Portable camera with an ink jet printer and cutting blade

• US 6,152,619 A
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/112,745
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 83/614, 83/56, 83/636, 83/631, 400/621, 400/613, 400/88, 396/6, 396/445, 396/429, 347/2
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• 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 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• 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 1/00679 after scanning
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8822 Edge-to-edge of sheet or web [e.g., traveling cutter]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8847 Screw actuated tool support

Abstract

A portable camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media in a roll form; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally to the camera system; and a cutter mechanism for cutting the printed sensed images comprising a worm screw extending the length of the printed sensed image; and a worm gear attached to the worm screw and adapted to be driven the length of the printed sensed image, the worm gear including a cutting blade for cutting the print media into separate sheets. The cutting blade can comprise a rotatable wheel having a sharpened outer edge and the cogged wheel can have a series of usage indicators printed on one surface thereof and the worm gear can includes a lever arm wherein the traversal of the worm gear along the length of the printed sensed image results in the engagement of the lever arm with the cogged wheel print indicator so as to rotate the cogged wheel print indicator so that it maintains a current indication of the number of images printed out on the print media. The camera can further comprise a pawl mechanism which interacts with the coggs of the cogged wheel print indicator in the form of a rachet and pawl mechanism and the lever arm can includes a flexible portion for engagement with the cogged wheel print indicator.

Claims

1. A portable camera system comprising:

an image sensor device for sensing an image;

a processing means for processing said sensed image;

a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media in a roll form;

a print head for printing said sensed image on print media stored internally to said camera system;

a cutter mechanism for cutting said printed sensed images comprising;

a worm screw extending the length of said printed sensed images;

a worm gear attached to said worm screw and adapted to be driven the length of said printed sensed image, said worm gear including a cutting blade for cutting said print media into separate sheets.

2. A portable camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cutting blade comprises a rotatable wheel having a sharpened outer edge.

3. A portable camera system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cogged wheel having a series of usage indicators printed on one surface thereof and wherein said worm gear includes a lever arm and the traversal of said worm gear along the length of said printed sensed image results in the engagement of said lever arm with said cogged wheel print indicator so as to rotate said cogged wheel print indicator so that it maintains a current indication of the number of images printed out on said print media.

4. A portable camera system as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a pawl mechanism which interacts with the coggs of said cogged wheel print indicator in the form of a rachet and pawl mechanism.

5. A portable camera system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said lever arm includes a flexible portion for engagement with said cogged wheel print indicator.