Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-23
2001-05-29
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238043
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a compact printer system able to print full-color, business card size documents from a device about the size of a pen. The system includes various hot-connectable modules that provide a range of functions. In particular the invention relates to an ink cartridge for a printer module.
Reference may be had to co-pending applications claiming priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application number PQ0560 dated May 25, 1999The co-pending applications describe related modules and methods for implementing the compact printer system. The co-pending applications are as follows:
USSN
filing date
09/575,182
05/23/2000
09/575,173
05/23/2000
09/575,136
05/23/2000
09/575,119
05/23/2000
09/575,135
05/23/2000
09/575,157
05/23/2000
09/575,166
05/23/2000
09/575,134
05/23/2000
09/575,121
05/23/2000
09/575,137
05/23/2000
09/575,167
05/23/2000
09/575,120
05/23/2000
09/575,122
05/23/2000
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Microelectronic manufacturing techniques have led to the miniaturization of numerous devices. Mobile phones, personal digital assistant devices, and digital cameras are very common examples of the miniaturization trend.
One device that has not seen the advantage of microelectronic manufacturing techniques is the printer. Commercially available printers are large compared to many of the devices they could support. For instance, it is impractical to carry a color printer for the purpose of instantly printing photographs taken with known compact digital cameras.
A compact printhead has been described in co-pending United States patent applications filed simultaneously to the present application and hereby incorporated by cross reference:
USSN
filing date
09/575,152
05/23/2000
09/575,141
05/23/2000
09/575,125
05/23/2000
09/575,176
05/23/2000
09/575,147
05/23/2000
A compact printer system must provide as much ink as possible to print multiple images between ink cartridge replacements. In known systems the printhead is incorporated into the ink cartridge and the entire unit is replaced when the ink is exhausted. In other systems the ink cartridge is a separate unit. In either case, the cartridge is a relatively small component compared to the total size of the printer. In a compact printer system the ink cartridge is a substantial part of the whole printer module and therefore careful attention must be given to its design to maximize the amount of ink available for printing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form, the invention resides in an ink cartridge for a printer module having a full-width stationary printhead for printing an image on printable media comprising:
a molded body defining a number of ink containing chambers;
means communicating with said chambers for supplying ink to said printhead;
characterized by said ink cartridge being located on an opposite side of said printable media from said printhead.
Further features of the invention will be evident from the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5432539 (1995-07-01), Anderson
patent: 5592200 (1997-01-01), Kaneko
patent: 5659345 (1997-08-01), Altendorf
patent: 5870116 (1999-02-01), Kyoshima
Le N.
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Vo Anh T. N.
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