Abstract: A printer is provided which has two pagewidth printheads arranged to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles disposed along the respective pagewidth onto opposite surfaces of print media being transported therepast, and a capping/purging mechanism. The capping/purging mechanism has two rotatable turrets arranged so that each turret is associated with a respective one of the printheads and an actuating mechanism for selectively rotating and moving each turret. Each turret has located on respective faces thereof, a capping member, platen and purging chamber connected in fluid passage communication with a suction device. The actuating mechanism selectively rotates each turret to align the respective capping member, platen and purging chamber with the respective printhead and selectively moves each turret to engage the respectively aligned capping member or purging chamber with the respective printhead.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a printhead module having at least first and second modular printhead tiles, the first printhead tile having a first set of connection strips, and the second printhead tile having a second set of connection strips; an electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting the first and second printhead tiles, the electrical connector assembly having printed on a surface thereof a plurality of conducting strips; and first and second modular supports arranged end to end for respectively receiving the first and second printhead tiles, the first and second modular supports shaped to complementarily define a first cavity portion therebetween. The first printhead tile is received in the first modular support such that the first set of connection strips extend over the cavity portion. The second printhead tile is received in the second modular support such that the second set of electrical connection strips extend over the cavity portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge. The cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The compartment includes porous absorbent material located inside the compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the priming inlets. A port is arranged in a side wall of the compartment for receiving a needle from a syringe to prime the reservoir compartment with printing fluid.

Abstract: An inkjet printer with a printhead assembly and at least one replaceable ink cartridge, has an ink inlet valve on the printhead assembly for sealed connection to an outlet on the ink cartridge. The inlet valve has an inlet opening and a movable valve member biased into sealing engagement with the inlet opening. The outlet has a complementary member for depressing the movable valve member out of engagement with the inlet opening to open the valve. 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 valve assembly for a printhead cartridge includes an inlet valve for engaging with an outlet valve of an ink cartridge, the inlet valve having a conical structure defining an inlet opening at a top thereof; a valve seat defined on an inner surface of the conical structure; a depressible valve member provided within the inlet valve, the depressible valve member being normally biased against the valve seat to form therewith a fluidic seal; a skirt engaging portion defined on the inner surface of the conical structure above the valve seat, the skirt engaging portion for engaging a resilient skirt of the ink cartridge, and a pressure regulator provided below the depressible valve member, the pressure regulator having a diaphragm and a regulator inlet defined through the diaphragm, the regulator inlet for facilitating flow of ink from a valve-side of the diaphragm to a printhead-side.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printer having an ink cartridge unit. The cartridge unit includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs. Each reservoir has a layered stack of absorbent material arranged to form a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. A base of each ink storage reservoir is provided with a raised portion which surrounds an ink outlet. The raised portions are molded into the main body to separate each outlet from the base of the ink storage reservoir to facilitate a sufficient flow rate of ink from the reservoir. The cartridge unit also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, as well as a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink via the ink outlets from the ink reservoirs in the main body for printing onto a printing medium.

Abstract: A print engine for an inkjet printer includes an inkjet cartridge having a cartridge body, a pagewidth printhead, a capper unit extending a length of the pagewidth printhead and housing a capping element which is movable between a capped position in engagement with the pagewidth printhead and a retracted position spaced from the pagewidth printhead, and an ink supply. The cartridge body supports the pagewidth printhead, the capper unit and the ink supply for simultaneous removal and replacement as a unitary component. The print engine further includes a cradle having a body for receiving the removable inkjet cartridge and to control the operation of the printhead for printing, the cradle having a capper drive for engaging the capper unit and drawing the capping element to the uncapped position; and a print controller board received in the cradle, the print controller board including one or more electrical terminals for engaging with corresponding electrical terminals on the inkjet cartridge.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printer body, a printhead cartridge for installation in the printer body, and an ink cartridge for supplying the printhead cartridge with ink. The ink cartridge has external formations for engaging a first complementary formation on the printhead cartridge and a second complementary formation on the printer body.

