Casing for an ink cartridge

• US 7,156,512 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• 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): Vo; Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US11/336,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 347/40, 347/42, 347/43, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 347/102, 347/108, 400/207, 400/214, 400/242, 400/613
• 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 casing (9, 10) for a cartridge (5) which is adapted for supplying print media (12) and an ink to an inkjet printhead with which the cartridge (5) is engaged, the casing (9, 10) including:

• • a core (6) rotatably mounted inside the casing (9, 10) which is adapted to support a roll of print media (12);
  • an ink supply inside the core (6); and
  • at least one ink outlet at one end of the core (6) for establishing fluid communication between the ink supply and the printhead.

Claims

1. A casing for a cartridge which is adapted for supplying print media and an ink to an inkjet printhead with which the cartridge is engaged, the casing including:

a core rotatably mounted inside the casing which is adapted to support a roll of print media;

an ink supply inside the core; and

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

2. A casing as claimed in claim 1 including a transport mechanism mounted inside the casing for transporting the print media from the roll of print media to the printhead by rotating the core.

3. A casing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the casing is substantially congruent to the arrangement of the transport mechanism and the roll of print media, when full.

4. A casing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the transport mechanism includes a drive roller adapted to engage an external drive so as to be rotated and thereby transport the print media from the roll of print media to the printhead.

5. A casing as claimed in claim 4 wherein the drive roller includes a geared axle that extends beyond the casing for engagement with the external drive via a corresponding gear.

6. A casing as claimed in claim 4 wherein a longitudinal axis of the core, and the rollers of the drive roller assembly are substantially parallel.

7. A casing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the casing includes a plurality of mouldings that are adapted to be snap-locked together so as to encase at least the roll of print media, the core, the ink supply and the transport mechanism, the moldings being configured so that a slot is formed through which the print media is transported by the transport mechanism, in use.

8. A casing as claimed in claim 7 wherein the slot includes a resilient guide extending away from the slot for resilient engagement with a paper path leading to the printhead upon installation of the cartridge.

9. A casing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ink supply includes a plurality of segments for storing different coloured inks, and, the ink outlet of the core includes an outlet for each segment.