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: A cartridge for a printer is provided having a body defining a number of fluid reservoirs, a lid covering the body to seal fluid inside the reservoirs, and a printhead operatively fed with fluid from the reservoirs. A base of each reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds a fluid outlet through which fluid flows for supply to the printhead. Each raised portion being molded in the body to separate the outlet from the base of each reservoir to ensure a sufficient flow rate of fluid from the reservoir.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: (a) a pagewidth inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzles for delivering ink onto print media fed past the printhead; and (b) a maintenance assembly for maintaining the printhead. The maintenance assembly includes: (i) an elongate web of material; (ii) rollers for supporting the web; (iii) a maintenance member positioned opposite the printhead; (iv) a web-feeding mechanism for advancing the web past the printhead; and (v) an actuating mechanism for configuring the printer in either one of a maintenance position and a printing position. A gap is defined between the web and the printhead in the printing position.

Abstract: A cradle unit for receiving a print cartridge to form a print engine, the cradle unit includes a main body defining an opening for receiving said cartridge, the main body having a frame structure including end plates with drive and exit rollers mounted therebetween; a printed circuit board (PCB) pivotally mounted between the end plates for housing control electronics for controlling the operation of the print engine; a cover assembly for securing said cartridge in the opening, the cover assembly pivotally mounted between the end plates, the cover assembly configured to pivot the PCB into electrical contact with a printhead controller on the cartridge when in a closed position, and to pivot the PCB out of electrical connection with said printhead controller when in an open position; and a maintenance assembly mounted to the main body, the maintenance assembly movable between a capping state where a printhead of the print cartridge is capped, and a printing stage where a printhead of the print cartridge is unca

Abstract: A cartridge for a printer is provided having a body defining a number of fluid reservoirs, a lid covering the body to seal fluid inside the reservoirs, and a printhead operatively fed with fluid from the reservoirs. A base of each reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds a fluid outlet through which fluid flows for supply to the printhead. Each raised portion being moulded in the body to separate the outlet from the base of each reservoir to ensure a sufficient flow rate of fluid from the reservoir.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead with an array of ink ejection nozzles, an upstream ink line for connecting the printhead to an ink supply, a downstream ink line for connecting the printhead to a sump, a pump in the downstream ink line for drawing fluid out of the printhead, a gas inlet in communication with the printhead, the gas inlet being configured to open to atmosphere during a printhead de-priming operation, and close to atmosphere during a printhead priming operation and, an accumulator positioned in the upstream ink line for generating a positive pressure pulse for priming the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge for releasable mounting in a printer. The printhead cartridge includes a pagewidth printhead and an ink manifold defining multiple fluid flow paths in fluid communication with respective ink channels in the printhead. The ink manifold includes a plurality of openings for detachable connection with conduits in an interface of the printer; a plurality of shut off valves at each of the openings respectively, each shut off valve having a biasing member configured for biasing each shut off valve into an open position; an actuator biased towards a closed position by a resilient element such that the actuator holds all the shut off valves closed when in the closed position. The actuator is configured for engagement with the interface such that movement of the openings into connection with the interface simultaneously moves the actuator to an open position wherein the shut off valves are held open.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir assembly for supplying fluid to a printhead is provided. The assembly has a reservoir compartment in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying the fluid to the printhead via a fluid outlet, the reservoir compartment having an air vent and a bypass fluid path interconnecting the fluid outlet and a well region within the compartment, and a valve in the bypass fluid path for priming the reservoir compartment with fluid via the bypass fluid path.

Abstract: An ink cartridge supplies an inkjet printhead by forming a sealed engagement with an inlet on the printhead. The ink cartridge has an ink storage volume, an outlet opening in fluid communication with the ink storage volume, an outlet valve for connection to an inlet on the inkjet printhead, the outlet valve having a radially extending flange portion fixed within the outlet opening and, an annular skirt of resilient material extending from the outlet opening to the flange portion. The resilient material elastically biases part of the annular skirt into sealing engagement with the flange portion to close the outlet valve. Engagement with the inlet on the printhead during installation of the ink cartridge, compresses the annular skirt to open the outlet valve such that ink flows from the ink storage volume around the radially extending flange portion to the printhead.

Abstract: An ink storage module for a printer cartridge includes upper and lower plate members and an ink bag located between the upper and lower plate members to define an ink volume, said lower plate member displaceable towards and away from the upper plate member; a bag constrictor assembly having an upper collar, a lower collar, and a plurality of bowed panels extending between the upper and lower collar, the upper collar being displaceable towards the lower collar; a lid to which the upper plate member is fixedly attached, the lid having a first port and a second port both in fluid communication with the ink bag; and a valve insert located between the lid and the ink bag, said valve insert having an inlet valve and an outlet valve arranged in fluid communication with respective first and second ports in the lid, the inlet valve facilitating refilling of the bag with ink, and the outlet valve to facilitate ink delivery to the printhead.