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: An inkjet printer is provided having a plurality of nozzle integrated circuits, a support member having a plurality of longitudinally extending channels for carrying ink, and a plurality of ink distribution members via which ink is distributed from the channels of the support member to the nozzles of the nozzle integrated circuits. Each ink distribution member incorporates a laminated stack of layers, each layer having apertures for distributing ink from the channels to the nozzles of a respective one of the printhead integrated circuits. The apertures of each layer from the support member to the respective printhead integrated circuit are of successively smaller diameter.

Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly having a piston and cylinder reservoir, said piston having a thread which engages a screw thread in an internal wall of the cylinder, the piston rotationally biased by a wound spring and the ejector assembly having a pawl-and-ratchet detent preventing the biased piston threading into the reservoir until the pawl is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing to incrementally eject fluid from the reservoir.

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 print engine for a printhead assembly includes a refillable cartridge having a body defining a plurality of fluid chambers, the body having a lid assembly with a plurality of ink refill ports leading to respective fluid chambers, the lid assembly having an actuator to actuate a refill unit; a number of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements configured to operatively eject printing fluid onto a printing medium; and a fluid distribution member operatively arranging the nozzle arrangements in fluid communication with respective fluid chambers. The lid assembly engages with the refill unit to actuate the refill unit. The refill unit includes an outlet adapted to engage with the plurality of ink refill ports, a fluid reservoir, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject fluid from the reservoir when the ejector assembly is actuated by the actuator during operative engagement of the print cartridge by the lid assembly.

Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and a plunger having a toothed thread which engages with a screw thread provided in an internal wall of the housing, the ejector having a drive gear so that actuation of the drive gear imparts rotation to the toothed thread so as to rotate the plunger within the screw thread of the housing to incrementally eject fluid from the fluid reservoir when the drive gear is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing.

Abstract: A printhead assembly has a casing. A printhead module is positioned in the casing. The printhead module and the casing are configured so that the printhead module is removable from the casing. The printhead module includes a fluid channel member defining a number of ink ducts along its length and positioned in the casing. A number of printhead tiles are arranged on the fluid channel member. Each printhead tile has a printhead integrated circuit. The printhead tiles and the fluid channel member are configured so that ink can be supplied to the printhead integrated circuits from the fluid channel member.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a pagewidth printhead and a casing having a channel in which the pagewidth printhead is removably clamped so as to constrain movement of the printhead relative to the casing across the longitudinal direction of the channel and to allow movement of the printhead along the longitudinal direction of the channel.

Abstract: A method of capping a printhead is provided in which a carrier is moved from a non-capping position, through a transition position, to a capping position at which a capping member carried by the carrier caps the printhead, and pivoting of the capping member is effected relative to the carrier during transitional movement of the carrier between the transition and capping positions.

Abstract: A printer ink cartridge with a spring assembly pressurising the ink to dispense it when the outlet establishes fluid communication with the printer. The cartridge has an outer portion with the spring assembly and a base portion containing a deformable ink membrane for containing ink. At least part of the base portion slides against the outer portion, and the spring assembly presses the deformable ink membrane to dispense ink as the at least part of the base portion slides within the outer portion by application of a force. The cartridge also has an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printer.

Abstract: A print cartridge is provided having an elongate body defining a number of printing fluid reservoirs along the elongate length with end reservoirs being larger than reservoirs interposed between the end reservoirs, a lid covering the body to seal the reservoirs, and a printhead on the body in fluid communication with the reservoirs.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer is configured to keep the ink pressure in the printhead constant. The cartridge has a sealed ink storage volume, an ink outlet for sealed fluid communication between the printhead and the ink storage volume, an air bag 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. The air inlet for the air bag is a frangible that is ruptured as the cartridge is installed and the ink outlet opens.