Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080211858 | Inkjet Printhead With Electrical Disconnection Of Printhead Prior To Removal - A maintenance assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly operatively mounted between posts of a main body of the printer so that the maintenance assembly is positioned adjacent a printhead assembly of the printer. The maintenance assembly includes a maintenance chassis defining tongue portions and having ends which are shaped to fit over the posts of the main body to secure the maintenance assembly in position. The maintenance assembly also includes a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis, and a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them. The moldings are in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, so that the maintenance assembly is useable to wipe the printhead of the printer. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211886 | Ink refill unit with a working outlet and other dummy outlets - An ink refill unit is provided for refilling a printer ink cartridge unit. The ink refill unit includes a base assembly which houses internal ink refilling components and defines a plurality of outlets for docking with the cartridge unit. Each outlet corresponds to a respective type of ink with only one of the outlets working. The ink refilling components include a syringe assembly coupled in fluid communication with the working outlet. A lid assembly fits onto the base assembly to cover the ink refilling components. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211888 | Ink Storage Compartment With Bypass Fluid Path Structures - The present invention relates to an ink storage compartment. The compartment includes a reservoir structure, in turn, defining a plurality of ink reservoirs from which respective ink outlets extend. Ink absorbent material is provided within respective ink reservoirs. Bypass fluid path structures extend between respective ink outlets and ink reservoirs so that, when filling the ink storage compartment by supplying ink to the ink outlets, ink can be supplied to the ink reservoirs through both the ink outlets and bypass fluid path structures. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211898 | Cover assembly for a print engine with push rod for actuating a refill unit - This invention relates to a cover assembly for a cradle unit of a pagewidth print engine. The cover assembly defines a docking port for a refill unit configured to refill a cartridge unit of the print engine. The cartridge unit is housed in the cradle. The docking port includes a rim portion, engagement means and a push rod. The rim portion is for receiving a base portion of the refill unit so that the refill unit is able to pass through the cover assembly, in use, to dock with the cartridge unit. The engagement means is located within the rim portion, the engagement means being configured to engage the refill unit to retain the refill unit securely in position to facilitate refilling of the cartridge unit. The push rod extends through a hole in the rim portion for operatively actuating the refill unit to incrementally dispense ink. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212119 | Printer unit with print engine that expands compressed image data - A printer unit is arranged to print documents received from a computer system. The printer unit has a print engine having control electronics. The control electronics are configured to receive document image data from the computer system in the form of a compressed, multi-layer page image. They buffer the image and expand the image to generate an expanded contone layer, a black layer and a layer for infrared printing. | 09-04-2008 |
20080218538 | Cradle Unit For A Print Engine Having A Maintenance Drive Assembly - A cradle unit for a print engine, the cradle unit configured to receive a cartridge unit having a printhead assembly. The cradle unit includes a main body defining an opening for receiving said cartridge, the main body having a frame structure including end plates with drive and exit rollers mounted therebetween. The cradle unit also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) pivotally mounted between the end plates for housing control electronics for controlling the operation of the print engine, along with a cover assembly for securing said cartridge in the opening. The cover assembly is pivotally mounted between the end plates, the cover assembly configured to pivot the PCB into electrical contact with a printhead controller on the cartridge when in a closed position, and to pivot the PCB out of electrical connection with said printhead controller when in an open position. The cradle unit also includes a maintenance drive assembly having a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and maintenance actuator arrangement and to a wiper gear and wiper actuator arrangement, the maintenance drive assembly operated by the PCB control electronics. | 09-11-2008 |
20080218565 | CARTRIDGE UNIT HAVING MULTIPLE INK STORAGE CAPACITY - A cartridge unit arranged for use in a print engine for an inkjet printer is provided. The cartridge unit has a body portion having ink storage compartments and a pagewidth printhead assembly configured to receive ink from ink storage compartments and distribute it to nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media. The print engine has a cradle which has a body which removably receives the cartridge unit and is configured to control the operation of the printhead assembly for printing. The ink storage compartments comprise absorption material which stores the ink therein under capillary action for supply to the nozzles. The cradle is configured to be secured to the inkjet printer to receive print media from a media input tray and to deliver printed media to a media output tray. | 09-11-2008 |
20080218567 | Ink cartridge having enlarged end reservoirs - The invention provides for an ink cartridge unit for an inkjet printer. The cartridge includes an elongate main body defining a number of rectangular ink reservoirs along a length thereof, with end reservoirs being larger than reservoirs interposed between the end reservoirs, said end reservoirs being configured to store ink more readily consumed during a printing process. The cartridge also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, and a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body. | 09-11-2008 |
20080225091 | CARTRIDGE UNIT HAVING CAPPED PRINTHEAD WITH MULTIPLE INK STORAGE CAPACITY - A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer is provided which has a body portion having ink storage compartments, a pagewidth printhead configured to receive ink from the compartments and distribute the ink to nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media, and a capping assembly for capping the printhead. The capping assembly has a body configured to extend the length of the printhead, a capping element housed within the body and movable with respect thereto between first and second positions. The first position is where a portion of the capping element extends from the body and the second position is where the capping element is contained within the body. The capping element is biased into the first position. The ink storage compartments comprise absorption material which stores the ink therein under capillary action for supply to the nozzles of the printhead. | 09-18-2008 |
20080230468 | HIGH FLOWRATE FILTER FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD - A filter for an inkjet printer that has a chamber divided into an upstream section and a downstream section by a filter membrane. An inlet conduit establishes fluid communication between an ink supply and the upstream section. An outlet conduit establishes fluid communication between the downstream section and a printhead. During use at least part of the inlet conduit is elevated relative to the filter membrane. By elevating the inlet conduit relative to the filter membrane, it acts as a bubble trap to retain bubbles that would otherwise obstruct the filter. This allows the filter size to be reduced for a more compact overall design. | 09-25-2008 |
20080230730 | DETACHABLE FLUID COUPLING FOR INKJET PRINTER - A detachable fluid coupling for connecting an inkjet printhead with an ink supply, the detachable coupling having a fixed valve member defining a valve seat, a sealing collar ( | 09-25-2008 |
20080231660 | PRINTHEAD WITH INK CONDUIT WEIR FOR PRIMING CONTROL - A printhead for an inkjet printer, that has a printhead integrated circuit with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC within the printer. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. Within the ink conduits is a weir formation to partially obstruct ink flow so that when priming the printhead, the weir formation preferentially primes an upstream section the ink conduit. Using a weir downstream of areas that have a propensity to prime incorrectly can force them to prime more quickly or in preference to downstream sections. As long as the downstream section is one that reliably primes, albeit delayed by the weir, there is no disadvantage to priming the upstream section in preference. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231661 | PRINTHEAD WITH MENISCUS ANCHOR FOR CONTROLLED PRIMING - A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink, and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC within the printer. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink, the ink conduits have a meniscus anchor for pinning part of an advancing meniscus of ink to divert the advancing meniscus from a path it would otherwise take. If a printhead consistently fails to prime correctly because a meniscus pins at one or more points, then the advancing meniscus can be directed so that it does not contact these critical points. Deliberately incorporating a discontinuity into an ink conduit immediately upstream of the problem area can temporarily pin to the meniscus and skew it to one side of the conduit and away from the undesirable pinning point. Once flow has been initiated into the side branch or downstream of the undesirable pinning point, it is not necessary for the anchor to hold the ink meniscus any longer and priming can continue. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231662 | PRINTHEAD WITH DRIVE CIRCUITRY COMPONENTS ADJACENT THE PRINTHEAD IC - A printhead for an inkjet printer, that has a printhead IC with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC in the printer adjacent a paper path. The printhead IC is mounted on a face of the support structure that, in use, faces the paper path. A flexible printed circuit board (flex PCB) has drive circuitry for operating the array of nozzles on the printhead IC. The drive circuitry has circuit components connected by traces in the flex PCB, and contacts for receiving print data from the print engine controller. The flex PCB being mounted to the support structure at the contacts onto a face that does not face the paper path such that the flex PCB extends through a bent section between the printhead IC and the contacts. The printhead IC and the circuit components are adjacent each other and separated from the contacts by the bent section of the flex PCB. The bent section reduces the likelihood of trace cracking by holding the flex PCB at a set radius rather than allowing the flex to follow an irregular curve and thereby risking localized points of high stress on the traces. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231670 | INK COUPLING FOR INKJET PRINTER WITH CARTRIDGE - An ink coupling for connecting an inkjet printer and a replaceable cartridge configured to not drip ink upon detachment. The coupling has a cartridge valve on the cartridge side of the coupling and a printer conduit on the printer side of the coupling. The cartridge valve and the printer conduit having complementary formations configured to form a coupling seal when brought into engagement. The cartridge valve is biased closed and configured to open when brought into engagement with the printer conduit. Upon disengagement, the coupling seal breaks after the cartridge valve closes, and an ink meniscus forms and recedes from the complementary formations as they separate, the cartridge valve having external surfaces configured so that the meniscus travels across the external surfaces and only pins itself to the printer conduit surfaces. The invention keeps residual ink off the exterior of the cartridge valve by careful design of the external surfaces with respect to known receding contact angle of the ink meniscus. As the coupling seal breaks and the meniscus forms, the ink properties and hydrophilicity of the respective valve materials will determine where the meniscus stops moving and eventually pins itself. | 09-25-2008 |
20080238962 | METHOD OF PRIMING PAGEWIDTH INKJET PRINTHEAD - A method of priming an inkjet printhead having ink ejection nozzles. The method includes: providing an ink bag containing ink for distribution to the nozzles via a fluid path between the ink bag and the nozzles; applying inwardly directed force on at least one exterior wall of the ink bag so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the ink bag, thereby causing ink to flow from the ink bag to the nozzles along the fluid path; and arranging a biasing member in the ink bag so that the biasing member applies outwardly directed force on at least one interior wall of the ink bag to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the ink bag only once the available fluid volume of the ink bag has been reduced to a predetermined volume. The printhead is a pagewidth printhead, having a pagewidth of 100.9 millimetres. | 10-02-2008 |
20080238981 | Printhead Maintenance Station With A Pad Mounted On A Pad Support And Having An Engagement Mechanism - Provided is a printhead maintenance station which includes a body defining an elongate slot along a length thereof, and a pad mounted on a pad support inside said body. The pad support is slidably engaged to said housing to be slidable to a first position, where the pad protrudes from the slot, and a second position, where the pad is inside the body. The station also includes an engagement mechanism to displace the pad between the first and second positions. | 10-02-2008 |
20080238991 | Printhead assembly with a printhead, a wicking element and a pad to facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element. - Provided is a printhead assembly including a support structure, and a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face. The assembly also includes a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing, and a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. Further included is a pad with an angled contact surface to operatively facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element. | 10-02-2008 |
20080239030 | Cradle Unit For Receiving A Print Cartridge To Form A Print Engine - Provided is a cradle unit for receiving a print cartridge to form a print engine. The cradle unit includes a main body defining an opening for receiving said cartridge, the main body having a frame structure including end plates with drive and exit rollers mounted therebetween. The cradle unit also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) pivotally mounted between the end plates for housing control electronics for controlling the operation of the print engine, and a cover assembly for securing said cartridge in the opening. The cover assembly is pivotally mounted between the end plates, with the cover assembly configured to pivot the PCB into electrical contact with a printhead controller on the cartridge when in a closed position, and to pivot the PCB out of electrical connection with said printhead controller when in an open position. Also included is a maintenance drive assembly having a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and maintenance actuator arrangement and to a wiper gear and wiper actuator arrangement, the maintenance drive assembly operated by the control electronics. | 10-02-2008 |
20080246787 | Ink Refill Unit For A Print Engine Having A Compression Arrangement With Actuation Means Operable By A Controller Of The Print Engine - Provided is an ink refill unit for a print engine. The unit includes a body assembly defining an ink ejection port at one end thereof, a compressible tank located inside said body assembly, and a compression arrangement for compressing the bellows tank. The compression arrangement includes actuation means selectively operable by a controller of the print engine, a threaded wall and circular plunger assembly, and an elongate drive gear mounted within the body assembly and engaging with the plunger assembly. The drive gear is actuated by the actuation means. The threaded wall and circular plunger assembly includes an internal lead screw provided in a substantially cylindrical internal wall of the body assembly and a helical geared thread provided about the circumference of a substantially circular plunger threaded to the internal lead screw thread and extending along a length thereof. The lead screw thread is provided with a gap along the length of the body assembly in which the drive gear sits and is able to come into contact with the geared thread of the plunger. | 10-09-2008 |
