1359083 九、發明說明： t發明所屬之技術領域】 相關申請案之交互參照 本申請案為與本申請案同於2004年1月30日申請之專 5 利申請案第10/769,422號的部分延續，該申請案在此以參照 方式併入本說明書。 本發明係有關於由印刷頭移除氣體的技術。 C先前技 發明背景 10 印表機可藉由從一印刷頭之喷嘴將墨滴發射至一印刷 媒體使該印刷媒體上產生印刷輸出。該液滴之墨水可由一 與該喷嘴聯繫之儲墨槽經由該印刷頭之一流體架構供應。 為使該印刷頭可以發射，該印刷頭可能需要灌注墨水以使 氣體從該流體架構移除，俾使未受干擾之墨水供應可以從 15 該儲墨槽流至該喷嘴。 【發明内容】 本發明一種由印刷頭移除氣體之方法，該印刷頭包括 複數個孔以從一供應導管經由從該供應導管延伸至該複數 個孔之通道接收墨水，該方法包括：從該印刷頭外部密封 20 該複數個孔以限制流體流經該孔；以及使該墨水沿該供應 導管移動並行經該供應導管之設於該通道下游的出口，其 中該複數個孔被密封，以使該墨水將氣體從該供應導管移 除。 圖式簡單說明 5 1359083 第1圖為一印表機之實施例圖，根據本發明之教示，該 印表機可以透過密封該印刷頭之孔使氣體從該印表機之印 刷頭移除； 第2圖為第1圖中根據本發明教示之該印表機的概略 5 圖； 第3圖為第1圖中該印表機之一印刷頭總成的剖面圖； 第4圖為大致取自第3圖線條範圍4-4之該印刷頭總成 的一印刷頭之片斷剖面圖； 第5圖為大致取自第4圖線條範圍5-5之該印刷頭的片 10 斷剖面圖； 第6圖為第5圖中該印刷頭在根據本發明教示之未灌注 組態下的片斷剖面圖； 第7圖為第5圖中該印刷頭在根據本發明教示從該印刷 頭外部密封該印刷頭之孔時的片斷剖面圖； 15 第8圖為第5圖中該印刷頭的片斷剖面圖，其中，根據 本發明之教示，墨水在該印刷頭之該孔被密封後經由該印 刷頭之一供應導管移動； 第9圖為第5圖中該印刷頭的片斷剖面圖，其中，根據 本發明之教示，該印刷頭在氣體被該供應導管中以及從該 20 供應導管至該孔之通道中的墨水實質取代後處於一完全灌 注狀態；以及 第10圖為第5圖中該印刷頭的片斷剖面圖，其中，根據 本發明之教示，該印刷頭在内部氣體被墨水取代後從其中 一該孔發射液滴。 6 1359083 · 【實擴•方式】 詳細說明 本發明之教示提供由印刷頭移除氣體的系統，包括方 法與裝置。料刷頭可包括複數個孔(噴嘴），墨水可經由該 5孔從該印刷頭嗔出。該印刷頭亦可包括_從一儲墨槽將墨 水供應至該孔之供應導管。該供應導管可具有一入口及一 出口。該供應導管可透過一流體架構連接至該孔，該流體 架構具有通道’該通道於介於該供應導管之該入口與該出 口中間的位置處從該供應導管延伸。 1〇 财法可包括密職孔及使該墨水經由雜應導管移 動。密封及移動可於任何適當的時間點執行，但通常在裝 運之後及/或在該印刷頭已經由於沒有使用而缺乏灌注: 時。舉例來說，密封與移動在某些情況下可以在該印刷頭 尚未被用以印刷至媒體以前及/或該印刷頭業已閒置一段 15預設時間之後，以及選擇性地，在一印刷指令被接收之後 自動啟動。此外’密封與移動可被執行Μ注—缺乏灌注 ^印刷頭，即使在該孔呈㈣且開孔至鱗卿外側之大 氣時亦復如此。 20 該孔可以透過比方說從該印刷頭外部將一密封材料施 加至該印刷頭之方式密封。該密封材料可阻止⑽ 密封之孔，比方說可能將附加的氣料人該印刷頭之經由 該孔的空氣内流。該密封材料可為一 馮m態密封劑以提供一 機械密封機制，或一液態密封劑如水、 壘水及/或乙二醇 等。在某些範例中’該密封材料可I古 ± /、1 ~表面張力，其於 7 1359083 該孔^提供一氣泡壓力，該氣泡壓力大於墨水從該槽經由 該導管之屢降。在某些範例中，將墨水下拉至該喷嘴所需 β可月匕低於大約10对的7火，而該孔處之氣泡壓力可能 約為30呀的水。 5 *水可以在該孔被密封下經由該供應導管移動至其出 口 ’以便以墨水取代該供應導管中之氣體。因此該被密 封孔可阻止外部氣體(如空氣)經由該孔向内流動，而在該孔 沒有被密封下，這可能會由於該孔中所產生之壓降而發 ，生。氣體從該導管之移置可提昇及/或影響該印刷頭之墨水 10 灌注。 該裝置可包括-印刷裝置如喷墨印表機。該印刷裝置 可包括-密封該印刷頭之該孔的密封機制。該密封機制可 為比方說-施加器，該施加器透過接觸或非接觸機制將一 密封劑施加至-印刷頭之孔。該印刷裝置可進一步包括一 b流動控制器以使墨水流經該印刷頭之該導管。該印刷裝置 可組態成在該導管以比方說機械方式及/或透過從該孔（比 方說進入-痰盂)發射墨水等方式被灌注墨水後可以將該 密封劑移除。該印刷頭在該印刷裝置中可包括一印刷位置 及一服務位置，且該密封機制（及/或密封劑移除)可以設置 20於(及/或執行於)該服務位置上。 &所揭*之方法及裝置可提供—更經濟及/或有效 的方式m印刷頭及/或由該印刷頭移除氣體。舉例來 說此處所揭不之方法及裝置所浪費之墨水實質少於從該 印刷頭外部施加至該印刷頭孔之真空，其可能在該真空將 8 氣體從該印刷頭移除時自該印刷頭吸入大量之浪費墨水。 此外，該方法及裝置可允許使用較小型及/或較安靜之幫 浦，及/或克服喷嘴密封件之相關問題，比方說通常無法再 利用之膠帶。 氣體在此可包括存在於該印刷頭中或其附近及/或墨 水中之空氣及/或任何氣態物質或其混合物。因此，氣體可 能於該墨水之包裝或該印刷頭之製造期間導入—墨水供 應、可能經由墨水匣壁部從週遭環境擴散、可能從一溶解 狀態或藉由蒸發散逸、及/或可能從該墨水供應或印刷頭之 一開口進入，譬如經由一墨水供應室、儲墨槽、及/或印刷 頭喷嘴等進入之空氣。 第1圖為一印表機20之實施例圖，該印表機在將—密封 材料施加至該印刷頭後使氣體從該印表機之印刷頭22移 除。該印表機20可為將著色劑遞送至媒體之任何適當類型 的印刷裝置，如喷墨印表機等。該印表機2〇可包括著色劑 施加總成24及一媒體移動機制26。 該者色劑施加總成24可從該印刷頭22將一或多種可流 動著色劑，下稱墨水，分配至一印刷媒體28如紙張之選擇 位置。各該印刷頭可包括孔（噴嘴）及發射元件，如設於該孔 附近之加熱器或壓電元件。該印刷頭可於承載桿上進行 往復運動以將長條墨水分配至該印刷媒體之該選擇位置。 該著色劑施加總成可包括複數個儲墨槽32，該儲墨槽包含 不同顏色之墨水且與該印刷頭22進行流體聯繫。該儲墨槽 可設於該印刷頭附近以做為一墨水匣之—部分且在印刷頭 沿一掃描軸掃描以進行軸上墨水供應期間於該承載桿上移 動。選擇性（或附加〉地，如本圖示所示，該儲墨槽可與該印 刷頭隔離，比方說使用供應管34連接至該印刷頭。因此， 在某些實施例中，該儲墨槽32可以在該印刷頭於該承載桿 30上進行往復運動時靜止不動。 在本圖示所示之離軸組態中，各該印刷頭可包括於— 包含一墨水供應室38之印刷頭總成36中《各該供應室可利 用該供應管34從一對應儲墨槽32接收其個別印刷頭之墨 水。 該媒體移動機制26可組態成可以在該著色劑施加總成 24將墨水分配至一印刷媒體之前、期間、及/或之後移動該 印刷媒體。該媒體移動機制可界定一從一輸入地點38至一 輸出地點40之媒體行進路徑，該路徑與該印刷頭做往復運 動所沿之掃描轴成直角配置。該印刷頭可組態成可在一靠 近該印刷媒體之印刷區42中做往復運動以將墨水分配至該 印刷媒體。該印刷頭亦可行進至一服務區44，該服務區44 與該印刷區分離或部分重疊且包括一服務站46，如下文所 詳述。 第2圖顯示該印表機2〇之選擇態樣的概略圖示。該印表 機20可包括該著色劑施加總成24、一用以服務及/或儲存該 著色劑施加總成之態樣的服務站46、以及一用以控制該著 色劑施加總成及/或該服務站之操作的處理器（及/或控制 器）60。 該著色劑施加總成24可組態成可使墨水移動於一或多 1359083 個該儲墨槽η及-或多個該印刷頭22之間。為簡化圖示， 僅單一的儲墨槽及印刷頭被顯示於圖示中。該儲墨槽可經 由該管道34將墨水絲至該印卿總成36。料水可從該 储墨槽行進至該印刷頭總成之該供應室38，然後行進至該 5印刷頭之-供應導管62。該供應導管可透過通道64之一流 體架構將墨水供應至該印刷頭之噴嘴63，該通道提供該供 應導管與該噴嘴之間之流體聯繫。該通道可從該供應導管 位於該供應導管之-入口 65下游與該供應導管之一出口 ％ 上游的位置上延伸’該入口及該出口在結構及配置上與該 喷嘴不同。因此，從該供應室至該供應導管、然後再到該 喷嘴之墨水可通過該出口 66來到接收隔間68，如標號的所 不之箭頭所指（或相反地，從該接收隔間68至該供應室犯及 /或該噴嘴63等）。 該著色劑施加總成24可包括至少一流動控μ器7〇以控 制該著色劑施加總成中之流體移動。該流動（或壓力）控制器 可匕括冑浦72(或多個幫浦該幫浦可為任何在墨水或在 包含墨水之容器上直接施加壓力之機制，包括加壓氣體、 真二幫浦、機械幫浦(針筒、轉缸式發動機、蠕動性機器等）、 扣偏斜几件(如彈簧）、及/或諸如此類。該幫浦可置於該服務 〇站中或該服務站外側。該流動控制器亦可包括或選擇性包 括—或多個閥7 4以允許或限制墨水隔間之間的流體移動。 該服務站46可為該印表機之任何用以服務及/或儲存 該印刷頭22的部分。該服務站可為實質靜止不動以便該 印刷頭可以移動至該服務站、該服務站可以移動至該印刷 11 -5進行兩者之組合式，如標號％所示^該服務站46可 匕括密封劑施加g578 ’以將—密封劑或密封材料8〇從密 - ㈣儲藏槽82施加至叫刷頭。在某些關t，該施加器 • 彳為—起桿(如起桿刀片），其透過毛細管作職該密封劑儲 1接收4封抓體°該服務站46亦可包括-廢棄物儲藏 槽或痰盂84，以從該印刷頭接收墨水及/或密封劑特別是 透過Ip刷頭之發射元件的作用從該印刷頭喷出的墨水及 | /或密封劑。 該役封劑或密封持料可為固態、液態、或其組合式(如 0凝膠)等。固㈣封材料可包括歸或橡㈣之彈性元件， 其齒合該印刷頭之表面以產生密封。液態密封材料可為任 何適當的液體。該密封材料之***壓力可小於、大約等於、 . 或大於該印綱中之墨水***壓力。流體之該“***壓力” • 纽指的是使該流體之密封能力喪失的壓力，在本案中， 15為密封-孔之流體將允許外部氣體進入該孔的壓力。該爆 • 祕力與該流體之表面張力有關。因此，該密封材料可具 有表面張力，其提供大於該孔因該流動控制器操作而產 生之壓力的***壓力。在某些範例中，該密封材料可溶於 墨水且可與墨水溶混，亦即，可以任何密封材料與墨水之 20比例溶解。示範性密封材料可為水、墨水、酒精，特別是 多元醇或二元醇如乙二醇或其聚合物。適用之示範性乙: 醇或乙二醇聚合物包括丙三醇、二丙二醇、乙二醇、丙一 醇、及/或聚乙二醇等。 一 該密封劑施加器可為任何將該密封_施加至該印刷 12 I3590&3 頭之密封機制。該施加器之形式可依使用之密封劑類型而 定。舉例來說，就固態密封劑而言’該密封劑施加器可為 -將該固態密封劑放置於該印刷頭之結構或裝置，如懸臂 襟或彈簧等。就液態密封劑而言，該密封劑施加器可為一 5散佈該液態密封劑之結構，如襯塾、刷子、或起桿等。選 擇或附加地，該密封劑施加器可為一將該密封劑喷灑於該 印刷頭上、將該印刷頭浸入該密封劑中、及/或諸如此類之 結構。因此，該密封劑施加器及/或該密封機制可密封該印 刷頭之孔，無論該施加器/密封機制與該印刷頭之間有無接 10 觸。 該處理器60可為任何包含於該印表機中或設於一分離 式裝置如與該印表機連繫之計算裝置中的控制器。該處理 器可包括一程式儲存裝置(PSD)86,如記憶體，以儲存指令 俾控制該印表機之操作。該處理器可控制該幫浦72及該閥 15 74之操作，比方說控制墨水應於何時從該儲墨槽32(及/或該 供應室38)流至該印刷頭總成36及其流量。該處理器亦可組 態成可控制該密封劑8〇應於何時被供應至該印刷頭及其供 應量’並協調密封劑之施加與墨水經由該喷嘴供應導管62 之移動。因此’該處理器可耦合至一感應器以感應來自該 20喷嘴之子集或所有該噴嘴之墨水的性質。舉例來說，該感 應器可測量一性質如液滴尺寸、液滴軌道、及/或墨水或發 射液滴之存在/不存在。該感應器之資料可由該處理器處理 以判斷該印刷頭何時應被服務以將氣體從該導管移除且因 而灌注該喷嘴。因此，該處理器可組態成可依據該感應器 13 1359083 資料自動啟動該密封材料之施加及/或該墨水經由該供應 導管至該接收隔間之移動。選擇或附加地，該處理器可組 態成可於預設時間間隔或依據使用者透過使用者介面所下 的指令啟動氣體從該印刷頭之移除。舉例來說，該處理器 5可組態成可在該印刷職_置（或沒有發射墨水）一段預 設時間之後啟動密封孔及/或使墨水在該供應導管中移 動。