ZAMTEC LIMITED Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140253636 | PRINTHEAD HAVING NESTED MODULES - An inkjet printhead assembly includes a molded plastics module defining a plurality of converging ink channels. Each ink channel has an inlet for receiving ink, an outlet and tapered sidewalls extending between the inlet and the outlet. Each outlet is defined in a mounting surface of the molded plastics module. A printhead chip is mounted on the mounting surface, which receives different colored inks from the outlets. The inlets are spaced wider apart than the outlets and the inlets have larger dimensions than the outlets. | 09-11-2014 |
20140240396 | PRINTER HAVING ROTATABLE SERVICE MODULES EMBEDDED IN FIXED VACUUM PLATEN - A printing system includes: a fixed printhead assembly having an array of printheads and vacuum platen assembly. The vacuum platen assembly includes a fixed vacuum platen and a plurality of rotatable service modules embedded in the fixed vacuum platen. Each service module is positioned opposite a respective printhead, and each service module comprises a respective vacuum platen module. | 08-28-2014 |
20140218453 | SYSTEM FOR GUIDING MEDIA PAST MEDIA WIDTH PRINTHEAD - A system for guiding media past a media width printhead. The system includes: a media width printhead having printhead ICs defining respective print zones; input and output rollers; and an elongate platen for guiding the media as the media is transported through the print zone. The platen has a series of upstream ribs and downstream ribs configured for contacting the media and guiding the media through the print zone. The platen has an aperture such that each printhead IC of the printhead is positioned opposite the aperture, and the print media is suspended between the upstream and downstream ribs across an entire width of the print zone of each printhead IC. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218447 | PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY INCORPORATING INK DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY - A printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly including an ink distribution molding, the ink distribution molding including a plurality of first ducts; at least one printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink distribution assembly; and a rotary platen having at least three surface, each surface for providing one of a platen surface, capping portion, and a blotting portion. The ink distribution assembly further includes a plurality of second ducts acutely angled with respect to the plurality of first ducts, a plurality of transfer ports facilitating fluid communication between the plurality of first ducts and the plurality of second ducts, and a plurality of ink inlet ports facilitating fluid communication between an ink cassette and the plurality of first ducts. | 08-07-2014 |
20140198159 | COMPACT PINCH VALVE - An improved pinch valve includes a camshaft and associated cam(s) controlling the position of a pivotally-mounted first pinch arm and an opposed, pivotally-mounted second pinch arm. The respective pinch arms are provided symmetrically about a central plane which contains an axis of the camshaft. A spring extends across the central plane and interconnects the respective pinch arms so as to urge both pinch arms towards the central plane. A mechanical advantage lever is provided such that the pinching force is greater than the spring force. | 07-17-2014 |
20140184707 | INK DISTRIBUTION MEMBER FOR MOUNTING PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - An elongate ink distribution member for mounting a printhead integrated circuit. The ink distribution member includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply channels and a mounting surface having a plurality of ink supply conduits defined therein. The ink supply conduits are arranged in sets with each set of ink supply conduits being in fluid communication with a respective one of the ink supply channels. The ink supply conduits extend generally transversely from an upstream outer region towards a downstream inner region of the mounting surface. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184685 | MULTIPLE MONOCHROMATIC PRINT CARTRIDGE PRINTING METHOD - A printing method includes the steps of: receiving a colour image and separating the colour image into a plurality of distinct colour planes; dithering a first distinct colour plane to obtain dot data for the first distinct colour plane; dithering a second distinct colour plane to obtain dot data for the second distinct colour plane; providing the dot data for the first distinct colour plane to a first print head cartridge for printing by a plurality of nozzle rows of the first print head cartridge; and providing the dot data for the second distinct colour plane to a second print head cartridge positioned downstream from the first print head cartridge in a direction of print media propagation, the dot data for the second distinct colour plane for printing by a plurality of nozzle rows of the second print head cartridge. | 07-03-2014 |