20080252688 | PRINTING CARTRIDGE HAVING SELF-REFERENCING PRINTHEAD WITH LARGE NOZZLE NUMBER - A printing cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided having an ink supply and a printhead assembly which has at least one printhead integrated circuit having ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the printhead integrated circuit(s). The ink distribution support distributes ink from the ink supply to the nozzles. The printing cartridge is mounted to the printer at the ink distribution support which is provided with at least one reference feature. The reference feature(s) serves to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer. The printhead integrated circuit(s) has at least 6400 nozzles | 10-16-2008 |
20080252703 | CARTRIDGE UNIT HAVING MAGNETICALLY CAPPED PRINTHEAD - A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer is provided which has a body portion having ink storage compartments, a pagewidth printhead configured to receive ink from the compartments and distribute the ink to nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media, and a capping assembly for capping the printhead. The capping assembly has a body which extends the printhead length, a capping element housed within the body and having a rim portion which caps at least a portion of the printhead and a displacement assembly housed within the body for moving the capping element between a first position where the rim portion extends from the body and a second position where the rim portion is contained within the body. The displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet which determines the position. The ink storage compartments comprise absorption material which stores the ink under capillary action. | 10-16-2008 |
20080259139 | METHOD OF PRIMING PICOLITRE INKJET PRINTHEAD - A method of priming an inkjet printhead having ink ejection nozzles. The method includes: providing an ink bag containing ink for distribution to the nozzles via a fluid path between the ink bag and the nozzles; applying inwardly directed force on at least one exterior wall of the ink bag so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the ink bag, thereby causing ink to flow from the ink bag to the nozzles along the fluid path; and arranging a biasing member in the ink bag so that the biasing member applies outwardly directed force on at least one interior wall of the ink bag to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the ink bag only once the available fluid volume has been reduced to a predetermined volume. Each nozzle is configured to eject an ink drop having a volume of about 1.2 picolitres. | 10-23-2008 |
20080273065 | Inkjet Printer Having An Ink Cartridge Unit Configured To Facilitate Flow Of Ink Therefrom - Provided is an inkjet printer having an ink cartridge unit. The cartridge unit includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs. Each reservoir has a layered stack of absorbent material arranged to form a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. A base of each ink storage reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds an ink outlet. The raised portions are molded into the main body to separate each outlet from the base of the ink storage reservoir to facilitate a sufficient flow rate of ink from the reservoir. The cartridge unit also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, as well as a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink via the ink outlets from the ink reservoirs in the main body for printing onto a printing medium. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273067 | Printer Assembly Having A Refillable Cartridge Assembly - Provided is a printer assembly having a refillable cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an elongate main body defining a number of rectangular ink reservoirs along a length thereof, with end reservoirs being larger than reservoirs interposed between the end reservoirs, said end reservoirs being configured to store ink more readily consumed during a printing process. The cartridge assembly also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, the lid assembly having an actuator to actuate a cartridge refill unit. Also included is a printhead assembly fast with the main body and operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body, as well as a refill unit engageable with the lid assembly to refill at least one of the reservoirs. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273071 | FLUIDIC ARRANGEMENT WITH A SUMP FOR A PRINTER - The invention relates to a fluidic arrangement for a printer. The arrangement includes an ink tank for storing ink, and an ink distribution assembly in fluid communication with the ink tank for supplying printhead integrated circuits (ICs) positioned thereon with ink from the ink tank. The arrangement also includes a valve arranged in an ink line between the ink distribution assembly and the ink tank, said valve configured to isolate ink in the ink tank from the printhead ICs whenever the printer is powered down. Further included is a pump located downstream from the ink distribution assembly, and a sump arranged in fluid communication with the pump for receiving excess ink from the ink distribution assembly. | 11-06-2008 |
20080278543 | PRINTING CARTRIDGE HAVING SELF-REFERENCING PRINTHEAD UNDER THERMALLY EXPANSIVE CONDITIONS - A printing cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided having an ink supply and a printhead assembly which has at least one printhead integrated circuit having ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the printhead integrated circuit(s). The ink distribution support distributes ink from the ink supply to the nozzles. The printing cartridge is mounted to the printer at the ink distribution support which is provided with at least one reference feature. The reference feature(s) serves to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer. The ink distribution support is a molding formed from liquid crystal polymer. The liquid crystal polymer of the ink distribution support having thermal expansion characteristics similar to those of a silicon wafer of which the printhead integrated circuit is formed. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278553 | INK REFILL UNIT WITH CONTROLLED INCREMENTAL INK EJECTION FOR PRINT CARTRIDGE - An ink refill unit for a print cartridge is provided. The unit includes a housing which defines a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet. The unit also includes an ink reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject ink from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by the print cartridge. The ejector assembly includes a piston and cylinder ink reservoir. The piston has a thread which engages a screw thread in an internal wall of the cylinder and is piston rotationally biased by a wound spring and the ejector having a pawl-and-ratchet detent preventing the biased piston threading into the reservoir until the pawl is actuated by the print cartridge. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278554 | INK REFILL UNIT WITH THREADED INCREMENTAL INK EJECTION FOR PRINT CARTRIDGE - An ink refill unit for a print cartridge is provided. The unit includes a housing which defines a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet. The unit also includes an ink reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject ink from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by the print cartridge. The ejector assembly includes a plunger having a toothed thread which engages with a screw thread provided in an internal wall of the housing. The ejector has a drive gear so that actuation of the drive gear imparts rotation to the toothed thread so as to rotate the plunger within the screw thread of the housing to eject ink from a bellows-like reservoir. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278557 | INK REFILL UNIT WITH INCREMENTAL MILLILITRE INK EJECTION FOR PRINT CARTRIDGE - An ink refill unit for a print cartridge is provided. The unit includes a housing which defines a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet. The unit also includes an ink reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject ink from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by the print cartridge. The ejector assembly is configured so that the amount of the printing fluid ejected from the reservoir by the ejector assembly is between 6 ml and 50 ml per increment. | 11-13-2008 |
20080291237 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY HAVING A WICKING ELEMENT AND A PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION - Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure and a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face. The assembly also includes a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing, and a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. Further included is a pad with an angled contact surface to facilitate the transfer of ink from the printhead to the wicking element, as well as a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station has a body defining an elongate slot along a length thereof, said pad slidably mounted inside said body to be slidable to a first position, where the pad protrudes from the slot, and a second position, where the pad is inside the body. | 11-27-2008 |
20080291238 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH A PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION - Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. Also included is a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a printhead maintenance station configured to facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element. | 11-27-2008 |
20080297572 | INK CARTRIDGE UNIT FOR AN INKJET PRINTER WITH AN INK REFILL FACILITY - Provided is an ink cartridge unit for an inkjet printer. The cartridge unit includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs, each reservoir having a layered stack of absorbent material forming a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. The unit also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, and a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body. The unit further includes a capper assembly for operatively capping the printhead assembly to prevent damage to micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements defined on a printing surface of the printhead assembly. The lid assembly includes a refill facility whereby the ink reservoirs are refillable with ink from a suitable ink refill unit. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297574 | RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY FOR A PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE - A reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The reservoir compartment defines a vent hole to facilitate pressure equalisation in the compartment and a bypass fluid path interconnecting the fluid outlet and a well region defined by the compartment. A bypass valve is operatively arranged with respect to the fluid path to facilitate priming the reservoir compartment with printing fluid | 12-04-2008 |
20080303859 | MAINTENANCE ASSEMBLY FOR A PAGEWIDTH PRINTER HAVING A MOTORIZED DRIVE - A maintenance assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly operatively mounted between posts of a main body of the printer so that the maintenance assembly is positioned adjacent a printhead assembly of the printer. The maintenance assembly includes a maintenance chassis defining tongue portions and having ends which are shaped to fit over the posts of the main body to secure the maintenance assembly in position, and a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis. Also included are a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them, the moldings in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, and a motorized drive for moving the maintenance chassis between a capped position and an uncapped position to facilitate wiping the printhead of the printer. | 12-11-2008 |
20080303878 | INK PRIMING ARRANGEMENT FOR PRINTHEAD HAVING PICOLITRE INK EJECTION - An ink priming arrangement for an inkjet printhead is provided which has an ink bag containing ink for distribution to nozzles of the printhead via a fluid path between the ink bag and nozzles, a force applicator arranged to apply inwardly directed force on at least one exterior wall of the ink bag to reduce an available fluid volume of the ink bag, thereby causing ink to flow from the ink bag to the nozzles along the fluid path, and a biasing member arranged in the ink bag to apply outwardly directed force on at least one interior wall of the ink bag so as to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the ink bag. The biasing member applies the outward force only once the available fluid volume has been reduced to a predetermined volume. Each nozzle ejects an ink drop having a volume of about 1.2 picolitres. | 12-11-2008 |
20080303881 | INK SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD HAVING LARGE NOZZLE NUMBER - An ink supply arrangement for an inkjet printhead is provided having at least one collapsible ink bag containing ink for distribution to nozzles of the printhead via a fluid path between the ink bag and nozzles, a body for housing the ink bag and the printhead, and a biasing member in the ink bag. The ink is primed in the fluid path and nozzles so as to be ejected by the nozzles, in use, thereby depleting the ink contained in the ink bag. The ink bag is attached to the body at a wall opposite a wall of the ink bag facing the printhead. The biasing member applies outwardly directed force on the wall of the ink bag facing the printhead thereby maintaining substantially constant negative pressure at the nozzles as the ink is depleted. The fluid path connects the ink bag to at least 6400 nozzles of the printhead. | 12-11-2008 |
20080303882 | INK REFILL UNIT WITH INCREMENTAL INK EJECTION ACCUATED BY PRINT CARTRIDGE CRADLE - An ink refill unit for a print cartridge is provided. The unit includes a housing which defines a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet. The unit also includes an ink reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject ink from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by the print cartridge. The housing defines an aperture via which the print cartridge actuates the ejector assembly. | 12-11-2008 |