該預設閒置時間可以在製造、安裝時預先設定，或由 使用者輸入等。任何適當的閒置時間皆可使用，比方說大 於大約1星期、2星期、4星期或6星期等。在某些範例中， 1〇 1處理器亦可在密封與移動被自動啟動以前先等待-印刷 才曰7。該處理ϋ可進—步組態成可控制該密封材料從該印 刷頭之移除’比方說使墨水從該印刷頭***並協調此一 移除與該密封材料施加後墨水在該供應導管中之移動。 15 ,第3圖顯示該印表機20之該印刷頭總成36及該流動控 】盗70之選擇g樣的剖面圖。該印刷頭總成可包括一主體 2以及至少一連接至該主體之印刷頭。 ^該主體102可界定一或多個用以承接流體如墨水或空 1之隔間。舉例來說’在本圖示中，該主體1G2界定-供應 2〇八8以办納欲從該印刷頭發射之墨水106。該主體102亦可 。定以内牆108與該供應室38分離之接收隔間68。該主體 可乂任何適當的材料做成如塑膠、金屬、玻璃、或陶曼等。 i主體1G2可界定複數個管道以使墨水進人及行經該 ^及/或調節該主體中之壓力。舉例來說，該主體102可 界疋主體管道110、112以將墨水供應至該主體並加速該供 14 1359083 應室38與該接收隔間68之間的墨水流動。該第—主體管道 110可做為一入口管道以接收來自一儲墨槽之墨水。該第二 主體管道112可做為墨水及/或氣體之出口管道。各該主體 管道110、112可分別由一幫浦72a、72b及/或至少一閥74a、 5 74b調節。在某些範例中，該閥74&可為一控制該幫浦與該 供應室之間之流體聯繫的主體閥，而該閥74b可為一控制該 幫浦與該供應室及印刷頭下游一位置之間之流體聯繫的排 氣閥。各該幫浦可操作以在該主體中產生一相對於週遭壓 力之正面或負面壓力。選擇性地，可使用單一幫浦。 10 該主體102亦可界定第一及第二開口 114、116。該第— 開口 114可為一室出口以允許墨水從該供應室38流至該印 刷頭22及/或流至該接收隔間68。該第一開口 114可以—過 濾器118覆蓋以在該墨水流至該印刷頭以前將粒子從該墨 水移除。該第二開口 116可為該接收隔間68之入口，以允許 15 墨水及/或氣體行進至該接收隔間。在某些實施例中，該第 二開口 116可做為一入口以將墨水承載至該印刷頭22及/或 從該接收隔間68承載至該供應室38。 該主體亦可界定一吸入孔120及一隔板孔122。該吸入 孔120可以一氣泡篩網124覆蓋，以在該主體之壓力變得太 20過負面時透過允許外部空氣進入該主體來調整主體壓力。 該隔板孔122可銜接至一隔板或可變形元件126，其形成具 可變容積之外部氣體隔間128。該可變形元件126可以比方 說與偏斜元件（圖中未示)如彈簧129一起操作以在墨水自 該供應室被移除時使該供應室％中維持一較穩定之壓力。 15 該彈箐使該供應室在一週遭環境之溫度或麼力背離範園下 維持一負面壓力。 該印刷頭可包括—細UM，該韻提供該主體1〇2與 該印刷頭之—噴㈣分⑵之間㈣制繫。該載體1〇4可 5界定^於該讀料丨29與耕卿職找主體1〇2之 門的g道130、132。在某些範例中，該第一管道13〇可做為 將墨水承載至該噴射部分之入口，而該第二管道132可做為 將墨水及/或乳體從該噴射部分載離至該接收隔間仍之出 該第及第—官道之間之墨水流動可依據該排氣閥7仆 W之開啟或關閉狀態及/或該幫浦心及/或瓜於該管道之間 所產生之壓差被促進或抑制。該載體104可以任何適當的材 料形成’包括喊、坡璃、塑膠、碎、金屬等。 該印刷頭可界定—供應導管62，該供應導管與該印刷 頭之該喷嘴/孔63做流體聯繫並提供該管道13〇、132之間之 15流體聯繫。因此’從該第一管道130透過該入口 65近入該供 應導管62之墨水可由該喷嘴排出及/或經由該出口 66行進 至該第二管道132。在某些實施财，該供應導管可為複數 個分離導管，比方說供每一喷嘴列使用之一或多個分離導 管。 2〇 帛4圖顯示該印刷頭22之一剖面圖。在此-範例中，該 載體ι〇4及該噴射部分129制界定該供應導管62。該供應 導管62可依據該孔之配置沿該印刷頭縱向延伸。在本圖示 中，該孔63以一組鄰接縱列之方式配置。 該喷射部分129可包括—基板152、形成於該基板中或 16 上之發射元件154、以及—連接至該基板之孔板156。該孔 層及該基板可界定複數個通道64及/或發射隔間158，各該 發射隔間包括—發射元件154，如加熱元件或壓電元件，其 可選擇性地被碑予能量以使墨水從其個別的孔排出。該基 5板可為任何適當的材料，特別是半導體如石夕 ，或絕緣體如 陶瓷或玻璃。 第5圖顯不取自一該噴嘴63列之該印刷頭22的另一剖 面圖。為簡化圖示，圖示中顯示相當少量之喷嘴。然而， 該印刷頭可具有任何適當數量之喷嘴。在示範實施例中， 1〇各該喷嘴列可具有150、300或650個孔。 第5圖例不墨水經由該供應導管62之流動路徑170(開 放箭頭）墨水可從該第一通道13〇經由該入口 65進入該供 ，導S 62並從該第二通道132經由該出 口 66退出該供應導 f 62 °然而’職動控制器(如幫浦)之動作及/或流體經由 15該供應導管之流動可能在該孔幻内側產生一壓降 ，如標號 172所不。此一壓降可能使空氣經由該孔被向内抽入，如果 該孔並未事先密封’進而減少或取代墨水沿該供應導管之 期望移動》在某些範例中，該流動控制器及/或該幫浦可能 具有一有限的流速能力，且因此不會在該喷嘴中誘發一高 20至足以使此—路徑成為最高阻力路徑之壓降。因此，該喷 嘴上用以阻斷空氣流入該印刷頭之密封可以減少或消除此 一問題。 第6至ίο圖顯示在由該印刷頭22移除氣體之方法的執 行期間所產生的印刷頭組態。為求簡潔，僅單一的喷嘴63 17 1359083 及發射隔間158被顯示與該供應導管62進行流體聯繫。 第6圖顯示該印刷頭2 2處於一未灌注組態。在此一未灌 注組態中，該供應導管62可包括或實質或完全填充氣體， 通常為空氣。該通道64、該發射隔間158、及/或該喷嘴63 5 亦可包括或實質填充氣體。此一未灌注組態可為該印刷頭 於其首次使用前，亦即販售給消費者之時的組態。選擇性 地，此一未灌注組態可在該印刷頭閒置後產生，比方說由 於墨水蒸發或漸次移動或空氣經擴散的擴大而產生。 第7圖顯示該印刷頭22在一密封材料190被施加至該印 10 刷頭之一外部表面192之時的狀態。在某些範例中，該外部 表面192可由該孔板156界定。該密封材料可施加至該外部 表面192以使該密封材料覆蓋並密封該印刷頭之該孔63的 部份或全部，如標號194所示。密封一孔在此意指該密封材 料限制流體通過該孔，比方說限制外部氣體19 6進入該印刷 15 頭。因此，經密封之孔可提供一密不通風的限制以使内部 氣體198與該外部氣體196隔離。該密封材料190可為透過該 印刷頭與一施加器202如起桿之接觸被施加的流體。在某些 範例中，該流體可以在該施加器之複數個行程中被施加， 比方說2次、3次或更多次的行程。該施加器可具吸收性或 20 不具吸收性。在某些範例中，該施加器可包括一彈性材料 如三元乙丙（EPDM)橡膠。 第8圖顯示該印刷頭22在該墨水106流經該供應導管62 之後的狀態，其中該密封材料190密封該孔。該密封材料限 制空氣從該印刷頭外側流經該孔，進而利用沿該供應導管 18 之壓降來移動墨水，而非將新增的空氣從該印刷頭外側帶 入該印刷頭。在本圖示中，該發射隔間158及/或該通道64 可包括被捕捉氣體204。 第9圖顯示該印刷頭22在該通道及/或該發射隔間中之 該被捕捉氣體204被該墨水1〇6實質取代後處於一灌注狀 態，如標號206所示。該被捕捉氣體可由從該供應導管透過 比方說毛細管作用流入該通道及/或該發射隔間之墨水移 置。選擇或附加地，該被捕捉氣體可透過發射該發射元件 被排出。現在該密封材料190可移除以使該灌注印刷頭可以 適當運作。 第10圖顯示該印刷頭22從該孔63發射液滴208。該液滴 起初可能包括大量的密封材料190，如標號21〇所示，該密 封材料在更多液滴被發射之後將減少，如標號212所示。選 擇或附加地，該密封材料可以一機械方式自該印刷頭22移 除，比方說拭除該密封材料及/或從外部施加一適當溶劑以 沖洗之。在某些範例中，從該孔發射該液滴亦可由該通道 及/或該發射隔間移除該被捕捉氣體及/或氣泡。 我們相托以上揭露涵蓋本發明之多種不同的實施例。 雖然各該實訑例業已以特定形式揭露如上，其如此處所揭 露且例示之特定實施例不應以限制意味視之，因為各種變 化皆可行。因此’本揭露之標的物包括本文所揭示之各種 元件、特徵、功此、及/或性質之所有新顆且非顯而易見的 組合與次組合。類似地，申請專利範圍中提及“一，，或“第一” 元件或其等效物時，該等中請專利範圍應被視為包含一或 1359083 多個該等元件，而不一定需要或排除二個或更多該等元件。 【圖式簡單說明3 第1圖為一印表機之實施例圖，根據本發明之教示，該 印表機可以透過密封該印刷頭之孔使氣體從該印表機之印 5 刷頭移除； 第2圖為第1圖中根據本發明教示之該印表機的概略 圖； 第3圖為第1圖中該印表機之一印刷頭總成的剖面圖； 第4圖為大致取自第3圖線條範圍4-4之該印刷頭總成 10 的一印刷頭之片斷剖面圖； 第5圖為大致取自第4圖線條範圍5-5之該印刷頭的片 斷剖面圖； 第6圖為第5圖中該印刷頭在根據本發明教示之未灌注 組態下的片斷剖面圖； 15 第7圖為第5圖中該印刷頭在根據本發明教示從該印刷 頭外部密封該印刷頭之孔時的片斷剖面圖； 第8圖為第5圖中該印刷頭的片斷剖面圖，其中，根據 本發明之教示，墨水在該印刷頭之該孔被密封後經由該印 刷頭之一供應導管移動； 20 第9圖為第5圖中該印刷頭的片斷剖面圖，其中，根據 本發明之教示，該印刷頭在氣體被該供應導管中以及從該 供應導管至該孔之通道中的墨水實質取代後處於一完全灌 注狀態；以及 第10圖為第5圖中該印刷頭的片斷剖面圖，其中，根據 20 1359083 本發明之教示，該印刷頭在内部氣體被墨水取代後從其中 一該孔發射液滴。</ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> This application is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention is directed to techniques for removing gas from a printhead. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A printer can produce a print output on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle of a print head to a print medium. The ink of the droplets may be supplied by an ink reservoir associated with the nozzle via a fluidic architecture of the printhead. In order for the printhead to be fired, the printhead may need to be filled with ink to remove gas from the fluid structure so that undisturbed ink supply can flow from the ink reservoir to the nozzle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method of removing gas from a printhead includes a plurality of apertures for receiving ink from a supply conduit via a passage extending from the supply conduit to the plurality of apertures, the method comprising: from The printhead outer seal 20 defines a plurality of apertures to restrict fluid flow through the aperture; and moves the ink along the supply conduit in parallel through