Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The ink cartridge comprises a sealed ink storage volume; an ink outlet for establishing sealed fluid communication between the printhead and the ink storage volume; and an air bag in the ink storage volume with an air inlet for allowing external air into the air bag. During use the air bag inflates as the ink is drawn from the ink storage volume.

Abstract: A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer comprising: a body portion having a plurality of ink storage compartments; and a pagewidth printhead assembly configured to receive ink from ink storage compartments and distribute said ink to a plurality of nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media; wherein the ink storage compartments comprise an absorption material which stores the ink therein under capillary action for supply to the nozzles of the printhead assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink storage compartment. The compartment includes a reservoir structure, in turn, defining a plurality of ink reservoirs from which respective ink outlets extend. Ink absorbent material is provided within respective ink reservoirs. Bypass fluid path structures extend between respective ink outlets and ink reservoirs so that, when filling the ink storage compartment by supplying ink to the ink outlets, ink can be supplied to the ink reservoirs through both the ink outlets and bypass fluid path structures.

Abstract: A maintenance assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly operatively mounted between posts of a main body of the printer so that the maintenance assembly is positioned adjacent a printhead assembly of the printer. The maintenance assembly includes a maintenance chassis defining tongue portions and having ends which are shaped to fit over the posts of the main body to secure the maintenance assembly in position. The maintenance assembly also includes a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis, and a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them. The moldings are in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, so that the maintenance assembly is useable to wipe the printhead of the printer.

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: An inkjet printhead is provided having at least one printhead module and drive electronics removably mounted to a support frame. The printhead module(s) has inkjet integrated circuits, a support member supporting and carrying ink for the inkjet integrated circuits and an electrical connector for connecting drive signals to the inkjet integrated circuits from the drive electronics so as to control ink ejection therefrom. The drive electronics is removable from the support frame independently of the printhead module.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for an inkjet print engine. The cartridge includes an elongate body, in turn, defining a plurality of partitions and a pair of mounting posts at either end. An ink storage module assembly includes a row of ink storage modules interleaved with the partitions. A printhead assembly is mounted to the body and includes at least one ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) connected to receive ink from the ink storage modules. An elongate maintenance assembly is mounted between the posts and is configured to cap and clean the IC.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising: a replaceable pagewidth printhead with an array of nozzles and printhead contacts for transmitting power and print data to the nozzles; and, corresponding contacts for supplying the power and print data to the printhead contacts; and, a cover member for movement between open and closed positions; wherein, in the open position, the printhead can be installed or removed, and the cover member is in the closed position during printing; such that, the printhead contacts and the corresponding contacts are moved into engagement when the cover member is moved to the closed position, and the printhead contacts and the corresponding contacts disengage when the cover member is moved to the open position.

Abstract: A cartridge for a pagewidth printhead assembly is provided. The cartridge includes a body assembly having a lid and main body operatively defining a plurality of fluid chambers when assembled, each chamber comprising a stack of polymer layers with a micro-capillary array of channels formed therein to form an absorbent assembly. The cartridge includes a plurality of printhead integrated circuits (IC) each having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements for ejecting printing fluid onto a printing medium, in use. The cartridge also includes a fluid distribution member operatively arranging each chamber in fluid communication with each IC.

Abstract: A printer is provided having at least one printhead module which has at least two printhead integrated circuits having nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the printhead integrated circuits, and an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the printhead integrated circuits, longitudinally extending electrical conductors arranged to provide power from a power supply to the printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector, a loading plate for loading conductor portions of the electrical connector against respective ones of the electrical conductors, and a casing in which the printhead module, the electrical conductors and the loading plate are removably mounted. The printhead module is removable from the casing upon removal of the electrical conductors and the loading plate.

Abstract: A capping assembly caps a pagewidth printhead of an inkjet printer by moving into and out of a body that has a surface opposite the printhead, The surface has a slot in it open to the interior of the body, The body is configured to extend the length of the printhead, and a capping element is housed within the body. The capping element has a rim portion adapted to cap at least a portion of said printhead and it is movable with respect to said body between a first and a second position. In the first position, the rim portion extends from the body, and in the second position, the rim portion is contained within the body.

Abstract: A capping mechanism is disclosed for a printhead having a plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print media which is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism comprises actuating means arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate direction away from a transport plane of the print media, from a printing first position to a capping second position, and a capping member which is arranged to engage in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead when the printhead is in the second position. Such a capping mechanism is also disclosed in relation to a pagewidth printhead assembly, and further disclosures are made in respect of a capping mechanism for a printhead assembly having two pagewidth printheads and in respect of an inkjet printer having the capping mechanism.

Abstract: A printhead that has a printhead integrated circuit (IC) (68) which is elongate and has an array of nozzles for ejecting ink. The printhead also has a support structure 176 for supporting the printhead IC and having ink outlets 186 for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. The ink outlets are spaced along the printhead IC such that the ink outlet spacing (210, 212) decreases at the ends of the printhead IC. By increasing the number of ink outlets near the end regions, the ink supply is enhanced to compensate for the slower priming of the end nozzles. This, in turn, makes the whole nozzle array prime more consistently to avoid flooding and ink wastage from early priming nozzles (or alternatively, unprimed end nozzles).

Abstract: A printer is provided which has a pagewidth printhead assembly and a capping mechanism. The printhead assembly has a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism has a capping member of a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate direction from a first to a second position, and a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a direction normal to the printhead to effect nozzle capping engagement of the printhead when the printhead is in the second position.

Abstract: A capping assembly for capping a pagewidth printhead of an inkjet printer. The capping assembly has a body configured to extend the length of the printhead and a capping element housed within said body and movable with respect to the body to cap at least a portion of the printhead. The body includes a mounting element for removably mounting said capping assembly to said printhead.

Abstract: A capping/purging mechanism is disclosed for a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media which is transported past the printhead. The capping/purging mechanism comprises-i) a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, ii) means arranged to move the capping member and/or the printhead to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead, and iii) a purging chamber arranged to receive material that is purged from the printhead. The capping mechanism is also disclosed in relation to a printhead assembly having two pagewidth printheads, and further disclosures are mede in respect of an inkjet printer incorporating the capping mechanism and a method of capping a pagewidth printhead.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided. The cartridge has an ink storage compartment having opposed wall sections connected by a flexible wall arrangement to define a variable ink storage volume, and an ink feed system for supplying ink to a printhead with an array of nozzles. One of the opposed wall sections is displaceable and biased to expand the variable ink storage volume to create a negative pressure in the ink storage compartment for avoiding inadvertent ink leakage from the nozzles.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has a pagewidth printhead assembly and a capping mechanism. The printhead assembly has a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism has a capping member of a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate direction from a first to a second position, and a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a lateral direction relative to the printhead to effect nozzle capping engagement of the printhead when the printhead is in the second position. The capping mechanism may be configured for capping in a printer having a printhead assembly with two pagewidth printheads.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer, the printhead assembly comprising: a pagewidth printhead structure having an array of nozzles and a plurality of ink ports in fluid communication with corresponding nozzles in the array; an ink cartridge docking frame for receiving a plurality ink cartridges, the cartridge docking frame having ink inlet valves for sealed connection to outlets on each of the ink cartridges respectively; and, resilient connectors for sealed fluid communication between the ink inlet valves and the corresponding ink port to accommodate longitudinal expansion and contraction of the pagewidth printhead structure relative to the ink cartridge docking frame.

Abstract: A capping member for a pagewidth printhead assembly having— (i) at least one pagewidth printhead; and (ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead, the capping member comprising: a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion; wherein, the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the nozzles on the at least one printhead, and the body portion has a length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one printhead.