Fluid system for multiple print heads

(19)

(11)

EP 1 013 450 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	07.02.2001 Bulletin 2001/06

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	28.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/26

(21)	Application number: 99309506.6

(22)	Date of filing: 29.11.1999

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: B41J 2/175

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

14.12.1998 US 211664

(71)	Applicant: Scitex Digital Printing, Inc.
	Dayton, Ohio 45420-4099 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Woolard, Daniel E. Dayton, Ohio 45419 (US) McCann, James D. Waynesville, Ohio 45068 (US) Enz, Richard T. Dayton, Ohio 45458 (US)

(74)	Representative: Freed, Arthur Woolf et al
	Reginald W. Barker & Co., Clifford's Inn, Fetter Lane London EC4A 1BY London EC4A 1BY (GB)

(54)	Fluid system for multiple print heads

(57) A single fluid system (100) simultaneously and independently controls multiple print heads of a continuous ink jet printer. An ink reservoir supplies ink to the multiple print heads and a common vacuum system withdraws ink from the multiple print heads back to the ink reservoir. The system controls the concentration of ink to the multiple print heads and separately supplies ink to the multiple print heads. Multiple print heads are supported independently by this single fluid controller, allowing each print head to operate independently, as if it were controlled by its own fluid system. Hence, each one of the multiple print heads has the capability of cleaning, shutting down, and printing without any interference from the other, while sharing similar components.

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