Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Utility Patent
1997-01-30
2001-01-02
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
C347S086000
Utility Patent
active
06168262
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ink-jet printers that make use of ink containers that are replaceable separate from the printhead. More particularly, the present invention relates to replaceable ink containers which contain a storage device for providing electric signals for controlling printer pararneters.
Previously used ink-jet printers have made use of an ink supply that is either replaced with the printhead as an integral unit or that is replaced separate from the printhead. One type of ink-jet printer in which the supply of ink is replaced separate from the printhead is referred to as an “off-axis” ink delivery system. These off-axis ink delivery systems make use of an ink supply which is spaced from the printhead. The term off-axis refers to positioning of the ink supply relative to the printhead scan axis. In these type of systems images are formed on print media by scanning the printhead across the media as media is advanced. The ink supply is mounted in the printer spaced from the scanning printhead. The ink supply is in fluid communication with the printhead for providing ink to the printhead.
Previously used off-axis ink delivery systems have made use of a memory device located in the ink container for altering the printhead drive conditions based on the information stored in the memory device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,611 to Ujita et al discloses the use of a memory device having electric terminals for providing drive conditions to the printhead. These drive conditions include drive voltage, pulse width, frequency, and the number of preliminary discharges. The memory device is mounted to the outer surface of the ink cartridge so that electrical contacts for the memory device are spaced apart on the outer surface of the ink cartridge. As the ink cartridge is inserted into the inkjet printer, electric terminals associated with the bubble-jet printer slidingly contact the spaced apart electric terminals associated with the ink cartridge.
One problem associated with the use of electrical contacts or terminals positioned on the outer portion of the ink cartridge is that these electrical contacts are subject to contamination. Contamination can result from the handling of the ink cartridge or ink spillage from the fluid interconnect. Contamination from handling includes hand oils and salts which are frequently present in human skin. This contamination may be transferred to the electrical contacts associated with the printer. One particular contamination problem is the combination of dust and hand oils. Contamination of the electrical contacts can result in unreliable electrical contact between the ink cartridge and the printer resulting in system reliability problems. Furthermore, the use of electrical contacts on the outer surface of the ink cartridge makes these terminals susceptible to liquid contamination such as moisture or spilled ink. Liquid contaminates can result in the shorting of these electrical contacts resulting in a faulty electrical interconnect and possibly system failure. Furthermore, inks used for ink-jet printing typically make use of solvents and surfactants which over time can result in corrosion of the electrical contacts preventing proper electrical contact between the printer and ink container.
Another problem associated with the use of electrical contacts or terminals positioned on the outer portion of the ink cartridge is that these contacts are subject to mechanical damage to the contacts such as scraping, denting or pealing, to name a few. This damage, if sufficient, may result in reliability problems or failure of the electrical interconnect between the printer and ink container.
Still another problem associated with the use of electrical terminals positioned on the outer portion of the ink cartridge is that these terminals subject the storage device to electrostatic discharge (ESD). Electrostatic discharge results from the electric terminals contacting a charged surface resulting in a discharge through the storage device. This discharge can result in catastrophic failure or reduce lifetime or reliability of the storage device. Storage devices such as CMOS semiconductor devices are particularly susceptible to electrostatic discharge damage.
There is an ever present need for printing systems which are capable of providing low operating costs such as printers which make use of off-axis type ink supplies. In addition, these printing systems should be easy to operate, such as, including some form of memory for storing printing parameters so that the user is not required to adjust printer parameters when the ink container is replaced. These ink supplies should be capable of reliable insertion into the printing system to ensure proper fluid interconnection and proper electrical interconnection with the printer is achieved. In addition, these interconnections should be reliable and should not degrade over time and use. For example, the fluid interconnect should not leak during use or over time and the electrical interconnect should be reliable during use and over time. In addition, these ink cartridges should not require special handling by the user and should be reliable and easily connected by the user to form a positive highly reliable mechanical, electrical, and fluid interconnect with the printer.
Finally, electrical interconnection between the ink container and printer should be reliable without requiring relatively large contact force. The use of relatively large contact force tends to improve the reliability of the electrical interconnect. Large contact force interconnects tend to require increased latch and insertion forces which tend to result in increased costs due to higher force latch springs and larger latching surfaces. Therefore, the electrical interconnect should be capable of providing high reliability and requiring relatively low interconnect forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a replaceable ink container for use in an off-axis printing system. The printing system includes a printer portion responsive to electrical signals from the replaceable ink container for controlling printer parameters. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of electrical contacts with each of the plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected with a memory element. The memory element contains information for controlling printing system parameters. Included in the replaceable ink container is a housing having an outer surface facing outwardly and an inner surface. The inner surface defines a cavity within the housing. The plurality of electrical contacts are so disposed and arranged within the cavity to engage corresponding electrical contacts associated with the printing system. The corresponding electrical contacts associated with the printing system are positioned within the cavity of the marking media container to engage the plurality of electrical contacts associated with the replaceable ink container upon proper positioning of the marking media container within the off-axis printing system. The use of these electrical contacts allow information to be exchanged between the memory element and the printer.
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Battey Robert L.
Bullock Michael L.
Clark James E.
Hmelar Susan M.
Merrill David O.
Barlow John
Hewlett--Packard Company
Stewart Jr. Charles W.
Sullivan Kevin B.
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