Printer ink supply cartridge incorporating internal support ribs and tapered ink reservoirs

• US 7,775,649 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• 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): Do; An H
• Application Number:
  US12/036,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 905 Days
• Field of Search: 347 84- 87
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/60 for printing on both faces of the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/58 Baseboards, masking frames, or other holders for the sensitive material G03B27/53 takes precedence ; for electrophotographic copiers G03G15/65
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/40 Double plate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0018 of images captured using a loaned, rented or limited-use still digital camera, e.g. recyclable or disposable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• 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 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printer ink supply cartridge assembly. The assembly includes an elongate printer ink supply cartridge including a pair of internal walls separating a triplet of longitudinally extending ink supply reservoirs for storing respective colored inks. The ink supply cartridge defines a plurality of support ribs extending between the internal walls. The walls extend toward each other so that the ink supply reservoirs taper. An elongate ink ejection printhead unit is received within the ink supply cartridge so that ink from the tapered ends of the ink supply reservoirs can be supplied to the printhead unit.

Claims

1. A printer ink supply cartidge assembly comprising:

an elongate printer ink supply cartridge having three ink reservoirs extending along a length of the ink supply cartridge;

a pair of guide walls separating the three ink reservoirs, the pair of guide walls extending towards each other to taper into an end portion;

a plurality of block portions placed at regular intervals along a length of the ink supply cartridge, the plurality of block portions mechanically supporting the pair of guide walls; and

an elongate ink ejection printhead unit received within the ink supply cartridge to abut the end portion, whereby ink from the ink supply reservoirs is supplied to the printhead unit.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printer ink supply cartridge includes:

a first piece defining a plurality of channels; and

a second piece configured to be mated together with the first piece to form the ink supply reservoirs.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second piece defines a space in which the first piece is received during mating.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second piece defines a series of air inlets to allow the ingress of air into respective reservoirs.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each air inlet includes a winding channel that is sealed with adhesive tape.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first piece defines a series of refill holes for refilling corresponding ink supply reservoirs and includes a plug for sealing the refill holes.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the printer ink supply cartridge further includes absorbent members to be received in respective channels to inhibit ink movement therein.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second pieces are injection molded plastic pieces that can be snap fitted together.