20080316286 | INK SUPPLY FOR A PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE WITH A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY. - Provided is an ink supply bag for a printhead cartridge. The supply bag includes two profiled panels arranged generally coplanar and co-terminally attached to form an ink holding chamber, along with a folded leaf spring biasing said chamber into an expanded position. The supply bag further includes a connector assembly operatively arranging said chamber in fluid communication with ink supply channels of the printhead cartridge. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002418 | PRINTER FORMED FROM COMPLEMENTARILY FITTING PARTS - A printer includes a printhead cartridge, in turn, having a printhead and ink supply for supplying ink to the printhead. The printhead includes a series of ink ejection integrated circuits (ICs) that are complementarily engaged together. Each IC includes spaced apart groups of nozzles configured to eject respective types of ink. The nozzles in each group are arranged to form staggered rows. A cradle unit complementarily engages with the printhead cartridge and has a media transport mechanism for transporting print media past the printhead. A media supply cartridge is configured to supply the media to the cradle unit. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002419 | PRINTER HAVING SELF-REFERENCING PRINTHEAD - An inkjet printer having a body configured to receive a printhead assembly of at least one printhead integrated circuit having ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the integrated circuit(s) to distribute ink to the nozzles, and a plurality of mounting features on the body configured to cooperate with corresponding complementary reference features of the ink distribution support upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer, where the cooperation provides information on the location of the nozzles. The printhead assembly is incorporated in a printing cartridge and the body of the printer has a cartridge receiving slot. The mounting features include a mesa feature and protrusions arranged in the slot The reference features include a slot in the ink distribution support which cooperates with the mesa feature and a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the ink distribution support which cooperates with the protrusions. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002434 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH A WICKING ELEMENT - Provided is a printhead assembly having a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. An ink collector is arranged on the wicking element for receiving ink that has wicked through the wicking element to ensure that wicked ink is removed away from the printhead. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002436 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH A WICKING ELEMENT - A printhead maintenance station includes a housing operatively positioned with respect to an ink ejection face to be maintained. The housing defines a pair of slots. A support arm has lugs at each end that are slidably received in respective slots. A support is mounted on the support arm. A pad is mounted on the support and is suitable for wiping ink. A motor is operatively mounted with respect to the housing. A pair of cams is rotatable by the motor and engaged with respective lugs such that the motor can slide the arms with respect to the housing, thereby moving the pad between a first operative position and a second, inoperative position. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002437 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH A PRINT MEDIA GUIDE AND A WICKING ELEMENT - Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a printhead mounted on a support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide mounted on the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a pad with an angled contact surface to operatively facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element. The wicking element is formed from an absorbent material and is positioned in a cavity defined between the print media guide and the support structure. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002466 | Ink Storage Module - Provided is an ink storage module for a printer cartridge having a number of ink storage modules. Each module operatively stores a different colored ink for delivery to a printhead of the printer. The module includes upper and lower plate members having an ink bag located between the plate members to define an ink volume, said plate members displaceable towards and away from each other. The module also includes a bag constrictor assembly engaged with said plate members and configured to act on the bag when the plate members are displaced towards each other to reduce the ink volume, as well as a valve insert having an inlet valve to facilitate refilling of the bag with ink and an outlet valve to facilitate ink delivery to the printhead. The module further has a filter cover positioned between the valve insert and the ink bag to filter contaminants and air bubbles passing between the ink bag and said valve insert. | 01-01-2009 |
20090009557 | METHOD OF MAINTAINING PRINTHEAD WITH CLEANED PAD - A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided in which a pad is moved between a first position in which the pad is sealingly engaged with the printhead, a second position in which the pad is disengaged from the printhead and a third position in which the pad is engaged with a pad cleaner. The pad is biased towards the second position relative to the third position. | 01-08-2009 |
20090015631 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH PROGRESSIVELY ENGAGING MAINTENANCE PAD AND PRINTHEAD - A printhead assembly is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead assembly includes a printhead having an ink ejection face defining a plurality of nozzle openings from which ink can be ejected. A maintenance station is operatively mounted to the printhead. The maintenance station includes a pad having a contact surface that can be brought into contact with the ink ejection face, and an engagement mechanism configured to progressively engage the contact surface with the ink ejection face. | 01-15-2009 |
20090021554 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION WITH SLIDING CONTACT PAD ASSEMBLY - A printhead maintenance station is provided for an inkjet printer. The maintenance station includes an elongate housing defining internal slots at either end. An elongate support arm defines lugs at either end which are complementarily received in the slots so that the support arm is can slide within the slots. A support is mounted to the lugs and defines a recess. A sloping pad is received in the recess and has a contact surface for bringing into contact with an ink ejection face of a printhead. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021555 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION WITH CURVED CONTACT PAD - A printhead maintenance station is provided for an inkjet printer. The maintenance station includes an elongate housing defining internal slots at either end. An elongate support arm assembly can be complementarily received within the slots. The support arm assembly is able to slide within the slots and also defines a pad recess. A pad is received in the recess and has a contact surface defining a curved profile that can be brought into contact with an ink ejection face of a printhead. | 01-22-2009 |
20090051726 | DIGITAL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPH PRINTER - The present invention relates to a printer for printing digital colour photographs. The printer includes a printhead cartridge housing an ink ejection printhead and an ink supply configured to supply ink to the printhead. A cradle unit defines a support bay in which the printhead cartridge can be fitted in a removable manner. The cradle unit houses a media transport mechanism which transports print media past the printhead. A media supply cartridge is configured to supply the media to the transport mechanism. | 02-26-2009 |
20090058924 | Printhead Capping Mechanism Having Multiple Gear Assemblies and Method of Assembling Same - A gear arrangement for a capper of an inkjet printer comprises a first gear assembly mounted to the printer so as to cooperate with a motor gear for driving rotation of the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly having a code feature; and a second gear assembly mounted to the printer so as to cooperate with the first gear assembly to be rotatable therewith, the second gear assembly, in use, cooperating with a capper for capping a printhead so that the rotation of the second gear assembly moves the capper out of and into its capping position. The code feature of the first gear assembly is arranged to cooperate with a holding feature of a mounting arrangement used to mount the second gear assembly to the printer, the code feature being configured so that the cooperation with the holding feature maintains the first gear assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second gear assembly. A common shaft is mounted connecting the first gear and two second gears to the body so that each of the second gears mesh with the second gear assembly. A pin of two third gears is mounted to the body so that each of the third gears mesh with a respective one of the second gears of the first gear assembly. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058974 | PRINTER INCORPORATING A CAPPED PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE - A printer includes a printhead cartridge. The printhead cartridge has a printhead, an ink supply configured to supply ink to the printhead and a capper arranged to cap the printhead when the printhead is inoperative or not in use. A cradle unit engages with the printhead cartridge in a complementary manner and has a media transport mechanism for transporting print media between the printhead and the capper. A media supply cartridge is configured to supply the media to the cradle unit. | 03-05-2009 |
20090066767 | PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE FOR A PAGEWIDTH PRINTER HAVING A NUMBER OF INK SUPPLY BAGS - A cartridge for a pagewidth inkjet printer has a body configured to fit in a cradle of the inkjet printer. A printhead capper is mounted on the body, the capper and the body defining a print media feed path along which print media is fed. A printhead is housed in the body to print on the print media. An ink distribution support mounts the printhead to the body and distributes ink to the printhead. An ink supply is arranged in the body for supplying the printhead with ink via the ink distribution support. | 03-12-2009 |
20090073216 | Printing Cartridge Mounted With Adhesively Sealant Film - A printing cartridge comprises a body configured to removably engage with an inkjet printer; a printhead assembly mounted to the body, the printhead assembly including at least one printhead integrated circuit and an ink distribution support, the at least one printhead integrated circuit being mounted to an underside of the ink distribution support; a plurality of conduits provided through an underside of the ink distribution support, the conduits providing fluidic communication between a plurality of ink paths of the ink distribution support and the underside of the ink distribution support; and a sealing film for adhesively mounting the printhead integrated circuit to the ink distribution support, the sealing film including a plurality of through-holes which correspond to and align with the conduits. The sealing film provides a seal preventing mixing of ink from each of the plurality of ink paths at an underside of the ink distribution support. | 03-19-2009 |
20090085943 | PRINTER HAVING SELF-REFERENCE MOUNTED PRINTING CARTRIDGE - A printer is provided with a body having a slot for removably receiving a printing cartridge and protrusions arranged in the slot to cooperate with a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the printing cartridge upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer. The printing cartridge has at least one printhead integrated circuit with a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles and a fluid distribution support mounting the printhead integrated circuit. The cooperation of the protrusions and corners provide information on the location of the nozzles. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085962 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION - A printhead maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface adapted for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of a printhead; and an engagement mechanism for moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The engagement mechanism moves the pad between the first position and the second position in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the face, and the contact surface is a curved surface, whereby the contact surface is progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during disengagement. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085990 | PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE WITH INK SUPPLY BAGS - Provided is a printhead cartridge for a pagewidth printer. The cartridge includes a cartridge body having a base and a number of ink supply bags positioned inside the base. A lid encloses the bags in the base. The cartridge also includes a printhead assembly fast with the base and arranged in fluid communication with the ink bags. Each ink supply bag has two profiled panels sealed together to form an ink holding chamber which is collapsible to reduce a volume of ink stored therein. A folded leaf spring biases the chamber into an expanded condition. Each ink bag also includes a connector assembly providing fluid communication between the chamber and ink supply channels of the printhead assembly. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085993 | PIVOTABLE PCB RETENSION ARRANGEMENT FOR INKJET CARTRIDGE CRADLE - Disclosed is a cradle for holding an ink cartridge within an inkjet printer. The cradle comprises a recess for receiving and releasably retaining the ink cartridge; an interface corresponding to an ink storage compartment of the ink cartridge; a pair of arms for receiving and retaining a PCB assembly containing a print engine, each of the arms adapted to engage with a first end of a corresponding tension spring; and a cover assembly pivotally attached to the cradle, the cover adapted to engage with a second end of the tension springs. The interface is provided on the cover assembly. The tension springs are engaged with the cover assembly and the PCB assembly such that movement of the cover assembly to an open position relieves a tension in the tension springs with respect to the PCB assembly, whereby the PCB assembly pivots away from corresponding electrical contacts of the inkjet printer. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085995 | Inkjet Printer With Elongate Array Of Nozzles And Distributed Pulse Dampers - An inkjet printer that has an elongate array of nozzles for ejecting ink and ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. The ink conduits are aligned with the longitudinal extent of the elongate array and have a plurality of pulse dampers individually in fluid communication with the ink conduits. Each pulse damper contains a volume of gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink conduits, distributed along the length of the elongate array. A pressure pulse moving through an elongate printheads, such as a pagewidth printhead, can be damped at any point in the ink flow line. However, the pulse will cause nozzle flooding as it passes the nozzles in the printhead integrated circuit, regardless of whether it is subsequently dissipated at the damper. By incorporating a number of pulse dampers into the ink supply conduits immediately next to the nozzle array, any pressure spikes are damped at the site where they would otherwise cause detrimental flooding. | 04-02-2009 |
20090091598 | Printhead Assembly With Reference Features - A printhead assembly comprises at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles; and an ink distribution support mounting the at least one printhead integrated circuit, the ink distribution support being arranged to distribute ink to the nozzles, the printhead assembly being arranged to be mounted to a printer at the ink distribution support. The ink distribution support is provided with a plurality of reference features, the plurality of reference features serving to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer. The plurality of reference features include a flat surface provided at each corner of the ink distribution support, and a slot in a mounting zone of the ink distribution support. | 04-09-2009 |
20090091607 | Method Of Refilling A Printing Unit - A method of refilling a supply of printing fluid in a printing unit. The method comprises the steps of removably mounting a dispenser unit of printing fluid to the printing unit so as to align and engage a plurality of outlets of the dispenser unit with a plurality of inlets of a plurality of printing fluid storage chambers of the printing unit, the dispenser unit being configured so that only one outlet of the plurality of outlets connects to printing fluid stored within an enclosure of the dispenser unit; determining an amount of printing fluid needed to refill the printing fluid storage chamber via the inlet engaged with said one outlet; disengaging a ratchet mechanism of the dispenser unit so as to facilitate a reduction of volume in the enclosure by a plunger; and engaging the plunger so as to effect the reduction of volume in the enclosure until the ratchet mechanism is reengaged, thereby dispensing fluid from the enclosure into the printing fluid storage chamber. The steps of disengaging the ratchet mechanism and engaging the plunger are repeated until the determined amount of printing fluid is dispensed into the printing fluid storage chamber. | 04-09-2009 |
