Abstract: An ink refill cartridge for a printer including an outer portion containing an internal spring assembly. A base portion contains a deformable ink membrane for containing ink, at least part of the base portion able to be slidingly received within the outer portion, the internal spring assembly acting to compress the deformable ink membrane to expel ink therefrom as the at least part of the base portion is slidingly received within the outer portion by application of a force. An ink outlet is provided to dispense the ink expelled from the deformable ink membrane. The ink outlet is mated with an ink inlet of a printer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cradle unit for a print engine having an inkjet printhead and a PCB controller, the cradle unit configured to receive a cartridge unit having a printhead assembly of the print engine with a controller on a flex PCB. The cradle unit includes a cover assembly movable between a closed position, where the cartridge unit is mechanically secured in the cradle unit and the PCB controller of the print engine electrically contacts the flex PCB controller such that power and data signals can be transferred therebetween, and an open position where the electrical contact is broken and allows the cartridge unit to be removed from the cradle unit. The cradle unit also includes a maintenance drive assembly having a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and actuator arrangement and to a wiper gear and actuator arrangement, the maintenance drive assembly operated by the PCB.

Abstract: A refill unit for refilling a negatively pressurized ink storage compartment that supplies ink to a printhead assembly. The refill unit has a body with a variable volume container for holding a quantity of ink and an actuator for fluidically isolating the printhead assembly and the ink storage compartment as the refill unit engages the ink storage compartment.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module of at least two print nozzle integrated circuits and respective electrical connectors, at least one controller configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit to print the processed print data, and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted.

Abstract: A refill unit for refilling an ink cartridge that forms part of an inkjet printer. The printer also having a printhead, control circuitry and an interface for releasably engaging the refill unit. The refill unit has a body containing a quantity of ink, an ink outlet, and a memory circuit for storing information relating to at least one characteristic of the ink. During use the memory circuit allows to the control circuit to interrogate it to verify that the ink in the refill unit is suitable for the printer.

Abstract: A fluid coupling for an inkjet printhead, that has an interface plate supporting a plurality of spouts positioned for sealed engagement with corresponding apertures in a complementary socket in order to establish fluid communication between an inkjet printhead and an ink supply. The interface plate has surface formations individually associated with each of the spouts respectively. The surface formations define a preferred flow path along the interface plate for any residual ink draining away from the spouts under gravity. The preferred flow paths are configured to avoid any of the other spouts.

Abstract: A hyperbaric capsule has a base forming a seat that can be enclosed by an elongate oval canopy having a large transparent window formed therein. The bottom of the front of the canopy is pivotally attached to the front of the base by a hinge assembly and can be locked in the closed position on the base by a plurality of latches that are conjointly operated by an external lever and an internal lever. The weight of the canopy upon opening is borne by a pair of side gas or spring struts.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printhead, the ink cartridge comprising: an ink storage volume; an outlet opening with an outlet valve for connection to an inlet on the printhead, the outlet valve having a stem positioned in the outlet opening, the stem having a radially extending valve seat; and, an annular skirt of resilient material extending from the side of the outlet opening to the valve seat; such that, the inlet on the printhead pushes the annular skirt off the valve seat to open the outlet valve upon installation of the cartridge.

Abstract: An ink cartridge that has a rigid housing. The housing has a docking face for abutting a printer such that, when installed, the docking face faces downwards. The cartridge also has an ink storage volume and an ink outlet valve for fluid communication with the printhead. The ink outlet valve and an air inlet are both being positioned in the docking face. A variable volume structure within the ink storage volume inflates with air as ink is drawn from the outlet. The variable volume structure has a section that displaces upwardly within the ink storage volume as it inflates with air. An air inlet spaced from the outlet valve is in fluid communication with the variable volume structure to lets air into the ink storage volume as ink is drawn out through the outlet valve. A conduit in the ink storage volume is connected to the ink outlet valve at one end, with the other end being open to ink within the ink storage volume.

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: An ink cartridge for a printer with an inkjet printhead, the ink cartridge comprising: an ink storage volume; an outlet valve for fluid communication with the printhead; and, an air inlet spaced from the outlet valve for letting air into the ink storage volume as ink is drawn out through the outlet valve; wherein, the outlet valve and the air inlet are configured for engagement with complementary formations on the printer such that the ink outlet and the air inlet are both opened upon installation of the cartridge in the printer.

Abstract: An ink reservoir for a printer with an inkjet printhead, the ink reservoir comprising: a sealed ink storage volume; an ink outlet for sealed fluid communication between the printhead and the ink storage volume; and, a variable volume structure in the ink storage volume for expanding as ink is drawn through the ink outlet to keep a constant head of ink above the outlet valve.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module, at least one controller and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted. The module is a unitary arrangement of a support member, at least two print nozzle integrated circuits, at least two fluid distribution members each mounting the print nozzle integrated circuits to the support member, and respective electrical connectors. The controller is configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit(s) to print the processed print data.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for an inkjet printer configured for use with at least one replaceable ink cartridge, the printhead assembly comprising: an ink inlet valve for sealed connection to an outlet on the ink cartridge, the inlet valve having an inlet opening and a movable valve member biased into sealing engagement with the inlet opening, the outlet having a complementary member for depressing the movable valve member out of engagement with the inlet opening to open the valve; wherein, the inlet opening has an external formation about its periphery for sealing against the outlet before the complementary member depresses the movable valve member.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which has: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a single pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping/purging mechanism having (i) a capping member associated with the printhead, the capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead and being located in a non-capping first position adjacent the printhead, (ii) purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the printhead, and (iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member in an arcuate direction from the first position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead.

Abstract: Provided is a print cradle assembly for a printhead cartridge. The cradle assembly includes a docking bay molding, a media feed drive assembly positioned on the docking bay molding and configured to feed media through the assembly, and a printed circuit board (PCB) with a printer controller for controlling the media feed drive assembly and operation of the cartridge. The cradle assembly also includes a maintenance drive assembly for driving a capping mechanism of a printhead of the cartridge.

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 printhead for an inkjet printer that has an elongate array of nozzles (68) for ejecting ink and ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. The ink conduits extend adjacent the elongate array and have a plurality of pulse dampers individually in fluid communication with the ink conduits, each containing a volume of gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink conduits, distributed along the length of the elongate array. A pressure pulse moving through an elongate printheads, such as a pagewidth printhead, can be damped at any point in the ink flow line. However, the pulse will cause nozzle flooding as it passes the nozzles in the printhead integrated circuit, regardless of whether it is subsequently dissipated at the damper. By incorporating a number of pulse dampers into the ink supply conduits immediately next to the nozzle array, any pressure spikes are damped at the site where they would otherwise cause detrimental flooding.

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 comprising: a printer body and a replaceable printhead cartridge, the printhead cartridge having a casing that supports a pagewidth printhead; the printer body having a cradle for holding the printhead cartridge in an operative position such that the pagewidth printhead is adjacent a paper path defined by the printer body; wherein, during insertion, the cradle and the casing interact to form an over centre mechanism whereby, the printhead cartridge rotates against a bias prior until reaching a balance point, after which it is biased to rotate into the operative position.