System and method for reducing drying of water-based ink in a printhead - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a system and method to attenuate drying of aqueous inks in a printhead.SOLUTION: An environmental conditioner 60 in an aqueous inkjet printer conditions a print zone in the printer so that aqueous ink at nozzles of printheads maintains its low viscosity state and does not dry. The environmental conditioner includes a humidifying chamber 204 having a reservoir configured to contain a volume of water, a heater 208 configured to heat the water in the water reservoir 220 to a predetermined temperature range, an air inlet 212 to move air into the humidifying chamber, an air discharge 216 configured to remove humidified air from the humidifying chamber and direct the humidified air into a space between a faceplate of a printhead and a path for media passing by the faceplate of the printhead. The chamber can include an ultrasonic atomizer to produce a moisturized mist to be absorbed by the heated air or wicking material to transfer moisture to the air.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to devices that produce ink images on media, and more particularly to devices that jet fast drying ink from inkjets to form ink images. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet imaging devices eject liquid ink from a printhead to form an image on an image receiving surface. The printhead contains a number of inkjets arranged in some type of array. Each inkjet has a thermal or piezoelectric actuator coupled to a printhead controller. The printhead controller generates firing signals that correspond to digital data relating to the image. The actuators in the inkjets of the printhead respond to the firing signals by expanding into ink chambers to eject ink droplets through inkjet nozzles onto an image receiving member to form an ink image that corresponds to the digital image used to generate the firing signals.

[0003] Some inkjet imaging devices use inks that change from a low viscosity state to a high viscosity state relatively quickly. Water-based inks are such inks and can dry out quickly in inkjets that are operated relatively infrequently, even during a printing operation. Furthermore, some water-based ink colors are more susceptible to drying out than others. One way to address this problem is to fire inkjets that are not being used to form a portion of the ink image so that the ink continues to move through the inkjets and does not dry out. However, firing inkjets that are not being used without adversely affecting the quality of the ink image is difficult because it requires complex mechanisms to diffuse the extraneous ink on the ink image to camouflage the ink from the human observer's eye. It would be beneficial to be able to maintain the viscosity level of the water-based ink in the inkjets so that the water-based ink does not dry out during a printing operation without using occasional firing of inkjets. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A method of operating an inkjet printer conditions a print zone environment so that water-based ink maintains a low viscosity state and does not dry out at the nozzles of the printheads, the method includes moving a media past a plurality of printheads with a media transport, operating the printheads to form an ink image on the media as the media moves past the plurality of printheads, heating water in a reservoir of a humidification chamber to a predetermined temperature range, moving air through an air inlet and into the humidification chamber to humidify the air, exhausting the humidified air from the humidification chamber through an air exhaust, and directing the exhausted humidified air into a space between a faceplate of at least one of the printheads and a path of the media passing by the faceplate of the at least one printhead.

[0005] The environmental conditioning device conditions the air in a print zone of an inkjet printer so that water-based ink maintains a low viscosity at the nozzles of a print head and does not dry out. The environmental conditioning device includes a humidification chamber having a reservoir configured to hold a volume of water, a heater configured to heat the water in the reservoir to a predetermined temperature range, an air inlet for moving air into the humidification chamber, and an air exhaust configured to remove humidified air from the humidification chamber and direct the humidified air into a space between a print head faceplate and a path of the media passing by the print head faceplate.

[0006] An inkjet printer is configured with a device for conditioning an environment in a print zone of the printer so that water-based ink maintains a low viscosity state and does not dry out at the nozzles of the printheads. The printer includes a plurality of printheads, a media transport configured to move a medium past the plurality of printheads such that the printheads form an ink image on the medium as the medium moves past the plurality of printheads, and an environmental conditioning apparatus having a humidification chamber having a reservoir configured to contain a volume of water, a heater configured to heat the water in the water reservoir to a predetermined temperature range, an air inlet for moving air to the humidification chamber, and an air exhaust configured to remove humidified air from the humidification chamber and direct the humidified air into a space between a faceplate of the printheads and a path of the medium past the faceplate of the printheads. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] The foregoing aspects and other features of a system and method for regulating the environment in a print zone of an inkjet printer so that water-based ink maintains a low viscosity and does not dry out at the nozzles of the print head are set forth in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aqueous inkjet printer that prints ink images directly onto a web of media and regulates the print zone environment within the printer to ensure that the aqueous ink remains low viscosity at the nozzles of the printhead and does not dry out.

