System and method for reducing plastic waste in inkjet printers

Abstract

SOLUTION: An inkjet printer uses ink supply containers that include bladders (flexible members) for holding waste fluids produced by printhead maintenance stations. The bladders are connected in series or in parallel to the output ports of the printhead maintenance stations to store waste fluids within the bladders of the ink supply containers. As the ink supply containers are depleted of their supply ink, the ink supply containers are replaced and new ink supply containers having bladders therein are installed to renew the capacity of the printer to store waste fluids.EFFECT: In two embodiments, the need for a waste fluid reservoir is eliminated; and in a third embodiment, the operational life of a waste fluid reservoir is extended. In all of these embodiments, the generation of plastic waste by the printer is reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3C

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to devices that produce ink images on media, and more particularly to reducing plastic waste generated by such printers. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet imaging devices, also known as inkjet printers, eject liquid ink from a printhead to form an image on an image receiving surface. The printhead includes a plurality of inkjets arranged in an array. Each inkjet has a thermal or piezoelectric actuator coupled to a printhead controller. The printhead controller generates firing signals corresponding to digital data content that defines the image. The actuators in the printhead respond to the firing signals by expanding into ink chambers fluidly connected to the nozzles to eject ink droplets from the nozzles and onto the image receiving surface to form an ink image that corresponds to the digital image content used to generate the firing signals. The image receiving surface is typically a continuous web of media material or a series of media sheets.

[0003] Inkjet printers used to generate color images typically include multiple printhead modules. Each printhead module typically includes one or more printheads that eject a single color of ink. In a typical inkjet color printer, four printhead modules are positioned in the process direction, with each printhead module ejecting a different color of ink. The four most frequently used ink colors are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The common name for such printers is a CMYK color printer. Some CMYK color printers have two printhead modules that print each color of ink. The printhead modules that print the same color of ink are offset from each other in the cross-process direction by half the distance between adjacent inkjets, doubling the number of pixels per inch and increasing the density of the lines of ink color ejected by the printheads in the two modules. As used in this document, the term "process direction" refers to the direction of movement of the image receiving surface as it passes the printheads in the printer, and the term "cross-process direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the process direction in the plane of the image receiving surface.

[0004] Inkjets, particularly those in printheads that jet water-based inks, need to be fired periodically to help prevent the ink in the nozzles from drying out. As the inkjets jet significant amounts of ink to create high area coverage in the ink image, the nozzles in the printhead can dry out. Operation of a high percentage of inkjets in a portion of a faceplate on the printhead can generate a large number of satellite drops that tend to adhere to the faceplate. Satellite drops are small ink drops that separate from larger drops that travel from the nozzles to the image receiving substrate. The accumulation of these satellite drops on the faceplate can clog the nozzles in the faceplate. Additionally, if the inkjets in the printhead do not operate frequently enough, for example when low ink area coverage image portions are printed, the ink in the inkjets can dry out, rendering the inkjets inoperable. To maintain the inkjets in operation, the printhead modules are moved from a position opposite the path of the image receiving substrate to a printhead maintenance station where the printheads are purged. Purging a printhead means that pressurized gas or liquid is applied to ink supply chambers in the printhead to force ink from the chambers into the nozzles where it is ejected from the nozzles onto the faceplate. One or more wipers are then moved across the faceplate to remove the purged ink from the faceplate to a waste ink container.