20090096847 | INK REFILL UNIT WITH INCREMENTAL INK EJECTION MECHANISM - An ink refill unit for a print cartridge, said unit comprises a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the print cartridge; a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing; a seal for sealing off one end of the fluid reservoir, the seal being movable within the fluid reservoir; an ejector assembly comprising a spring biased plunger engaged against the seal, the plunger having defined on a side thereof a number of groves; an actuator mechanism comprising a rod to which a pawl and an arm are attached, the pawl adapted to engage with the grooves to negate a biasing force of the plunger against the seal; and an actuator shaft attached to the housing, the actuator shaft being slidable with respect to housing so as to be exposed outside of the housing. The actuator shaft, when exposed outside of the housing, is operable to engage with the arm of the actuator mechanism to disengage the pawl from a groove, whereby the biasing force of the plunger is allowed to act against the seal. | 04-16-2009 |
20090102883 | CRADLE UNIT WHICH ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERATES PRINTHEAD CAPPER - A cradle unit is provided which has a body complementary to a removable printhead cartridge, the removable printhead cartridge having a pagewidth printhead and a capper assembly, a controller for controlling operation of the printhead to facilitate printing when the removable printhead cartridge is received within the body, and an electromagnet assembly on the body which is controlled by the controller for operating the capper assembly of the removable printhead cartridge to permit the operation of the printhead. | 04-23-2009 |
20090102904 | CRADLE UNIT FOR A PRINTER CARTRIDGE - A printer cradle unit for a printer cartridge has a body defining an opening for receiving the cartridge. A cover assembly closes the opening and secures the cartridge in an operative position. An ink refill mechanism is arranged on the body to operate a refill unit to refill the cartridge with ink. A roller assembly is arranged on the body and is configured to feed print media from the cartridge | 04-23-2009 |
20090122101 | PRINTHEAD CAPPING ARRANGEMENT WITH PIVOTABLE SHAFT MOUNTS - An inkjet printer comprises an elongate shaft adapted to rotate so as to move a capper for capping a pagewidth printhead out of and into capping position; a motor for driving the elongate shaft; a support frame; and first and second fixing plates mounted to the support frame. The first and second fixing plates each include first and second bearings for supporting the shaft at first and second longitudinal ends of the shaft so as to allow rotation of the shaft. The first and second bearings are configured to allow pivotal movement of the elongate shaft about first and second longitudinal ends thereof. The second fixing plate includes a seat for receiving the motor therein. | 05-14-2009 |
20090122109 | PRINTER WITH PRINTHEAD CHIP HAVING INK CHANNELS REINFORCED BY TRANSVERSE WALLS - An inkjet printer has a molded ink manifold bonded to a printhead by an adhesive film. The printhead has: (a) a plurality of nozzles formed on a frontside of a substrate, the nozzles being arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the substrate, each nozzle having a respective nozzle inlet; and (b) a plurality of ink supply channels extending longitudinally along a backside of the substrate. Each ink supply channel is configured for supplying ink from the backside to at least one corresponding row of nozzle inlets. Further, each ink supply channel is interrupted along its length by one or more transverse bridges. The transverse bridges provide the printhead integrated circuit with strength in a transverse direction. | 05-14-2009 |
20090141072 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY FOR MAINTAINING PRINTHEAD - A printhead assembly comprising a printhead mounted on a substrate, an elastically deformable pad and an ink removal system mounted on the substrate. The pad has a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The pad being linearly moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. In order to provide a cleaning action, the contact surface is configured to progressively contact the face during sealing engagement and peel away from the face during disengagement. | 06-04-2009 |
20090147046 | METHOD OF UNUBLOCKING NOZZLES IN A PRINTHEAD - A method of unblocking nozzles in a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead; and (b) moving the pad from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from said face. The movement causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement. | 06-11-2009 |
20090167811 | DOCKING PORT IN A COVER ASSEMBLY - This invention relates to a cover assembly for a cradle unit of a pagewidth print engine. The cover assembly defines a docking port for a refill unit configured to refill a cartridge unit of the print engine. The cartridge unit is housed in the cradle. The docking port includes a rim portion, engagement means and a push rod. The rim portion is for receiving a base portion of the refill unit so that the refill unit is able to pass through the cover assembly, in use, to dock with the cartridge unit. The engagement means is located within the rim portion, the engagement means being configured to engage the refill unit to retain the refill unit securely in position to facilitate refilling of the cartridge unit. The push rod extends through a hole in the rim portion for operatively actuating the refill unit to incrementally dispense ink. | 07-02-2009 |
20090179927 | PRINTER WITH PAPER GUIDE ON THE PRINTHEAD AND PAGEWIDTH PLATEN ROTATED INTO POSITION - An inkjet printer having an inkjet printhead having at least one printhead IC for ejecting ink, and a support structure for mounting the ink jet printhead in the printer and supporting the at least one printhead IC. The support structure has a paper guide adjacent the at least one printhead IC. The printer also has a print platen for facing the at least one printhead IC during printing to define a gap between the print platen and the at least one printhead IC, the print platen having a guide surface for directing the sheets of print media into the gap. A media feed path extends through the printer along which sheets of media substrate are fed, the media feed path being partially defined by the paper guide on the support structure and the guide surface of the print platen. During use, the sheets of print media path in sliding contact with the paper guide and spaced from the guide surface during printing. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179943 | PRINTHEAD NOZZLE WIPER AND DOCTOR BLADE FOR INK REMOVAL - A printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printhead, having a wiper member for contacting a nozzle face on the inkjet printhead, the wiper member having a resilient blade with the distal edge configured to flex upon contact with the nozzle face, a doctor blade and, a maintenance drive configured to wipe the wiper member over the nozzle face and then past the doctor blade. The resilient blade flexes to pass the doctor blade and, upon disengagement of the resilient blade and the doctor blade, the resilient blade springs back to its quiescent shape thereby projecting contaminants from its surface. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179944 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILTY WITH ELONGATE NOZZLE FACE WIPER - A maintenance facility for an inkjet printer having a printhead and a media path for feeding sheets of media substrate in a media feed direction. The printhead has an elongate array of nozzles and the maintenance facility has a wiper member extending at least the length of the nozzle array. The wiper member mounted in the printer adjacent the media path and, the maintenance facility has a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member such that it wipes the array of nozzles in a direction normal to its longitudinal extent. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179945 | ROTATING PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH TUBULAR CHASSIS - A maintenance facility for an inkjet printer having a pagewidth printhead and a media path for feeding sheets of media substrate in a media feed direction. The pagewidth printhead has an elongate array of nozzles extending the printing width of the media substrate and the maintenance facility has a tubular chassis mounting in the printer such that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis and a plurality of maintenance stations mounted to an exterior surface of the tubular chassis. At least one of the maintenance stations is a wiper member positioned for wiping contact with the elongate array of nozzles. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179946 | ROTATING PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH SYMMETRICAL CHASSIS - A maintenance facility for an inkjet printer with a pagewidth printhead and a media path for feeding sheets of media substrate in a media feed direction. The pagewidth printhead has an elongate array of nozzles extending the printing width of the media substrate and the maintenance facility has an elongate chassis for mounting in the printer such that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis and a plurality of maintenance stations mounted to an exterior surface of the elongate chassis. The elongate chassis is symmetrical about at least one plane extending through the longitudinal axis. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179947 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH NOZZLE FACE WIPER HAVING INDEPENDENT CONTACT BLADES - A maintenance facility for an inkjet printer that has a printhead with an array of nozzles defined in a nozzle face. The printhead maintenance facility has a wiper member having a plurality of blades mounted for movement independent of each other and a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member over the printhead in the media feed direction such that the plurality of blades wipe all the nozzles defined in the nozzle face. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179948 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH NOZZLE FACE WIPER HAVING A SINGLE CONTACT BLADE - A printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printer that has a printhead with the nozzle face defining an array of nozzles. The printhead maintenance facility has a wiper member for wiping the nozzle face, and a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member across the array of nozzles in the nozzle face. The wiper member has a single blade dimensioned to wipe all the nozzles in a single traverse across the nozzle face. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179949 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH NOZZLE FACE WIPER HAVING MULTIPLE CONTACT BLADES - A printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printer that has a printhead with the nozzle face defining an array of nozzles. The printhead maintenance facility has a wiper member for wiping the nozzle face, and a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member across the array of nozzles in the nozzle face. The wiper member has a plurality of parallel blades, each of the plurality of blades being dimensioned to wipe all the nozzles in a single traverse across the nozzle face. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179950 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH NOZZLE FACE WIPER HAVING SINGLE SKEW BLADE - A printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printer that has a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles. The printhead maintenance facility has a wiper member for wiping the nozzle face and a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member across the array of nozzles in a wiping direction. The wiper member has a single blade extending in a line skew to the wiping direction. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179951 | PRINTHEAD NOZZLE FACE WIPER WITH MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING SKEW BLADES - A printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printer that has a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles. The printhead maintenance facility has a wiper member for wiping the nozzle face and a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member across the array of nozzles in a wiping direction. The wiper member has a plurality of blades for wiping contact with the nozzle face, each of the plurality of blades being skew to the wiping direction and positioned such that each one wipes a corresponding portion of the array of nozzles. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179952 | PRINTHEAD NOZZLE FACE WIPER WITH ARRAY OF PADS - A maintenance facility for an inkjet printer that has a printhead with an array of nozzles defined in a nozzle face. The printhead maintenance facility has a wiper member having an array of contact pads mounted for movement independent of each other and a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member over the printhead in the media feed direction such that the array of contact pads wipe all the nozzles defined in the nozzle face. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179964 | PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE INSERTION PROTOCOL - A method of inserting a printhead cartridge in a printer, the printhead cartridge having a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to a media substrate fed past the printhead in a media feed direction, by providing a printer with at least three ink tanks for storing the inks of different colour, the printer also having a cradle defining a reference surface for engaging a datum point on the printhead cartridge to support the nozzle face at a precise spacing from a media feed path, a fluid interface in fluid communication with the ink tanks, and a latch for securing the printhead cartridge in the cradle, the latch being movable between an open position where access to the cradle is unobstructed, and a closed position where access to the cradle is obstructed, placing the printhead cartridge in the cradle such that the data point rests on the reference surface while the latch is in the open position, the printhead cartridge having a fluid coupling positioned to align with the fluid interface when placed in the cradle, moving the latch to the closed position to secure the printhead cartridge in cradle, providing a mechanical linkage between the latch and the fluid interface such that the fluid interface sealingly engages the fluid coupling upon moving the latch to the closed position wherein, any force exerted on the printhead cartridge during sealing engagement of the fluid interface and the fluid coupling is not directed to disengage the reference surface from the datum point. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179968 | LOW INSERTION FORCE FLUID COUPLING - A fluid coupling for establishing a sealed connection between a first conduit and a second conduit that has a seal seat and a compression member. The compression member is movable relative to the seal seat in which an annular seal is positioned. An engagement mechanism moves the second conduit from a disengaged position where there is no sealed fluid connection between the first and second conduits, to an engaged position where the compression member moves toward the seal seat to compress the annular seal to form a sealed fluid connection. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179969 | PRINTER WITH ZERO INSERTION FORCE PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE - An inkjet printer that has a printhead cartridge with a pagewidth printhead defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a media substrate. The printhead cartridge has a fluid coupling in fluid communication with the array of nozzles. The printer also has a cradle for supporting the printhead cartridge such that the array of nozzles is adjacent a media feed path extending through the printer, the cradle having a latch mechanism for retaining the printhead cartridge, an ink reservoir for containing supply of ink and a complementary coupling for fluid communication with the ink reservoir. The fluid coupling and the complementary coupling are configured to establish a sealed fluid connection using mechanical advantage provided by user actuation of the latch mechanism to retain the printhead cartridge in the cradle. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179970 | PRINTER WITH FLUIDICALLY COUPLED PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE - An inkjet printer that has at least three ink tanks for storing inks of different colour, a printhead cartridge having a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles, and a fluid coupling for supplying the printhead with ink from each of the ink tanks. The printer also having a cradle defining a reference surface for engaging a datum point on the printhead cartridge to support the nozzle face at a precise spacing from a media feed path and a latch for securing the printhead cartridge in the cradle, the latch being movable between an open position where access to the cradle is unobstructed, and a closed position where access to the cradle is obstructed. The latch is configured to apply a compressive force urging the datum point on the printhead cartridge into engagement with the reference surface. The printer further including a fluid interface in fluid communication with the ink tanks and a mechanical linkage between the latch and the fluid interface such that the fluid interface is displaced into sealed engagement with the fluid coupling upon moving the latch to the closed position, the fluid interface being displaced in a direction that does affect the compressive force between the datum point and the reference surface. | 07-16-2009 |
