Printhead ink supply system

• US 6,293,658 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US09/113,105
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 347/7, 347/20, 347/42, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• 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 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• 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 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0008 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
• 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

Abstract

A print head ink supply unit is disclosed for supplying a pagewidth print head for the ejection of ink by the print head having a first surface having a plurality of holes for the supply on ink to a series of ejection nozzles, the print head supply unit comprising a plurality of long columnar chambers for storing an ink supply, one for each output color, the chambers running substantially the length of the printhead adjacent the first surface thereof; and a series of tapered separators separating the chambers from one another, the tapered separators being tapered into an end strip running along the first surface along substantially the length of the printhead. The unit can further include a series of regularly spaced structural support members for supporting the tapered separators in a predetermined relationship to one another. The tapered separators can be formed in a single ejection molded unit with a wall of the unit abutting the printhead. The tapered separators taper to substantially abut a slot in the wall of the unit, the slot being adapted for the insertion of the print head.

Claims

1. A printhead ink supply unit for supplying ink to a pagewidth printhead from which the ink is to be ejected, the printhead defining a plurality of inlet apertures for supplying ink to a series of ejection nozzles, the printhead ink supply unit including the printhead and further comprising:

a plurality of columnar chambers, each chamber being configured to store a supply of ink of a particular color, the chambers having a length which is the same as that of the printhead and being positioned adjacent a back surface of the printhead; and

a series of tapered guide walls separating the chambers from one another, each tapered guide wall tapering into an end portion that mates with the back surface of the printhead, each end portion being in communication with at least one of the inlet apertures of the printhead for channelling ink of a particular color to channels of the printhead.

2. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a series of regularly spaced, structural support members for supporting the tapered guide walls in spaced relationship relative to the back surface of the printhead.

3. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered guide walls are formed as a single injection molded element with a slot being defined in a floor of the element, the printhead being received in the slot.

4. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tapered guide walls taper towards the slot.

5. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 3, which includes a closure member which is secured to the element to define the chambers.

6. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein a filling opening is is associated with each chamber to facilitate refilling each chamber with ink.

7. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein a part of the element defines a series of air channels, the air channels placing the chambers in fluid communication with external ambient atmosphere, each air channel having a tortuous path.

8. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air channels are hydrophobically treated to inhibit ink leakage from the air channels.

9. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein each channel is defined in an exposed surface of the part of the element, the surface being covered by a membrane that is attached to the part of the element.

10. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each chamber contains a filler of a sponge material.

11. A printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printhead is configured to output at least three separate differently colored inks to provide full color output images.

12. A camera which incorporates a printhead ink supply unit as claimed in claim 1.