[0005] Disposal of waste ink can pose environmental concerns. Figure 5 shows a set of printhead modules 34A, 34B, 34C, and 34D positioned opposite printhead maintenance stations 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D in a prior art inkjet printer. A tray in the printhead maintenance station collects purged ink and ink rinsing fluid wiped from the faceplates of the printheads in the printhead modules when a maintenance procedure is performed on the printheads. The purged ink and ink rinsing fluid are pumped from the printhead maintenance station to a waste reservoir 38. Each printhead of the printhead modules 34A, 34B, 34C, and 34D is supplied with the appropriate color of ink from ink containers 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D, respectively. When an ink container is empty, a signal is generated indicating that the depleted ink supply should be replaced with a new ink supply. Additionally, when the waste reservoir reaches a predetermined maximum level, a signal is generated so that the waste reservoir can be replaced with an empty waste reservoir. Because ink containers and waste reservoirs are typically made of hard plastic, disposal of these containers presents landfill problems and the like. Thus, inkjet printers would benefit from being able to process waste ink in a manner that reduces the production of plastic waste by the printer. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A color inkjet printer is configured to collect waste fluid in a manner that reduces production of plastic waste by the printer. The color inkjet printer includes at least one printhead maintenance station configured to perform at least one purge cycle on at least one printhead in the inkjet printer to generate waste fluid, and at least one ink supply having a bladder positioned within an interior volume of the ink supply, the bladder fluidly coupled to the printhead maintenance system and receiving the waste fluid from the printhead maintenance station.

[0007] A method of operating a color inkjet printer collects waste liquid in a manner that reduces production of plastic waste by the printer. The method includes performing at least one purge cycle on at least one printhead in the inkjet printer to generate waste liquid and directing the waste liquid into at least one ink supply having a bladder positioned within an interior volume of the ink supply.

[0008] The ink supply is configured to collect waste liquid in a manner that reduces the production of plastic waste by the printer. The ink supply includes a housing having an interior volume configured to hold a quantity of ink, a bladder positioned within the interior volume of the housing, and an inlet connector on the housing, the inlet connector configured to allow waste liquid to enter the bladder positioned within the housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] The foregoing aspects and other features of a color inkjet printer, a method of operating a color inkjet printer, and an ink supply that reduces plastic waste generated by inkjet printers are described in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a color inkjet printer that collects waste liquid in a manner that reduces the production of plastic waste by the inkjet printer. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a new ink supply including a waste bladder when installed. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an ink container when the ink supply is nearly empty. [Figure 3A] 2A and 2B show a serial fluid connection between a printhead maintenance station in the inkjet printer of FIG. 1 and an ink supply configured as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. [Figure 3B] 2A and 2B show a parallel fluid connection between a printhead maintenance station in the inkjet printer of FIG. 1 and an ink supply configured as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. [Figure 3C] 2A and 2B show a series fluid connection between a printhead maintenance station and a waste reservoir in the inkjet printer of FIG. 1, and a series connection from the waste ink reservoir to an ink supply configured as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for operating the inkjet printer of FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates waste collection in a prior art inkjet printer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] For a general understanding of the environment for the printer and printer method of operation disclosed herein, as well as the details of the printer and printer method of operation, reference is made to the drawings, in which like reference numbers are used throughout to designate like elements. As used herein, the word "printer" encompasses any device that ejects ink droplets onto different types of media to form ink images.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a high-speed color inkjet printer 10 that uses a newly configured ink reservoir to collect waste fluids generated by a printhead maintenance station to reduce the generation of plastic waste by the inkjet printer. As used herein, the term "waste fluid" refers to fluids generated by performing printhead maintenance procedures on a printhead in an inkjet printer. These waste fluids include, but are not limited to, faceplate rinse fluid and ink purged from the nozzles of the printhead. As illustrated, the printer 10 is a printer that forms ink images directly on the surface of a media sheet taken from one of media sheet supplies S1 or S2, the sheet S being moved through the printer 10 by a controller 80 that operates one or more of actuators 40 that are operatively connected to rollers or at least one drive roller of a conveyor 52, the conveyor 52 comprising a portion of the media transport 42 that passes through the print zone of the printer. In one embodiment, each printhead module has only one printhead having a width corresponding to the width of the widest media in the cross-process direction that can be printed by the printer. In other embodiments, the printhead modules have multiple printheads, each printhead having a width less than the width of the widest media in the cross-process direction on which the printer can print. In these modules, the printheads are arranged in a staggered printhead array that allows media wider than a single printhead to be printed. Additionally, printheads within or between modules can also be combined such that the density of drops ejected by a printhead in the cross-process direction can be greater than the minimum spacing between inkjets in a printhead in the cross-process direction. Although the printer 10 is depicted with only two media sheet supplies, the printer can be configured with three or more sheet supplies, each containing a different type or size of media.