20090179971 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH INK STORAGE AND DRIVEN VACUUM DRAINAGE COUPLING - A inkjet printhead maintenance facility that has an ink storage reservoir for holding ink ejected from the inkjet printhead during a maintenance operation and, an outlet coupling in fluid communication with the ink storage reservoir and configured for connection to a vacuum source to draw ink out of the ink storage reservoir. | 07-16-2009 |
20090195592 | CARTRIDGE UNIT INCORPORATING PRINTHEAD AND INK FEED SYSTEM - A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer comprises a printhead having an array of ink ejection nozzles; a plurality of ink storage compartment, each ink storage compartment having a variable storage volume and a displaceable wall section biased to expand the variable storage volume to generate a sustained negative pressure; an ink feed system for connecting the ink storage compartment to the printhead, the ink feed system including a plurality of channels extending parallel to a length of the printhead, each channel corresponding respectively to an ink storage compartment; and a printhead maintenance assembly, the printhead maintenance assembly having a capper spring biased against the array of ink ejection nozzles for covering the array of ink ejection nozzles. The printhead maintenance assembly includes a catch element engaged with an actuator, the catch element being movable by the actuator in a direction to counteract the biasing of the capper against the array of ink ejection nozzles. Each channel has defined along a bottom thereof a series of holes. | 08-06-2009 |
20090201348 | Refill Unit For Engaging With Ink Storage Compartment, And Fluidically Isolating Printhead - A refill unit for refilling a negatively pressurized ink storage compartment that supplies ink to a printhead assembly. The refill unit has a body with a variable volume container for holding a quantity of ink and an actuator for fluidically isolating the printhead assembly and the ink storage compartment as the refill unit engages the ink storage compartment. | 08-13-2009 |
20090207209 | Print Engine Cradle With Maintenance Assembly - A cradle unit for use in a print engine to receive a cartridge unit that has a printhead assembly. The cradle unit has a main body with an opening for receiving the cartridge and drive rollers for feeding sheets of media past the printhead assembly, a printed circuit board (PCB) movably mounted to the main body, the PCB having control electronics for operative control of the print engine, a cover assembly movably mounted to the main body, the cover assembly being configured for securing the cartridge in the opening and engaging the PCB such that the PCB is moved into electrical contact with the cartridge when in a closed position, and to move the PCB out of electrical connection with the cartridge when in an open position and, a maintenance assembly operated by the PCB control electronics for capping and wiping the printhead assembly. | 08-20-2009 |
20090213176 | Inkjet Printhead Having Adhered Ink Distribution Structure - An inkjet printhead is provided having an integrated circuit having a plurality of inkjet nozzles formed on one surface and a plurality of ink delivery channels formed on an opposing surface for delivering ink to the nozzles, an ink distribution member having a plurality of conduits formed therethrough which each have an inlet for receiving ink from an ink supply and an outlet for distributing the received ink to the ink delivery channels of the integrated circuit, and an adhesive layer adhering the integrated circuit to the ink distribution member. The adhesive layer has a plurality of holes aligned with corresponding ones of the outlets and delivery channels so that ink can be supplied therebetween. | 08-27-2009 |
20090219324 | PRINTER HAVING RECYCLING INK AND PRESSURE-EQUALIZED UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM INK LINES - A printer comprising a printhead and a pressure-regulating chamber containing ink at a predetermined first level relative to the printhead. The chamber comprises an outlet port, a return port positioned in a base of the chamber, a snorkel extending from the return port and terminating at a snorkel outlet positioned above the first level of ink, and an air vent open to atmosphere. An upstream ink line interconnects the outlet port and an ink inlet of the printhead. A downstream ink line interconnects the return port and an ink outlet of the printhead. The downstream ink line has a section looping below the first level of ink. In a printing configuration, a second level of ink in the snorkel is equal to the first level of ink in the chamber. | 09-03-2009 |
20090219325 | PRESSURE-REGULATING CHAMBER FOR GRAVITY CONTROL OF HYDROSTATIC INK PRESSURE AND RECYCLING INK SUPPLY SYSTEM - A pressure-regulating chamber for maintaining ink contained in the chamber at a predetermined first level relative to a printhead. The chamber comprises: an inlet port for connection to an ink reservoir via an ink supply line; an outlet port for connection to an ink inlet of the printhead via an upstream ink line; a return port for connection to an ink outlet of the printhead via a downstream ink line; a snorkel extending from the return port and terminating at a snorkel outlet positioned above the first level of ink; an air vent open to atmosphere; and a float valve for maintaining the predetermined first level of ink by controlling a flow of ink into the inlet port. | 09-03-2009 |
20090219326 | PRESSURE-REGULATING CHAMBER COMPRISING FLOAT VALVE BIASED TOWARDS CLOSURE BY INLET INK PRESSURE - A pressure-regulating chamber for maintaining ink contained in the chamber at a predetermined first level relative to a printhead. The chamber comprises: an inlet port for connection to an ink reservoir via an ink supply line; an outlet port for connection to an ink inlet of a printhead via an upstream ink line; an air vent open to atmosphere; and a float valve for maintaining the predetermined first level of ink by controlling a flow of ink into the inlet port. The float valve is biased towards a closed position by a positive ink pressure at the inlet port. | 09-03-2009 |
20090219331 | METHOD OF PRIMING A PRINTHEAD WITH CONCOMITANT REPLENISHMENT OF INK IN AN INK SUPPLY CHAMBER - A method of priming a printhead. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a printhead having a plurality of nozzles for ejection of ink, an ink inlet and an ink outlet; (ii) providing an ink chamber having an outlet port connected to the ink inlet via an upstream ink line, the ink chamber having an inlet port controlled by a valve; (iii) priming the printhead by pumping ink from the ink chamber, through the printhead and into a downstream ink line connected to the ink outlet; and (iv) opening the valve if a level of ink in the chamber falls below a predetermined first level and replenishing with ink from an ink reservoir when the valve is open. | 09-03-2009 |
20090219332 | METHOD OF DEPRIMING A PRINTHEAD WITH CONCOMITANT ISOLATION OF INK SUPPLY CHAMBER - A method of depriming a printhead. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a printhead having a plurality of nozzles for ejection of ink, an ink inlet and an ink outlet; (ii) providing an ink chamber having an outlet port connected to the ink inlet via an upstream ink line, the ink chamber having an inlet port controlled by a valve; (iii) depriming the printhead by pumping ink from a downstream ink line connected to the ink outlet, through the printhead and into the ink chamber; and (iv) closing the valve when a level of ink in the chamber reaches a predetermined first level, thereby isolating the ink chamber from an ink reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port. | 09-03-2009 |
20090219368 | PRINTER WITH INK LINE DAMPENING OF INK PRESSURE SURGES - A printer comprising: a printhead having an ink inlet and an ink outlet; an ink chamber for supplying ink to the printhead; an upstream ink line interconnecting an outlet port of the ink chamber and the ink inlet; a downstream ink line connected to the ink outlet; and a first air accumulator communicating with the downstream ink line. The first air accumulator is configured for dampening ink pressure pulses in the printhead during printing. | 09-03-2009 |
20090237471 | Printing Fluid Supply Device With Channeled Absorbent Material - A printing fluid supply device for a printhead comprises a printing fluid storage compartment for storing printing fluid; an absorbent material provided in the printing fluid reservoir, the absorbent material comprising a plurality of channels formed therethrough; and a fluid trapping layer provided between the absorbent material and the printhead. The fluid trapping layer is adapted to absorb printing fluid and draw printing fluid from the printing fluid storage compartment into and through the absorbent material. | 09-24-2009 |
20090237472 | INK REFILL UNIT FOR AN INK RESERVOIR - A refill unit for an ink reservoir that has an inlet valve for receiving refill ink and an outlet valve for fluid communication with an inkjet printhead. The refill unit has a docking assembly for docking with the ink reservoir, an ink bag for storing ink, a valve actuator configured to close the outlet valve of the ink reservoir and subsequently open the inlet valve upon docking the docking assembly with the ink reservoir, an ink delivery outlet assembly for establishing fluid communication between the ink bag and the ink reservoir upon docking the docking assembly with the ink reservoir and, constrictor actuators for increasing pressure in the ink bag upon docking the docking assembly with the ink reservoir, and reducing pressure in the ink reservoir upon disengagement of the docking assembly and the ink reservoir. | 09-24-2009 |
20090244171 | PRINTER HAVING ECCENTRICALLY CODED CAPPING MECHANISM - An inkjet printer has a body mounting first and second gear assemblies. The first assembly cooperating with a motor gear and having a code feature. The second assembly rotatably cooperating with the first assembly and a capper for capping a printhead. The code feature cooperates with a holding feature of a mounting arrangement used to mount the second assembly so that the cooperation maintains the first assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second assembly. The first assembly has first and second gears connected by a common shaft. The first gear meshes with the motor gear and the second gear meshes with the second assembly. The second assembly has a third gear mounted to the body by a pin which meshes with the second gear. The third gear is an eccentric gear. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244218 | Refill Unit For Refilling One Of A Number Of Ink Compartments - An ink refill unit is provided for refilling a printer ink cartridge unit. The ink refill unit includes a base assembly that has ink refilling components and outlets for engaging a docking member connected to the ink storage compartments. Each outlet corresponds to a respective type of ink with only one of the outlets working. The ink refilling components include a syringe assembly coupled in fluid communication with the working outlet. A lid assembly covers the ink refilling components. | 10-01-2009 |
20090278885 | Printhead Maintenance Station Having Contact Pad With Sloping Profile - A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing contact with nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. The contact surface has a sloping profile. The maintenance station has a motor and cam arrangement for moving the pad substantially perpendicularly with respect to the ink ejection face. The pad moves from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with the nozzles to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement and the sloping profile of the pad causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement. | 11-12-2009 |
20090295864 | Printhead Assembly With Ink Supply To Nozzles Through Polymer Sealing Film - An inkjet printhead assembly with a printhead integrated circuit formed on a wafer substrate, the printhead integrated circuit having an array of ink ejection nozzles, the array having a first section with nozzles for ejecting ink of a first color, and a second section with nozzles for ejecting ink of a second color. The assembly also having an integrated circuit support structure for mounting in the printer adjacent a media feed path, the integrated circuit support structure having conduits for supplying the printhead integrated circuit with ink of the first color and the second color and, a polymer sealing film between the integrated circuit support structure and the printhead integrated circuit for fixing the printhead integrated circuit to the integrated circuit support structure. The polymer sealing has apertures that allow sealed fluid communication between the conduits of the support structure carrying ink of the first color and the nozzles of the first section and sealed fluid communication between the conduits of the support structure carrying ink of the second color and the nozzles of the second section. No fluid communication exists between the first section of the array and the second section of the array. The printhead integrated circuit has channels for supplying ink to the array of ink ejection nozzles. Each of the channels being divided into channel sections by transverse walls. The apertures in the polymer sealing film are positioned at each of the transverse walls such that each of the apertures supplies ink to both the channel sections either side of one of the transverse walls. | 12-03-2009 |
20090303295 | INK COMPARTMENT REFILL UNIT WITH INLET VALVE ACUTATOR, OUTLET VALVE, ACTUATOR, AND CONSTRICTOR MECHANISM ACTUATOR - A refill unit for refilling an ink storage compartment that supplies ink to a printhead assembly, the ink storage compartment having an ink interface for receiving the refill unit. The refill unit comprises a body containing a quantity of ink; an inlet valve actuator for opening an inlet valve of the ink storage compartment when the refill unit is docked therewith; an outlet valve actuator for closing an outlet valve of the ink storage compartment when the refill unit is docked therewith; and a constrictor actuator adapted to be received into an aperture of the ink storage compartment when the refill unit is docked therewith, the constrictor actuator operable to engage a bag constrictor of the ink storage compartment through the aperture to cause a volume of the bag to be decreased. | 12-10-2009 |
20090303300 | SECURING ARRANGEMENT FOR SECURING A REFILL UNIT TO A PRINT ENGINE DURING REFILLING - A securing arrangement for securing a printing fluid refill cartridge to a printing unit comprising a first engagement member arranged in the vicinity of an outlet of the refill cartridge through which printing fluid contained therein is dispensable and a second engagement member arranged in the vicinity of a refill port of the printing unit and configured to be removably securable with the first engagement member so as to engage and hold the refill port and the outlet together. | 12-10-2009 |
20090303301 | INK REFILL UNIT HAVING A CLIP ARRANGEMENT FOR ENGAGING WITH THE PRINT ENGINE DURING REFILLING - A printing fluid refill cartridge for a printing unit comprising an outlet arranged to be engageable with a refill port of the printing unit through which printing fluid contained in the refill cartridge is dispensable; a first engagement member arranged in the vicinity of the outlet and a second engagement member arranged in the vicinity of the refill port and configured to be removably securable with the first engagement member so as to engage and hold the refill port and the outlet together. | 12-10-2009 |
