| 摘要 |
An apparatus for supplying ink includes an ink source and at least one sub-reservoir that is fluidly connected to the ink source. In one embodiment, the sub-reservoir includes a housing container and a flexible container housed within the housing container. A sensor is connected to an actuator, wherein the sensor senses the height of the top surface of the flexible container. If the height of the top surface of the flexible container is below a height range, the sensor emits a signal that allows ink to flow from the ink source to the flexible container, and if the height of the top surface of the flexible container is above the height range, the sensor emits a signal that prevents ink from flowing from the ink source to the flexible container. The apparatus may include only one sub-reservoir, or it may include many sub-reservoirs. If plural sub-reservoirs are included, a print head may include plural portions that are each fluidly connected to a different sub-reservoir. If the print head portions are at different heights, such as when the print head is printing on a vertical or slanted surface, then the sub-reservoirs connected to those portions are also preferably at different heights so that the ink pressure at each of the portions is substantially the same.
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