[0009] [Figure 2A] 2 is a schematic diagram of a different embodiment of an environmental conditioning device for the printer of FIG. 1 that conditions the environment of a print zone within the printer so that the water-based ink remains low viscosity at the nozzles of the print head and does not dry out. [Figure 2B] 2 is a schematic diagram of a different embodiment of an environmental conditioning device for the printer of FIG. 1 that conditions the environment of a print zone within the printer so that the water-based ink remains low viscosity at the nozzles of the print head and does not dry out. [Figure 2C]2 is a schematic diagram of a different embodiment of an environmental conditioning device for the printer of FIG. 1 that conditions the environment of a print zone within the printer so that the water-based ink remains low viscosity at the nozzles of the print head and does not dry out.

[0010] [Diagram 3] 2A, 2B, and 2C positioned at the entrance to the print zone in the printer of FIG. 1;

[0011] [Figure 4] 2B is a graph of temperature and humidity levels used to identify maximum and minimum temperatures for operation of the conditioning device shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, and to identify maximum and minimum absolute humidity for the printer of FIG. 1;

[0012] [Diagram 5] 2 is a flow diagram of a process used to operate the printer of FIG. 1 that adjusts print zones within the printer so that water-based ink remains low viscosity at the nozzles of the print head and does not dry out. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] For a general understanding of the environment of the systems and methods disclosed herein, as well as the details of the systems and methods, reference is made to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate like elements. As used herein, the term "printer" encompasses any device that produces ink images on a medium, such as a digital copier, bookbinding machine, facsimile machine, multifunction machine, etc. As used herein, the term "process direction" refers to the direction of movement of an image receiving surface, such as an imaging drum or print medium, and the term "cross-process direction" is the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the process direction in the plane of the image receiving surface. The description provided below also relates to a system for conditioning the air in a print zone of an inkjet printer to reduce evaporation of water-based ink at the nozzles of the inkjets in the printer. As used herein, the term "environmental conditioning" refers to treating the ambient air in the print zone of the printer so that the water-based ink remains low viscosity at the nozzles of the print head and does not dry out. The reader should also understand that the principles described herein are applicable to similar imaging devices that produce images using pixels of other marking materials.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a high speed aqueous ink image producing machine or printer 10 in which a controller 80 is configured to operate print zone environmental conditioning devices 60 to maintain aqueous ink at the nozzles of printheads 34A, 34B, 34C, and 34D in a low viscosity state throughout a print job. As illustrated, printer 10 is a printer that forms ink images directly on the surface of a web of media W pulled through printer 10 by controller 80 operating one of actuators 40 operatively connected to shaft 42 to rotate the shaft and take-up roll 46 mounted about the shaft. 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, printhead modules have multiple printheads, each printhead having a width less than the width of the widest media in the cross-process direction that 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, the printheads can also be combined such that the density of droplets jetted in the cross-process direction by the printheads can be greater than the minimum spacing between inkjets in the printheads in the cross-process direction.

[0015] The aqueous ink delivery subsystem 20 has at least one ink reservoir containing one color of aqueous ink. Because the illustrated printer 10 is a multi-color image producing machine, the ink delivery system 20 includes four ink reservoirs representing the four different colors CYMK (cyan, yellow, magenta, black) of aqueous ink. Each ink reservoir is connected to a printhead or printheads in a printhead module to supply ink to the printheads in the module. A pressure source and vents of the purge system 24 are also operatively connected between the ink reservoirs and the printheads in the printhead module to perform purging of the manifold and inkjets. Additionally, although not shown in FIG. 1, each printhead in the printhead module is connected to a corresponding waste ink tank with a valve for collecting ink generated during purging of the manifold and inkjets. The printhead modules 34A-34D may include associated electronics for operation of one or more printheads by the controller 80, although these connections are not shown to simplify the diagram. Printer 10 includes four printhead modules 34A-34D, each with two arrays of printheads, although alternative configurations include a different number of printhead modules or arrays within a module. Controller 80 also operates print zone environmental conditioners 60, as described more fully below, to maintain a low viscosity of ink in the nozzles of the printheads in the printhead modules.

