Chapter 22-312.3.2 Ink Passage2.3.2.1 Ink Passage2.3.2.1.1 Overview of Ink Passage0012-6328iPF9000 / iPF9000S / iPF9100The ink passage comprises ink tanks, a printheads, caps, a maintenance jet tray, a maintenance cartridge, ink tubes interconnecting the mechanical components ofthe printer, and a suction pump that is driven to suck inks. It supplies, circulates, sucks and otherwise handles inks.The ink passage (per color) is schematically shown below, along with the ink flow.F-2-14a) Supplying inks from the ink tanks to the ink supply valve assemblyThe ink tanks each contain an ink to feed the printhead.Head differences allow the inks to flow from the ink tanks to the subtanks first, then to the ink supply valves.Air is discharged through the air passage of the subtanks to keep the internal pressure of the ink tanks constant.b) Supplying inks from the ink supply valves to the printheadThe ink stored in an ink tank flows to the printhead when the suction pipe is driven with the ink supply valve opened and the head capped.c) Supplying inks while printingThe ink supply valves are kept open while printing, so that inks are constantly feeding to the printhead under the negative pressure of the nozzle assembly causedby discharging inks.Further, waste inks sucked in a cleaning operation and inks from the maintenance jet tray flow into the maintenance cartridge.Opening all the ink passages (by opening both the ink supply valve and the printhead fixer lever with an ink tank yet to be installed) while an ink tube is filled withan ink could cause the ink in the ink tube to flow backward due to a head difference, leaking through the hollow needle in the ink tank.As a precaution, never open all the ink passages at the same time while the ink tubes are filled with inks.d) Ink agitatingInk will be agitated to prevent the element of the pigment ink from subsiding in the ink tank and the sub-tank.The drive of valve motor is transmitted to the agitation cam, the agitation fin in a sub-tank rotates and ink in a sub-tank will be agitated. In addition, ink flowsbackward by moving the piston under the needle(ink supply) up and down in the ink tank, and ink in the ink tank will be agitated.Maintenance cartridgeInk tankInk supply vavleJointJointCarriage unitPrintheadCapSuction pumpMechanical Drive UnitInk or air flowSub bufferAgitation finNeedle(air passage)Needle(ink supply)PistonValvemotorAgitationcam
