Inkjet printer with cartridge connected to platen and printhead assembly

• US 7,588,327 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HUAN HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/592,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20070046759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 347/104, 347/86, 346/24
• 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 2/04506 aiming at correcting manufacturing tolerances
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04528 aiming at warming up the head
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04553 detecting ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04563 detecting head temperature; Ink temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04565 detecting heater resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0457 Power supply level being detected or varied
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04571 detecting viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04573 Timing; Delays
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04585 controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04588 using a specific waveform
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04591 Width of the driving signal being adjusted
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04596 Non-ejecting pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• 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 2/1631 : photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 : machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1634 : laser 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 2/1646 : thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 : Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 : Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 : Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 : Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 : Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 : Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 : Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 : Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

An inkjet printer includes a print medium cartridge arranged to store a print medium roll. The print medium roll includes a former carrying a wound length of a print medium. A platen supports the print medium during feeding from the roll. An inkjet printhead assembly is arranged in register with the platen and includes an inkjet printhead having a plurality of micro-electromechanical inkjet nozzles which can print onto the print medium supported by the platen. A print medium feed arrangement is arranged to feed the print medium from the roll and between the platen and the inkjet printhead assembly.

Claims

1. An inkjet printer comprising

a print medium cartridge storing a print medium roll that comprises a former carrying a wound length of a print medium;

a platen operatively arranged with respect to the print medium cartridge to support the print medium during feeding from the roll;

an inkjet printhead assembly arranged in register with the platen and comprising an inkjet printhead having a plurality of micro-electromechanical inkjet nozzles which can print onto the print medium supported by the platen;

a print medium feed arrangement which is arranged to feed the print medium from the roll and between the platen and the inkjet printhead assembly; and

an ink feeder defining an elongate channel and a plurality of passages each arranged to feed a respective type of ink and which each extend from the elongate channel, wherein

a pair of caps are provided on either side of the inkjet printhead each between the inkjet printhead and the ink feeder.

2. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inkjet nozzles are arranged to form a plurality of sets and the inkjet printhead is mounted within the elongate channel so that each set is in fluid communication with a respective passage.

3. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a filter arranged to filter ink provided to the passages.

4. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an ink supply arranged to supply ink to the ink feeder via the filter, the ink supply comprising a plurality of baffles for regulating ink flow.

5. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a severing mechanism operatively arranged with respect to the platen to sever a printed portion of the print medium from the remaining print medium carried by the roll.

6. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the severing mechanism comprises a blade and a motorized blade transporter for transporting the blade across the print medium.