Media cartridge for inkjet printhead

• US 7,077,515 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• 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): Yan, Ren
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US10/831,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 400/613, 400/207, 400/242, 400/214, 347 40- 43, 347/102, 347/108, 347 85- 87
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• 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 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• 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: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• 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 1/0044 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 media cartridge for an inkjet printhead that has a roll of media substrate wrapped around a tubular core that stores a supply of ink. The ink outlets are at the end of the core and the drive gear for the drive roller is adjacent the end of the core. Providing the media in a roll allows the cartridge to be small and compact. The hollow core holds a relatively large amount of ink and the ink outlets and drive roller at one end of the cartridge allows the cartridge to be installed with a convenient single action.

Claims

1. A media cartridge for supplying print media to a printhead, the cartridge comprising:

a roll of print media;

a casing with a rotatable core for supporting the media roll;

an ink supply within the core;

at least one ink outlet at one end of the core for establishing fluid communication between the ink supply and the printhead;

a drive roller assembly for engaging an external drive to feed the print media to the printhead;

wherein,

the longitudinal axes of the core, and rollers of the drive roller assembly are parallel.

2. A media cartridge according to claim 1 wherein, the core is segmented with different coloured inks stored in each of the segments, wherein each of the segments has a respective ink outlet in the end of the core.

3. A media cartridge according to claim 2 wherein, the drive roller assembly has one de-curling roller and two pinch rollers, wherein the pinch rollers maintain the media substrate wrapped around the required portion of the de-curling roller.

4. A media cartridge according to claim 3 wherein, one of the pinch rollers is driven.

5. A media cartridge according to claim 4 wherein, said one of the pinch rollers has a geared axle that extends beyond the casing for engagement with an external drive source via a corresponding gear.

6. A media cartridge according to claim 5 wherein, the casing has an outer cover enclosing the roll and the drive roller assembly, the outer cover comprising two interengaging side moldings that snap lock together to form a media outlet slot adjacent the drive roller assembly.

7. A media cartridge according to claim 6 wherein, one side of the slot has a resilient guide extending away from the slot for resilient engagement with a paper path leading to the printhead upon installation of the cartridge.

8. A media cartridge according to claim 7 wherein, the printhead is controlled by an image processor and the cartridge further comprises an authentication chip for confirming the suitability of the ink and the media to the image processor.

9. A media cartridge according to claim 8 wherein, the cartridge is configured for engagement with a cartridge interface such that the ink outlets establish fluid communication with the printhead, the image processor accesses the authentication chip, the geared axle of the drive roller engages the external drive and the resilient guide extending from the outlet slot engages the paper feed path, in a single installation action.