20090303302 | Ink Cartridge Having Enlarged End Reservoirs - A print cartridge is provided having an elongate body defining a number of printing fluid reservoirs along the elongate length with end reservoirs being larger than reservoirs interposed between the end reservoirs, a lid covering the body to seal the reservoirs, and a printhead on the body in fluid communication with the reservoirs. | 12-10-2009 |
20100039475 | Cradle Unit For Receiving Removable Printer Cartridge Unit - A cradle unit for receiving a printer cartridge unit includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a print engine controller for controlling a printhead of the printer cartridge unit is provided, the PCB having a row of electrical contacts; a cover assembly movable between a closed position where the printer cartridge unit is mechanically secured in the cradle unit, and an opened position where removal of the printer cartridge unit from the cradle unit is facilitated; a pair of arms for supporting the PCB therebetween, each of the pair of arms having a grooved portion; and a pair of tension springs, one end of each tension spring being engaged with the grooved portion of respective arms, and another end of each tension spring being engaged with the cover assembly. The cover assembly, pair of arms, and tension springs are configured to bias the row of electrical contacts into electrical contact with the printer cartridge when the cover assembly is moved from the opened position to the closed position. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045743 | PRINTER HAVING REFERENCING FOR REMOVABLE PRINTHEAD - A printer is provided having a slot for removably receiving a printhead having a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles, and protrusions arranged in the slot to cooperate with a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the printhead upon mounting of the printhead to the printer, the cooperation providing information on the location of the nozzles. | 02-25-2010 |
20100053273 | Printer Having Simple Connection Printhead - A printer is provided having a removably secured cradle in which a cartridge having a pagewidth printhead and printing fluid supply is removably received. The cradle has a printed circuit board mounted on pivoting arms such that terminals on the printed circuit board contact, upon the pivoting arms being pivoted toward the cartridge, corresponding terminals of the cartridge, and a controller for controlling operation of the received cartridge via the connected terminals of the cradle and cartridge. | 03-04-2010 |
20100071190 | Method Of Assembling Print Media Transport Arrangement - A method of assembling a media transport arrangement of a printer is provided. The method includes positioning a roller so as to be supported at a first end by a support frame, positioning a ring bearing of a fixing plate about a second end of the roller, the fixing plate being separate from the support frame, and slidably engaging the fixing plate with the support frame so as to fix the fixing plate and the roller to the support frame. During the sliding engagement, the roller pivots about the first end due to the configuration of the ring bearing. | 03-25-2010 |
20100103220 | Print Engine For Inkjet Printer - A print engine for an inkjet printer includes an inkjet cartridge having a cartridge body, a pagewidth printhead, a capper unit extending a length of the pagewidth printhead and housing a capping element which is movable between a capped position in engagement with the pagewidth printhead and a retracted position spaced from the pagewidth printhead, and an ink supply. The cartridge body supports the pagewidth printhead, the capper unit and the ink supply for simultaneous removal and replacement as a unitary component. The print engine further includes a cradle having a body for receiving the removable inkjet cartridge and to control the operation of the printhead for printing, the cradle having a capper drive for engaging the capper unit and drawing the capping element to the uncapped position; and a print controller board received in the cradle, the print controller board including one or more electrical terminals for engaging with corresponding electrical terminals on the inkjet cartridge. The cradle is secured to the inkjet printer to receive print media from a media input tray and to deliver printed media to a media output tray via a media feed path extending between the pagewidth printhead and the capping element. The print controller board is pivotally received in the cradle to pivot into and out of contact with the corresponding electrical contacts of the inkjet cartridge in response to the actuation of a cover assembly for covering the cradle unit. | 04-29-2010 |
20100118087 | Printhead With Flex PCB Bent Between Contacts And Printhead IC - A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer that has a print engine controller for receiving print data and sending it to the printhead. The printhead has a printhead IC for ejecting ink and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC in the printer adjacent a paper path. The printhead IC is mounted on a face of the support structure that, in use, faces the paper path. A flexible printed circuit board (flex PCB) that has contacts for receiving print data mounted to the support structure on a face that does not face the paper path. The bent section reduces the likelihood of trace cracking by holding the flex PCB at a set radius rather than allowing the flex to follow an irregular curve and thereby risking localized points of high stress on the traces. | 05-13-2010 |
20100123766 | PRIMING SYSTEM FOR PAGEWIDTH PRINT CARTRIDGE - An ink priming system for a cartridge includes a priming inlet provided on a pagewidth printhead assembly, the priming inlet including a valve incorporating an elastomeric seal; an ink flow passage providing fluid connection between the pagewidth printhead assembly and an ink storage compartment of the cartridge, the ink flow passage terminating at the ink storage compartment to form an ink outlet; an ink filter provided across the ink outlet; a vent hole defined through a surface of the ink storage compartment, the vent hole being defined through a surface opposite the ink outlet; and an ink retaining member provided within the ink storage compartment for receiving and storing ink, the ink retaining member being interposed between the ink outlet and the vent hole. Ink is supplied to the priming inlet of the pagewidth printhead assembly to flow from the pagewidth printhead assembly into the ink storage compartment via the ink flow passage and across the ink filter. The ink received via the ink flow passage primes both the printhead assembly and the ink retaining member of each ink storage compartment with ink substantially simultaneously. | 05-20-2010 |
20100128094 | Print Engine With A Refillable Printer Cartridge And Ink Refill Port - A print engine for a printhead assembly includes a refillable cartridge having a body defining a plurality of fluid chambers, the body having a lid assembly with a plurality of ink refill ports leading to respective fluid chambers, the lid assembly having an actuator to actuate a refill unit; a number of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements configured to operatively eject printing fluid onto a printing medium; and a fluid distribution member operatively arranging the nozzle arrangements in fluid communication with respective fluid chambers. The lid assembly engages with the refill unit to actuate the refill unit. The refill unit includes an outlet adapted to engage with the plurality of ink refill ports, a fluid reservoir, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject fluid from the reservoir when the ejector assembly is actuated by the actuator during operative engagement of the print cartridge by the lid assembly. Each fluid chamber includes a stack of polymer layers with a micro-capillary array of channels formed therein to form an absorbent assembly within the fluid chamber. | 05-27-2010 |
20100134540 | METHOD OF PRIMING PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD - A method of priming ejection nozzles of a printhead is provided in which inwardly directed force is applied on an exterior wall of a bag containing fluid for distribution to the nozzles so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the bag, thereby causing fluid to be distributed from the bag to the nozzles, and a biasing member in the bag is caused to apply outwardly directed force on an interior wall of the bag so as to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the bag only once the available fluid volume of the bag has been reduced to a predetermined volume. The printhead is a pagewidth printhead having a pagewidth of greater than 100 millimetres. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134575 | REFILLABLE INK CARTRIDGE WITH INK BYPASS CHANNEL FOR REFILLING - A refillable ink cartridge has an ink port for both supplying ink to a printhead and refilling the cartridge. An ink reservoir has ink absorbent material disposed therein with a main fluid channel extending between the ink port and the ink absorbent material. A bypass fluid channel with a control valve extends between the main fluid channel the said absorbent material. The bypass control valve is configured to allow ink to flow through the bypass fluid channel only when refilling the ink reservoir via the ink port. | 06-03-2010 |
20100149230 | PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE CRADLE HAVING CONTROL CIRCUITRY - A printhead cartridge cradle is provided having a frame, a printed circuit board pivotally supported by the frame, a cover pivotally supported by the frame to pivot between a closed position at which a printhead cartridge is secured within the frame and the printed circuit board is pivoted to connect control circuitry on the printed circuit board with a controller of the secured cartridge and an open position at which access for the cartridge with the frame is provided and the printed circuit board is pivoted to disconnect the control circuitry and controller, and a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and actuator arrangement and a wiper gear and actuator arrangement for maintaining and wiping a printhead of the secured cartridge under control of the connected control circuitry. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149294 | INKJET PRINTER WITH ELONGATE NOZZLE ARRAY SUPPLIED THROUGH PULSE DAMPED CONDUITS - An inkjet printer that has an elongate array of nozzles for ejecting ink, a plurality of ejection actuators, each configured to eject ink through one of the nozzles respectively, a plurality of ink conduits aligned with a longitudinal extent of the elongate array of nozzles, the ink conduits extending adjacent the elongate array for supplying the array of nozzles with ink and, a plurality of pulse dampers positioned along each of the ink conduits, each pulse damper being individually in fluid communication with one of the ink conduits and each containing a volume of gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink conduits. A pressure pulse moving through an elongate printheads, such as a pagewidth printhead, can be damped at any point in the ink flow line. However, the pulse will cause nozzle flooding as it passes the nozzles in the printhead integrated circuit, regardless of whether it is subsequently dissipated at the damper. By incorporating a number of pulse dampers into the ink supply conduits immediately next to the nozzle array, any pressure spikes are damped at the site where they would otherwise cause detrimental flooding. | 06-17-2010 |
20100164168 | PRINTER HAVING GEARED MEDIA PICK-UP ROLLER - A printer is provided having a sheet media transport mechanism, a pick-up roller arranged to be rotated so as to contact and pick-up sheet media from a sheet media supply, and a gear assembly for communicating a driving force of a motor to the pick-up roller to rotate the pick-up roller. A first gear of the gear assembly is directly coupled with a second gear of the gear assembly which is concentric with the pick-up roller. The first gear is configured to disengage from the second gear substantially at the point of delivery of a leading edge of the picked sheet media to the sheet media transport mechanism so as to cease communication of the driving force of the motor to the pick-up roller. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165037 | PRINT CARTRDGE CRADLE UNIT INCORPORATING MAINTENANCE ASSEMBLY - A cradle unit for receiving a print cartridge to form a print engine, the cradle unit includes a main body defining an opening for receiving said cartridge, the main body having a frame structure including end plates with drive and exit rollers mounted therebetween; a printed circuit board (PCB) pivotally mounted between the end plates for housing control electronics for controlling the operation of the print engine; a cover assembly for securing said cartridge in the opening, the cover assembly pivotally mounted between the end plates, the cover assembly configured to pivot the PCB into electrical contact with a printhead controller on the cartridge when in a closed position, and to pivot the PCB out of electrical connection with said printhead controller when in an open position; and a maintenance assembly mounted to the main body, the maintenance assembly movable between a capping state where a printhead of the print cartridge is capped, and a printing stage where a printhead of the print cartridge is uncapped. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165058 | Ink Refill Unit Having Discretely Incrementable Variable Storage Volume - A printing fluid refill unit for a print engine includes a reservoir having a variable storage volume for holding an amount of printing fluid, the variable storage volume having a plurality of discrete volumetric increments, each of the discrete volumetric increments having equal volumes, the reservoir further having an actuator for reducing the variable storage volume by one or more of the discrete volumetric increments; a ratchet system forming part of the actuator, the ratchet system effecting variation of the storage volume by a minimum increment of one discrete volumetric increment; an information storage element for storing information on the amount of printing fluid contained in the refill unit and for connecting with an information reader incorporated in the print engine for reading the information stored by the storage element when the refill unit is mounted to the print engine; a selector for activating the actuator to dispense a volume of the printing fluid equal to a selected multiple of the discrete volumetric increments, wherein the information stored by the storage element enables the reader to control the selector so as to derive the selected multiple of the volumetric increments; and a sensor for sensing the position of the ratchet, whereby a remaining volume of ink in the variable storage volume is determined. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165059 | DISPENSER UNIT FOR REFILLING PRINTING UNIT - A dispenser unit for dispensing ink to refill a supply of printing fluid in a printing unit includes a body assembly; a plurality of ink outlets provided on a bottom side of the body assembly, the plurality of ink outlets each for engaging with respective ink inlets of the printing unit; a compressible ink storage volume provided within the body assembly, the compressible ink storage volume having a sealed end and an outlet end connected to no more than one of the plurality of ink outlets; a plunger provided within the housing and abutting the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume; and a compressing actuator for compressing the plunger against the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume, thereby facilitating a dispensing of ink from within the compressible ink storage volume into the printing unit via the ink outlet to which the outlet end of the compressible ink storage volume is connected. | 07-01-2010 |
20100171790 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE SYSTEM FOR STATIONARY PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD - A printhead maintenance system comprises: a stationary pagewidth printhead having an ink ejection face; an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting the ink ejection face; and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. In use, the printhead remains stationary when the roller is rolled across the face. | 07-08-2010 |
