Printer unit incorporating an integrated print roll and ink supply unit

• US 7,654,642 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• 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): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLOMON, LISA
• Application Number:
  US12/015,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 347/4, 347/104, 347/108
• US Class Current: 347/54
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0452 reducing demand in current or voltage
• 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 2/0457 Power supply level being detected or varied
• 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 2/04598 Pre-pulse
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• 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 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• 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 2/1635 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 2002/14491 : Electrical connection

Abstract

A printer unit includes a print roll and ink supply unit. The print roll and ink supply unit includes a print roll former around which is wound print media. The former defines a core portion in which ink is stored. A platen unit is configured to support print media fed from the print roll and ink supply unit. A print head unit includes a printhead configured to print upon print media supported by the platen unit. A drive power distribution unit interconnects each of the aforementioned units and includes a motor configured to feed the print media between the platen unit and the print head unit for printing. A cutting arrangement is configured to cut the printed print media from the remaining unprinted print media.

Claims

1. A printer unit comprising:

a print roll and ink supply unit having a print roll former around which is wound print media, the former defining a core portion in which ink is stored;

a platen unit configured to support print media fed from the print roll and ink supply unit;

a print head unit including a printhead configured to print upon print media supported by the platen unit;

a drive power distribution unit which interconnects each of the aforementioned units and has a motor configured to feed the print media between the platen unit and the print head unit for printing; and

a cutting arrangement configured to cut the printed print media from the remaining unprinted print media, wherein

the print roll and ink supply unit define a plurality of ink storage chambers, the ink storage chambers being defined by a baffle unit housed in and ultrasonically welded to the print roll and ink supply unit.

2. A printer unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print roll and ink supply unit includes ink transmission channels configured to supply ink from the core portion to the print head unit.

3. A printer unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ink storage chambers supply respective coloured inks provided from the transmission channels to the printhead.

4. A printer unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the baffle unit includes a plurality of baffles configured to reduce acceleration of the ink in the storage chambers.

5. A printer unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing includes a series of holes which are hydrophobically sealed so as to allow air within the storage chambers to escape whilst ink remains within the storage chambers.

6. A printer unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting arrangement includes a rotational guillotine blade configured to be driven along a strip to enable cutting.