an outlet of the supply conduit disposed downstream of the passageway, wherein the plurality of apertures are sealed such that The ink removes gas from the supply conduit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 1359083 FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a printer capable of removing gas from a print head of the printer by sealing a hole of the print head according to the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the printer according to the teachings of the present invention in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the print head assembly of the printer of Figure 1; A sectional view of a print head of the print head assembly from line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the print head taken substantially from line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the print head in the unfilled configuration in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the print head sealed from the outside of the print head in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Sectional cross-sectional view of the print head aperture; 15 Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the print head of Figure 5, wherein ink is sealed through the print head after the hole of the print head is sealed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention One of the supply conduits is moved; Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the printhead in Fig. 5, wherein the root In the teachings of the present invention, the printhead is in a fully primed state after the gas is substantially replaced by the ink in the supply conduit and in the passage from the 20 supply conduit to the aperture; and Figure 10 is the printhead in Figure 5 A fragmentary cross-sectional view in which the print head emits droplets from one of the apertures after the internal gas is replaced by ink in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 6 1359083 · [Expansion • Mode] DETAILED DESCRIPTION The teachings of the present invention provide a system for removing gas from a printhead, including methods and apparatus. The brush head can include a plurality of holes (nozzles) through which ink can be ejected from the print head. The print head can also include a supply conduit for supplying ink from the ink reservoir to the aperture. The supply conduit can have an inlet and an outlet. The supply conduit is connectable to the bore through a fluidic structure having a passage' that extends from the supply conduit at a location intermediate the inlet and the outlet of the supply conduit. 1〇 The finance method may include a close-hole and move the ink through the hybrid conduit. Sealing and movement can be performed at any suitable point in time, but typically after shipment and/or when the printhead has been incompletely infusing due to lack of use. For example, the seal and movement may in some cases be before the print head has been used for printing to the media and/or the print head has been idle for a predetermined period of time, and optionally, in a print order Start automatically after receiving. In addition, 'seal and movement can be performed as a result of the lack of perfusion of the print head, even when the hole is (4) and the opening is open to the outside of the scale. 20 The aperture can be sealed by, for example, applying a sealing material from outside the printhead to the printhead. The sealing material prevents (10) the sealing of the aperture, for example, an additional air flow to the air passing through the aperture of the printhead. The sealing material can be a von M-state sealant to provide a mechanical sealing mechanism, or a liquid sealant such as water, water and/or glycol. In some examples, the sealing material can have an ancient ± /, 1 ~ surface tension, which provides a bubble pressure at 7 1359083 which is greater than the ink drop from the tank through the conduit. In some examples, the ink required to pull the ink down to the nozzle may be less than about 10 pairs of 7 fires, and the bubble pressure at the hole may be about 30 ounces of water. 5 * Water can be moved to its outlet by the supply conduit under the hole being sealed to replace the gas in the supply conduit with ink. Therefore, the sealed hole prevents external gas (e.g., air) from flowing inwardly through the hole, and the hole is not sealed, which may be caused by the pressure drop generated in the hole. Displacement of gas from the conduit can enhance and/or affect the ink 10 perfusion of the printhead. The device may comprise a printing device such as an inkjet printer. The printing apparatus can include a sealing mechanism that seals the aperture of the printhead. The sealing mechanism can be, for example, an applicator that applies a sealant to the aperture of the printhead through a contact or non-contact mechanism. The printing apparatus can further include a b flow controller to cause ink to flow through the conduit of the printhead. The printing unit can be configured to remove the sealant after the conduit has been infused with ink, for example, mechanically and/or by ejecting ink from the aperture (e.g., into-痰盂). The printhead can include a print location and a service location in the printing device, and the sealing mechanism (and/or sealant removal) can be disposed 20 (and/or executed) at the service location. The method and apparatus disclosed may provide a more economical and/or efficient way to print the head and/or remove gas from the print head. For example, the method and apparatus disclosed herein waste substantially less ink than is applied from the exterior of the printhead to the printhead aperture, which may be self-printed when the vacuum removes 8 gases from the printhead. The head inhales a lot of wasted ink. In addition, the method and apparatus may allow for the use of smaller and/or quieter pumps, and/or overcome problems associated with nozzle seals, such as tapes that are typically not available. The gas may here comprise air and/or any gaseous species or mixtures thereof present in or adjacent to the printhead and/or in the ink. Thus, the gas may be introduced during the packaging of the ink or during manufacture of the print head - the ink supply may be diffused from the surrounding environment via the ink dam wall portion, may be dissipated from a dissolved state or by evaporation, and/or may be from the ink One of the supply or print head openings, such as air entering through an ink supply chamber, an ink reservoir, and/or a print head nozzle. Figure 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a printer 20 that removes gas from the printhead 22 of the printer after application of the sealing material to the printhead. The printer 20 can be any suitable type of printing device that delivers colorant to the media, such as an inkjet printer or the like. The printer 2 can include a colorant application assembly 24 and a media moving mechanism 26. The toner application assembly 24 can dispense one or more flowable colorants, hereinafter referred to as ink, from the printhead 22 to a selected location on a print medium 28, such as paper. Each of the print heads may include a hole (nozzle) and an emitting element such as a heater or piezoelectric element disposed adjacent the hole. The print head is reciprocable on the carrier bar to dispense the long strip of ink to the selected location of the print media. The colorant application assembly can include a plurality of ink reservoirs 32 that contain ink of different colors and are in fluid communication with the printhead 22. The ink reservoir may be disposed adjacent the printhead as part of an ink cartridge and move over the carrier during scanning of the printhead along a scan axis for on-line ink supply. Optionally (or additionally), as shown in this illustration, the ink reservoir can be isolated from the printhead, such as by using a supply tube 34. Thus, in some embodiments, the ink reservoir is provided. The slot 32 can be stationary while the printhead is reciprocating on the carrier bar 30. In the off-axis configuration shown in this illustration, each of the printheads can be included in a printhead that includes an ink supply chamber 38. Each of the supply chambers 36 can utilize the supply tube 34 to receive ink from its respective printhead 32 from a corresponding ink reservoir 32. The media movement mechanism 26 can be configured to apply ink to the colorant application assembly 24 The print medium is moved before, during, and/or after distribution to a print medium. The media movement mechanism can define a media travel path from an input location 38 to an output location 40, the path being reciprocated with the print head The scan axis is disposed at right angles. The print head can be configured to reciprocate in a print zone 42 adjacent the print media to dispense ink to the print media. The printhead can also travel to a service area 44. , the The service area 44 is separate or partially overlapping the print area and includes a service station 46, as described in more detail below. Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of the selected aspect of the printer 2. The printer 20 can include The colorant application assembly 24, a service station 46 for servicing and/or storing the colorant application assembly, and a control unit for controlling the colorant application assembly and/or the service station. Processor (and/or controller) 60. The colorant application assembly 24 is configurable to move ink between one or more 1359083 of the ink reservoirs n and/or between the plurality of printheads 22. Simplified illustration, only a single ink reservoir and printhead are shown in the illustration. The ink reservoir can route ink to the seal assembly 36 via the conduit 34. The feed water can travel from the ink reservoir to the ink reservoir. The supply chamber 38 of the printhead assembly then travels to the 5 printhead-supply conduit 62. The supply conduit can supply ink to the nozzle 63 of the printhead through a fluidic architecture of the passage 64, the passage providing the Supplying a fluid connection between the conduit and the nozzle. The passage can be located from the supply conduit Supply conduit - downstream of inlet 65 and upstream of one of the outlets of the supply conduit - the inlet and the outlet are different in construction and configuration from the nozzle. Thus, from the supply chamber to the supply conduit, and then to The ink of the nozzle can pass through the outlet 66 to the receiving compartment 68, as indicated by the arrow of the reference (or conversely, from the receiving