IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,077,681
Granted Patent B2
US 11,077,681 · App. 16/919,010 · Granted Aug 3, 2021

Printing system having multiple printheads and bypass lines

Inventors: Robert Rosati (San Diego, CA); David Petch (San Diego, CA); David Burney (San Diego, CA); Jim Sykora (San Diego, CA); Kenneth A. Regas (San Diego, CA); Andy Bound (San Diego, CA); Neil Doherty (San Diego, CA); Scott Dennis (San Diego, CA); Ben Jones (San Diego, CA); Oksana Buyda (San Diego, CA); Locson Tonthat (San Diego, CA); Andrew Buyda (San Diego, CA); Patrick Kirk (San Diego, CA); Loren Hunt (San Diego, CA); Jason Dewey (San Diego, CA); Jim Trinchera (San Diego, CA); Bill Cressman (San Diego, CA); Ron Zech (San Diego, CA)
B41J11/0085B41J2/165B41J2/16547B41J2/16585B41J2/175B41J2/1752B41J2/18B41J3/543B41J11/001B41J11/007B41J29/02B41J15/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,077,681
App. No.
16/919,010
Granted
Aug 3, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printing system includes: an ink supply; a feed line coupled to the ink supply; a return line coupled to the ink supply; and a plurality of printhead modules each having an inlet port fluidically coupled to the feed line and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the return line; and bypass lines fluidically coupling the feed line to the return line. A bypass line is open for both priming and printing operations.

Claims (20)

1. A printing system comprising:

an ink supply;

a feed line coupled to the ink supply;

a return line coupled to the ink supply;

a plurality of printhead modules each having an inlet port fluidically coupled to the feed line and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the return line; and

one or more bypass lines fluidically coupling the feed line to the return line, wherein at least one of said bypass lines is open for both priming and printing operations.

2. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein each printhead module comprises an ink manifold for delivering ink to a plurality of inkjet nozzles.

3. The printing system of claim 2 , wherein each ink manifold comprises a plurality of layers bonded together.

4. The printing system of claim 1 , further comprising a pumping system configured to prime the printhead modules.

5. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of printhead modules are removably mounted on a carrier extending across a width of a media path.

6. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of printhead modules are arranged for pagewide printing.

7. A method of printing using a printing system having:

an ink supply;

a feed line coupled to the ink supply;

a return line coupled to the ink supply;

a plurality of printhead modules each having an inlet port fluidically coupled to the feed line and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the return line; and

one or more bypass lines fluidically coupling the feed line to the return line, said method comprising the steps of:

opening the bypass line;

priming one or more of the printhead modules; and

printing from the printhead modules.