Print cartridge

Details Print cartridge Print cartridge

2000-06-30

2001-05-29

Le, N. (Department: 2861)

Incremental printing of symbolic information

Ink jet

Fluid or fluid source handling means

C347S087000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06238044

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a print cartridge. More particularly, the invention relates to a print cartridge for use with an instantaneous print digital camera.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Digital cameras are becoming increasingly popular with consumers for recording images. However, a problem exists with such digital cameras in that, to obtain a hard copy of a print of an image, the digital camera needs to be connected to a computer for printing out the print. The applicant has, in its co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/112,783 filed Jul. 10, 1998 and entitled “Ink and media cartridge with axial ink chambers” proposed a replaceable cartridge for such digital cameras.
The digital camera makes use of a page width printhead. By “page width” is meant that the printhead prints one line at a time on the print media without traversing the print media, or rastering, as the print media moves past the printhead.
The printhead now under consideration makes use of a nozzle guard through which ink droplets are fired prior to being deposited on the print media. It is important to maintain the nozzle guard and the underlying printhead free of detritus. Accordingly, air is blown over the nozzle guard to inhibit the build up of contaminants on the nozzle guard or the printhead.
When the print media in the cartridge and supply of ink have been consumed, the cartridge itself is replaced. It is also important that the air blown over the nozzle guard and the printhead be clean and, accordingly, it is necessary to filter the air. If a dedicated, separate air filter were used, the applicant believes that this air filter would not be replaced regularly enough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a print cartridge which includes
a support arrangement;
a supply of print media and a supply of ink arranged within the support arrangement; and
a filtering means carried by the support arrangement for filtering air to be supplied to a printhead of a device in which the print cartridge is installed, in use.
The support arrangement may comprise a housing which defines a chamber in which the supply of print media and the supply of ink are accommodated.
The housing may define a receiving means, in the form of a compartment, alongside the chamber for receiving the filtering means.
The cartridge may include a carrier for carrying the filtering means, the carrier mating with the housing for locating the filtering means and the supply of print media and supply of ink with respect to the housing.
The filtering means may comprise a canister in which a filter medium is contained. The canister may be shaped to be received within the compartment of the housing, the compartment being closed off by the carrier. The canister may have one or more air inlets with an air outlet arranged in spaced relationship relative to the, or each, air inlet so that the air is drawn through the filter medium prior to being extracted via the air outlet of the canister. The carrier may include an opening which, in use, is in register with the air outlet of the canister through which air is drawn to be blown over the printhead and its nozzle guard.
The housing may define a slot in communication with the chamber through which print media is ejected, in use.
The print media may be in the form of a roll of print media carried on a former, the former being rotatably received in the chamber of the housing.
Thus, the cartridge may include a de-curling and drive means for de-curling the print media as it is fed from the roll and for driving the print media through the slot of the housing, the de-curling and drive means being arranged in the chamber intermediate the roll of print media and the slot. The de-curling and drive means may comprise a roller assembly having a drive roller, which is controlled by a mechanism controlling the printhead to synchronise movement of the media and printing thereon by the printhead, and at least one idler roller.
The driver roller may have a non-slip bearing means which bears against the media to inhibit slippage of the media as it is ejected from the housing.
The ink may be contained in a container mounted in the housing. The container may be a right circular cylindrical container with the former of the roll of print media being rotatably received about the container. The printhead of the device in which the print cartridge is installed may be a multi-colour printhead. Thus, the container may be divided into reservoirs, each for housing a different type or color of ink.
One end of the container may be closed off by an end cap with an opposed end being closed off by a pierceable sealing arrangement. The sealing arrangement may be accessible through the carrier. The sealing arrangement may include an outer film member which protects the sealing arrangement prior to use.
The carrier may carry an authentication means for authenticating that the cartridge is compliant and compatible with the device into which it is installed.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4223324 (1980-09-01), Yamamori
patent: 4296418 (1981-10-01), Yamazaki
patent: 5409138 (1995-04-01), Nakano
patent: 5778160 (1998-07-01), Smith
patent: 5784088 (1998-07-01), Ujita et al.
patent: 5847735 (1998-12-01), Betschon
patent: 6048055 (2000-04-01), Hakkaku
patent: 35820/99 (2000-01-01), None

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