compartment 68 to the supply chamber and/or the nozzle 63, etc.). The colorant application assembly 24 can include at least one flow control device 7 to control fluid movement in the colorant application assembly. The flow (or pressure) controller can include a pump 72 (or multiple pumps) The pump can be used to directly apply pressure to the ink or to the container containing the ink, including pressurized gas, true two pumps, mechanical pumps (syringes, rotary cylinders, peristaltic machines, etc.), buckles Skewed pieces (such as springs), and/or the like. The pump can be placed in the service station or outside the service station. The flow controller may also include or alternatively include - or a plurality of valves 74 to permit or limit fluid movement between the ink compartments. The service station 46 can be any portion of the printer that serves and/or stores the print head 22. The service station can be substantially stationary so that the print head can be moved to the service station, and the service station can move to the print 11-5 for a combination of the two, as indicated by the number %. The sealant applies g578' to apply the sealant or sealing material 8 from the dense- (four) storage tank 82 to the head. In some cases, the applicator is a lifter (such as a lifter blade) that passes through the capillary to serve the sealant reservoir 1 to receive four grippers. The service station 46 may also include a waste storage tank. Or 痰盂84, the ink and/or sealant ejected from the print head by receiving ink and/or encapsulant from the print head, particularly through the action of the emitter element of the Ip brush head. The sealant or sealant can be solid, liquid, or a combination thereof (e.g., gel). The solid (four) sealing material may comprise a resilient element of a return or rubber (four) that is toothed to the surface of the print head to create a seal. The liquid sealing material can be any suitable liquid. The bursting pressure of the sealing material can be less than, approximately equal to, or greater than the burst pressure of the ink in the print. The "burst pressure" of the fluid • refers to the pressure at which the sealing ability of the fluid is lost. In the present case, 15 is the pressure at which the seal-hole fluid will allow external gas to enter the orifice. This explosive force is related to the surface tension of the fluid. Accordingly, the sealing material can have a surface tension that provides a burst pressure greater than the pressure at which the orifice is operated by the flow controller. In some examples, the sealing material is soluble in the ink and miscible with the ink, i.e., can be dissolved in any 20 ratio of sealing material to ink. Exemplary sealing materials can be water, ink, alcohol, especially polyols or glycols such as ethylene glycol or polymers thereof. Suitable exemplary B: Alcohol or ethylene glycol polymers include glycerol, dipropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, propanol, and/or polyethylene glycol. A sealant applicator can be any sealing mechanism that applies the seal to the print 12 I3590&3 head. The form of the applicator can depend on the type of sealant used. For example, in the case of a solid sealant, the sealant applicator can be a structure or device that places the solid sealant on the print head, such as a cantilever or spring. In the case of a liquid sealant, the sealant applicator can be a structure in which the liquid sealant is dispersed, such as a lining, a brush, or a lifter. Alternatively or additionally, the sealant applicator can be a structure that sprays the sealant onto the printhead, dipped the printhead into the sealant, and/or the like. Thus, the sealant applicator and/or the sealing mechanism can seal the aperture of the printhead regardless of whether there is a contact between the applicator/seal mechanism and the printhead. The processor 60 can be any controller included in the printer or in a separate device such as a computing device associated with the printer. The processor can include a program storage device (PSD) 86, such as a memory, for storing instructions to control the operation of the printer. The processor can control the operation of the pump 72 and the valve 15 74, such as when to control when ink should flow from the ink reservoir 32 (and/or the supply chamber 38) to the printhead assembly 36 and its flow rate. . The processor can also be configured to control when the encapsulant 8 should be supplied to the printhead and its supply' and coordinate the application of the sealant with the movement of ink through the nozzle supply conduit 62. Thus the processor can be coupled to an inductor to sense the properties of the ink from a subset of the 20 nozzles or all of the nozzles. For example, the sensor can measure the presence/absence of a property such as droplet size, droplet trajectory, and/or ink or ejected droplets. The sensor data can be processed by the processor to determine when the printhead should be serviced to remove gas from the conduit and thereby prime the nozzle. Accordingly, the processor can be configured to automatically initiate application of the sealing material and/or movement of the ink through the supply conduit to the receiving compartment in accordance with the sensor 13 