One challenge posed by ink delivery systems for inkjet printers is air accumulation in the ink. When ink bubbles accumulate in the ink delivery system or in the print head, these bubbles can clog ink passageways and nozzles, thus harming print quality or preventing ink ejection altogether in at least part of the print head.
Air accumulation via permeation is one mode by which air can accumulate in an inkjet ink delivery system. The print head ink-containing structure of an inkjet printer is typically a container made of lightweight polymer materials, which can be relatively permeable to air. Even where degassed ink is initially provided in the ink system, air can permeate through the polymer material of the ink reservoir wall over time, and dissolve into the ink. This dissolved air can produce bubbles and ultimately lead to failure of the print head.