of the printheads.
9 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of variable flow constrictors to allow the pumping system to prime the printheads sequentially.
10 . The wide format printer according to claim 9 wherein the variable flow constrictors are pinch valves.
11 . The wide format printer according to claim 6 further comprising valves coupling each of the accumulator reservoirs to the ink supply, each of the valves being configured to open when the ink level in the accumulator reservoir reaches a lower limit of a predetermined ink level range, and close when the ink level in the accumulator reservoir reaches an upper limit of the ink level range, wherein each of the printheads has nozzles for ejecting ink onto media and the accumulator reservoir is fixed relative to the printheads such that hydrostatic ink pressure at the nozzles is generated by the elevation of the ink level in the accumulator reservoir relative to the elevation of the of the nozzles.
12 . The wide format printer according to claim 11 wherein the valves are float valves with a float that is buoyant on the ink in the accumulator reservoir to open the valve when the ink level reaches the lower limit and close the valve as the ink level approaches the upper limit.
13 . The wide format printer according to claim 12 wherein the feed line and the return line are coupled to each of the accumulator reservoirs via separate couplings.
14 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 further comprising:
a drive roller for feeding different sizes of media along a media path; and,
an ink aerosol collection system for removing ink aerosol from areas adjacent the media path; wherein,
the ink aerosol collection system is configured to remove aerosol at a greater rate in response to an increase in the media size.
15 . The wide format printer according to claim 14 wherein the printheads are positioned on a first side of the media path and the aerosol collection system has a first aerosol collection opening positioned on the first side of the media path and a second aerosol collection opening positioned on a second side of the media path.
16 . The wide format printer according to claim 15 wherein the media path has a width corresponding to a maximum width of media that can be printed by the wide format printer and the aerosol collection system is configured to collect ink aerosol from the first and second aerosol collection openings when the media being printed is less than the maximum width.
17 . The wide format printer according to claim 16 further comprising:
a platen for supporting the media during printing; wherein,
the platen has a spittoon system for collecting non-printing drops of ink ejected from the printheads.
18 . The wide format printer according to claim 17 further comprising a plurality of service modules, one of the service modules corresponding to each of the printheads respectively, the service modules being configured to operate in a spittoon mode to provide the spittoon system.
19 . The wide format printer according to claim 17 wherein any of the printheads not fully required to print media that is less than the maximum width, have the corresponding service module operating in the spittoon mode.
20 . The wide format printer according to claim 17 wherein the service modules are configured to operate in a platen mode when all the corresponding printhead is printing the media.