20140176644 | INKJET PRINTER HAVING PRINTHEAD PLUMBED FOR OPTIMIZED COLOR MIXING - An inkjet printer including an inkjet printhead positioned relative to a media feed direction. The printhead has a plurality of color planes for ejecting different inks, each color plane including a nozzle row defined in a nozzle face of the printhead, and each nozzle in a respective color plane being supplied with a same ink. The printhead is plumbed such that a first color plane positioned furthest upstream with respect to the media feed direction ejects yellow ink and a second color plane neighboring the first color plane ejects black ink. | 06-26-2014 |
20140160202 | PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY HAVING INK DISTRIBUTION MEMBER - A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer includes: a plurality of channels for distributing the ink along a length of the printhead assembly; a plurality of printhead integrated circuits; and an ink distribution member upon which the printhead integrated circuits are fixed and which distributes ink from the channels to the printhead integrated circuits. The ink distribution member has a plurality of ink supply holes and a plurality of ink supply conduits defined in a surface thereof and the printhead integrated circuits are fixed to the ink distribution member via a bonding film. The bonding film includes a plurality of through-holes coinciding with the ink supply holes and end portions of the ink supply conduits. | 06-12-2014 |
20140111578 | INKJET PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY COMPRISING PRINTHEAD MODULES HAVING CONVERGING INK GALLERIES - A printhead is provided having an elongate support having a plurality of internal webs protruding from a base section to define a plurality of parallel fluid supply channels, a shim supported by the support and defining a plurality of rows of openings through which fluid from respective supply channels is supplied, and a plurality of elongate printhead modules supported serially on the shim. Each module defines a plurality of fluid supply passages through which fluid passes to fluid ejection nozzles from respective rows of the openings. Either end of each module defines complementary formations such that adjacent modules nest together. | 04-24-2014 |
20140098167 | METHOD OF HIGH-SPEED PRINTING FOR IMPROVING OPTICAL DENSITY IN PIGMENT-BASED INKS - A method of inkjet printing includes the steps of: (a) moving a substrate past a printhead; (b) printing a pigment-based ink onto the substrate from a first color channel of the printhead; and (c) overprinting a fixer ink onto the pigment-based ink from a second color channel of the printhead. The fixer ink is overprinted onto the pigment-based ink within a period of less than 5 ms. | 04-10-2014 |
20140085369 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING DEFECTIVE NOZZLES IN AN INKJET PRINTHEAD - A method of identifying defective nozzles of a printhead. The method includes the steps of: (i) instructing each nozzle in one ink plane of the printhead to print a respective coded line pattern, each coded line pattern being represented by a column of printed pixels and absent pixels, the coded line patterns being defined by first and second coding schemes encoding a position of each nozzle within its respective cell and a position of each cell within its respective ink plane; (ii) firing each nozzle of the ink plane to print a test pattern comprising a plurality of neighbouring coded line patterns; (iii) imaging an area of the test pattern to obtain an imaged test pattern; (iv) decoding the imaged test pattern using the first and second coding schemes; and (iv) identifying the defective nozzles using the decoded imaged test pattern. | 03-27-2014 |
20140036013 | INKJET PRINTER HAVING DUAL VALVE ARRANGEMENT - An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead having a first port and a second port; an ink container having an outlet port and a return port; a first ink line interconnecting the first port with the outlet port; a second ink line interconnecting the second port with the return port; an air line connected to the first ink line, the air line having an inlet open to atmosphere; a reversible pump positioned between the second port and the return port for pumping ink in the second ink line; and a dual valve arrangement including: a first valve for selectively controlling ink flow through the first ink line, the first valve being positioned in the first ink line between the ink container and the air line; and a second valve for selectively controlling air flow through the air line. | 02-06-2014 |
20140036011 | PRINTER METHOD OF SUPPLYING INKS TO PRINTHEAD HAVING MULTIPLE COLOR CHANNELS - A method of supplying ink to an inkjet printhead having multiple ink color channels. The method includes the steps of: supplying black ink to a black color channel of the printhead; and supplying yellow ink to a yellow color channel of the printhead. The black ink is supplied to the printhead at a lower pressure than the yellow ink. | 02-06-2014 |