[0016] After the ink image is printed on the web W, the image passes under the image dryer 30. 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 and at least partially fix the image to the web. The infrared heater applies infrared heating to the printed image on the surface of the web to evaporate water or solvent in the ink. The heated air blower directs 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 airflow interference with other components in the printer.

[0017] As further shown, a controller 80 operates one or more actuators 40 to rotate a shaft 42 on which a take-up roll 46 is disposed, and the media web W is unwound from the roll of media 38 as needed by pulling the web from the media roll 38 as the media roll 38 rotates with the shaft 36. Once the web is completely printed, the take-up roll can be removed from the shaft 42. Alternatively, the printed web can be directed to other processing stations (not shown) that perform tasks such as cutting, collating, splicing, and stapling the media.

[0018] 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 components of the ink delivery system 20, the purge system 24, the printhead modules 34A-34D (and thus the printheads), the actuators 40, the heaters 30 and the print zone environmental conditioners 60. The ESS or controller 80 is, for example, a self-contained, dedicated minicomputer 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 placement and control circuits. In addition, the CPU 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, 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.

[0019] The controller 80 can be implemented using a general-purpose or dedicated programmable processor that executes programmed instructions. Instructions and data required to execute programmed functions can be stored in a memory associated with the processor or the controller. The processors, their memories, and interface circuits configure the controller to perform the operations described below. These components may be provided on a printed circuit card or as circuits in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Each of the circuits may be implemented in a separate processor, or multiple circuits may be implemented on the same processor. Alternatively, the circuits may be implemented with individual components or circuits provided in a very large scale integrated (VLSI). The circuits described herein may also be implemented with a combination of processors, ASICs, individual components, or VLSI circuits.

[0020] During operation, image data for an image to be generated is sent to the controller 80 from either a scanning system or an on-line or workstation connection for processing and generation of printhead control signals output to the printhead modules 34A-34D. Additionally, the controller 80 determines and accepts control of associated subsystems and components from, for example, operator input via the user interface 50, and executes those controls as appropriate. As a result, water-based inks for the appropriate colors are delivered to the printhead modules 34A-34D. Additionally, pixel placement control operates on the surface of the web to form an ink image corresponding to the image data, and the media can be wound onto a take-up roll or otherwise processed.

[0021] Using like numbers for like components, a print zone environmental conditioner 60 capable of mitigating evaporation of fast drying ink from a print head is shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C. Figure 4 shows a flow chart of a process 400 for operating the environmental conditioner 60 to cover the print head faceplate with humidified air having a high temperature and high relative humidity to maintain the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles of the print head at a suitable viscosity to mitigate drying of the ink at the nozzles. In the following discussion, references to the process 400 performing a function or operation refer to the operation of a controller, such as the controller 80, to execute stored program instructions to perform the function or operation in conjunction with other components in the printer. For illustrative purposes, the process 400 is described as being performed using the print zone environmental conditioner 60 in the printer 10 of Figure 1.

[0022] Three different embodiments of print zone environmental conditioning devices 60, 60', and 60'' that reduce evaporation of water-based inks during inkjet inactive periods are shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively. Each of the conditioning devices includes a humidification chamber 204, a heater 208, an ambient air inlet 212, and a humidified air exhaust 216. Generally, ambient air enters the humidification chamber 204 through the ambient air input 212 and is heated to increase the moisture content of the air, and after having the heated air humidified to an appropriate humidity level, the treated air is exhausted into the print zone between the print head and the media moving in a process direction through the print zone. The conditioning devices 60 differ in the configuration and type of elements used to treat the air in the humidification chamber. In Figure 2A, the humidification chamber 204 includes a water reservoir 220 configured to hold a predetermined volume of water. The water inlet to the water reservoir 220 is fluidly coupled to the water source 232 by a conduit 228, and the controller 80 is operatively connected to a valve 236 inserted in the conduit 228. A fluid level sensor 240 in the water reservoir 220 generates a signal indicative of the water level in the reservoir 220. The controller 80 is configured to receive the signal from the sensor 240 and operate the valve 236 to allow water to enter the reservoir 220 when the signal from the sensor 240 indicates that the water level in the reservoir is at a predetermined minimum value. The controller 80 is also configured to operate the valve 236 to close the valve when the signal from the sensor 240 indicates that the water level in the reservoir is at a predetermined maximum value. The ambient air inlet 212 is connected to a manifold 244 having perforations 248. The incoming ambient air is forced to sufficient pressure by a pressure source 252, such as a fan or pump, to force the air into the manifold 244 and out through perforations in the manifold without water entering the manifold. A temperature sensor 256 is positioned within the reservoir 220 at a position below a predetermined minimum level in the reservoir, the sensor 256 generating a signal indicative of the temperature of the water in the reservoir 220.The heater 208 is also operatively connected to the controller 80, which is configured to operate the heater to heat the water in the reservoir when the signal from the sensor 256 indicates that the temperature of the water is below a predetermined minimum temperature. The controller 80 is configured to turn off the heater 208 when the signal from the sensor 256 indicates that the water in the reservoir 220 is at or above a predetermined maximum temperature. As explained below, the maximum temperature of the water is equal to or slightly higher than the temperature of the printhead to prevent the humidified air from condensing on the printhead faceplate, and the minimum temperature is higher than the temperature of the incoming ambient air to increase the water carrying capacity of the air. Thus, as the air exiting the perforations in the manifold 244 passes through the heated water in the reservoir 220, the air is heated and its water-carrying capacity is increased, so that the heated air is humidified before being discharged from the humidification chamber 204 through the air outlet 216.

