PRINT HEAD UNIT WITH PRINTHEAD AND TRANSPORT ROLLERS

• US 20090244215A1
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0005 Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/15 for serial printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17 characterised by ink handling cleaning by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof B41J2/1652; for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing B41J11/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• 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 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A print head unit has an elongate print head integrated circuit. An ink supply unit defines an elongate print head slot in which the print head integrated circuit is received. Ink supply vias supply ink to the print head slot. Longitudinally extending channels are in fluid communication with the print head integrated circuit through the vias and longitudinally extending aperture slots provide for the snap-in insertion of rollers for the transport of print media operatively with respect to the print head integrated circuit during printing.

Claims

1. A print head unit comprising:

an elongate print head integrated circuit;

an ink supply unit defining an elongate print head slot in which the print head integrated circuit is received, ink supply vias for supplying ink to the print head slot, longitudinally extending channels in fluid communication with the print head integrated circuit through the vias and longitudinally extending aperture slots; and

transport rollers, the aperture slots and rollers being configured for snap-in insertion of the rollers for the transport of print media operatively with respect to the print head integrated circuit during printing.

2. A print head unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein ink supply unit defines three ink channels in fluid communication with the print head, a channel defined on each side of the print head slot and a channel on an opposite side of the print head slot.

3. A print head unit as claimed in claim 2, in which a lid is ultrasonically welded to the ink supply unit within the channel on the opposite side of the print head slot to seal the ink channels.

4. A print head unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ink supply vias converge from the ink channels, through portions of the ink supply unit and into the slot.

5. A print head unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rollers define a two pairs of pinch rollers and with a single one of the rollers of each pair received within a respective aperture slot.

6. A print head unit as claimed in claim 1, in which tape automated bonding (TAB) carries power, ground and signal lines to the print head integrated circuit.

7. A print head unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface of the print head is divided into sets of nozzles with each set corresponding to a respective type of ink, each set of nozzles being divided into two rows with the print head having a series of bond pads for the TAB.