Abstract: A printhead is provided having a printhead integrated circuit having ejection nozzles and fluid channels for supplying fluid to the nozzles, a support structure supporting the integrated circuit, the support structure having conduits for supplying fluid to the channels, and a sealing film fixing the integrated circuit to the support structure. The sealing film has apertures providing sealed fluid communication between the conduits and the channels. The channels are divided into isolated channel sections by walls. Each aperture of the sealing film is positioned at one of the walls so as to provide fluid communication to both of the channel sections either side of the respective wall.

Abstract: An ink ejection printhead includes an elongate support frame. The support frame supports ink ejection printhead modules. An end plate is mounted to an end of the support frame and defines two guide recesses. A connector arrangement is received in the guide recesses and includes a body portion interconnected to a region by at least one bridge. The connector arrangement includes a connector extending from the body portion. An end housing defines an opening and is mounted to the end plate so that the connector is accessible through the opening.

Abstract: A printing arrangement has a modular printhead assembly with a plurality of elongate printhead modules fast with an elongate chassis. An ink supply assembly has a number of ink reservoirs with respective ink supply devices each having two parts, namely a first part with a plurality of collars and the second part defining a number of ink chambers. Each ink chamber is configured to contain ink of a particular color and is in fluid communication with a respective ink channel of one ink reservoir via one collar.

Abstract: Provided is a valve assembly for a printer ink cartridge. The valve assembly includes a flanged valve stem defining an inlet opening with a skirt engaging portion for operatively engaging an outlet port of the cartridge, and a depressible valve member within the stem. The valve assembly also includes a pressure regulator having a spacer within a central hub and a diaphragm spanning a central inlet opening. The pressure regulator further includes a clip defining an outlet opening, the clip configured to operatively engage the valve stem to sandwich the valve member, spacer and diaphragm between the valve stem and clip. The pressure regulator also includes a spring configured to bias the diaphragm against the central inlet opening into a closed position, so that ink from the ink cartridge is only able to flow through the valve when the diaphragm is in an open position.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printer body, a printhead cartridge for installation in the printer body, and an ink cartridge for supplying the printhead cartridge with ink. The ink cartridge has an ink outlet valve and an air inlet, the ink outlet valve engaging an ink inlet valve on the printhead cartridge, and the air inlet engaging a complementary formation on the printer body to open the air inlet and locate the ink cartridge.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a cradle unit of an inkjet printer having a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing. The cover assembly has at least one port formed therein through which a refill unit is received for refilling the ink supply of the cartridge; and an actuator member arranged within the cover assembly which operates said refill unit to facilitate refilling of the ink supply of the cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is printer assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly having a support frame for supporting a printhead arrangement. The support frame includes an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion separated by an internal cavity, as well as a lower arm portion and an upper wall fast with the outer and inner wall portions. The upper wall portion defines a channel for operatively receiving the printhead arrangement, said upper wall portion and arm portion having a clipping arrangement configured to complementarily receive a printed circuit board (PCB) support having electronic for controlling the printhead arrangement. The support frame is configured to minimize substantial dimensional changes due to environmental changes to retain a positional relationship between individual printhead tiles of the printhead arrangement.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printer body, a printhead cartridge for installation in the printer body, the printhead cartridge having a pagewidth inkjet printhead structure with an array of nozzles, a plurality of ink cartridges for supplying ink, each of the ink cartridges having a docking face for engagement with a complementary face partially provided by the printhead cartridge and partially provided by the printer body and, a docking frame with a plurality of resilient connectors form part of fluid paths from the ink cartridges. Longitudinal expansion and contraction of the pagewidth printhead structure relative to the docking frame is accommodated by the resilient connectors.

Abstract: A sheet feed assembly with a pair of rollers to feed sheets of media along a feed path. The roller pair has a drive roller and an idler roller. The drive roller is mounted between two bearings and for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The idler roller is shorter than the drive roller and is held against the drive roller by two guide formations and at either end. The guide formations bias the idler roller against the drive roller while allowing some lateral displacement of the idler roller from the drive roller.