1359083. Alternatively or additionally, the processor can be configured to initiate removal of gas from the printhead at predetermined time intervals or in accordance with instructions from the user through the user interface. For example, the processor 5 can be configured to activate the sealing aperture and/or move ink in the supply conduit after the predetermined time of the printing job (or no ink being emitted). The preset idle time can be preset at the time of manufacture, installation, or input by a user. Any appropriate idle time can be used, for example, about one week, two weeks, four weeks, or six weeks. In some instances, the 1〇1 processor can also wait-print before the seal and movement are automatically initiated. The process can be further configured to control the removal of the sealing material from the printhead', such as to split the ink from the printhead and coordinate the removal of the ink after application of the sealant in the supply conduit Move. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the print head assembly 36 of the printer 20 and the selection of the flow control. The printhead assembly can include a body 2 and at least one printhead coupled to the body. ^ The body 102 can define one or more compartments for receiving a fluid such as ink or air. For example, in the illustration, the body 1G2 defines - supplies 2-8 to process the ink 106 to be emitted from the printhead. The main body 102 can also be. A receiving compartment 68 is defined that separates the interior wall 108 from the supply chamber 38. The body can be made of any suitable material such as plastic, metal, glass, or taman. The i-body 1G2 can define a plurality of conduits for ink to enter and pass the pressure and/or to adjust the pressure in the body. For example, the body 102 can be bound to the body conduits 110, 112 to supply ink to the body and accelerate ink flow between the chambers 38 and the receiving compartments 68. The first body conduit 110 can serve as an inlet conduit for receiving ink from an ink reservoir. The second body conduit 112 can serve as an outlet conduit for ink and/or gas. Each of the body conduits 110, 112 can be adjusted by a pump 72a, 72b and/or at least one valve 74a, 5 74b, respectively. In some examples, the valve 74& can be a body valve that controls fluid communication between the pump and the supply chamber, and the valve 74b can control the pump and the supply chamber and downstream of the printhead. An exhaust valve that is in fluid communication between the positions. Each of the pumps is operable to generate a positive or negative pressure in the body relative to ambient pressure. Alternatively, a single pump can be used. 10 The body 102 can also define first and second openings 114,116. The first opening 114 can be a chamber outlet to allow ink to flow from the supply chamber 38 to the print head 22 and/or to the receiving compartment 68. The first opening 114 can be covered by a filter 118 to remove particles from the ink before the ink flows to the print head. The second opening 116 can be the entrance to the receiving compartment 68 to allow 15 ink and/or gas to travel to the receiving compartment. In some embodiments, the second opening 116 can serve as an inlet to carry ink to and/or from the printhead 22 to the supply chamber 38. The body can also define a suction aperture 120 and a barrier aperture 122. The suction port 120 may be covered by a bubble screen 124 to adjust the body pressure by allowing external air to enter the body when the pressure of the body becomes too negative. The baffle aperture 122 can be coupled to a baffle or deformable element 126 that forms an outer volume of outer space 128 having a variable volume. The deformable member 126 can operate, for example, with a deflecting member (not shown) such as the spring 129 to maintain a relatively constant pressure in the supply chamber % as the ink is removed from the supply chamber. 15 The magazine keeps the supply room under a negative pressure from the ambient temperature or the force of the environment. The print head can include a fine UM that provides a system between the body 1〇2 and the print head (four) (2). The carrier 1〇4 can define the g-channels 130, 132 of the reading frame 29 and the door of the cultivating body. In some examples, the first conduit 13 can be used as an inlet for carrying ink to the ejection portion, and the second conduit 132 can be used to carry ink and/or milk from the ejection portion to the receiving portion. The ink flow between the first and the first official passages may be based on the opening or closing state of the exhaust valve 7 and/or the pump core and/or the melon generated between the pipes. The pressure difference is promoted or suppressed. The carrier 104 can be formed from any suitable material' including shouting, glazing, plastic, shredded, metal, and the like. The printhead can define a supply conduit 62 that is in fluid communication with the nozzle/hole 63 of the printhead and provides a fluid communication between the conduits 13A, 132. Thus ink from the first conduit 130 through the inlet 65 into the supply conduit 62 can be discharged from the nozzle and/or traveled through the outlet 66 to the second conduit 132. In some implementations, the supply conduit can be a plurality of separate conduits, such as one or more separate conduits for each nozzle train. 