[0023] In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, the water inlet 224 of the conditioning device is connected to a water source 232 via a conduit 228 as previously described, and the water level is monitored by a level sensor 240 so that the controller can operate the valve 236 to maintain the water level at or above a predetermined minimum level, as described above with respect to FIG. 2A. However, these components have been omitted from the figure to simplify the view. Similarly, a temperature sensor 256 is monitored by the controller 80 such that the controller operates the heater 208 in a manner to maintain the water in the water reservoir 220 of the humidification chamber 204 at or above a predetermined temperature. Again, these components have not been shown in FIG. 2B to simplify the view. In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, the air inlet 212 is positioned above the maximum level of the water in the reservoir 220. The ultrasonic atomizer 260 is operably connected to a power source (not shown) such that the ultrasonic atomizer 260 vibrates the heated water to generate a moisture mist in the humidification chamber 204. The heated water heats the incoming air, increasing the moisture content of the air, which absorbs the moisture mist before exiting the humidification chamber 204 through the air exhaust 216 .

[0024] In the embodiment of FIG. 2C, although not shown for ease of view, the humidification chamber 204 includes a water reservoir 220 supplied with water from a water source 232 through a water inlet 224 and a conduit 228, the level of water in the reservoir 220 being regulated by the controller 80 using a water level sensor 240 and a valve 236, as described above with respect to FIG. 2A. The controller 80 operates the heater 208 to heat the water in the reservoir 220, the temperature of the water in the reservoir being regulated by the controller using a signal from a temperature sensor 256, also as described above. The air space above the heated water in the reservoir 220 is filled with a wicking fabric 268, such as a woven fabric made of cellulosic fibers (e.g., cotton), synthetic fibers, and other materials, particularly a woven fabric treated for improved hydrophilicity. The wicking fabric 268 absorbs heated moisture generated from the heated water in the reservoir 220. The incoming air inlet 212 is positioned to direct air into the wicking fabric 268 with sufficient pressure to force the air through the wicking fabric 268 and into the exhaust 216. As the air moves through the wicking fabric 268, it heats up, increasing its moisture capacity, and this heated air absorbs moisture circulating through the wicking fabric, increasing the relative humidity of the air.

[0025] In some embodiments of these three conditioning devices, another pressure source 272 (shown in FIG. 1), which may be another fan or pump, is operated by the controller 80 to draw heated and humidified air from the humidified air exhaust 216 and direct the humidified air into a tube or manifold 276 (shown in FIG. 1) that extends along the length of the print zone and is parallel to the print zone. This tube or manifold 276 has perforations at the edge of the print zone between the print head and the web W so that the humidified air exits the tube or manifold and enters the print zone between the face plate of the print head and the web W moving through the print zone. The pressure source 272 is configured to maintain the velocity of this exhausted air below a predetermined velocity that would disrupt the flight path of ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the ink jets toward the media moving through the print zone. The humidified air in the print zone reduces the possibility that the ink in the nozzles of the print head will dry out in the nozzles. In other embodiments of the three configurations of conditioning device 60, conditioning device 60 is positioned above the media just before the media enters the print zone, as shown in FIG. 3. In these embodiments, the humidified air exhaust 216 is configured to direct heated and humidified air towards the media as it enters the print zone, such that the humidified air is carried by the media into the print zone, reducing the chance of ink in the nozzles of the printhead drying out in the nozzles.