Abstract: A cradle unit for receiving a printer cartridge unit includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a print engine controller for controlling a printhead of the printer cartridge unit is provided, the PCB having a row of electrical contacts; a cover assembly movable between a closed position where the printer cartridge unit is mechanically secured in the cradle unit, and an opened position where removal of the printer cartridge unit from the cradle unit is facilitated; a pair of arms for supporting the PCB therebetween, each of the pair of arms having a grooved portion; and a pair of tension springs, one end of each tension spring being engaged with the grooved portion of respective arms, and another end of each tension spring being engaged with the cover assembly. The cover assembly, pair of arms, and tension springs are configured to bias the row of electrical contacts into electrical contact with the printer cartridge when the cover assembly is moved from the opened position to the closed position.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is disclosed. The printhead assembly includes at least one printhead module having at least two printhead integrated circuits, a drive electronics part incorporating at least one controller for controlling the printing operation of at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and a casing part for supporting the drive electronics part and the at least one printhead module. The casing part incorporates a clamping arrangement for removably clamping the at least one printhead module to the casing part. The clamping arrangement allows movement of the at least one printhead module relative to the casing during operation of the printhead assembly.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge cradle is provided having a frame, a printed circuit board pivotally supported by the frame, a cover pivotally supported by the frame to pivot between a closed position at which a printhead cartridge is secured within the frame and the printed circuit board is pivoted to connect control circuitry on the printed circuit board with a controller of the secured cartridge and an open position at which access for the cartridge with the frame is provided and the printed circuit board is pivoted to disconnect the control circuitry and controller, and a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and actuator arrangement and a wiper gear and actuator arrangement for maintaining and wiping a printhead of the secured cartridge under control of the connected control circuitry.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance assembly for an inkjet printer includes a movable chassis arranged in a housing; an endless belt mounted on the chassis, the endless belt having a contact surface reciprocally movable between a first position in which the contact surface is engaged with the printhead and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the printhead; a pair of spools mounted on the chassis and on which the belt is mounted, one of the spools being a toothed drive spool and the other being an idler spool; a drive gear driven by a drive motor and engaged with the drive spool, the drive gear, the drive spool, and the drive motor forming a conveyor mechanism for conveying the belt in a direction substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the printhead; and a cleaning station mounted on the chassis and positioned to clean the belt as the belt moves past. The contact surface is sloped with respect to the printhead.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer, that has an elongate ink distribution member mounted with a series of inlets spaced along the length of the elongate ink distribution member, one or more integrated circuits fixed to the ink distribution member, the or each integrated circuit having nozzles for ejecting ink supplied by the distribution member onto a passing media substrate, and an electrical connector for transmitting data to the or each integrated circuit, the electrical connector having an elongate array of contacts for electrical connection with a corresponding array of contacts on the inkjet printer.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has at least one pagewidth printhead arranged to print on print media transported therepast and a capping member of a flexible sheet-like material arranged to move between a spaced apart position relative to the printhead during printing and a capping position in which the material caps the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge is inserted in a printer in accordance with a particular protocol. The printer has a cradle with a reference surface for engaging a datum point on the printhead cartridge to support the nozzle face at a precise spacing from a media feed path. The printer also has a latch for securing the printhead cartridge in the cradle. The protocol involves the steps of placing the printhead cartridge in the cradle such that the datum point rests on the reference surface, moving the latch to the closed position to secure the printhead cartridge in cradle, providing a mechanical linkage between the latch and a fluid interface to ink tanks in the printer. The fluid interface sealingly engages the fluid coupling upon moving the latch to the closed position without urging the reference surface to disengage from the datum point.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge for an inkjet printer that has a paper path for sheets of media substrate. The printhead cartridge has a cartridge body configured for user insertion in, and removal from an inkjet printer such that during printing, the cartridge remains stationary relative to the paper path and a printhead having a plurality of printhead ICs, each defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to the sheets of media substrate. The printhead is mounted to the cartridge body such that when the printhead cartridge is installed in the printer, the array of nozzles are adjacent a planar section of the paper path, and no part of the printhead cartridge extends into the plane encompassing the planar section of the paper path.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has at least three ink tanks for storing inks of different color, a printhead cartridge having a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles, and a fluid coupling for supplying the printhead with ink from each of the ink tanks. The printer also having a cradle defining a reference surface for engaging a datum point on the printhead cartridge to support the nozzle face at a precise spacing from a media feed path and a latch for securing the printhead cartridge in the cradle, the latch being movable between an open position where access to the cradle is unobstructed, and a closed position where access to the cradle is obstructed. The latch is configured to apply a compressive force urging the datum point on the printhead cartridge into engagement with the reference surface.

Abstract: An inkjet print engine includes a printer cartridge having an elongate body and a pair of mounting posts provided at either end of the elongate body, the printer cartridge further and defining a plurality of partitions; an ink storage module assembly having a row of ink storage modules interleaved with the partitions; a printhead assembly mounted to the elongate body and including at least one ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) connected to receive ink from the ink storage modules; an elongate maintenance assembly mounted between the posts and configured to cap and clean the IC; a cradle unit for removably receiving the printer cartridge; and a maintenance drive assembly mounted to the cradle unit for actuating against the maintenance assembly to facilitate cleaning of the IC.