[0013] With further reference to FIG. 1, the printed image exits the print zone of the printer 10 and passes under the image dryer 30 after the ink image is printed on the sheet S. As used herein, the term "print zone" refers to the area of ​​the media transport opposite the print head of an inkjet printer. The image dryer 30 may include an infrared heater, a heated air blower, an air return, or a combination of these components to heat the ink image to at least partially fix the ink image onto the sheet S. The infrared heater applies infrared heat to the printed image on the surface of the sheet S to evaporate water or solvent in the ink. The heated air blower uses a fan, or other pressurized air source, to direct heated air over the ink to supplement the evaporation of water or solvent from the ink. Air is then collected and exhausted by the air return to reduce interference of the dryer air flow with other components in the printer.

[0014] The controller 80 operates at least one of the actuators 40 to rotate the pivot member at position 88 to direct the sheet to either the bin 56 or the return path 72. The rollers rotate the sheet S along the return path 72 in a direction opposite to the process direction movement past the print head. The pivot member 82 is operated by the controller 80 to direct the sheet along a curved portion of the return path 72 into the inverter 76 so that the sheet is flipped over for duplex printing, or along a straight portion of the return path 72. When the sheet follows the straight portion, the inverter 76 is bypassed and the previously printed side of the sheet can be printed again. The controller operates one of the actuators 40 to move the pivot member 82 clockwise to direct the sheet to the inverter 76 or counterclockwise to bypass the inverter. Regardless of whether the substrate has been inverted, the substrate merges into the job stream being carried by the media transport 42 when the controller 80 operates another actuator 40 to rotate the pivot member 86 and cause the sheet S to enter the job stream from the return path 72 into the print zone.

[0015] As further shown in FIG. 1, the printed media sheets S that are not diverted to the dual path 72 are conveyed by the media transport to the sheet bin 56 where they are collected. Before the printed sheets reach the bin 56, they pass by an optical sensor 84B. The optical sensor 84B generates image data of the printed sheets, which is analyzed by the controller 80 to detect streaks in the printed images on the media sheets of the print job. Additionally, sheets printed with test pattern images are printed at intervals during the print job. The image data of these test pattern images generated by the optical sensor 84B is analyzed by the controller 80 to determine which inkjets, if any, that were operated to eject ink in the test pattern actually ejected ink, and, if an inkjet ejected an ink drop, whether the ink drop landed with the proper mass and in its intended location. Any inkjet that does not eject the ink drop that it is supposed to eject, or that ejects a drop that does not have the correct mass, or that lands in an incorrect location, is referred to herein as an inoperable inkjet. The controller can store data identifying the inoperable inkjets in a database 92 operatively connected to the controller 80. These sheets with the test pattern printed on them are sometimes referred to as run-time missing inkjet (RTMJ) sheets, and these sheets are discarded from the output of the print job. The user can operate the user interface 50 to obtain a report displayed on the interface identifying the number of inoperable inkjets and the printhead in which they are located. For sheets that are not inverted and are merged into the job stream by the operation of the pivot member 86, the optical sensor 84A generates image data of the printed side, which the controller 80 uses to align the sheet and operate the ejectors in the printheads to print additional images on the previously printed side of the sheet.Optical sensors 84A and 84B may be digital cameras, arrays of LEDs and photodetectors, or other devices configured to generate image data of a passing surface. Although Fig. 1 shows printed sheets being collected in sheet bin 56, the sheets may be directed to other processing stations (not shown) that perform operations such as folding, collating, stitching, and stapling the media sheets.