[0026] The temperature requirements of the discharged heated air are discussed with reference to the curves shown in FIG. 4. The heated and humidified air must be at a relative humidity level below the dew point of the printhead in the print zone or it may condense on the faceplate and drip onto the media. Curve 404 in FIG. 4 shows the absolute humidity of the air as the temperature of the printhead increases. As used herein, the term "100% relative humidity" refers to the dew point of the air at the particular temperature shown by curve 404. Curves 408, 412, and 416 represent relative humidity levels of 80%, 50%, and 20%, respectively, over the range of temperatures shown in the graph. The temperature and relative humidity ranges shown in FIG. 4 are for a printhead operated at an exemplary temperature of 37° C.

[0027] To determine the operating parameters of the print zone environmental conditioner 60, the following procedure is performed using the graph of FIG. 4. The maximum absolute humidity is determined by the dew point at the maximum printhead temperature, which is point B on the graph. The minimum absolute humidity depends on the type of printhead used and the ink jetted, and is empirically determined by experimentation, where this value intersects the moisture saturation curve (100% relative humidity) at point A. The temperature at point B is the maximum operating temperature T of the conditioner. max This means that the humidity will not exceed the dew point at point B. Because air cannot reach 100% relative humidity, and because of the potential dilution of the humidified air with the ambient air in or around the print zone before the humidified air reaches the printhead faceplate, T max can be slightly higher than the temperature at point B. The temperature at point A is equal to the minimum operating temperature T min At this minimum temperature, 100% relative humidity without any moisture loss barely provides enough moisture to keep the ink in the nozzles well hydrated. min should be significantly higher than the temperature at point A. The range of operating temperatures and relative humidity is shown by the space enclosed by the triangular shape ABC. If the controller precisely controls the operating temperature of the conditioner, the optimum operating temperature of the conditioner can be set to a temperature just below the temperature of point B. At this temperature, a significant range of relative humidity percentages can be tolerated and still provide enough moisture to keep the ink in the inkjet well hydrated. Compared to ambient air with a relative humidity of 50%, the conditioner 60 provides up to five times more moisture to the printhead faceplate at 37° C. during printing without significant risk of water condensation on the printhead faceplate.

[0028] 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a process 500 for operating the conditioning device 60 to supply heated and humidified air to a printhead faceplate in a print zone of a printer during a printing operation. In the discussion that follows, references to the process 500 performing a function or operation refer to the operation of the controller, such as the controller 80 executing stored program instructions to perform the function or operation in conjunction with other components in the printer. For purposes of illustration, the process 500 is described as being performed for the print zone environmental conditioning device 60 in the printer 10 of FIG. 1.

[0029] The process 500 begins with the maximum and minimum absolute humidity being identified, and the maximum and minimum water temperature being identified from these values ​​(block 504). Before a printing operation begins, the controller fills the water reservoir 220 to the appropriate level and adjusts the temperature of the water to be within an operating range (block 508). When a printing operation begins, ambient air is moved into the humidification chamber (block 512) where it absorbs moisture and heat before being discharged into the print zone (block 516). As the printing operation continues, the controller continues the process by adjusting the water level in the water reservoir as described above, as well as the temperature of the water as described above (block 520). When the printing operation stops (block 524), the flow of water to the humidification chamber is stopped and the heater is turned off (block 528) until another print job is detected (block 532).

[0030] It will be appreciated that various 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 be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. An environmental conditioning device for use in an inkjet printer, comprising: a humidification chamber having a reservoir configured to contain a volume of water; a heater configured to heat the water in the reservoir to a predetermined temperature range; an air inlet for moving air into the humidification chamber; an air exhaust configured to remove humidified air from the humidification chamber and direct the humidified air into a space between a faceplate of a printhead and a path of a media passing by the faceplate of the printhead; a manifold in contact with the water in the reservoir through which the air passes at a predetermined pressure.