2〇 帛 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the print head 22. In this example, the carrier ι 4 and the jetting portion 129 define the supply conduit 62. The supply conduit 62 can extend longitudinally along the printhead depending on the configuration of the aperture. In the illustration, the apertures 63 are arranged in a contiguous series of columns. The ejection portion 129 may include a substrate 152, an emission element 154 formed in the substrate or 16, and an aperture plate 156 connected to the substrate. The aperture layer and the substrate can define a plurality of channels 64 and/or emission compartments 158, each of the emission compartments including an emission element 154, such as a heating element or a piezoelectric element, that can be selectively energized to enable The ink is discharged from its individual holes. The base 5 plate can be any suitable material, particularly a semiconductor such as a stone, or an insulator such as ceramic or glass. Figure 5 shows another cross-sectional view of the print head 22 taken from a row of nozzles 63. To simplify the illustration, a relatively small number of nozzles are shown in the illustration. However, the print head can have any suitable number of nozzles. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the nozzle rows may have 150, 300 or 650 holes. Figure 5 illustrates the flow of ink through the supply conduit 62 (open arrow) from the first passage 13 through the inlet 65 into the supply, the guide S 62 and exit from the second passage 132 via the outlet 66 The supply guide f 62 ° however, the action of the 'active controller (eg, pump) and/or the flow of fluid through the supply conduit 15 may create a pressure drop inside the aperture, as indicated by reference numeral 172. This pressure drop may cause air to be drawn inwardly through the aperture if the aperture is not previously sealed 'and thereby reduce or replace the desired movement of the ink along the supply conduit." In some examples, the flow controller and/or The pump may have a limited flow rate capability and therefore will not induce a high 20 in the nozzle to a pressure drop sufficient to make this path the highest resistance path. Therefore, the seal on the nozzle to block the flow of air into the print head can reduce or eliminate this problem. The sixth to ίο diagram shows the print head configuration produced during the execution of the method of removing gas from the print head 22. For simplicity, only a single nozzle 63 17 1359083 and launch compartment 158 are shown in fluid communication with the supply conduit 62. Figure 6 shows the print head 22 in an unfilled configuration. In this unfilled configuration, the supply conduit 62 can include or substantially or completely fill a gas, typically air. The channel 64, the launch compartment 158, and/or the nozzle 63 5 may also include or substantially fill a gas. This unfilled configuration can be the configuration of the printhead before it is first used, i.e., when sold to a consumer. Optionally, this unfilled configuration can be created after the printhead is idle, such as due to evaporation or progressive movement of the ink or expansion of the air through diffusion. Fig. 7 shows the state of the print head 22 when a sealing material 190 is applied to one of the outer surfaces 192 of the print head. In some examples, the outer surface 192 can be defined by the orifice plate 156. The sealing material can be applied to the outer surface 192 such that the sealing material covers and seals a portion or all of the aperture 63 of the printhead, as indicated by reference numeral 194. Sealing a hole means that the sealing material restricts fluid from passing through the hole, for example, restricting the entry of external gas 196 into the printing head. Thus, the sealed aperture provides a tight, non-venting restriction to isolate the internal gas 198 from the external gas 196. The sealing material 190 can be a fluid that is applied through contact of the print head with an applicator 202, such as a rod. In some examples, the fluid can be applied over a plurality of strokes of the applicator, such as 2, 3 or more passes. The applicator can be absorbent or 20 non-absorbent. In some examples, the applicator can comprise an elastomeric material such as ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) rubber. Figure 8 shows the state of the print head 22 after the ink 106 has flowed through the supply conduit 62, wherein the sealing material 190 seals the aperture. The sealing material restricts air from flowing through the aperture from the outside of the printhead, thereby moving the ink with a pressure drop along the supply conduit 18 rather than introducing additional air from the outside of the printhead into the printhead. In the illustration, the launch compartment 158 and/or the channel 64 may include trapped gas 204. Figure 9 shows the print head 22 in a priming state after the trapped gas 204 in the channel and/or the firing compartment is substantially replaced by the ink 〇6, as indicated by reference numeral 206. The captured gas can be displaced by ink flowing from the supply conduit, e.g., capillary action, into the channel and/or the firing