Card-type printing device

• US 7,922,273 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lam S
• Application Number:
  US12/751,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 347/1, 347/2, 347/5, 347/9, 347/13, 347/42, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/00 Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/52 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A card-type printing device includes a support structure defining an exposed body portion; an electrical connector located at a first end of the support structure, the electrical connector adapted for insertion into a corresponding electrical socket to send and receive data; a printhead assembly located at a second end of the support structure opposite the first end, the printhead assembly electrically coupled to the electrical connector; a printhead and a feed arrangement for feeding print media to the printhead, the printhead and the feed arrangement included in the printhead assembly; a print media cartridge releasably mounted in the exposed body portion of the support structure, between the electrical connector and the printhead assembly; and a cover engaging the support structure in a releasable manner to cover the printhead assembly. The feed assembly includes a row of ink storage channels provided within an outer ink reservoir, and a channeling structure provided below and in fluid communication with the row of ink storage channels.

Claims

1. A card-type printing device comprising:

a support structure defining an exposed body portion;

an electrical connector located at a first end of the support structure, the electrical connector adapted for insertion into a corresponding electrical socket to send and receive data;

a printhead assembly located at a second end of the support structure opposite the first end, the printhead assembly electrically coupled to the electrical connector;

a printhead and a feed arrangement for feeding print media to the printhead, the printhead and the feed arrangement included in the printhead assembly;

a print media cartridge releasably mounted in the exposed body portion of the support structure, between the electrical connector and the printhead assembly; and

a cover engaging the support structure in a releasable manner to cover the printhead assembly, wherein

the head assembly includes a row of ink storage channels provided within an outer ink reservoir, and a channeling structure provided below and in fluid communication with the row of ink storage channels, wherein the channeling structure includes a row of feed channels passing vertically therethrough, and the row of ink storage structures and the channeling structure define a ink feed passage that gradually decreases in cross sectional area towards the printhead; and

the feed arrangement comprises an electric motor;

a gearbox coupled to the electric motor; and

a primary feed roller which is coupled to the gearbox, wherein

the outer ink reservoir, the electric motor, and the gearbox are located at one end of the row of the feed channels, and a controller for controlling the printhead and the electric motor is located at the opposite end of the row of feed channels.

2. A card-type printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed arrangement further comprises a secondary roller positioned with respect to the primary feed roller to interpose therebetween the printhead.

3. A card-type printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print media cartridge is configured to store a stack of sheets of print media.

4. A card-type printing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the backing plate comprises a biasing arrangement for biasing the stack of sheets towards the exposed body portion.

5. A card-type printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print media cartridge includes a backing plate covering the exposed body portion, and further includes a front cover, the front cover having an engagement formation for facilitating the print media cartridge to be urged into engagement with the cover, whereby the feed arrangement is engaged with the sheets of the print media cartridge.

6. A card-type printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing device has a form factor in conformance with PCMCIA standards.

7. A card-type printing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the row of feeds channels is in fluid communication with a top surface of the printhead.