Printer transfer roller with internal drive motor

• US 6,398,359 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THINH H
• Application Number:
  US09/459,410
• Time in Patent Office: 906 Days
• Field of Search: 347/103, 347/104, 347/105, 346/139.D
• US Class Current: 347/103
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/10 Sheet holders, retainers , movable guides, or stationary guides
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0057 where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/165 Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16508 connected with the printer frame
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/17 Cleaning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/00 Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/16 Means for paper feeding or form feeding

Abstract

A print engine for a printer includes a page width printhead. A transfer roller is arranged adjacent the printhead for transferring ink deposited on its surface by the printhead to a surface of a sheet of print media on which an image is to be printed. The roller has a passage defined through it. A drive motor for rotatably driving the transfer roller and feeding the print media passed the transfer roller is arranged in the passage of the transfer roller.

Claims

1. A print engine for a printer, the print engine including:

a page width, microelectromechanical, inkjet printhead;

a transfer roller arranged adjacent the printhead for transferring ink deposited on its surface by the printhead to a surface of a sheet of print media on which an image is to be printed, the roller having a passage defined therein; and

a drive means for rotatably driving the transfer roller and feeding the print media past the transfer roller, the drive means being arranged in the passage of the transfer roller.

2. The print engine as claimed in claim 1 in which the printhead is a microelectromechanical inkjet printhead.

3. The print engine as claimed in claim 1 in which the transfer roller is a hollow right circular cylinder which defines the passage through it.

4. The print engine as claimed in claim 1 in which at least a surface of the transfer roller is of a wear resistant material which is resistant to pitting, scratching or scoring.

5. The print engine as claimed in claim 4 in which the material is titanium nitride.

6. The print engine as claimed in claim 1 in which the drive means includes a motor.

7. The print engine as claimed in claim 6 in which the motor is a stepper motor.

8. The print engine as claimed in claim 6 in which a reduction gearbox is mounted on an output shaft of the motor.

9. The print engine as claimed in claim 8 in which, to reduce space, at least a part of a gear train of the gearbox is a worm gear train.