compartment. Alternatively or additionally, the trapped gas can be expelled by emitting the emitting element. The sealing material 190 can now be removed to allow the perfusion print head to function properly. Figure 10 shows the print head 22 emitting droplets 208 from the aperture 63. The droplet may initially include a plurality of sealing material 190, as indicated by reference numeral 21, which will decrease after more droplets are emitted, as indicated by reference numeral 212. Alternatively or additionally, the sealing material can be mechanically removed from the printhead 22, such as by wiping the sealing material and/or applying a suitable solvent from the outside to rinse. In some examples, emitting the droplet from the aperture may also remove the trapped gas and/or gas bubbles from the channel and/or the firing compartment. We disclose that the above disclosure encompasses many different embodiments of the invention. While the present invention has been described above in a specific form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be construed as limiting, as various modifications are possible. Therefore, the subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, advantages, and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, when reference is made to a "a," or "first" element or its equivalent in the scope of the claims, the scope of the claims should be construed as encompassing one or 1359083 of the elements, and not necessarily Or exclude two or more of these components. [Simple diagram of the drawing 3 FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a printer. According to the teachings of the present invention, the printer can seal the hole of the printing head to make gas. Removed from the printer 5 of the printer; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the printer according to the teachings of the present invention in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a print head of the printer in Figure 1. A cross-sectional view of the assembly; Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a print head of the print head assembly 10 taken generally from line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a line 5 taken generally from line 4 of Figure 4. a sectional view of the print head of -5; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the print head in the unfilled configuration according to the teachings of the present invention in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is the print head of Fig. 5 A cross-sectional view of a segment when the hole of the print head is sealed from the outside of the print head in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a view of FIG. A fragmentary cross-sectional view of a printhead, wherein, according to the teachings of the present invention, ink is moved through a supply conduit of the printhead after the aperture of the printhead is sealed; 20 Figure 9 is a fragment of the printhead in Figure 5 a cross-sectional view in which the print head is in a fully primed state after the gas is substantially replaced by the ink in the supply conduit and in the passage from the supply conduit to the aperture in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and FIG. 10 is fifth A fragmentary cross-sectional view of the printhead in the Figure, wherein the printhead ejects droplets from one of the apertures after the internal gas is replaced by ink, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
【主要元件符號說明】 20- •印表機 70…流動控制器 22·· •印刷頭 72, 72a，72b…幫浦 24.. •著色劑施加總成 74, 74a，74b …閥 26·· •媒體移動機制 7 8…密封劑施加器 28·· •印刷媒體 80…密封劑或密封材料 30- •承載桿 82…密封劑儲藏槽 32.. •儲墨槽 84…廢棄物儲藏槽或痰盂 34·· •供應管 86…程式儲存裝置 36" •印刷頭總成 102…主體 38.. •墨水供應室，輸入地點 104…載體 40.. •輸出地點 106…墨水 42.. •印刷區 108…内牆 44.· •服務區 110, 112…主體管道 46.. •服務站 114, 116···開口 60·· •處理器 118…過濾器 62.. •供應導管 120···吸入孔 63·. .喷嘴 122…隔板孔 64.· •通道 124…氣泡篩網 65·· •入〇 126…隔板或可變形元件 66·. •出口 128…外部氣體隔間 68.· •接收隔間 129…彈簧，喷射部分 21 1359083 130,132···管道 192…外部表面 152…基板 196…外部氣體 154…發射元件 198…内部氣體 156…孔板 202···施加器 158···發射隔間 204…被捕捉氣體 170···流動路徑 208…液滴 190···密封材料[Description of main component symbols] 20- • Printer 70... Flow controller 22·· • Print head 72, 72a, 72b...Gip 24: • Colorant application assembly 74, 74a, 74b ... Valve 26·· • Media Movement Mechanism 7 8...Sealant Applicator 28·· Print Media 80...Sealant or Sealing Material 30- • Carrier Bar 82... Encapsulant Storage Tank 32.. • Ink Tank 84... Waste Storage Tank or 痰盂34·· • Supply tube 86... Program storage device 36" • Print head assembly 102... Main body 38.. • Ink supply chamber, input location 104... Carrier 40.. • Output location 106... Ink 42.. • Printing area 108 ... interior wall 44. • service area 110, 112... main pipe 46.. • service station 114, 116... opening 60·· • processor 118... filter 62.. • supply conduit 120··· suction hole 63·. . Nozzle 122... baffle hole 64.· • channel 124... bubble screen 65·· • inlet 126... partition or deformable element 66·. • outlet 128... external gas compartment 68.· • receiving Compartment 129...spring,spray portion 21 1359083 130,132···pipe 192...outer surface 1 52...substrate 196...external gas 154...emitter element 198...internal gas 156...orifice plate 202···applicator 158···transmitting compartment 204...trapped gas 170···flow path 208...drop 190·· ·Sealing material
22twenty two