MULTI-CHANNEL VALVE FOR PRINTHEAD
A multi-channel valve for a media width inkjet printhead, the printhead being connected to a plurality of ink supplies via a plurality of ink flow channels, the valve having a body, a plurality of sealed chambers within the body, a plurality of groups of ports on the body, each port group being associated with a respective one of the chambers and having individual ports for respective connection to the printhead and a respective one of the ink supplies and a selection device for selectively establishing interconnection between the ports of each port group to allow ink flow therebetween for each of the channels.
1 . A multi-channel valve for a media width inkjet printhead, the printhead being connected to a plurality of ink supplies via a plurality of ink flow channels, the valve comprising:
a body;
a plurality of sealed chambers within the body;
a plurality of groups of ports on the body, each port group being associated with a respective one of the chambers and having individual ports for respective connection to the printhead and a respective one of the ink supplies; and
a selection device for selectively establishing interconnection between the ports of each port group to allow ink flow therebetween for each of the channels.
2 . A valve according to claim 1 , wherein the selection device comprises a driven shaft and selection members on the shaft, the selection members being rotated by driven rotation of the shaft so as to selectively establishing the interconnections between the ports.
3 . A valve according to claim 2 , wherein the selection members define seals for respective ones of the ports.
4 . A valve according to claim 1 , wherein five ink channels are provided between five ink supplies and the printhead, the valve comprising five of the sealed chambers and five associated port groups.