| Abstract |
This invention relates to an ink container (12) for providing ink to an inkjet print head (24), the ink container comprising a reservoir (34) for containing ink, the ink container (12) when inserted into a printing system having a top and a bottom relative to a gravitational frame of reference, the ink container having a fluid outlet (36) proximate the bottom of the ink container for permitting ink flow from the reservoir to the print head, the reservoir having a rectangular configuration with a height dimension, a width dimension ,a width dimension and a length dimension, and wherein each of said dimensions is greater than one inch; and a self sustaining structure having a rectangular configuration that is disposed within the reservoir (34) for retaining ink. At least one continuous fiber (46) defining a three dimensional porous member with the at least one continuous fiber (46) bonded to itself at points of contact is provided to form said self-sustaining structure, and in that the porous member having a general fiber orientation in a direction parallel to said bottom of said reservoir, the ink drawn from the self sustaining structure being provided to the inkjet print head (24) |