20140028755 | REPLACABLE PRINTHEAD CARTRIDGE FOR INKJET PRINTER - A replaceable printhead cartridge includes: an elongate cartridge body having an elongate structure with a plurality of longitudinally extending channels; a pagewidth printhead mounted on the elongate structure; a first fluid coupling positioned towards one end of the elongate structure; and a second fluid coupling positioned towards an opposite end of the elongate structure. The first and second fluid couplings each has an interface plate supporting a plurality of spouts positioned for sealed engagement with corresponding apertures in a complementary socket of a printer. The spouts are in fluid communication with the respective ends of corresponding longitudinally extending channels. The spouts extend from respective interface plates in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge body and parallel with a media feed direction. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028754 | METHOD OF OPERATING INKJET PRINTHEAD IN PRINTING AND MAINTENANCE MODES - A method of operating an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink chambers, each ink chamber including a heater element for generating a bubble and causing ejection of ink droplets from a nozzle defined in the ink chamber. The method includes the steps of: operating the printhead in a normal printing mode whereby relatively shorter drive pulses are delivered to the heater elements to eject ink droplets used in normal printing; and operating the printhead in a maintenance mode whereby relatively longer drive pulses are delivered to the heater elements. The relatively longer drive pulses generate high impulse bubbles for recovering nozzles affected by decap. | 01-30-2014 |
20140022312 | Inkjet nozzle assembly with elliptical nozzle aperture and offset beam heater element - An inkjet nozzle assembly includes: a nozzle chamber having a planar roof spaced apart from a floor, the roof having a nozzle aperture defined therein; and a heater element disposed in the nozzle chamber, the heater element being configured as a planar beam extending longitudinally and parallel with a plane of the roof. The nozzle aperture is elliptical having a centroid, a major axis and a minor axis, the major axis of the nozzle aperture is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the beam, the centroid of the nozzle aperture is offset from a longitudinal centroid of the planar beam, and the minor axis of the nozzle aperture overlaps with a whole width of the beam. | 01-23-2014 |
20130229467 | NON-CONTACT METHOD OF REMOVING FLOODED INK FROM PRINTHEAD PAGE - An ink supply system for an inkjet printhead. The ink supply system includes: an ink reservoir for containing ink, the ink reservoir having a flexible wall; a spring contained within the ink reservoir, the spring being configured for biasing the flexible wall away from an opposite wall of the ink reservoir; an ink conduit providing fluid communication between the ink reservoir and the printhead; and a pressure device for positively pressurizing the flexible wall of the ink reservoir against the bias of the spring. The pressure device includes an air pump for positively pressurizing an air chamber communicating with the flexible wall, such that actuation of the air pump causes the wall to move towards the opposite wall against the bias of the spring. | 09-05-2013 |
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 |
20130208052 | INKJET PRINTHEAD HAVING SUSPENDED HEATER ELEMENT AND INK INLET LATERALLY OFFSET FROM NOZZLE APERTURE - An inkjet printhead includes a plurality of nozzle chambers disposed on a substrate. Each nozzle chamber includes: a floor having an ink inlet defined therein; a roof having a nozzle aperture defined therein; sidewalls extending between the floor and the roof; and a heater element suspended in the nozzle chamber, the heater element being connected to corresponding electrodes so as to heat fluid within the nozzle chamber thereby forming a gas bubble in the fluid which causes ejection of fluid through the nozzle aperture. The ink inlet is laterally offset from the nozzle aperture and a plane of the heater is parallel with a plane of the roof. | 08-15-2013 |
20130193104 | METHOD OF FORMING INKJET NOZZLE CHAMBER - A method of forming an inkjet nozzle chamber includes the steps of: (a) depositing a layer of chamber material onto a substrate, the layer of chamber material defining a depth of the nozzle chamber; (b) removing a predetermined region of the layer of chamber material to define sidewalls of the nozzle chamber and an internal volume of the nozzle chamber; (c) depositing a sacrificial material to fill the internal volume contained within the sidewalls; (d) depositing a roof layer onto the sacrificial material and the sidewalls; (e) etching the roof layer to define a nozzle opening therein; and (f) removing the sacrificial material contained in the internal volume so as to form the nozzle chamber. | 08-01-2013 |
20130182039 | INKJET PRINTER WITH WEB FEED MAINTENANCE ASSEMBLY - An inkjet printer includes: (a) a pagewidth inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzles for delivering ink onto print media fed past the printhead; and (b) a maintenance assembly for maintaining the printhead. The maintenance assembly includes: (i) an elongate web of material; (ii) rollers for supporting the web; (iii) a maintenance member positioned opposite the printhead; (iv) a web-feeding mechanism for advancing the web past the printhead; and (v) an actuating mechanism for configuring the printer in either one of a maintenance position and a printing position. A gap is defined between the web and the printhead in the printing position. | 07-18-2013 |
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 |
20130169726 | PRINTER HAVING FIXED VACUUM PLATEN AND MOVING BELT ASSEMBLY - A printer includes: a fixed printhead assembly defining a print zone; a drive roller for feeding media along a media path and into the print zone, the drive roller being positioned upstream of the print zone; a fixed vacuum platen for receiving the media from the drive roller, the fixed vacuum platen being positioned in the print zone opposite the fixed printhead assembly; and a moving belt assembly positioned downstream of the print zone for receiving the media from the fixed vacuum platen. | 07-04-2013 |
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 |
20130120497 | INKJET PRINTHEAD HAVING ROWS OF PRINTHEAD SEGMENTS - An inkjet printhead includes: a first row of longitudinally spaced apart first printhead segments, each first printhead segment having a plurality of nozzle rows configured for ejecting a plurality of different colored inks; and a second row of longitudinally spaced apart second printhead segments, the second row being parallel with the first row, each second printhead segment having a plurality of nozzle rows configured for ejecting a plurality of different colored inks The first and second printhead segments overlap in a media feed direction transverse to the first and second rows so as to provide seamless printing across a width of the printhead. | 05-16-2013 |
20130070024 | PRINTER FOR MINIMIZING ADVERSE MIXING OF HIGH AND LOW LUMINANCE INKS AT NOZZLE FACE OF INKJET PRINTHEAD - An inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead having a plurality of color planes for ejecting a plurality of different inks. Each color plane has a nozzle row defined in a nozzle face of the printhead and each nozzle in a respective color plane is supplied with a same ink. The printhead is plumbed such that a first color plane ejecting a first ink having a relatively low luminance is sandwiched between second and third color planes ejecting respective second and third inks having a relatively high luminance A plurality of ink reservoirs are in fluid communication with the printhead, the ink reservoirs containing the first, second and third inks. An amount of surfactant in the first ink is at least 0.4 wt % greater than an amount of surfactant in the second and third inks. | 03-21-2013 |
20130038662 | PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE ASSEMBLY HAVING FIRST AND SECOND TRANSFER ROLLERS - A printhead maintenance assembly for maintaining an ink ejection face of an inkjet printhead. The printhead maintenance assembly includes: a first transfer roller having a transfer surface for receiving ink from the ink ejection face; a drive mechanism configured for rotating the first transfer roller; and a second transfer roller for engagement with the first transfer roller. During use, the second transfer roller receives ink from the first transfer roller. | 02-14-2013 |
20130021408 | METHOD OF MINIMIZING INK CONSUMPTION DURING PRINTHEAD PRIMING - A method of minimizing ink consumption during printhead priming in an inkjet printer. The printhead has a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to a media substrate. The method includes the steps of: providing a porous pad having a contact face dimensioned so that it can encompass all the nozzles in the array; moving the porous pad such that the contact face engages the nozzle face to cover the array of nozzles; forcing ink into the printhead under pressure until ink flows out the nozzles in the array and into the porous pad engaged with the nozzle face; and withdrawing the porous pad such that the contact face disengages the nozzle face. | 01-24-2013 |
20120314004 | INKJET PRINTHEAD HAVING TITANIUM ALUMINIUM NITRIDE HEATER ELEMENTS - Provided is an inkjet printhead integrated circuit that has a wafer substrate that has an ink passage, and a nozzle plate supported on the substrate by side walls to define an ink chamber supplied with ink via the ink passage. The nozzle plate has an ink ejection port corresponding to the ink chamber. A heater element is bonded to the nozzle plate inside the chamber for vaporising ink to generate a vapour bubble that ejects ink through the ejection port. The heater element is bonded to the nozzle plate with a low thermal product layer. The thermal product thermal product is less than 1495 Jm | 12-13-2012 |