20100171800 | INK STORAGE MODULE WITH DISPLACEABLE UPPER AND LOWER PLATES AND DISPLACEABLE UPPER AND LOWER COLLARS - An ink storage module for a printer cartridge includes upper and lower plate members and an ink bag located between the upper and lower plate members to define an ink volume, said lower plate member displaceable towards and away from the upper plate member; a bag constrictor assembly having an upper collar, a lower collar, and a plurality of bowed panels extending between the upper and lower collar, the upper collar being displaceable towards the lower collar; a lid to which the upper plate member is fixedly attached, the lid having a first port and a second port both in fluid communication with the ink bag; and a valve insert located between the lid and the ink bag, said valve insert having an inlet valve and an outlet valve arranged in fluid communication with respective first and second ports in the lid, the inlet valve facilitating refilling of the bag with ink, and the outlet valve to facilitate ink delivery to the printhead. The bowed panels bow inwardly onto the ink bag when the upper collar is displaced towards the lower collar. | 07-08-2010 |
20100182372 | INKJET PRINT ENGINE HAVING PRINTER CARTRIDGE INCORPORATING MAINTENANCE ASSEMBLY AND CRADLE UNIT INCORPORATING MAINTENANCE DRIVE ASSEMBLY - An inkjet print engine includes a printer cartridge having an elongate body and a pair of mounting posts provided at either end of the elongate body, the printer cartridge further and defining a plurality of partitions; an ink storage module assembly having a row of ink storage modules interleaved with the partitions; a printhead assembly mounted to the elongate body and including at least one ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) connected to receive ink from the ink storage modules; an elongate maintenance assembly mounted between the posts and configured to cap and clean the IC; a cradle unit for removably receiving the printer cartridge; and a maintenance drive assembly mounted to the cradle unit for actuating against the maintenance assembly to facilitate cleaning of the IC. | 07-22-2010 |
20100182373 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION HAVING NON-POROUS ROLLER - A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead, and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. The contact surface of the roller is configured so as to avoid trapping of ink on or in the roller surface. | 07-22-2010 |
20100182387 | RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPLYING FLUID TO PRINTHEAD - A fluid reservoir assembly for supplying fluid to a printhead is provided. The assembly has a reservoir compartment in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying the fluid to the printhead via a fluid outlet, the reservoir compartment having an air vent and a bypass fluid path interconnecting the fluid outlet and a well region within the compartment, and a valve in the bypass fluid path for priming the reservoir compartment with fluid via the bypass fluid path. | 07-22-2010 |
20100194802 | PRINTER HAVING SELF-REFERENCING PRINTING CARTRIDGE - A printer is provided with a body having a slot for removably receiving a printing cartridge, a mesa feature arranged in the slot to cooperate with a complementary slot in the fluid distribution support of the printing cartridge upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer, and protrusions arranged in the slot to cooperate with a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the printing cartridge upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer The printing cartridge has at least one printhead integrated circuit with a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles and a fluid distribution support mounting the printhead integrated circuit. The cooperation of the mesa feature and complementary slot and the protrusions and corners provides information on the location of the nozzles. | 08-05-2010 |
20100194831 | REFILL UNIT FOR INCREMENTAL MILLILITRE FLUID REFILL - A refill unit for a fluid container is providing. The refill unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject between 6 ml and 50 ml per increment of fluid from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing. | 08-05-2010 |
20100194832 | REFILL UNIT FOR INCREMENTALLY FILLING FLUID CONTAINER - A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly having a piston and cylinder reservoir, said piston having a thread which engages a screw thread in an internal wall of the cylinder, the piston rotationally biased by a wound spring and the ejector assembly having a pawl-and-ratchet detent preventing the biased piston threading into the reservoir until the pawl is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing to incrementally eject fluid from | 08-05-2010 |
20100194833 | REFILL UNIT FOR FLUID CONTAINER - A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and a plunger having a toothed thread which engages with a screw thread provided in an internal wall of the housing, the ejector having a drive gear so that actuation of the drive gear imparts rotation to the toothed thread so as to rotate the plunger within the screw thread of the housing to incrementally eject fluid from the fluid reservoir when the drive gear is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing. | 08-05-2010 |
20100201740 | PRINTHEAD CRADLE HAVING ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL OF CAPPER - A printhead cradle is provided for removably receiving a printhead. The cradle has a controller for controlling operation of the received printhead and an electromagnet for causing movement of a movable capper of the printhead under control of the controller. | 08-12-2010 |
20100207999 | PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH INK AND DATA DISTRIBUTION - A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer, that has an elongate ink distribution member mounted with a series of inlets spaced along the length of the elongate ink distribution member, one or more integrated circuits fixed to the ink distribution member, the or each integrated circuit having nozzles for ejecting ink supplied by the distribution member onto a passing media substrate, and an electrical connector for transmitting data to the or each integrated circuit, the electrical connector having an elongate array of contacts for electrical connection with a corresponding array of contacts on the inkjet printer. | 08-19-2010 |
20100208012 | REFILL UNIT FOR AN INK STORAGE COMPARTMENT CONNECTED TO A PRINTHEAD THROUGH AN OUTLET VALVE - A refill unit for refilling an ink storage compartment for a printhead assembly. The ink storage compartment is fluidically connected to the printhead assembly via an outlet valve. The refill unit a variable volume container for holding a quantity of ink and a valve actuator for closing the outlet valve as the refill unit engages the ink storage compartment. | 08-19-2010 |
20100214383 | CARTRIDGE FOR PRINTER HAVING FLUID FLOW ARRANGEMENT - A cartridge for a printer is provided having a body defining a number of fluid reservoirs, a lid covering the body to seal fluid inside the reservoirs, and a printhead operatively fed with fluid from the reservoirs. A base of each reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds a fluid outlet through which fluid flows for supply to the printhead. Each raised portion being moulded in the body to separate the outlet from the base of each reservoir to ensure a sufficient flow rate of fluid from the reservoir. | 08-26-2010 |
20100221671 | PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ATTACHMENT FILM - A method of fabricating a film used in attaching a printhead integrated circuit to an ink supply manifold is disclosed. An adhesive polymeric film having a protective liner is provided. Photoresist is then deposited onto the protective liner, and the photoresist is photopatterned. Ink supply holes are etched through the adhesive polymeric film and the protective liner, with the photoresist acting as a mask for the etching. Finally, the protective liner including the photoresist is removed from the adhesive polymeric film after the etching step is complete. | 09-02-2010 |
20100225714 | REFILL UNIT HAVING FLUID STORAGE ACTUATORS - A refill unit is provided for refilling a fluid storage compartment of a printer. The refill unit has a body containing fluid, and a plurality of actuators defined in the body for actuating a constrictor of the storage compartment as the refill unit engages with the storage compartment and deactivating the constrictor as the refill unit disengages from the storage compartment. The constrictor constricts a flexible wall of the storage compartment. | 09-09-2010 |
20100225717 | PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE WITH COLLAPSIBLE INK BAGS - Provided is a printhead cartridge for a pagewidth printer. The cartridge has a cartridge body, a number of ink supply bags positioned inside the cartridge body, each ink supply bag having two panels sealed together to form a collapsible ink holding chamber, a printhead assembly in fluid communication with the ink supply bags, the printhead assembly having ink supply channels, a leaf spring for biasing said ink holding chamber to increase an internal volume of the ink holding chamber and, | 09-09-2010 |
20100229393 | METHOD OF ASSEMBLING PRINTHEAD CAPPING MECHANISM - A method of assembling a gear arrangement for a capper of an inkjet printer includes the steps of: mounting a first gear assembly to the printer to cooperate with a motor gear for driving rotation of the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly including a driving gear from which a code feature protrudes, the driving gear meshed with the motor gear; engaging the printer with a jig; and mounting a second gear assembly to the printer using the jig, the second gear assembly mounted to cooperate with the first gear assembly to be rotatable therewith and to further cooperate with a capper for capping a printhead so that the rotation of the second gear assembly moves the capper out of and into capping position. The step of mounting the second gear assembly further includes a step of sliding a slider block of the holding feature about the code feature of the driving gear, whereby the code feature cooperate with the holding feature to maintain the first gear assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second gear assembly. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231665 | CARTRIDGE UNIT FOR PRINTER - Provided is a cartridge unit for a printer. The cartridge unit has upper and lower plate members having an ink bag located between the plate members to define an ink volume. The plate members can be displaced towards and away from each other by an external force. A bag constrictor assembly engages the plate members and is configured to act on the bag when the plate members are displaced towards each other to reduce the ink volume. A valve insert has an inlet valve to facilitate refilling of the bag with ink and an outlet valve to facilitate ink delivery to a printhead. A filter cover is positioned between the valve insert and the ink bag to filter contaminants and air bubbles passing between the ink bag and said valve insert. | 09-16-2010 |
20100245422 | METHOD OF THREE DIMENSIONALLY LOCATING PRINTHEAD ON PRINTER - A method of locating a printhead on a printer is provided in which a printhead is provided which has at least one integrated circuit having a plurality of ejection nozzles, the printhead is mounted to the printer by bringing each of a slot defined with respect to the x-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with a mesa feature of the printer, an angled surface defined with respect to the x- and y-coordinates of the printhead into cooperation with a protrusion across the slot of the printer, and a flat surface defined with respect to the z-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with protrusion located within the slot of the printer, and the location of the nozzles with respect to the x-, y- and z-coordinates is determined from the cooperation. | 09-30-2010 |
20100271421 | MAINTENANCE ASSEMBLY FOR PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD - A maintenance assembly for a pagewidth printer mounted between posts of a main body of the printer and positioned adjacent a printhead assembly of the printer includes a maintenance chassis defining tongue portions and having ends shaped to fit over the posts of the main body to secure the maintenance assembly in position; a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis; and a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them, the moldings in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, the maintenance assembly for wiping the printhead of the printer. The lower maintenance molding is made from a plastic material and forms a body having closed ends and an open top, the ends of the lower maintenance molding defining air vents to facilitate ventilation of the maintenance assembly. | 10-28-2010 |
20100271427 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH CAPILLARY CHANNELS IN FLUID CHAMBERS - A printhead assembly is provided. The cartridge includes a body assembly defining fluid chambers that each comprise a stack of polymer layers with a micro-capillary array of channels formed therein to form an absorbent assembly. The printhead assembly includes a plurality of printhead integrated circuits (IC) each having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements for ejecting printing fluid onto a printing medium, in use. The printhead assembly also includes a fluid distribution member operatively arranging each chamber in fluid communication with each IC. | 10-28-2010 |
20100277543 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION HAVING ONE-PIECE ELASTOMER PAD FOR PEELING ENGAGEMENT WITH NOZZLES - A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station has an elastically deformable pad coextensive with the printhead. The pad is a one-piece elastomer pad having a uniform contact surface configured for sealing contact with all nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. A mechanism is configured for reciprocally moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with all nozzles in the ink ejection face, and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The pad and the mechanism cooperate such that the contact surface is progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during peeling disengagement. | 11-04-2010 |
20100277545 | PRINTER HAVING DISENGAGEABLE MEDIA PICK UP - A printer is provided having a support frame, a media cartridge removably engaged with the support frame, the media cartridge having a supply of sheet media, a driven roller arranged to be rotated so as to contact and pick-up sheet media from the media cartridge and deliver the picked sheet media to a sheet media transport mechanism of the printer, and a gear assembly for engaging driving power from a motor to the driven roller. The gear assembly has a first gear on a shaft of the driven roller and a second gear directly coupled with the first gear. The gear assembly is configured to decouple the second gear from the first gear to thereby disengage said driving power upon delivery of the picked sheet media to the sheet media transport mechanism. | 11-04-2010 |
20100277556 | PRINT ENGINE WITH INK STORAGE MODULES INCORPORATING COLLAPSIBLE BAGS - A print engine for an inkjet printer unit includes a cradle unit and a replaceable cartridge unit to be releasably received within the cradle unit. The cartridge unit includes an elongate body defining a row of cavities; an ink storage module assembly including a plurality of ink storage modules received within the cavities, each ink storage module including a collapsible ink storage bag extending between a pair of plates; and a printhead assembly mounted to the body and including an ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) connected to receive ink from the ink storage modules. Each ink storage module further includes a biasing means configured to bias the plates apart so that the bag expands and thereby maintains ink within the bag at negative pressure. | 11-04-2010 |
20100277559 | PRINTER WITH HIGH FLOWRATE INK FILTER - An inkjet printer that has a filter with a chamber divided into an upstream section and a downstream section by a filter membrane. An inlet conduit establishes fluid communication between an ink supply and the upstream section. An outlet conduit establishes fluid communication between the downstream section and a printhead. During use at least part of the inlet conduit is elevated relative to the filter membrane. By elevating the inlet conduit relative to the filter membrane, it acts as a bubble trap to retain bubbles that would otherwise obstruct the filter. This allows the filter size to be reduced for a more compact overall design. | 11-04-2010 |
