Catcher for collecting ink from non-printed drops
View Patent ↗A catcher ( 42 ) for collecting ink from non-printed drops and returning the ink to a fluid reservoir ( 40 ), the catcher includes a flow channel ( 47 ) having a plurality of branches ( 110 ); a structure to split a portion of each branch into two parallel sections to permit fluid to pass through either section; and wherein the flow of the two parallel sections ( 122 ) merge into a single flow downstream of the structure.
1. A catcher including a catcher face for intercepting non-printed drops, a flow channel for returning ink from the intercepted non-printed drops to a fluid reservoir, and a catcher radius around which the ink from the intercepted non-printed drops can flow from the catcher face into the flow channel, the flow channel comprising:
a plurality of branches separated from each other by one or more islands;
a structure to split a portion of each branch into two parallel sections to permit fluid to pass through either section; and
wherein the flow of the two parallel sections merge into a single flow downstream of the structure.
2. The catcher of claim 1 wherein the structure is a porous member allowing fluid communication between the two parallel sections.
3. The catcher of claim 2 wherein the porous member comprises a woven mesh screen.
4. The catcher of claim 2 wherein the two sections each have cross-sectional areas within 30 percent of the cross-sectional area of the other of the two section.
5. The catcher of claim 1 wherein the islands each having a leading edge, the flow channel includes a single flow section upstream of the leading edge of the islands that divides the flow channel into the plurality of branches.
6. The catcher of claim 5 wherein the single flow section is upstream of at least a portion of the structure.
7. The catcher of claim 1 wherein the plurality of branches merge to form a common flow channel downstream of the structure.
8. The catcher of claim 1 wherein the two parallel sections are unobstructed.
9. The catcher of claim 1 wherein the structure is positioned in a converging portion of the plurality of branches.
10. A method for collecting ink using a catcher including a catcher face for intercepting non-printed ink drops, a flow channel for returning ink from the intercepted non-printed ink drops to a fluid reservoir, and a catcher radius around which the ink from the intercepted non-printed ink drops flows from the catcher face into the flow channel, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of branches separated from each other by one or more islands in the flow channel;
splitting a portion of each branch into two parallel sections to permit fluid to pass through either section; and
merging the flow of the two parallel sections into a single flow downstream of the structure.