Negative air duct sump for ink removal

摘要

A gas flow duct for use in redirecting drops of liquid ejected from a printhead in a continuous inkjet printer, including a sump, a first duct portion upstream of the sump, and a second duct portion downstream of the sump. The first duct portion rises from an entrance to an apex and then turns downward and exits into the sump, and the second duct portion rises from the sump toward an exit port. A cross-sectional area of the first duct portion is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity sufficient to transport entrained liquid through the first duct portion past the apex and into the sump. A cross-sectional area of the second duct portion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the first duct portion and is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity insufficient to transport entrained liquid through the second duct portion.

主权项

1. A gas flow duct for use in redirecting drops of liquid ejected from a printhead in a continuous inkjet printer, comprising:
a sump; a first duct portion upstream of the sump, the first duct portion rising from an entrance to an apex and then turning downward and exiting into the sump, the entrance of the first duct portion being positioned in proximity to the drops of liquid to be redirected; a second duct portion downstream of the sump, the second duct portion rising from the sump to an exit port; wherein a cross-sectional area of the first duct portion is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity through the first duct portion that is sufficient to transport entrained liquid through the first duct portion past the apex and into the sump; and wherein a cross-sectional area of the second duct portion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the first duct portion and is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity through the second duct portion that is insufficient to transport entrained liquid through the second duct portion.