Ink and media cartridge with axial ink chambers

• US 6,217,165 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Judy
• Application Number:
  US09/112,783
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 347/218, 355/47, 355/18, 358/296
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1629 wet etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 Electromagnetic transducer
• 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 1/121 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: H01L 2224/48091 : Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3025 : Electromagnetic shielding
• 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 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• 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 2201/3269 : 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 detachable ink supply unit is disclosed for interconnection to a print head for printing images. The supply unit including a print roll of print media onto which the print head prints images, and an ink cartridge located internally of the print roll and containing a plurality of ink supply reservoirs along an internal axis of the print roll. Each reservoir including an air hole at one end and a pierceable seal at another end for the insertion of an ink channel element for fluid communication of the reservoir with the print head. Further, the air hole can be interconnected to a hydrophobic channel having a winding channel path so as to minimize the possibilities of ink flow through the channel. The unit can further include a series of decurling rollers which pinch the print media and bend the print media in an opposite direction to the direction of bend of the print media on the print roll. The ink supply unit can include a cover portion having a slot defined therein for passage of the print media and the surface surrounding the slot can include a raised portion for engaging a corresponding portion of the print head unit for the accurate alignment of the supply unit relative to the print head.

Claims

1. A detachable print media and ink supply cartridge for connection to a print head for the printing out of images by said print head, said cartridge including:

a print roll of print media into which said print head prints images;

an ink supply unit located within said print roll and containing a plurality of ink supply reservoirs along an internal axis of said print roll, each of said reservoirs including an air hole at one end and a pierceable seal at an opposed end for the insertion of an ink channel element for facilitating fluid communication between each said reservoir and said print head; and

a cover portion covering the print roll of print media and having a slot defined therein for the passage of said print media, a surface of the cover portion surrounding said slot including locating formations for engaging a corresponding portion of said print head for accurate alignment of said ink supply unit relative to said print head.

2. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said ink supply reservoirs is of a columnar form extending substantially the length of said print roll.

3. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said air hole is in communication with a hydrophobic channel which is, in turn, in communication with its associated reservoir, said hydrophobic channel having a winding channel path so as to minimize ink flow through said channel.

4. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 which includes a series of decurling rollers which pinch said print media and bend said print media in an appropriate direction to the direction of bend of said print media in said print roll.

5. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 which is constructed from injection molded plastics portions.

6. The cartridge as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cover portion includes receiving formations into which said rollers are snap fitted.

7. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said reservoirs is substantially filled with an internal sponge portion.

8. The cartridge as claimed in claim 7 wherein each said sponge portion is hydrophobically treated.

9. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said print media is wrapped around a print roll former.

10. The cartridge as claimed in claim 9 wherein an external surface of said ink supply unit, which engages a surface of said print roll former, has a series of protrusions so as to minimize frictional contact between said surfaces.

11. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an end plug portion having a part defining a series of holes, said part of the end plug portion being in register with said seal and said part of said end plug portion being adapted to receive an interconnection unit having piercing members to be inserted through said series of holes so as to pierce said seal.

12. The cartridge as claimed in claim 11 further comprising an authentication circuit mounted in said end plug portion, said circuit including a communication means for interconnection with said interconnection unit.