Abstract: The invention provides for a printhead assembly having a printhead module, printhead controller integrated circuitry and a casing with an integral heatsink. The printhead module has a plurality of modular printhead tiles designed for pagewidth printing applications. The printhead controller integrated circuitry is encased in the casing, which has an integral heatsink. A ducting assembly ducts ink to micro-electromechanical nozzle assemblies of the printhead tiles.

Abstract: A print engine is provided for a printer unit. The print engine includes a cradle unit and a replaceable cartridge unit received within the cradle unit in a releasable manner. The print engine further includes print media transport means which can transport print media. The cartridge unit includes a body. An ink storage module assembly includes a plurality of ink storage modules and is configured to be received in the body from one side. A printhead assembly is configured to be mounted to the body at an opposite side and is configured to print upon the transported print media.

Abstract: An ink priming system for an inkjet printhead is provided. The system has a priming inlet of the printhead for receiving a supply of priming ink, an ink flow passage interconnecting the printhead and an ink storage compartment, and a bypass flow passage interconnecting the ink flow passage and the ink storage compartment. The bypass flow passage incorporates a depressible region which is depressible to open or close the bypass flow passage. The priming ink flows from the printhead to the ink storage compartment via the ink flow and bypass flow passages to prime both the printhead and the ink storage compartment with ink simultaneously.

Abstract: A printer is provided having opposed pagewidth printheads arranged to print on opposite faces of print media transported therebetween and to move linearly from respective first positions to a second position, and a pagewidth capping member arranged to move linearly to cap the printheads at the second position

Abstract: A refill unit is provided for a printer cartridge with an operatively, negatively pressurized ink reservoir. The unit has a docking assembly for docking with the printer cartridge. An ink bag stores ink and is housed in the docking assembly. A valve actuator is shaped and configured to actuate an outlet valve of the ink reservoir into a closed position and thereafter to actuate an inlet valve of the ink reservoir into an open position when the docking assembly docks with the cartridge. An ink delivery outlet assembly is arranged on the docking assembly in fluid communication with the ink bag and has a seal configured to allow ink to flow from the ink bag to the ink reservoir only when the refill unit engages the cartridge. Constrictor actuators are engageable with the cartridge and are configured to increase pressure in the ink bag during ink flow from the ink bag to the ink reservoir, and to permit a re-establishment of negative pressure in the ink reservoir upon disengagement from the cartridge.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has two pagewidth printheads arranged to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles disposed along the respective pagewidth onto opposite surfaces of print media being transported therepast, and a capping/purging mechanism. The capping/purging mechanism has two rotatable turrets arranged so that each turret is associated with a respective one of the printheads and an actuating mechanism for selectively rotating and moving each turret. Each turret has located on respective faces thereof, a capping member, platen and purging chamber connected in fluid passage communication with a suction device. The actuating mechanism selectively rotates each turret to align the respective capping member, platen and purging chamber with the respective printhead and selectively moves each turret to engage the respectively aligned capping member or purging chamber with the respective printhead.

Abstract: A method of capping a printhead is provided in which a carrier is moved from a non-capping position, through a transition position, to a capping position at which a capping member carried by the carrier caps the printhead, and pivoting of the capping member is effected relative to the carrier during transitional movement of the carrier between the transition and capping positions.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has at least one pagewidth printhead arranged to print on print media transported therepast and a capping member of a flexible sheet-like material arranged to move between a spaced apart position relative to the printhead during printing and a capping position in which the material caps the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead is provided for a printer. The printhead includes a support member defining a plurality of ink supply channels. A fluid distribution arrangement is mounted in fluid communication with the support member. A plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) integrated circuits (IC's) is mounted in fluid communication with the fluid distribution arrangement. Each IC includes ink ejection nozzles and air ejection nozzles configured to respectively eject ink and pressurized air from the fluid distribution arrangement and onto print media.

