Media cartridge for inkjet printhead

• US 7,246,897 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Meier; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Ly T.
• Application Number:
  US10/831,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 347/104, 347/86, 347/2, 348/362, 348/375
• US Class Current: 347/104
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/02 Web rolls or spindles; Attaching webs to cores or spindles
• 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 2/17513 Inner structure
• 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 supplying a roll print media to a printhead via a drive roller assembly, wherein at least one of the rollers in the assembly is sized and positioned so that the media wraps around its surface to remove residual curl in the media caused by storage in a roll. Providing the media in a roll allows the cartridge to be small and compact. However, the curl imparted to the media from being stored as a roll can interfere with printing when the media substrate passes the printhead. Using a de-curling roller within the drive rollers can straighten the media enough for flat engagement with the platen opposite the printhead.

Claims

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

a roll of print media;

a casing for rotatably supporting the roll; and

,

a drive roller assembly for feeding the print media to the printhead, the drive roller assembly comprising at least one media de-curling roller;

such that,

as the media is fed to the printhead, it wraps around a portion of the at least one de-curling roller to remove residual curl caused by storage as a roll.

2. A media cartridge according to claim 1 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.

3. A media cartridge according to claim 2 wherein, one of the pinch rollers is driven.

4. A media cartridge according to claim 3 wherein, the driven pinch roller has a geared axle that extends beyond the casing for engagement with an external drive source via a corresponding gear.

5. A media cartridge according to claim 1 wherein, the casing has a rotatable core for supporting the media roll and 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.

6. A media cartridge according to claim 5 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.

7. A media cartridge according to claim 6 wherein, the core has an ink supply for the printhead, and an ink outlet in one of the ends of the core for fluid communication with the printhead.

8. A media cartridge according to claim 7 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.

9. A media cartridge according to claim 8 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.

10. A media cartridge according to claim 9 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.