Printhead and ink supply arrangement suitable for utilization in a print on demand camera system

• US 7,753,504 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• 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): TRAN, HUAN HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/859,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/92, 347/93, 347/94
• US Class Current: 347/85
• 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

A printhead and ink supply arrangement suitable for utilization in a print on demand camera system includes a housing. A baffle unit is encased in the housing and, together with the housing, defines a number of ink storage chambers. The baffle unit is configured to inhibit ink acceleration as a result of movement of the camera system. An ink distribution manifold is arranged on the baffle unit and defines a series of slots. The series are in fluid communication with respective storage chambers and ink outlets. A printhead is arranged on the ink distribution manifold to receive ink via the ink outlets.

Claims

1. A printhead and ink supply arrangement suitable for utilization in a print on demand camera system, the printhead and ink supply arrangement comprising:

a housing, a top surface of the housing defining a series of hydrophobically sealed holes for facilitating an egress of air from within the housing;

a baffle unit encased in the housing and, together with the housing, defining a number of ink storage chambers, the baffle unit being configured to inhibit ink acceleration as a result of movement of the camera system;

an ink distribution manifold arranged on the baffle unit and defining a series of slots, the series of slots being in fluid communication with respective storage chambers and ink outlets; and

a printhead arranged on the ink distribution manifold to receive ink via the ink outlets, wherein

one end wall of the baffle unit includes a series of pierceable portions for receiving a supply conduit, the pierceable portions facilitating a flow of ink into the ink storage chambers.

2. A printhead and ink supply arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing and the baffle unit define three ink storage chambers for inks of different colors.

3. A printhead and ink supply arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printhead is in the form of a printhead integrated circuit.

4. A printhead and ink supply arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the manifold defines a printhead aperture, the printhead integrated circuit being secured in the aperture with a suitable adhesive.

5. A printhead and ink supply arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the printhead integrated circuit is of an elongate structure and is attached to the ink distribution manifold by means of silicone gel or a like resilient adhesive.

6. A printhead and ink supply arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adhesive is applied only to interconnecting faces of the aperture and printhead integrated circuit so that a risk of blocking ink supply passages formed in the printhead integrated circuit is minimised.

7. A printhead and ink supply arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle unit includes a number of spaced apart baffles formed to reduce acceleration of the ink in the storage chambers.