2. a water inlet to the reservoir; a conduit configured to connect at one end to a water source and at the other end to the water inlet; a valve operatively connected to the conduit for opening and closing the conduit for the movement of water between the water source and the reservoir; a water level sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a water level in the reservoir; a controller operatively connected to the valve and the water level sensor; 2. The environmental conditioning device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the water level sensor and identify whether the water level in the reservoir is above a predetermined maximum water level and below a predetermined minimum water level, and operate the valve to open the conduit to allow water to move through the conduit and into the reservoir when the controller identifies the water level is below the predetermined minimum water level, and to close the conduit to stop water moving through the conduit and into the reservoir when the controller identifies the water level is above the predetermined maximum water level.

3. a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the water in the reservoir; a controller operably connected to the temperature sensor and the heater; 3. The environmental conditioning device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the temperature sensor and identify whether the temperature of the water in the reservoir is above a predetermined maximum temperature and below a predetermined minimum temperature, and to operate the heater to heat the water when the controller identifies that the water temperature is below the predetermined minimum water temperature and to turn off the heater when the controller identifies that the water temperature is above the predetermined maximum water temperature.

4. The manifold is connected to the air inlet, has perforations, and is positioned within the reservoir below the minimum water level; 4. The environmental conditioning device of claim 3, further comprising: a pressure source connected to the air inlet for moving the air through the air inlet and the manifold at the predetermined pressure such that the air exits the manifold through the perforations in the manifold and passes through the water in the reservoir before exiting the humidification chamber.

5. further comprising an ultrasonic atomizer positioned within the reservoir below the predetermined minimum water level; 4. The environmental conditioning device of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic atomizer is configured to vibrate the water to generate humidified air in the humidification chamber, and the air inlet is positioned in the reservoir above the predetermined maximum water level.

6. 4. The environmental conditioning device of claim 3, further comprising a wicking material positioned within the water chamber above the predetermined maximum water level, the air inlet being positioned to move the air from the air inlet into the wicking material before the air exits through the exhaust.

7. An environmental conditioning device as described in claim 3, wherein the manifold is fluidly connected to the air exhaust portion to receive the humidified air, and the manifold has a plurality of holes for distributing the humidified air along an elongated space.

8. The environmental conditioning device of claim 3 , wherein the air outlet is configured to direct the humidified air toward a media transport surface.

9. the controller identifying a minimum absolute humidity for a temperature operating range of a print head and identifying a maximum absolute humidity for a temperature operating range of the print head; 4. The environmental conditioning device of claim 3, further configured to: identify the predetermined maximum water temperature and the predetermined minimum water temperature using the identified minimum absolute humidity and maximum absolute humidity.

10. 1. A printer comprising: A plurality of print heads; a media transport configured to move the media past the plurality of printheads such that the printheads form ink images on the media as the media moves past the plurality of printheads; An environmental conditioning device, comprising: a humidification chamber having a reservoir configured to contain a volume of water; a heater configured to heat the water in the reservoir to a predetermined temperature range; an air inlet for moving air into the humidification chamber; an air exhaust configured to remove humidified air from the humidification chamber and direct the humidified air into a space between a faceplate of a printhead and a path of a media passing by the faceplate of the printhead; a manifold in contact with the water in the reservoir through which the air passes at a predetermined pressure; and an environmental conditioning device further comprising:

11. The environmental conditioning device is a water inlet to the reservoir; a conduit configured to connect at one end to a water source and at the other end to the water inlet; a valve operatively connected to the conduit for opening and closing the conduit for the movement of water between the water source and the reservoir; a water level sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a water level in the reservoir; a controller operatively connected to the valve and the water level sensor; 11. The printer of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the water level sensor and identify whether the water level in the reservoir is above a predetermined maximum water level and below a predetermined minimum water level, and operate the valve to open the conduit to allow water to move through the conduit and into the reservoir when the controller identifies the water level is below the predetermined minimum water level, and to close the conduit to stop water moving through the conduit and into the reservoir when the controller identifies the water level is above the predetermined maximum water level.

12. The environmental conditioning device is a temperature sensor positioned within the reservoir, the temperature sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the water within the reservoir; and a controller operably connected to the temperature sensor and the heater; 12. The printer of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the temperature sensor and identify whether the temperature of the water in the reservoir is above a predetermined maximum temperature and below a predetermined minimum temperature, and to operate the heater to heat the water when the controller identifies that the water temperature is below the predetermined minimum water temperature and to turn off the heater when the controller identifies that the water temperature is above the predetermined maximum water temperature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the manifold is connected to the air inlet and has perforations, the manifold being positioned within the reservoir below the minimum water level; 13. The printer of claim 12, wherein the environmental conditioning device further comprises: a pressure source connected to the air inlet for moving the air through the air inlet and the manifold at the predetermined pressure such that the air exits the manifold through the perforations in the manifold and passes through the water in the reservoir before exiting the humidification chamber.

