Ink refill unit for a print engine having a compression arrangement with actuation means operable by a controller of the print engine

• US 7,802,879 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Hibbard, Christopher, Mackey, Paul Ian, Jackson, Garry Raymond, Berry, Norman Micheal, Nakazawa, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEGESSE, HENOK D
• Application Number:
  US12/138,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 347 84- 87, 347/6, 347/7, 347/66
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/209 Heads; Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0458 controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04585 controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04591 Width of the driving signal being adjusted
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/135 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14016 Structure of bubble jet print heads
• 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 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1634 laser machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16526 by applying pressure only
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16535 using wiping constructions B41J2/16552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1707 Conditioning of the inside of ink supply circuits, e.g. flushing during start-up or shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1714 : Conditioning of the outside of ink supply systems, e.g. inkjet collector cleaning, ink mist removal B41J2/08, B41J2/16517, B41J2/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 : Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 : Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 : Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 : Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 : Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17536 : Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 : Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 : Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 : Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/19 : for removing air bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/515 : line printer type
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 : Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14403 : including a filter
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 : Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14435 : Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14459 : Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14475 : characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/1742 : Open waste ink collector, e.g. ink receiving from a print head above the collector during borderless printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17516 : comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 : Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 : Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 : Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 : Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 : Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 : Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism

Abstract

Provided is an ink refill unit for a print engine. The unit includes a body assembly defining an ink ejection port at one end thereof, a compressible tank located inside said body assembly, and a compression arrangement for compressing the bellows tank. The compression arrangement includes actuation means selectively operable by a controller of the print engine, a threaded wall and circular plunger assembly, and an elongate drive gear mounted within the body assembly and engaging with the plunger assembly. The drive gear is actuated by the actuation means. The threaded wall and circular plunger assembly includes an internal lead screw provided in a substantially cylindrical internal wall of the body assembly and a helical geared thread provided about the circumference of a substantially circular plunger threaded to the internal lead screw thread and extending along a length thereof. The lead screw thread is provided with a gap along the length of the body assembly in which the drive gear sits and is able to come into contact with the geared thread of the plunger.

Claims

1. An ink refill unit for a print engine, the unit comprising:

a body assembly defining an ink ejection port at one end thereof;

a compressible tank located inside said body assembly; and

a compression arrangement for compressing the tank, said arrangement comprising;

actuation means selectively operable by a controller of the print engine;

a threaded wall and circular plunger assembly; and

an elongate drive gear mounted within the body assembly and engaging with the plunger assembly, said drive gear actuated by the actuation means, wherein

the threaded wall and circular plunger assembly includes an internal lead screw provided in a substantially cylindrical internal wall of the body assembly and a helical geared thread provided about the circumference of a substantially circular plunger threaded to the internal lead screw thread and extending along a length thereof, wherein the lead screw thread is provided with a gap along the length of the body assembly in which the drive gear sits and is able to come into contact with the geared thread of the plunger.

2. The ink refill unit of claim 1, wherein rotation of the plunger to compress said compressible tank is provided by rotation of the drive gear being imparted to the geared thread of the plunger.

3. The ink refill unit of claim 1, wherein the body assembly includes a quality and assurance integrated circuit (IC) controller configured to monitor an amount of ink remaining in the tank.

4. The ink refill unit of claim 2, wherein the actuation means includes a motor and motor gear for driving the drive gear, said motor mounted to an underside of a cover assembly of the cradle unit.

5. The ink refill unit of claim 3, wherein the integrated circuit is provided in an exposed position on a surface of the body assembly so as to align and operatively connect with a quality and assurance IC reader of the print engine.

6. The ink refill unit of claim 3, having an indicator light provided on the body assembly, said light connected to the quality and assurance integrated circuit so as to indicate a status of the amount of ink in the refill unit to a user.

7. The ink refill unit of claim 4, wherein the print engine controller is configured to reverse the drive gear after compressing the compressible tank to maintain a negative pressure in the said tank to prevent leakage of ink from the tank.

8. The ink refill unit of claim 4, wherein the motor gear is arranged to project from a surface of the cover assembly to engage with the drive gear through a slot in a protruded region of the body assembly.