Abstract: An inkjet printer uses large volume ink reservoir containers to supply ink to ink cartridges located on a movable print carriage. A communication link including tubing sections and quick disconnect fittings couples the large volume ink reservoir containers and the ink cartridges. The printer may be plumbed with more ink supply tubing sections than ink cartridges and ink reservoirs for the provision of different ink types. The changing of sets of large volume ink reservoir containers or sets of ink cartridges is more convenient with the use of quick disconnect fittings.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a plastic platen and a structural member extending upward from the base of the printer. The printing surface is supported by the upper surface of the structural member. This surface is held flat to within very tight tolerances. The bottom of the platen printing surface is retained against this surface so that it conforms to the shape of this surface structural member to create a substantially flat printing surface.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an inking system that includes an ink jet cartridge, a large ink reservoir mounted on the ink jet printer at a location which is remote from the ink jet cartridge and tubing connecting the ink reservoir to the ink jet cartridge. The tubing and the ink reservoir are permanently mounted within the ink jet printer. Only the ink jet cartridge needs to be replaced, because the jet plate has a finite life span during which the print quality from the jet plate is satisfactory. The ink jet cartridge includes a quick release fitting which enables the easy disconnection of an old ink jet cartridge and reconnection of a new ink jet cartridge with the tubing. Further, the size of the ink jet cartridge is reduced since almost all of the ink storage is moved to a location which is remote from the ink jet cartridge.

Abstract: An ink jet printer cartridge includes a memory storage element mounted on a side surface thereof. The memory storage element stores information about ink expelled from the cartridge. The information is routed from the memory storage element to an external device, and the user may be warned when cartridge replacement is advisable.

Abstract: Waterfast ink jet printing onto textiles is performed by treating the textiles with a polymer or copolymer of epihalohydrin prior to the ink jet printing process. A softener such as a tetraalkylammonium salt may also be used, as may be a cationic binder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for guiding recording media through a printer comprises a pinch roller which is pivotally coupled to the printer. The pinch roller may have a plurality of roller wheels. The degrees of freedom of the pinch roller allows the pinch roller to adjust its position and orientation with variations in the direction of motion of the recording medium as it is being fed through the printer.

Abstract: A service station for an ink jet printer is provided with a base station and a sliding sled having both wipers and caps mounted thereon. Power for sled motion during wiping and capping is provided by the movement of the print carriage of the ink jet printer. Sled motion is guided by pins on the sled which engage slots on the base station. A plank holds the sled in a temporarily stationary position during wiping.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an inking system that includes an ink jet cartridge, a large ink reservoir mounted inside the housing of the ink jet printer at a location which is remote from the ink jet cartridge and tubing connecting the ink reservoir to the ink jet cartridge. The large ink reservoirs may be pancake shaped, and may be stacked in side by side horizontal manner within the housing. A portion of the reservoir is transparent, and is visible to the operator for operator monitoring of ink level through openings in the printer housing placed in juxtaposition with the transparent portion of the large ink reservoirs.

Abstract: The present patent discloses a method and apparatus for improving communication between print drivers and a host computer. The disclosed method simplifies and standardizes the output data format of the host computer. The disclosed printer processing electronics are placed on a moving "smart" printer carriage in close proximity with the print drivers. The simplification of the host computer output, and the positioning of processing electronics speeds up printing of documents and eliminates the need for substantial intermediate processing electronics between the host computer and the printer carriage.

Abstract: A printer ink cartridge includes a rigid cartridge body containing ink, a plurality of ink orifices, a jet plate, a plurality of electrical conductors and a control and driver circuit. The control and driver circuit is attached to the cartridge body spaced apart from the jet plate, and the plurality of electrical conductors connect the jet plate to the control and driver circuit. The jet plate includes heating elements located proximate to an associated one of the ink orifices to heat a portion of the ink and to expelling the ink from the associated orifice. The control and driver circuit contains a control circuit and a plurality of driver circuits. A portion of the control circuit is connected to the plurality of driver circuits to control when one of the driver circuits is energized. Each of the driver circuits is connected to an associated one of the heating elements.

Abstract: A printer ink cartridge includes a rigid cartridge body containing ink, a plurality of ink orifices, a jet plate, a plurality of electrical conductors, a control and driver circuit and a memory storage element. The memory storage element is connected to the control and driver circuit to enable information to be retrieved and stored from the memory storage element. The memory storage element is capable of storing information regarding the printer ink cartridge and the ink stored within the cartridge selected, such as ink type, ink color, date of manufacture of the cartridge, data from a spectral analysis of the ink, initial amount of ink stored in the cartridge body, amount of ink delivered, and amount of ink remaining in the cartridge. The memory storage element can be an EEPROM or a flash memory. The control and driver circuit may also include a counter for counting the number of times the heating elements on the cartridge are energized.