Inkjet consumable cartridge with integrated nozzle cap

• US 20050030336A1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Elliot, Joseph R., Stellbrink, Joseph, Kaiser, Pierre, Sunada, Craig D., Ahlvin, Eric, O'Hara, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/32
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1754 with means attached to the cartridge, e.g. protective cap

Abstract

An inkjet consumable cartridge having an inkjet cartridge having nozzles. The inkjet consumable cartridge also has an inkjet cartridge holding device for holding the inkjet cartridge, a cap configured to interface with the inkjet cartridge, and a cap actuator that, when actuated, moves the cap from a position where the cap does not interface with the inkjet cartridge to a position where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge sealingly covering the nozzles. Furthermore, the consumable cartridge is removable from a printer as a self-contained unit.

Claims

1. An inkjet consumable cartridge, comprising:

an inkjet cartridge having nozzles;

an inkjet cartridge holding device for holding the inkjet cartridge;

a cap configured to interface with the inkjet cartridge; and

a cap actuator that, when actuated, moves the cap from a position where the cap does not interface with the inkjet cartridge to a position where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge sealingly covering the nozzles;

wherein

the consumable cartridge is removable from a printer as a self-contained unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge at a nozzle plate on the inkjet cartridge.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap maintains a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is in the inkjet cartridge holding device and the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cap maintains a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is held by the inkjet cartridge holding device and the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the inkjet cartridge holding device permits the inkjet cartridge to move while inside the inkjet cartridge holding device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the inkjet cartridge holding device permits the inkjet cartridge to pivot while inside the inkjet cartridge holding device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a component that pivots the inkjet cartridge while the consumable cartridge is installed into a printer.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the inkjet cartridge holding device permits the inkjet cartridge to pivot and connect to a printer carriage in a printer when the consumable cartridge is installed into the printer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cap actuation device, when actuated, moves the cap to interface with the inkjet cartridge and maintain a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge while the inkjet cartridge is connected to the printer carriage.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cap actuation device, when actuated, moves the cap from interfacing with the inkjet cartridge while the inkjet cartridge is connected to the printer carriage.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cap actuation device, when actuated, moves the cap to interface with the inkjet cartridge and maintain a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is connected to the printer carriage.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the inkjet cartridge holding device retains the inkjet cartridge when the consumable cartridge is removed from a printer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the actuator holds the cap against the inkjet cartridge to maintain a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the consumable cartridge is removed from a printer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises an elastomeric material.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cap is substantially rectangular in shape.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cap has four side-walls forming the sides of the rectangle and a bottom surface, an open space being present between the four walls and the bottom surface, the space adapted to encompass the nozzles of the inkjet cartridge when the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cap is of a monolithic structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the consumable cartridge pivots the inkjet cartridge about 30 degrees when the inkjet cartridge is in the inkjet cartridge holding device.

19. The consumable cartridge of claim 7, wherein the cap actuator comprises an actuator arm that interfaces with a printer and reacts to a force imparted to the arm by the printer to move the cap from the inkjet cartridge.

20. The consumable cartridge of claim 19, wherein the cap actuator holds the cap around the nozzles of the inkjet jet cartridge while the cartridge pivots.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the component that pivots th inkjet cartridge when operated, mechanically connects to a device that locks the printer cartridge to the printer and pivots the inkjet jet cartridge when the printer cartridge is locked into a printer.

22. A printer utilizing the consumable cartridge of claim 1.

23. Printer according to claim 22, where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge until the consumable cartridge is installed in the printer and a print command is received by the printer.

24. A method of making an inkjet consumable cartridge, comprising:

obtaining an inkjet cartridge having nozzles;

placing the inkjet cartridge in an inkjet cartridge holding device;

obtaining a cap configured to interface with the inkjet cartridge;

attaching the cap to a cap actuator; and

attaching the cap actuator with the cap to the inkjet cartridge holding device such that, when actuated, the cap actuator moves the cap from a position where the cap does not interface with the inkjet cartridge to a position where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge sealingly covering the nozzles;

wherein

the consumable cartridge is a self-contained unit.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the cap maintains a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is in the inkjet cartridge holding device and the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.

