System for controlling ink temperature using a heated umbilical

摘要

An improvement in the heating of ink in an ink jet printer having a printhead (34) and a fluid system (35) for supplying ink to the printhead via at least one umbilical (50), is provided. The improved ink heating technique proposes a fluid tube through which the ink flows and a heater (48) in close thermal contact with the fluid tube for supplying heat to a significant length of the fluid tubing. Thermal insulation can enclose the fluid tubing and the heater, and a protective covering can enclose the thermal insulation. An elastomeric layer can be situated between the fluid tubing and the heater, while maintaining close thermal contact between the fluid tubing and the heater. <IMAGE>