Printer and keyboard combination

• US 7,077,588 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAU, MINH H
• Application Number:
  US10/974,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 400472-489, 400/88, 345168-170, 361679-680
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14314 Structure of ink jet print heads with electrostatically actuated membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1601 Production of bubble jet print heads B41J2/1606, B41J2/162 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• 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 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• 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 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 : Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• 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 3/44 : Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 : Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/28 : Multiple-action keys, e.g. keys depressed by two or more amounts or movable in two or more directions to effect different functions or selections
• 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: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 : Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• 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 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• 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 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• 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 printer includes a housing containing a pagewidth printhead. A keyboard to operate the computer is integrated with the housing. The printer is operated by a controller PCB located within the housing that is responsive to commands from the computer. Integration of the keyboard with the housing assists in reducing the number of computer peripherals that are usually required which is beneficial where working space is limited.

Claims

1. A printer including:

a housing having first and second slots for passing print media therethrough arranged in opposite sides of the housing;

a pagewidth printhead mounted to the housing for printing on print media passing between the first and second slots;

an endless belt arranged within the housing so as to extend between the first and second slots, the endless belt being operable to carry and feed print media past the printhead from the first slot to the second slot;

a keyboard to operate a computer integrated with said housing; and

a controller circuit located within the housing arranged to control the pagewidth printhead in response to commands from said computer to print on said print media.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the pagewidth printhead forms a part of a printer assembly releasably secured within the housing.

3. A printer according to claim 2, wherein the printer assembly is releasably secured within the housing by means of a cam-like locking member.

4. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the pagewidth printhead is coupled to a printhead printed circuit board by means of a first flexible film.

5. A printer according to claim 4, wherein the controller is coupled to the pagewidth printhead printed circuit board by means of a second flexible film.

6. A printer according to claim 4, wherein the first and second flexible films comprise TAB automated bond films.

7. A printer including:

a housing having first and second slots for passing print media therethrough arranged in opposite sides of the housing;

a printer assembly releasably mounted to the housing and including a pagewidth printhead for printing on print media passing between the first and second slots;

an endless belt arranged within the housing so as to extend between the first and second slots, the endless belt being operable to carry and feed print media past the printhead from the first slot to the second slot;

a printhead printed circuit board coupled to the pagewidth printhead by means of a first flexible film;

a keyboard to operate a computer integral with said housing; and

a controller printed circuit board located within the housing and coupled to the pagewidth printhead printed circuit board by means of a second flexible film,

wherein the controller printed circuit board is arranged to control the printhead in response to commands from said computer to print on said print media.