[0016] The operation and control of the various subsystems, components and functions of the machine or printer 10 is performed with the aid of a controller or electronic subsystem (ESS) 80. The ESS or controller 80' is operatively connected to the printhead modules 34A-34D (and thus the printheads), the actuators 40 and the components of the dryer 30. The ESS or controller 80 is, for example, a self-contained computer having a central processor unit (CPU) with electronic data storage and a display or user interface (UI) 50. The ESS or controller 80 includes, for example, sensor input and control circuits, as well as pixel arrangement and control circuits. Additionally, the controller 80 reads, captures, prepares and manages the flow of image data between an image input source, such as a scanning system or an on-line or workstation connection (not shown), and the printhead modules 34A-34D. The ESS or controller 80 is thus the main multitasking processor for operating and controlling all other machine subsystems and functions, including the printing process.

[0017] The controller 80 can be implemented with a general-purpose or dedicated programmable processor that executes program instructions. Instructions and data required to perform the programmed functions can be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium associated with the processor or the controller. The processors, their memory, and interface circuits configure the controller to perform the operations described below. These components can be provided on a printed circuit card or as circuits in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Each of the circuits can be implemented in a separate processor, or multiple circuits can be implemented on the same processor. Alternatively, the circuits can be implemented with individual components or circuits provided in a very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit. The circuits described herein can also be implemented with a combination of processors, ASICs, individual components, or VLSI circuits.

[0018] During operation, image content data for the images to be generated is sent to the controller 80 from either the scanning system or an on-line or workstation connection for processing and generation of printhead control signals that are output to the printhead modules 34A-34D. Along with the image content data, the controller receives print job parameters that identify the weight of the media, the dimensions of the media, the print speed, the type of media, the ink area coverage to be generated on each side of each sheet, the location of the image to be generated on each side of each sheet, the media color, the media fiber orientation for fibrous media, the print zone temperature and humidity, the moisture content of the media, and the media manufacturer. As used in this document, the term "print job parameters" refers to non-image content data for a print job and the term "image content data" refers to digital data that specifies the ink images to be printed on the media sheets.

[0019] FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of an ink supply 204 that includes a bladder 212 and a connection 216 that allows the bladder to be filled with waste fluid once the ink supply 208 in the container is depleted. With reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, three different connection configurations for moving waste fluid into the bladder 212 of the ink supply 204 are described below. FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the ink supply 204 after the ink supply 208 is nearly empty, and the bladder expands as the ink level drops and fills with waste fluid. The bladder 212 is made of a polymeric material that is flexible, so that as the bladder fills with waste fluid and the amount of ink occupying the ink supply's interior cavity decreases, the volume within the bladder increases. The bladder hangs from the inlet connection without any support structure within the ink supply's interior volume. The housing of the ink container 204 is a rigid plastic bottle or container as known in the art. Rigid plastics include, but are not limited to, acetal, acrylic, polyimide, glass epoxy, thermoset plastic, high impact polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, and the like. As used herein, the term "bladder" refers to a flexible member having an interior volume configured to be fluidly connected to an incoming fluid source. Flexible bladders can be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material. The bladder wall thickness ranges from 75 to 300 microns to adequately prevent waste leakage and also provide flexibility for the bladder. Other options for bladder material are polypropylene (PP) or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) using similar wall thicknesses to prevent leakage yet be flexible. Although these materials are flexible, they are not expandable to form large volumes over time. Instead, expandable bladders have a predetermined volume that can be accommodated by the interior volume of the ink supply. Bioplastics are not good materials for bladders because of their unproven resistance to being damaged by the chemicals in the various inks used in inkjet printing.