Abstract: A printhead is provided for a printer. The printhead includes a support member defining a plurality of ink supply channels. A fluid distribution arrangement is mounted in fluid communication with the support member. A plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) integrated circuits (IC's) is mounted in fluid communication with the fluid distribution arrangement. Each IC includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles configured to eject ink from the fluid distribution arrangement and onto print media. A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) connector is configured to connect electrical power and signals to each of the ICs.

Abstract: A printhead module is provided having an ink delivery member supporting at least one printhead integrated circuit via an ink distribution member. The ink distribution member incorporates a laminated stack of layers for distributing ink from the ink delivery member to inkjet nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit via distribution apertures. The distribution apertures of each successive layer of the stack from the ink delivery member to the inkjet nozzles has a successively smaller diameter.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided which has a plurality of printhead modules and at least one fluid connector. Each module has printing fluid ejection nozzles supplied with printing fluid from at least one longitudinally extending channel defined in a printing fluid distribution member of the respective module. The distribution members have complementary female and male end portions configured to interconnect the channels of adjacent modules. The fluid connector is connected to the distribution member female or male end portion of at least one of the modules and communicates printing fluid from a fluid supply to the nozzles of all of the modules via the interconnected channels.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a pagewidth printhead assembly having opposed pagewidth printheads, a pagewidth capping member located adjacent the printheads, and an actuating mechanism arranged to move the printheads and capping member. Each printhead has a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged across the pagewidth to deliver ink onto opposite faces of print media as it is transported between the printheads. The actuating mechanism moves the printheads between respective printing positions and a non-printing position, and the capping member between the printheads in the non-printing position to cap the nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having a plurality of printhead modules each incorporating printhead integrated circuits having printing fluid ejection nozzles commonly supported by a one-piece printing fluid distribution member, and a casing in which the modules are removably mounted through removable engagement of the distribution member of each module with a support frame of the casing.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a pagewidth printhead assembly which has opposed pagewidth printheads, pagewidth carriers each pivotally mounting a pagewidth capping member, and an actuating mechanism arranged to pivot the capping members between respective non-capping and capping positions relative to the printheads. Each printhead has a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged across the pagewidth to deliver ink onto opposite faces of print media as it is transported between the printheads.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided which has at least one pagewidth printhead having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles, a capping/purging member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate first direction between first, second and third positions, and a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping/purging member in an arcuate second direction opposite to the first direction to cap the nozzles of the printhead when the printhead is in the second position and to permit purging of ink from the nozzles when the printhead is in the third position.

Abstract: An ink refill unit for replenishing an ink storage compartment of an inkjet printer is provided. The ink refill unit has a body containing a quantity of refilling ink configured to engage an interface of the storage compartment, and a plurality of actuators defined in the body for actuating a constrictor mechanism of the storage compartment as the ink refill unit engages the interface and deactivating the constrictor mechanism as the ink refill unit disengages the interface. The constrictor mechanism constricts a flexible tubular wall of the storage compartment by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer, that has a body portion for receiving ink from an ink source, an elongate ink distribution member mounted to the body portion, the body portion and the elongate ink distribution member being in fluid communication at a series of spaced locations along the length of the elongate ink distribution member, one or more integrated circuits fixed to the ink distribution member, the or each integrated circuit having nozzles for ejecting ink supplied by the distribution member onto a passing media substrate, and an electrical connector for transmitting data to the or each integrated circuit, the electrical connector having an elongate array of contacts for electrical connection with a corresponding array of contacts on the inkjet printer.

Abstract: A protector for a printhead capper is provided. The capper has a capping member configured to cap a printhead, a carrier carrying the capping member, and an actuator for moving the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is spaced from the printhead and a second position at which the capping member caps the printhead. The protector has a cover member arranged to be engaged by the capping member when the capping member is in the first position.

Abstract: A printing fluid supply device for a printhead, that has a printing fluid reservoir containing a quantity of printing fluid, a porous body having a plurality of individual channels arranged in an array for supplying the printhead with printing fluid under capillary action and a fluid trapping layer between the porous body and the printing fluid reservoir for trapping the printing fluid from the printing fluid reservoir such that it can be extracted by the plurality of individual channels and drawn to the printhead.