Printing cartridge with barcode identification

• US 7,044,589 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• 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): Pham, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lam S.
• Application Number:
  US09/922,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 347/16, 347/86, 347/43, 347/19, 347/85, 347/2, 399/23, 399/12
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• 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: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• 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

Abstract

A printing cartridge is releasably engageable with a printing device having a linear reader for reading a barcode and a central processor capable of interpreting data carried on a barcode. The printing cartridge includes a housing. Media and media colorant supply arrangements are positioned within the housing and contain a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively. Feed mechanisms are positioned in the housing for feeding the media and the media colorant to a printing mechanism. A barcode is depicted on the housing, the barcode being readable by the linear reader and defining a code representing data relating to the media and the media colorant.

Claims

1. A printing cartridge that is releasably engageable with a printing device having a linear reader for reading a barcode, a central processor capable of interpreting data carried on a barcode, and a drive mechanism for driving a feed mechanism of a printing cartridge, the printing cartridge comprising

a housing that defines a media exit opening;

media and media colorant supply arrangements enclosed within the housing and containing a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively;

a media feed mechanism positioned within the housing for feeding the media from the media exit opening to a printing mechanism, the media feed mechanism being engageable with a drive mechanism of the printing device; and

a barcode depicted on the housing, the barcode being readable by the linear reader and defining a code representing data relating to the media and the media colorant.

2. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which the barcode is positioned on the housing so that the linear reader of the printing device reads the barcode during engagement of the printing cartridge with the printing device.

3. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the code defined by the barcode represents data related to at least one of:

a serial number identifying the media, a serial number identifying the media colorant, a length of the media, a type of the media, a viscosity of the media colorant, a surface tension of the media colorant, optical characteristics of the media colorant and an optimal ink drop volume of the media colorant corresponding to the type of media.

4. A printing device which comprises

a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing that defines an exit opening, media colorant and media supply arrangements enclosed within the housing and containing a supply of media and media colorant and a media feed mechanism positioned in the housing for feeding the media from the exit opening to a printing mechanism and a media colorant feed mechanism for feeding the media colorant to a the printing mechanism, respectively, a barcode being depicted on the housing and defining a code representing data relating to the media colorant and the media;

a drive mechanism that is engageable with the media feed mechanism when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body;

a processor positioned in the body to control operation of the feed mechanisms and the printing mechanism, the processor incorporating a memory module in which a lookup table is stored, the lookup table being accessible by the processor and containing codes representing data relating to the media colorant and the media and corresponding to possible codes defined by the barcode; and

a linear reader positioned in the body to read the barcode and to provide the processor with said code.

5. A printing device as claimed in claim 4, in which the linear reader comprises a barcode scanner and the processor includes a scanner interface connected to the barcode scanner to interpret a signal received from the barcode scanner into said code.