System and method for supplying ink to an inkjet printhead
An ink supply unit and a method of supplying ink to a printhead are disclosed. The ink supply unit includes a lower ink reservoir, an upper ink reservoir, and a flow regulation apparatus. The upper ink reservoir is coupled to the lower ink reservoir. First and second fluid input ports are disposed on opposite sides of the flow regulation apparatus. A first fluid line and a second fluid line couple the first and the second input ports, respectively, with the upper ink reservoir, and a third fluid line is adapted to couple the flow regulation apparatus with a printhead.
1. An ink supply system, comprising:
a lower ink reservoir;
an upper ink reservoir coupled to the lower ink reservoir;
a printhead movable along an axis;
a flow regulation apparatus movable parallel to the axis;
first and second fluid input ports disposed on opposite sides of the flow regulation apparatus wherein the first and second fluid input ports are adapted to permit fluid flow into the flow regulation apparatus parallel to the axis;
a first fluid line and a second fluid line, wherein the first fluid line and the second fluid line couple the first and the second input ports, respectively, with the upper ink reservoir; and
a third fluid line coupling the flow regulation apparatus with the printhead.
2. The ink supply system of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulation apparatus includes a standpipe, and the first and the second fluid input ports are coupled to the standpipe.
3. The ink supply system of claim 2 , wherein the first and the second fluid input ports and the standpipe are coupled to the third fluid line.
4. The ink supply system of claim 1 , wherein the lower ink reservoir and the upper ink reservoir are disposed so that fluid in the upper ink reservoir is transferred to the lower ink reservoir substantially only by gravity.
5. The ink supply system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid transferred substantially only by gravity is transferred through the flow regulation apparatus.
6. The ink supply system of claim 5 , further comprising a pump that transfers fluid in the lower ink reservoir to the upper ink reservoir.
7. The ink supply system of claim 1 , further including a fourth fluid line that delivers ink to the upper ink reservoir, wherein the fourth fluid line is coupled to a manifold disposed in the upper ink reservoir, and the manifold includes two output ports.
8. The ink supply system of claim 7 , wherein the two output ports are oriented to output a fluid therefrom in different directions.
9. The ink supply system of claim 8 , wherein one of the first fluid line, the second fluid line, and the third fluid line comprises a non-smooth surface.
10. The ink supply system of claim 1 , further including a first pump that recirculates ink in the upper ink reservoir and a second pump that recirculates ink in the lower ink reservoir.
11. The ink supply system of claim 1 in combination with an ink supply, wherein the ink supply is coupled to the lower ink reservoir.
12. The ink supply system of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulation apparatus moves relative to the upper ink reservoir and the lower ink reservoir while fluid from the upper ink reservoir is transported through the flow regulation apparatus.
13. The ink supply system of claim 1 , further including a valve, a fourth fluid line coupled to the lower ink reservoir, and fifth and sixth fluid lines coupled to the upper ink reservoir, wherein the valve selectively couples the fourth fluid line to one of the fifth and the sixth fluid lines.
14. The ink supply system of claim 1 , further including a pressure control apparatus coupled to the upper ink reservoir, wherein the pressure control apparatus increases the pressure in the upper ink reservoir to force fluid in the upper ink reservoir into the flow regulation apparatus.
15. A method of supplying ink, the method comprising the steps of:
coupling a lower ink reservoir with an upper ink reservoir;
coupling the upper ink reservoir with first and second input ports of a flow regulation apparatus, wherein the first and second input ports are disposed on opposite sides of the flow regulation apparatus;
moving the flow regulation apparatus along an axis as ink is delivered through the first and second input ports parallel to the axis; and
providing a fluid line adapted to couple the flow regulation apparatus with a printhead.
16. The method of claim 15 , further including the step of coupling the first and second input ports with a standpipe.
17. The method of claim 16 , further including the step of coupling the standpipe with the fluid line.
18. The method of claim 15 , further including the step of transferring a fluid from the upper ink reservoir to the lower ink reservoir substantially only by gravity.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of transferring the fluid comprises the step of transferring the fluid through the flow regulation apparatus.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of transferring the fluid comprises the step of transferring fluid in the lower ink reservoir to the upper ink reservoir.
21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of delivering a fluid into the upper ink reservoir through two output ports disposed inside the ink reservoir.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of delivering the fluid delivers a first portion of the fluid in a first direction and a second portion of the fluid in a second direction different from the first direction.
23. The method of claim 15 , comprising the further step of recirculating fluid in the upper reservoir.
24. The method of claim 15 , comprising the further step of coupling the lower ink reservoir to an ink supply.
25. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of moving the flow regulation apparatus relative to the upper reservoir and the lower reservoir and simultaneously transporting a fluid through the flow regulation apparatus.
26. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of selectively coupling an input port of the upper reservoir with one of an output port of the upper reservoir and an output port of the lower reservoir.
27. The method of claim 15 , further including the step of increasing pressure in the upper reservoir to force fluid in the upper reservoir into the flow regulation apparatus.