Insertable cartridge for digital camera with ink jet printer

• US 6,149,256 A
• Filed: 11/24/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: McIntyre, Dale F., Allen, Loretta E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lago, Cesar G.
• Application Number:
  US09/198,746
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 358/296, 247/19, 247/104, 247/49, 247/85, 247/86, 247/2, 247/109
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17543 Cartridge presence detection or type identification
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages

Abstract

An insertable cartridge for insertion into a device such as digital camera with such device having an ink jet printer including a housing for receiving a plurality of receivers each of which is adapted to receive ink from the ink jet printer; a plurality of reservoirs mounted in the housing and each being adapted to receive a different colored ink and sealing means adapted to be pierced to permit a connection between the reservoirs of an inserted cartridge and the ink jet printer of the device; the housing including identifying contacts for identifying features of an inserted cartridge for the ink jet printer of the device; and the housing defining a cavity for mounting at least one battery which is adapted to provide power for the ink jet printer of the device.

Claims

1. An insertable cartridge for insertion into a device such as digital camera with such device having an ink jet printer, comprising:

a) a housing for receiving a plurality of receivers each of which is adapted to receive ink from the ink jet printer;

b) a plurality of reservoirs mounted in the housing and each being adapted to receive a different colored ink and sealing means adapted to be pierced to permit a connection between the reservoirs of an inserted cartridge and the ink jet printer of the device;

c) the housing including identifying contacts for identifying features of an inserted cartridge for the ink jet printer of the device; and

d) the housing defining a cavity for mounting at least one battery which is adapted to provide power for the ink jet printer of the device.

2. The insertable cartridge of claim 1 wherein the housing further defines a plurality of piercing ports, each corresponding to a particular reservoir and positioned in pierceable relationship with the sealing means.

3. The insertable cartridge of claim 2 wherein the sealing means includes a plug of pierceable material.

4. The insertable cartridge of claim 1 further including battery contacts for providing electrical contact to the battery and which provide cartridge alignment features.

5. The insertable cartridge of claim 1 further including a protective removable seal mounted over the identifying contacts.

6. The insertable cartridge of claim 1 wherein the amount of ink provided in the reservoirs is determined in accordance with the number of receivers to be printed.