Abstract: The invention provides for a mounting arrangement for a printhead assembly having a plurality of modular printhead tiles each having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements for printing on a printing medium. Each tile has a flex PCB with which to provide the tile with electrical energy. The mounting arrangement includes a support defining retaining clips and channels operatively housing electrical busbars, as well as a pressure plate defining holes shaped and dimensioned to complementarily receive the retaining clips to engage the support which urges the flex PCBs against the busbars to provide electrical power to printhead tiles.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly including a printhead module having a plurality of modular printhead tiles with each tile having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle assemblies for operatively printing on a printing medium. The printhead assembly also includes a ducting assembly having a laminated stack of layers, each layer of the stack having a number of apertures which, when the layers are stacked, provide ducts whereby ink is able to flow from an ink reservoir to the nozzle assemblies. The assembly further includes a number of electrical connector assemblies for operatively connecting the respective printhead tiles. Each tile is mounted to a modular support defining a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof, the tile having electrical connecting strips which overlie the respective recessed portions.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising a printer body and a replaceable printhead cartridge is disclosed. The printhead cartridge has a casing that supports a printhead and a plurality of contacts for receiving print data and power. The printer body has a cradle for holding the printhead cartridge in an operative position. The printer body has corresponding contacts for connection with the plurality of contacts on the printhead cartridge when the printhead cartridge is in the operative position. During insertion of the replaceable printhead cartridge, the casing is first slid into the cradle at which point the plurality of contacts contact the corresponding contacts. Next, the casing is rotated. During the rotation the plurality of contacts remain in contact with the corresponding contacts. The rotation of the casing in the cradle forms an over centre mechanism.

Abstract: A method of supplying ink to ink ejection nozzles on a printhead for an inkjet printer with a print engine controller for controlling the printhead operation involving the provision a printhead IC having an array of the ink ejection nozzles formed on a substrate, the provision of circuitry for electrical connection to the print engine controller, the provision of a support member for supporting the printhead integrated circuit and the circuitry within the printer, the provision of a thermoplastic polymer sealing film, and securing the polymer film to a mounting surface of the support member by applying heat and pressure for a predetermined time, mounting the printhead integrated circuit and the circuitry to the support member via the polymer film and, electrically connecting the circuitry to the printhead integrated circuit. The mounting surface has ink feed channels formed in it and the polymer film is attached to the mounting surface between the ink feed channels and the printhead integrated circuits.

Abstract: A printhead module is provided for an inkjet printhead assembly. The printhead module includes a support. An elongate carrier is mounted to the support. The carrier defines a plurality of transverse ribs and an ink channel located between the ribs. A subassembly includes a micro-electromechanical integrated circuit (IC) configured to eject ink. The subassembly is mounted to the carrier so that the support, carrier and subassembly define a plurality of sealed ink chambers which can feed ink to the IC via the ink channel.

Abstract: A structure for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead structure has an elongate support structure for supporting a printhead integrated circuit, and ink conduits formed in the elongate support structure for supplying ink to an array of nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each cavity has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The upstream edge contacts the ink before the downstream edge during initial priming of the ink conduits from an ink supply. The upstream edge has a transition face between the ink conduit and the cavity interior, the transition face being configured to inhibit ink from filling the cavity by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit. This causes gas to be trapped within the cavity. The gas acts to compress pressure pulses in the ink.

Abstract: Provided is an ink storage module for a pagewidth printer cartridge. The module includes upper and lower plate members that are displaceable towards and away from each other. An ink bag is located between the plate members to define an ink volume. A bag constrictor assembly is engaged with said plate members, and is configured to act on the bag when the plate members are displaced towards each other to reduce the ink volume. A biasing mechanism is engaged with the plate members to bias the plate members away from each other such that a negative pressure is maintained in the ink volume. A lid is engaged with the plate members and bag constrictor assembly. The lid has at least one port in fluid communication with the bag, to deliver ink to a printhead or to facilitate refilling said bag with ink.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having a support frame, a plurality of nozzle integrated circuits having printing fluid ejection nozzles, and a one-piece printing fluid distribution member commonly supporting the plurality of nozzle integrated circuits, the distribution member being removably engaged with the support frame.

Abstract: Provided is a print cradle assembly for a printhead cartridge. The cradle assembly includes a docking bay molding and a media feed drive assembly positioned on the docking bay molding and configured to feed media through the assembly. The cradle assembly also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a printer controller for controlling the media feed drive assembly and operation of the cartridge, as well as a heatshield mounted to the PCB for shielding the printer controller from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and user contact with the PCB.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a molded ink manifold bonded to a printhead by an adhesive film. The printhead has: (a) a plurality of nozzles formed on a frontside of a substrate, the nozzles being arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the substrate, each nozzle having a respective nozzle inlet; and (b) a plurality of ink supply channels extending longitudinally along a backside of the substrate. Each ink supply channel is configured for supplying ink from the backside to at least one corresponding row of nozzle inlets. Further, each ink supply channel is interrupted along its length by one or more transverse bridges. The transverse bridges provide the printhead integrated circuit with strength in a transverse direction.

Abstract: An ink cartridge that self seals its outlet opening with an outlet valve that connects to an inlet on the printhead. The outlet valve has a radially extending flange fixed within the outlet opening and an annular skirt of resilient material extending from the side of the outlet opening to the valve seat. The annular skirt is biased into sealing engagement with the radially extending flange to close the outlet valve until installment when the printhead inlet lifts the annular skirt off the flange so that ink flows around the flange into the printhead.