Glossary → Damper
Damper.
the small ink reservoir between the ink line and the printhead
A small chamber mounted between the ink supply line and the printhead that regulates ink flow and traps air bubbles before they reach the nozzles. A failed or badly reseated damper is a direct cause of nozzle dropout, and because it sits inside the head assembly, replacing one usually means a technician visit, not an operator fix.