20100283817 | PRINTER PRINT ENGINE WITH CRADLED CARTRIDGE UNIT - A print engine for a printer unit includes a cradle unit including a print engine controller provided on flex printed circuit board, and a cover assembly for covering a recess defined by the cradle; a replaceable cartridge unit received within the recess of the cradle unit in a releasable manner, the replaceable cartridge having a body, an ink storage module assembly, and a pagewidth printhead assembly; and a print media transport means for transporting print media. The ink storage module assembly includes a plurality of ink storage modules received in the body from a first side, and the pagewidth printhead assembly is mounted to the body at a second side opposite the first side. The cover assembly is engaged with the flex printed circuit board to pivot the flex printed circuit board in and out of electrical engagement with the pagewidth printhead assembly upon closing and opening of the cover assembly with respect to the recess. | 11-11-2010 |
20110025787 | PRINTHEAD SUPPORT STRUCTURE WITH CAVITIES FOR PULSE DAMPING - A printhead for an inkjet printer is disclosed. The printhead has one or more a printhead integrated circuits (ICs) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink. A support structure of the printhead supports the printhead ICs. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each respective cavity has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The upstream edge contacts the ink before the downstream edge during initial priming of the ink conduits from an ink supply. The upstream edge has a transition face between the ink conduit and the cavity interior. The transition face is configured to inhibit ink from filling the cavity by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit. This causes gas to be trapped within the cavity. The gas acts to compress pressure pulses in the ink. | 02-03-2011 |
20110080455 | FLUID COUPLING - A fluid coupling for establishing a sealed connection between a first conduit and a second conduit. The second conduit has a seal seat and a compression member. The compression member is movable relative to the seal seat. A seal is positioned in the seal seat. An engagement mechanism moves the compression member toward the seal seat to compress the seal to form a sealed fluid connection. The engagement mechanism has an input arm hinged to the compression member at a hinge connection. The input arm has a compression lever fixed at an angle to the longitudinal extent of the input arm. The input arm is arranged to push against the compression member as the input arm rotates about the hinge connection to the compression member. The compression member in turn pushes against the second conduit to move the second conduit relative to the first conduit, until the input arm reaches a predetermined angle about the hinge where the compression lever engages the second conduit such that further rotation of the input arm moves the compression member relative to the second conduit to compress the seal. | 04-07-2011 |
20110090280 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY HAVING FLUID DRAINAGE - A printhead maintenance facility is provided having a storage reservoir for storing fluid ejected by a printhead and a core movable relative to the printhead. The has an internal structure defining the storage reservoir and having a port in fluid communication with the storage reservoir, and an external structure movable relative to the internal structure and having a drain movable into registration with the port to establish fluid communication between the drain and storage reservoir. | 04-21-2011 |
20110102521 | INK SUPPLY SYSTEM WITH FLOAT VALVE - An ink supply system for an inkjet printer. The ink supply system includes an ink reservoir and a pressure-regulating chamber. The pressure-regulating chamber has an inlet port, an outlet port, an air vent open to atmosphere and a float valve for maintaining a predetermined level of ink in the chamber. The float valve is biased towards a closed position by a positive ink pressure from the ink reservoir at the inlet port. | 05-05-2011 |
20110228018 | INKJET PRINTER WITH FLOAT VALVE REGULATION OF HYDROSTATIC INK PRESSURE - An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead; an ink reservoir containing a supply of ink; and a pressure-regulating chamber for maintaining ink contained therein at a predetermined first level. The chamber includes: an inlet port connected to the ink reservoir via an ink supply line; an outlet port connected to an ink inlet of the printhead via an upstream ink line; an air vent open to atmosphere; and a float valve for maintaining the predetermined first level of ink. The float valve includes: an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot; a float mounted at one end of the arm; and a valve stem attached to the arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat, the valve seat being positioned at the inlet port of the pressure-regulating chamber. | 09-22-2011 |
20110234691 | PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE FACILITY HAVING FLUID DRAINAGE - A printhead maintenance facility is provided having a storage reservoir for storing fluid ejected by a printhead, and a core movable relative to the printhead. The core has an internal structure defining the storage reservoir and having a port in fluid communication with the storage reservoir, and an external structure movable relative to the internal structure and having a drain movable into registration with the port to establish fluid communication between the drain and storage reservoir. The printhead is pagewidth and the internal and external structures are at least as long as the pagewidth. | 09-29-2011 |
20110279498 | SYSTEM FOR SENSING CAPACITY STATE OF LIQUID CONTAINER - A system for sensing a predetermined pressure change at a port of a liquid container for supplying liquid to a printer, the system having a liquid delivery apparatus connected to a liquid container via a fluid line and a sensing arrangement connected to the fluid line, wherein the liquid container has an internal fluid pressure changing member configured so that contact with liquid being delivered by the liquid delivery apparatus causes the predetermined pressure change in the fluid line, and the sensing arrangement is configured to sense the predetermined pressure change in the fluid line. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279555 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING FLUID FLOW RESTRICTION - A fluid distribution system having a first fluid container having a fluid outlet, a second fluid container having a fluid inlet, a fluid line interconnecting the outlet of the first container and the inlet of the second container, an inverted umbrella valve between the fluid line and the inlet, the valve arranged to allow fluid flow from the first container to the second container via the fluid line and a restrictor for restricting the allowed fluid flow through the fluid line. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279557 | Fluid Distribution System for Pressure Control at Printhead - A fluid distribution system for a printhead. The system having a first fluid container a fluid connector for connection to a fluid input of the printhead; and a second fluid container connected between the first container and the connector for delivering fluid from the first container to the connector, wherein the second container is located relative to the first container and the connector so that a fluid pressure difference between fluid contained within the second container and fluid at the connector is independent of the amount of fluid contained within the first container. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279558 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FLUID PRESSURE AT PRINTHEAD - A method of controlling fluid pressure at a printhead with a fluid distribution arrangement, the method having providing the fluid distribution arrangement with a first fluid container, a fluid connector for connection to a fluid input of the printhead, and a second fluid container connected between the first container and the connector for delivering fluid from the first container to the connector and locating the second container relative to the first container and the connector so that a fluid pressure difference between fluid contained within the second container and fluid at the connector is independent of the amount of fluid contained within the first container. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279559 | PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING PRESSURE CONTROL AT PRINTHEAD - A printing system having a first fluid container, a printhead and a second fluid container connected between the first container and the printhead for delivering fluid from the first container to the printhead, wherein the second container is located relative to the first container and the printhead so that a fluid pressure difference between fluid contained within the second container and fluid at the printhead is independent of the amount of fluid contained within the first container. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279560 | METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING FLUID PRESSURE IN PRINTING SYSTEM - A method of distributing fluid pressure in a printing system, the method having providing the printing system with a first fluid container, a printhead having fluid ejection nozzles, and a second fluid container connected between the first container and the printhead for delivering fluid from the first container to the printhead and locating the first container above the printhead and the second container and locating the second container below the printhead such that negative fluid pressure is provided at the nozzles of the printhead and positive fluid pressure is provided at the second container. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279562 | SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING FLUID AND GAS WITHIN PRINTER - A system for distributing fluid and gas within a printer is provided having a fluid container having three fluid ports, a first fluid path connecting the first fluid port to a printhead of the printer, a second fluid path connecting the second fluid port to the printhead, and a third fluid path connecting the third fluid port to a gas vent. The first and second fluid ports are configured so that fluid from the fluid container flows between the first and second fluid paths via the printhead and the third fluid port is configured so that gas flows between the fluid container and gas vent. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279564 | SYSTEM FOR VENTING GAS AT INK CONTAINERS - A system for venting gas at ink containers which supply inks to a multi-channel inkjet printhead is provided having a plurality of ink containers for supplying fluids to a printhead having a plurality of ink channels, and a gas vent assembly having a plurality of gas vents. Each ink container has an ink port connected to a corresponding one of the ink channels of the printhead and a gas port. Each gas vent is connected to a corresponding one of the gas ports of the ink containers. The gas vents of the gas vent assembly are in fluid communication with the external atmosphere. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279583 | LIQUID CONTAINER WITH PASSIVE CAPACITY STATE SENSING - A liquid container for supplying liquid to a printer, the liquid container having a body having an interior space for containing liquid to a predetermined capacity, a port through the body for delivery of liquid into the body to the predetermined capacity, an aperture through the body at which the interior space of the body is in communication with atmosphere external to the fluid container and a hydrophobic film between the aperture and the interior space of the body, the film being configured so that contact with the liquid being delivered via the port causes a change in the fluid pressure at the port. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279592 | LIQUID CONTAINER WITH CAPACITY STATE SENSING - A liquid container for supplying liquid to a printer, the liquid container having: a body having an interior space for containing liquid to a predetermined capacity, a port through the body for delivery of liquid into the body to the predetermined capacity, an aperture through the body at which the interior space of the body is in communication with atmosphere external to the fluid container and a fluid pressure changing member between the aperture and the interior space of the body, the member being configured so that contact with the liquid being delivered via the port causes a change in the fluid pressure at the port. | 11-17-2011 |
20110310186 | PRINTHEAD SUPPORT STRUCTURE WITH CAVITIES FOR PULSE DAMPING - A structure for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead structure has an elongate support structure for supporting a printhead integrated circuit, and ink conduits formed in the elongate support structure for supplying ink to an array of nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each cavity has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The upstream edge contacts the ink before the downstream edge during initial priming of the ink conduits from an ink supply. The upstream edge has a transition face between the ink conduit and the cavity interior, the transition face being configured to inhibit ink from filling the cavity by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit. This causes gas to be trapped within the cavity. The gas acts to compress pressure pulses in the ink. | 12-22-2011 |
20120056941 | PRINTHEAD HAVING FLUID SUPPLY THROUGH SEALING FILM - A printhead is provided having a printhead integrated circuit having ejection nozzles and fluid channels for supplying fluid to the nozzles, a support structure supporting the integrated circuit, the support structure having conduits for supplying fluid to the channels, and a sealing film fixing the integrated circuit to the support structure. The sealing film has apertures providing sealed fluid communication between the conduits and the channels. The channels are divided into isolated channel sections by walls. Each aperture of the sealing film is positioned at one of the walls so as to provide fluid communication to both of the channel sections either side of the respective wall. | 03-08-2012 |
20120293592 | INK DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING GAS VENTING - An ink distribution system for a printhead, the system having a first ink container having an ink outlet, a second ink container having an ink inlet, an ink line interconnecting the outlet of the first container and the inlet of the second container and a gas vent on the ink line. | 11-22-2012 |
20130169714 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY HAVING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR TRANSMITTING POWER AND DATA - A cartridge for a printer is provided having a body defining a number of fluid reservoirs, a lid covering the body to seal fluid inside the reservoirs, and a printhead operatively fed with fluid from the reservoirs. A base of each reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds a fluid outlet through which fluid flows for supply to the printhead. Each raised portion being moulded in the body to separate the outlet from the base of each reservoir to ensure a sufficient flow rate of fluid from the reservoir. | 07-04-2013 |
20130176366 | PRINTER WITH INK LINE DAMPENING OF INK PRESSURE SURGES - A printer comprising: a printhead having an ink inlet and an ink outlet; an ink chamber for supplying ink to the printhead; an upstream ink line interconnecting an outlet port of the ink chamber and the ink inlet; a downstream ink line connected to the ink outlet; and a first air accumulator communicating with the downstream ink line. The first air accumulator is configured for dampening ink pressure pulses in the printhead during printing. | 07-11-2013 |
20130215199 | PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING FRONTSIDE INLET CHANNELS AND BACKSIDE INK SUPPLY CHANNELS - Provided is a cartridge unit for a printer. The cartridge unit has upper and lower plate members having an ink bag located between the plate members to define an ink volume. The plate members can be displaced towards and away from each other by an external force. A bag constrictor assembly engages the plate members and is configured to act on the bag when the plate members are displaced towards each other to reduce the ink volume. A valve insert has an inlet valve to facilitate refilling of the bag with ink and an outlet valve to facilitate ink delivery to a printhead. A filter cover is positioned between the valve insert and the ink bag to filter contaminants and air bubbles passing between the ink bag and said valve insert. | 08-22-2013 |