IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR HOMOGENIZING INK

• Main Authors: ROBERTS, CARRIE, OTIS, DAVID, R., JR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 24.01.2007
• Subjects: CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; LINING MACHINES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTING; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS; STAMPS; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS

Imaging apparatus and methods of homogenizing ink are described. In one implementation an imaging apparatus includes an ink supply to provide ink to be used in printing, and a printhead to apply the ink during printing. A conduit system couples the ink supply and the printhead in fluid flowing relation. A pump is operably coupled to the conduit system. In operation, the pump causes the ink to circulate between the ink supply and the printhead. A timing device measures an idle-time since the pump was last in operation. A controller receives the idle-time measurement from the timing device, and actuates the pump when a selected idle-time is reached. In another implementation, a method for homogenizing ink includes providing a pump, then automatically actuating the pump to homogenize ink within an ink delivery system each time the ink delivery system has been resting for a selected idle-time.