[0020] The bladder is mounted within the interior volume of the ink supply in a folded or rolled configuration. As the amount of ink in the container decreases, the bladder unfolds from the folded or rolled configuration to provide a volume within the bladder that can be filled with waste fluid. Thus, the bladder and the waste fluid within the bladder are supported by the ink within the ink supply until the end of the bladder reaches the floor of the ink supply. The ink outlet and bladder inlets can be differently sized to ensure that the bladder inlets are not connected to the ink inlets for the printhead and to help prevent the waste conduit from being connected to the ink outlet of the ink supply. Additionally, the waste inlets and ink outlet can be located on different sides of the ink supply to facilitate distinguishing between the two ports during installation and removal of the ink supply. Additionally, the ink supply inlets and outlets can include one-way or no-drip shut-off valves to ensure that no dripping of ink or waste fluid occurs during installation or removal of the ink supply.

[0021] In the configuration shown in FIG. 3A, each of the ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D is configured to include a bladder 212 and a bladder connector 216, similar to the ink supply 204 described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. In FIG. 3A, the waste container 38, as shown in the prior art ink supply system of FIG. 5, is not included. Instead, the waste drains of the printhead maintenance stations 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D are connected in series with each other in a single conduit that is fluidly connected to each of the bladder connections of the ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D. As waste fluid flows through this conduit, it first reaches the bladder connector 216 of the ink supply 32A, filling the bladder 212 of that vessel. As the bladder 212 fills, it expands and begins to approach the capacity of its interior volume, increasing the pressure against flow into the bladder. As a result, a greater amount of waste fluid flowing through the conduit begins to migrate toward bladder connector 216 of bladder 212 in ink supply 32B. This continuous filling of bladders 212 in ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D continues until the ink supplies exhaust their ink supply and are replaced. In this manner, the volume of the bladders in the waste ink supply is replenished.

[0022] The configuration shown in Figure 3B differs from the configuration shown in Figure 3A because the waste drains of printhead maintenance stations 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D are connected in parallel to the bladder connections of ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D, respectively. Again, each of ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D is configured to include a bladder 212 and bladder connector 216, similar to ink supply 204 of Figure 2A, and does not include a waste reservoir 38 as shown in the prior art ink supply system of Figure 5. Thus, the configuration shown in Figures 3A and 3B eliminates waste reservoir 38, and therefore also eliminates plastic waste that is generated when reservoirs are filled and replaced. As waste fluid flows from each printhead maintenance station to its respective ink supply, it enters the bladder 212 of the respective ink supply. As the bladders 212 fill, they expand, but the printing operation depletes the ink supply 208 in the ink supply faster than the printhead maintenance unit can generate waste for the bladder. This parallel filling of the bladders 212 in the ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D continues until the ink supplies exhaust their supply of ink and are replaced. In this manner, the volume of the bladders in the waste ink supply is replenished.

[0023] In the configuration shown in Figure 3C, each of the ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D is configured to include a bladder 212 and a bladder connector 216, similar to the ink supply 204 of Figure 2A. However, in Figure 3C, the waste reservoir 38 is retained as shown in the prior art ink supply system of Figure 5. Again, the waste drains of the printhead maintenance stations 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D are serially connected to a single conduit that is fluidly connected to the waste reservoir 38, so that the waste reservoir receives a combined waste stream from the printhead maintenance stations. Based on a periodic time or upon detection of a predetermined level of waste fluid in the waste reservoir, a pneumatic device connected to the waste reservoir outlet is activated to pump waste fluid from the waste reservoir 38 to the serially connected bladder connectors 216 of the ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D. As waste fluid flows through the serially connected bladder connectors, it first reaches the bladder connector 216 of ink supply 32A and fills the bladder 212 of that reservoir. As the bladder 212 fills, it expands and begins to approach the capacity of its interior volume, increasing the pressure against flow into the bladder. As a result, a greater amount of waste fluid flowing through the conduit begins to move to the bladder connector 216 of the bladder 212 in ink supply 32B. This continuous filling of the bladders 212 in ink supplies 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D continues until the ink supplies run out of ink and are replaced. In this manner, the volume of the bladders in the waste ink supplies is replenished. Additionally, the operational life of the waste reservoir is extended because the waste reservoir is not replaced after receiving a volume of waste fluid equal to the reservoir's interior volume. Instead, the capacity of the waste reservoir is increased by the capacity of bladders connected to the waste reservoir outlet and replacing them when depleted.In embodiments in which a predetermined fluid level in the waste reservoir is detected to operate a pneumatic device, the fluid level sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of the fluid level in the waste reservoir, and a controller, such as controller 80, is operatively connected to the fluid level sensor and the pneumatic device and configured to receive the signal from the fluid level sensor to detect when the predetermined level has been reached and to operate the pneumatic device. In one embodiment, the pneumatic device is a pump.

