Fluid circulation

摘要

Among other things, an apparatus for use in fluid jetting is described. The apparatus includes a printhead including a flow path and a nozzle in communication with the flow path that has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first container fluidically coupled to the first end of the flow path, a second container fluidically coupled to the second end of the flow path, and a controller. The first container has a first controllable internal pressure and the second container has a second controllable internal pressure. The controller controls the first internal pressure and the second internal pressure to have a fluid flow between the first container and the second container through the flow path in the printhead according to a first mode and a second mode.

主权项

1. A method for use in fluid jetting, comprising:
sensing fluid levels in a first fluid container and a second fluid container, the first fluid container fluidically coupled to a first end of a flow path through a printhead, the second fluid container fluidically coupled to a second end of the flow path through the printhead; determining whether a flow direction between the first fluid container and the second fluid container is from the fluid container having a lower fluid level to the container having a higher fluid level and whether a fluid level in the container having the lower fluid level is below a threshold and; upon determining that the flow direction is from the fluid container having the lower fluid level to the container having the higher fluid level and that the fluid level in the container having the lower fluid level is below the threshold, reversing the flow direction between the first fluid container and the second fluid container so that the flow direction is from the fluid container having the higher fluid level to the container having the lower flow level.