Print Head Maintenance Manifold System
A print head maintenance manifold assembly is disclosed. The maintenance manifold assembly includes a multitude of hoses and a manifold coupled to the hoses via fittings. The manifold includes a first set of fittings and small diameter hoses coupled to print heads at a first section of the manifold and a second set of fittings and hoses coupled to a vacuum source at a second section of the manifold.
1 . A manifold comprising:
a first port;
a first row of print head fittings coupled to a first end of the first port; and
a first vacuum crush seal fitting coupled to a second end of the first port to create an airtight seal.
2 . The manifold of claim 1 further comprising:
a second port;
a second row of print head fittings coupled to a first end of the second port; and
a second vacuum crush seal fitting coupled to a second end of the second port to create an airtight seal.
3 . The manifold of claim 2 wherein the first and second row of print head fittings are coupled to a print head via hoses and the first and second vacuum crush seal fittings are coupled to a vacuum source via hoses.
4 . The manifold of claim 3 wherein the hoses are small diameter hoses that increase flow velocity to the manifold.
5 . The manifold of claim 4 wherein the small diameter hoses allow a vacuum impulse.
6 . The manifold of claim 1 wherein manifold is mounted at a slope to facilitate fluid drainage.
7 . The manifold of claim 1 wherein the crush seal fittings comprise a tapered edge to create a fitting interference surface.
8 . The print head maintenance manifold assembly of claim 7 wherein the crush seal fittings further comprises a threaded fitting that deforms at a sealing surface to create a seal.
9 . The print head maintenance manifold assembly of claim 7 wherein the fitting interference surface is used in combination with a threaded fitting to generate a sealing surface.
10 . The print head maintenance manifold assembly of claim 9 wherein the fitting interference sealing surface is generated without an o-ring, washer or sealing tape.
11 . A system comprising:
a print engine including one or more ink jet print heads;
a plurality of small diameter hoses coupled to the one or more print heads; and
a manifold coupled to the hoses, including:
a first set of fittings coupled to the plurality hoses; and
a second set of fittings coupled to a vacuum source, wherein the second set of fittings comprise crush seal fittings to create an airtight seal with the manifold.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the manifold further comprises a first port coupled between a first row of the first set of fittings and a first of the second set of fittings.
13 . The system of claim 12 wherein the manifold further comprises a second port coupled between a second row of the first set of fittings and a second of the second set of fittings.
14 . The system of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second set of fittings comprise a crush seal fitting to create an air tight seal.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein a crush seal fitting is created by using a tapered ledge in a drilled hole to create a fitting interference surface.
16 . The system of claim 15 wherein the fitting interference surface is used in combination with a threaded fitting to generate a deformation in the fitting to create a sealing surface.
17 . The system of claim 11 wherein the crush seal fittings comprise a tapered edge to create a fitting interference surface.
18 . The system of claim 17 wherein the crush seal fittings further comprises a threaded fitting that deforms at a sealing surface to create a seal.
19 . The system of claim 17 wherein the fitting interference surface is used in combination with a threaded fitting to generate a sealing surface.
20 . The system of claim 19 wherein the fitting interference sealing surface is generated without an o-ring, washer or sealing tape.