Abstract: The contact pads of a print cartridge are formed on a flexible tape. Each of the uniformly spaced contact pads is preferably a square separated from an adjacent square by a minimum distance to provide each contact pad with a maximum area. Conductive traces run along the flexible tape and between the contact pads to allow for a minimum separation between contact pads, thus allowing the contact pads to be made relatively large. This improves the reliability of the interconnection between the pads and the printer electrodes.

Abstract: A thermal ink-jet pen cartridge having a rigid external frame member fabricated of a rigid engineering plastic, and an interior frame structure attached thereto, formed of a softer, more ductile plastic material than the rigid engineering plastic. An ink reservoir is defined by the interior structure and a pair of flexible bag membranes formed of a plastic material impervious to the ink and compatible with the interior member material, allowing the membranes to be joined to the interior member to form a leak-proof joint The interior frame structure is fabricated from a polymer blend composition comprising (A) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin and (B) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, wherein (A) is different from (B).

Abstract: An ink-jet swath printer employing a cartridge with a spring bag primary reservoir and an auxiliary ink reservoir interconnected via a tube to form a closed ink replenishment system. The primary reservoir creates a negative pressure which draws ink from the auxiliary reservoir as ink is expelled from the cartridge printhead during printing operations. The auxiliary reservoir can either be mounted on the cartridge carriage or on the printer body. The auxiliary reservoir is a large capacity collapsible bag mounted below the level of the printhead to establish an ink pressure head at the primary reservoir connection which is not so large as to destroy or diminish the negative pressure and allow ink to drool from the printhead, yet is sufficient to permit replenishment of the primary reservoir to avoid printhead ink starvation.

Abstract: A method for filling an ink reservoir of an ink-jet cartridge. A cartridge is provided which includes a frame structure having an external frame structural member fabricated from a first rigid plastic material and an inner frame member fabricated from a second plastic material, the inner member lining an interior surface of the external frame member. The cartridge has first and second impervious membranes joined to the inner frame member to form, with the inner frame member, an ink reservoir for holding a supply of ink, and an ink fill port comprising a passage-way defined through the external frame member, the passage-way lined with said second material of said inner member and communicating with the interior of the reservoir. Ink is released into the reservoir from an ink supply through the fill port, which is then sealed.

Abstract: A thermal ink-jet pen cartridge having a rigid external frame member fabricated of a rigid engineering plastic, and an interior frame structure attached thereto, formed of a softer, more ductile plastic material than an engineering plastic. An ink reservoir is defined by the interior structure and a pair of flexible bag membranes formed of a plastic material impervious to the ink and compatible with the interior member material, allowing the membranes to be joined to the interior member to form a leak-proof joint. The external structure has locking features formed into an interior surface. When the interior member is injection molded to the external member, the molten material flows into and around the locking features, securing the interior member to the external member and resisting the shrinkage forces as the molten material cools. The ink reservoir is filled through a fill port passageway extending through the external frame member and the inner member.

Abstract: The contact pads of a print cartridge are formed on a flexible tape. Each of the uniformly spaced contact pads is preferably a square separated from an adjacent square by a minimum distance to provide each contact pad with a maximum area. The contact pads are arranged on the flexible tape only along the side portions of the plastic print cartridge body, where body is generally flat, to avoid the pads being located in the sunken middle portion of the body, where the sinking occurs during the injection molding process used to form the body. This improves the reliability of the interconnection between the pads and the printer electrodes.

Abstract: A thermal ink-jet pen cartridge having a rigid external frame member fabricated of a rigid engineering plastic, and an interior frame structure attached thereto, formed of a sorer, more ductile plastic material than the rigid engineering plastic. An ink reservoir is defined by the interior structure and a pair of flexible bag membranes formed of a plastic material impervious to the ink and compatible with the interior member material, allowing the membranes to be joined to the interior member to form a leak-proof joint. The interior frame structure is fabricated from a polymer blend composition comprising (A) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin and (B) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, wherein (A) is different from (B).

Abstract: Precise alignment between two or more nozzle plates affixed to print cartridges installed in a single carriage of an ink printer is achieved by machining datum projections on each print cartridge after its nozzle plate has been permanently secured to the print cartridge. The machined datum projections on the print cartridge contact surfaces on the carriage when the print cartridge is installed in the carriage such that the dimensions of the datums affect the position of the cartridge, and hence the nozzle plate, within the carriage.

Abstract: A thermal ink-jet pen cartridge having a rigid external frame member fabricated of a rigid engineering plastic, and an interior frame structure attached thereto, formed of a softer, more ductile plastic material than an engineering plastic. An ink reservoir is defined by the interior structure and a pair of flexible bag membranes formed of a plastic material impervious to the ink and compatible with the interior member material, allowing the membranes to be joined to the interior member to form a leak-proof joint. The external structure has locking features formed into an interior surface. When the interior member is injection molded to the external member, the molten material flows into and around the locking features, securing the interior member to the external member and resisting the shrinkage forces as the molten material cools. The ink reservoir is filled through a fill port passageway extending through the external frame member and the inner member.

Abstract: Precise alignment between two or more nozzle plates affixed to print cartridges installed in a single carriage of an ink printer is achieved by machining datum projections on each print cartridge after its nozzle plate has been permanently secured to the print cartridge. The machined datum projections on the print cartridge contact surfaces on the carriage when the print cartridge is installed in the carriage such that the dimensions of the datums affect the position of the cartridge, and hence the nozzle plate, within the carriage.

Abstract: An ink level sensor (18, 18', 18") is provided for detecting the level of ink in an ink cartridge (10) containing a capillary reservoir (14), such as foam, therein. The ink level sensor is a binary fluidic indicator, which provides both a human and machine readable indication of the level of the ink. A plurality of embodiments are described, including a two-port sensor (20), a one-port sensor (22), and a pair of fluidically-connected needles of different length (24).

Abstract: In an ink-jet printer, a ball check-valve (32) is used over the ink outlet (28) of an ink bag (16) to interrupt the flow of ink and/or air to the ink bladder when the ink supply in the bag falls below a predetermined level (40). The specific gravity of the ball is less than the specific gravity of ink in the bag but greater than the specific gravity of air.