14. The environmental adjustment device according to claim 3, further comprising an ultrasonic atomizer positioned within the reservoir below the predetermined minimum water level; 13. The printer of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic atomizer is configured to vibrate the water to generate humidified air in the humidification chamber, and the air inlet is positioned in the reservoir above the predetermined maximum water level.

15. The environmental conditioning device is 13. The printer of claim 12, further comprising a wicking material positioned within the water chamber above the predetermined maximum water level, the air inlet being positioned to move the air from the air inlet into the wicking material before the air exits through the air exhaust.

16. A printer as described in claim 12, wherein the manifold is fluidly connected to the air exhaust for receiving the humidified air, the manifold having a plurality of holes for directing the humidified air into the space between the media transport body and the print head.

17. 13. The printer of claim 12, wherein the environmental conditioning device is positioned opposite the media transport at a location in front of the media transport passing by the print head, and the air outlet of the environmental conditioning device is configured to direct the humidified air toward a surface of the media transport.

18. the controller identifying a minimum absolute humidity for a temperature operating range of a print head and identifying a maximum absolute humidity for a temperature operating range of the print head; 13. The printer of claim 12, further configured to: identify the predetermined maximum water temperature and the predetermined minimum water temperature using the identified minimum and maximum absolute humidity.

19. 1. A method of operating a printer, comprising: moving the media past the plurality of print heads with a media transport; operating the printheads to form ink images on the media as the media moves past the plurality of printheads; heating water in a reservoir of a humidification chamber to a predetermined temperature range; moving air through an air inlet into the humidification chamber to humidify the air; Discharging the humidified air from the humidification chamber through an air outlet; directing the exhausted humidified air into a space between a faceplate of at least one of the printheads and a path of a media passing by the faceplate of the at least one printhead; and moving the air through a manifold at a predetermined pressure so as to pass the water in the reservoir.

20. generating a signal indicative of a water level in the reservoir of the humidification chamber using a water level sensor; receiving, with a controller, the signal from the water level sensor; identifying, with the controller, whether the water level in the reservoir is above a predetermined maximum water level and below a predetermined minimum water level; 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: operating a valve with the controller to open the conduit connecting a water source to a water inlet of the reservoir so that water moves through the conduit and into the reservoir when the controller identifies that the water level is below the predetermined minimum water level, and to close the conduit to stop water moving through the conduit and into the reservoir when the controller identifies that the water level is above the predetermined maximum water level.

21. generating a signal indicative of the temperature of the water in the reservoir of the humidification chamber with a temperature sensor; receiving, with the controller, the signal generated by the temperature sensor; identifying whether the temperature of the water in the reservoir is above a predetermined maximum temperature and below a predetermined minimum temperature; 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: operating a heater configured to heat the water in the reservoir to a predetermined temperature range when the controller identifies that the water temperature is below the predetermined minimum water temperature, and deactivating the heater configured to heat the water in the reservoir to a predetermined temperature range when the controller identifies that the water temperature is above the predetermined maximum water temperature.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising using a pressure source to move the air at the predetermined pressure through the air inlet connected to the manifold having the perforations, such that the air exits the manifold through perforations in the manifold and passes through the water in the reservoir of the humidification chamber before exiting the humidification chamber.

23. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising agitating the water in the reservoir of the humidification chamber with an atomizer to generate humidified air in the humidification chamber.

24. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising moving the air from the air inlet into a wicking material before the air exits through the air exhaust.

25. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising directing the humidified air into a space between the media transport and the print head with the manifold fluidly connected to the air exhaust of the humidification chamber.

26. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising using the air exhaust to direct the humidified air towards a surface of the media transport at a location before the media transport passes the plurality of print heads.

27. identifying a minimum humidity for a temperature operating range of a print head with said controller; identifying a maximum humidity for a temperature operating range of the print head with the controller; 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: using the identified minimum and maximum humidity to identify the predetermined maximum and minimum water temperatures.

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