26. An inkjet consumable cartridge, comprising:

an inkjet cartridge having nozzles;

a print media holding device;

an inkjet cartridge holding device for holding the inkjet cartridge;

a cap configured to interface with the inkjet cartridge; and

a cap actuator that, when actuated, moves the cap from a position where the cap does not interface with the inkjet cartridge to a position where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge sealingly covering the nozzles;

wherein

the consumable cartridge is removable from a printer as a self-contained unit.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge at a nozzle plate on the inkjet cartridge.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the cap maintains a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is in the inkjet cartridge holding device and the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the cap maintains a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is held by the inkjet cartridge holding device and the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the inkjet cartridge holding device permits the inkjet cartridge to move while inside the inkjet cartridge holding device.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a component that pivots the inkjet cartridge while the consumable cartridge is installed into a printer.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the inkjet cartridge holding device permits the inkjet cartridge to pivot and connect to a printer carriage in a printer when the consumable cartridge is installed into the printer.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the cap actuation device, when actuated, moves the cap to interface with the inkjet cartridge and maintain a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge while the inkjet cartridge is connected to the printer carriage.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the cap actuation device, when actuated, moves the cap from interfacing with the inkjet cartridge while the inkjet cartridge is connected to the printer carriage.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the cap actuation device, when actuated, moves the cap to interface with the inkjet cartridge and maintain a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is connected to the printer carriage.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the inkjet cartridge holding device retains the inkjet cartridge when the consumable cartridge is removed from a printer.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the actuator holds the cap against the inkjet cartridge to maintain a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the consumable cartridge is removed from a printer.

38. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the cap comprises an elastomeric material.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the cap is substantially rectangular in shape.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the cap has four side-walls forming the sides of the rectangle and a bottom surface, an open space being present between the four walls and the bottom surface, the space adapted to encompass the nozzles of the inkjet cartridge when the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the cap is of a monolithic structure.

42. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the consumable cartridge pivots the inkjet cartridge about 30 degrees when the inkjet cartridge is in the inkjet cartridge holding device.

43. The consumable cartridge of claim 31, wherein the cap actuator comprises an actuator arm that interfaces with a printer and reacts to a force imparted to the arm by the printer to move the cap from the inkjet cartridge.

44. The consumable cartridge of claim 43, wherein the cap actuator holds the cap around the nozzles of the inkjet jet cartridge while the cartridge pivots.

45. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the print media holding device comprises at least one access slot allowing at least one printer roller to interface with and move print media.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the print media holding device comprises a plurality of access slots allowing a plurality of print r rollers to interface with and move print media.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the print media holding device comprises a hollow rectangular box with an opening in at least one end, the box protruding away and to the side of the inkjet cartridge.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the consumable cartridge further comprises print media.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the print media is digital photograph paper.

50. A printer utilizing the consumable cartridge of claim 26.

51. Printer according to claim 50, where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge until the consumable cartridge is installed in the printer and a print command is received by the printer.

52. A method of making an inkjet consumable cartridge, comprising:

obtaining an inkjet cartridge having nozzles;

placing the inkjet cartridge in an inkjet cartridge holding device;

obtaining a cap configured to interface with the inkjet cartridge;

obtaining a print media holding device;

attaching the cap to a cap actuator;

attaching the cap actuator with the cap to the inkjet cartridge holding device such that, when actuated, the cap actuator moves the cap from a position where the cap does not interface with the inkjet cartridge to a position where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge slingly covering the nozzles; and

attaching the print media holding device to at least one component of the inkjet consumable cartridge, wherein

the consumable cartridge is a self-contained unit.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the cap maintains a high humidity environment around nozzles in the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is in the inkjet cartridge holding device and the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge.