Printer cartridge with capping seal surrounding orifice surface

• US 7,524,018 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• 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 D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Ly T
• Application Number:
  US11/743,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 347 22- 36
• US Class Current: 347/32
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0005 Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/70 cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16505 Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16517 Cleaning of print head nozzles B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence
• 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 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/53 for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 : adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras
• 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 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 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• 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 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02402 : Arrangements for positioning heads, e.g. with respect to other elements of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

An inkjet printer cartridge that has a. an orifice plate; and b. a platform surrounding said orifice plate, said platform defining a surface for sealably engaging a cap. By keeping the capping and maintenance separate from the replaceable cartridge, the production cost of the cartridge is reduced. Providing a support platform around the orifice plate that is configured to engage the cap and seal the printhead requires less manufacturing precision than a capping mechanism that directly engages the orifice plate. Production efficiencies from lower precision assembly have particular significance for high volume products.

Claims

1. An inkjet printer comprising:

a replaceable cartridge with an orifice plate mounted on a surface surrounding the orifice plate; and

a capping mechanism with a movable cap to seal against the surface surrounding the orifice plate,

wherein the capping mechanism comprises;

a base structure mounted on the chassis, the base structure being elongate and substantially coextensive with the printhead;

at least one static solenoid mounted on the base structure, the at least one solenoid being elongate and substantially coextensive with the printhead;

a support member reciprocally movable, with respect to the chassis, between an operative position and an inoperative position, said support member being actuated by the at least one solenoid; and

a printhead capping member mounted directly on the support member and arranged such that when the support member is in the operative position, the cap seals the printhead and when the support member is in the inoperative position, the cap is disengaged from the printhead.

2. An inkjet printer according to claim 1 wherein the orifice plate defines a nozzle array on a pagewidth printhead integrated circuit (IC).

3. A printer cartridge according to claim 2 wherein the platform is a plastic component and the surface for sealingly engaging the cap is flat, the plastic component being injection moulded such that the surface has a predetermined surface roughness.

4. A printer cartridge according to claim 3 wherein the surface has a recess for receiving the printhead IC such that the plastic component stores ink for the printhead IC to eject and supplies the ink to a surface of the printhead IC that is opposite the orifice plate.

5. A printer cartridge according to claim 4 wherein the recess is dimensioned such that the orifice plate is substantially flush with the surface that sealably engages the cap.

6. The printer of claim 1, wherein the support member is biased towards the operative position.

7. The printer of claim 1, wherein the solenoid is configured to move the support member into its inoperative position when the solenoid is actuated.

8. The printer of claim 1, wherein the capping member further comprises a length of sponge dimensioned to cover the printhead when the support member is displaced into its operative position.

9. The printer of claim 8, wherein a sealing member is positioned on the support member for sealing engagement with the sponge.