SINGLE PASS INK JET PRINTER

摘要

In the particular embodiments described in the specification, a single pass ink jet printer includes a plurality of ink jet modules (54) arranged in adjacent rows extending across the width of the surface of an object which is moved with respect to the printer. The modules (54) are mounted on and joined to a manifold (84) which is mounted in a support frame (82). Ink is supplied to the manifold through an opening (98) in the frame and the manifold distributes the ink to corresponding openings (66) in the ink jet modules where it is directed to arrays of ink pressure chambers and to an outlet which communicates with a corresponding return passage (102) in the manifold leading back to the ink supply. As a result, ink can be circulated continuously through all of the ink jet modules, thereby maintaining pigment in suspension in a pigmented ink. An ink supply is removably connected to the printhead through quick-disconnect couplings and, to prevent contamination of the ink in the printhead, filters are provided in the ink supply and at the inlet to the printhead. A further filter (86), designed to trap only those particles which would block the orifices in the orifice plate, is positioned between the ink jet modules (54) and the orifice plate (90). In one embodiment twelve ink jet modules (54) are arranged to provide approximately 275 dot per inch (108 dot per cm.) resolution across a 5.6 inch (14.2 cm.) image width and in another embodiment forty-eight ink jet modules (54) are arranged to provide 600 dot per inch (236 dot per cm.) resolution across a 10.-1/4 inch (26 cm.) image width.