Mobile Device With A Printhead And A Capper Actuated By Contact With The Media To Be Printed

• US 20100110139A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen, Tow, Gregory Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/32
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16508 connected with the printer frame

Abstract

A mobile device that as (a) an inkjet printhead, (b) a print media feed path extending past the printhead, (c) a capping mechanism with a capper moveable between a capping position, in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position, where the capper is spaced from the printhead, and (d) a locking mechanism configured to move the capper to the uncapped position in response to engagement with the media such that the capper returns to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

(a) an inkjet printhead;

(b) a print media feed path extending past the printhead;

(c) a capping mechanism with a capper moveable between a capping position, in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position, where the capper is spaced from the printhead; and

(d) a locking mechanism configured to move the capper to the uncapped position in response to engagement with the media such that the capper returns to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.

2. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes at least one cam mounted for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one cam being configured such that, in the unlocked position, it extends at least partially into the feed path when print media is not present, the at least one cam being positioned and configured to engage an edge of the print media as the print media is fed through the feed path such that the at least one cam is rotated by the print media into the locked position, such that, in the locked position, the capper is held in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.

3. A mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the cam is resiliently biased to return to the unlocked position once the print media edge moves past a predetermined position in the feed path, thereby causing the capper to return to the capped position.

4. A mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cam is mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially normal to the print media as it engages the cam in the feed path.

5. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after the trailing edge of the media is clear of the capper, such that the capper can be released into the capped position without capturing the print media.

6. A mobile device according to claim 5, further including a locking mechanism for holding the capper in the uncapped position whilst the print media is being printed on by the printhead.

7. A mobile device according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism includes at least one cam mounted for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one cam being configured such that, in the unlocked position, it extends at least partially into the feed path when print media is not present, the at least one cam being positioned and configured to engage an edge of the print media as the print media is fed through the feed path such that the at least one cam is rotated by the print media into the locked position, such that, in the locked position, the capper is held in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.

8. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the cam is resiliently biased to return to the unlocked position once the print media edge moves past a predetermined position in the feed path, thereby causing the capper to return to the capped position.

9. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cam is mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially normal to the print media as it engages the cam in the feed path.

10. A mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft for engaging the print media and driving it past the inkjet printhead.

11. A mobile device according to claim 10, further comprising a drive roller for rotating the drive shaft, the drive roller being configured to be driven by a complementary drive mechanism in the mobile device when the cartridge is installed therein.

12. A mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the drive roller is coaxial with the drive shaft.

13. A mobile device according to claim 12, wherein the drive shaft is positioned in the print media path upstream of the printhead.

14. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles.

15. A mobile device according to claim 13 wherein during use,

the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.

16. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the printhead comprises:

an array of nozzles for ejecting ink;

print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and

,

a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by a print engine controller in the mobile device.

17. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and

,

a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead;

such that,

the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.

18. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the at least one ink reservoir comprising:

a housing defining an ink storage volume;

one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and

,

at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.

19. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a telecommunication device.

20. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a mobile telephone.