Printing cartridge for a camera and printer combination including an authentication device

• US 20050140702A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Granted Patent: US 7,097,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/60 for printing on both faces of the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/58 Baseboards, masking frames, or other holders for the sensitive material G03B27/53 takes precedence ; for electrophotographic copiers G03G15/65
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/40 Double plate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0018 of images captured using a loaned, rented or limited-use still digital camera, e.g. recyclable or disposable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A printing cartridge for a camera that incorporates an inkjet printer includes a housing that can be engaged with the camera. An ink supply arrangement is positioned in the housing and is connectable to an ink feed arrangement of the printer to feed ink to the printer when the housing is engaged with the camera. A print media supply arrangement is positioned in the housing and incorporates a roll of print media. The housing defines an exit slot from which the print media can be fed. A print media feed arrangement is positioned in the housing and is operable to feed print media from the exit slot. An integrated authentication circuit is positioned on the housing to be queried by circuitry positioned in the inkjet printer. The authentication circuit stores data relating to at least one of the ink and the print media.

Claims

1. A printing cartridge for a camera that incorporates an inkjet printer, the printing cartridge comprising

a housing that can be engaged with the camera;

an ink supply arrangement that is positioned in the housing and is connectable to an ink feed arrangement of the printer to feed ink to the printer when the housing is engaged with the camera;

a print media supply arrangement that is positioned in the housing and incorporates a roll of print media, the housing defining an exit slot from which the print media can be fed;

a print media feed arrangement positioned in the housing and operable to feed print media from the exit slot; and

an integrated authentication circuit positioned on the housing to be queried by circuitry positioned in the inkjet printer, the authentication circuit storing data relating to at least one of the ink and the print media.

2. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which the print media supply arrangement includes a cylindrical former on which the roll of print media is positioned, the ink supply arrangement being an ink cartridge that is received in the former, the ink cartridge including a closure arrangement that is configured to open when the housing is engaged with the printer.

3. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 2, in which the ink cartridge is generally cylindrical to be concentrically positioned with respect to the former, the ink cartridge defining a number of ink reservoirs that extend a length of the cartridge, each reservoir containing a different ink.

4. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which the print media feed arrangement includes a roller assembly that engages an end of the print media and that can be engaged with a drive mechanism of the printer when the housing is engaged with the printer.

5. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 4, in which the roller assembly includes a drive roller that can be engaged with the drive mechanism of the printer and a pair of driven rollers, the rollers being relatively positioned to carry out a de-curling operation on the print media.

6. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which the authentication circuit stores data that relates to both the ink and the print media.

7. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which the authentication circuit stores the data in an encrypted format.