[0024] A process 400 for operating the inkjet printer of FIG. 1 to reduce the generation of plastic waste by the printer is shown in FIG. 4. In the description of the process, a statement that the process performs certain tasks or functions refers to a controller or general-purpose processor executing program instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium operably connected to the controller or processor to manipulate data or operate one or more components in the printer to perform the tasks or functions. The controller 80 described above can be such a controller or processor. Alternatively, the controller can be implemented with two or more processors and associated circuits and components, each configured to perform one or more tasks or functions described herein. Additionally, the steps of the method can be performed in any feasible chronological order, regardless of the order shown in the figures or the order in which the process is described.

[0025] The process 400 of FIG. 4 begins by detecting the return of at least one printhead module to its printing position after at least one purge cycle has been performed on at least one printhead in at least one printhead module (block 404). If detected, the pneumatic device 208 connected to the waste ink container in the printhead maintenance station is activated to move waste fluid from the printhead maintenance station to one or more bladders in the ink supply (block 408). As previously described, these waste fluids may merge and flow in a single conduit to the ink supply's serially connected bladder connectors, or may flow in parallel to the ink supply's bladder connectors respectively connected to the printhead maintenance station, or may flow to a waste reservoir and then removed from the waste reservoir and sent to the ink supply's serially connected bladder connectors. If the return of the printhead module is not detected (block 404), the process determines whether the ink supply is depleted (block 412). If a depleted ink supply is detected, the depleted ink supply is replaced and the waste system capacity is replenished (block 416). This process continues to check for the completion of printhead module maintenance cycles and depleted ink supplies indefinitely in printers where a printhead maintenance station is connected in series or parallel to the ink supply bladder connectors. In configurations with a waste reservoir, this process continues until the waste reservoir reaches its operational life and the reservoir is replaced.

[0026] It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen substitutions, modifications, variations, or improvements may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. An inkjet printer, comprising: at least one printhead maintenance station configured to perform at least one purge cycle on at least one printhead in the inkjet printer to generate a waste fluid; at least one ink supply having a bladder positioned within an interior volume of the ink supply, the bladder fluidly coupled to the printhead maintenance system and configured to receive waste fluid from the printhead maintenance station.

2. a plurality of ink supplies, each having a bladder positioned in the interior volume of the ink supply, an inlet of each bladder within an ink supply of the plurality of ink supplies being fluidly connected to each other and to the at least one printhead maintenance station; 2. The inkjet printer according to claim 1.

3. a waste reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one printhead maintenance station and with the inlets of the bladders in the plurality of ink supplies, the waste reservoir configured to receive waste fluid from the at least one printhead maintenance station and to deliver the waste fluid from the waste reservoir to at least one of the inlets of the bladders in the plurality of ink supplies.

3. The inkjet printer according to claim 2.

4. a pneumatic device configured to move waste liquid out of the waste liquid reservoir; 4. The inkjet printer according to claim 3.

5. a controller operably connected to the pneumatic device, the controller comprising: a controller configured to operate the pneumatic device on a timed periodic basis to move waste fluid from the waste reservoir to the at least one inlet of the bladder in the ink supply.

5. The inkjet printer according to claim 4.

6. a fluid level detector configured to generate a signal indicative of a fluid level in the waste reservoir; a controller operatively connected to the fluid level detector and the pneumatic device, the controller comprising: a controller configured to operate the pneumatic device when the fluid level detector generates a signal indicating that the fluid level has reached a predetermined level.

5. The inkjet printer according to claim 4.

7. 5. The ink jet printer of claim 4, wherein the air pressure device is a pump.

8. 5. The ink jet printer of claim 4, wherein the bladder consists essentially of a flexible polymeric material.

9. 9. The inkjet printer of claim 8, wherein the bladder hangs from the inlet to the bladder within the interior volume of the ink supply, the bladder resting within the volume of the ink supply without any support structure within the ink supply.

10. A plurality of print head maintenance stations; a plurality of ink supplies, each having a bladder positioned in the interior volume of the ink supply, an inlet of each bladder in an ink supply of the plurality of ink supplies fluidly connected to only one of the printhead maintenance stations in the plurality of printhead maintenance stations; The inkjet printer of claim 1 further comprising:

11. 1. A method of operating an inkjet printer, comprising: performing at least one purge cycle on at least one print head in said inkjet printer to generate effluent; and directing the waste fluid into at least one ink supply having a bladder positioned within an interior volume of the ink supply.

12. directing the waste fluid into a plurality of bladders within a plurality of ink supplies, each ink supply having a bladder positioned in the interior volume of the ink supply, the inlets of each bladder within the ink supplies of the plurality of ink supplies being fluidly connected to one another; The method of claim 11 further comprising:

13. receiving the waste liquid in a waste reservoir and then directing the waste liquid to the inlet of each bladder in the ink supply of the plurality of ink supplies; The method of claim 12 further comprising:

14. activating a pneumatic device to move waste fluid out of the waste reservoir and into the plurality of bladders in the plurality of ink supplies; The method of claim 13 further comprising:

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pneumatic device operates on a timed periodic basis.

16. generating a signal indicative of a fluid level in the waste reservoir; operating the pneumatic device when the generated signal indicates that the fluid level has reached a predetermined level; The method of claim 14 further comprising:

17. directing waste fluid from a plurality of printhead maintenance stations into a plurality of bladders, each bladder of the plurality of bladders being positioned within an ink supply of a plurality of ink supplies, each printhead maintenance station of the plurality of printhead maintenance stations being fluidly connected to only one bladder of the plurality of bladders in a one-to-one correspondence; The method of claim 11 further comprising:

18. 1. An ink supply for use in an inkjet printer, comprising: a housing having an interior volume configured to hold a quantity of ink; a bladder positioned within the interior volume of the housing; an inlet connector on the housing, the inlet connector configured to allow fluid to enter the bladder positioned within the housing.

19. 20. The ink supply of claim 18, wherein the housing consists essentially of hard plastic.

20. 20. The ink supply of claim 19, wherein the hard plastic consists essentially of acetal, acrylic, polyimide, glass epoxy, thermoset plastic, high impact polystyrene, polycarbonate, or polyvinyl chloride.

21. 20. The ink supply of claim 19, wherein the bladder consists essentially of a flexible polymeric material.

22. 22. The ink supply of claim 21, wherein the flexible polymeric material consists essentially of high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), or linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).

23. The ink supply of claim 21, wherein the flexible polymeric material has a thickness in the range of 75 to 300 microns.

24. 20. The ink supply of claim 19, wherein the bladder hangs from an inlet connection without any support structure within the interior volume of the housing.

25. 25. The ink supply of claim 24, wherein the bladder unfolds from a rolled condition as the amount of ink in the housing decreases.

26. 25. The ink supply of claim 24, wherein the bladder unfolds from a folded condition as the amount of ink in the housing decreases.

27. The inlet connector comprises:

20. The ink supply of claim 18, further comprising a no-drip shut-off valve.

28. The inlet connector comprises:

20. The ink supply of claim 18, further comprising a one-way valve.

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