Abstract: An ink refill unit for a print cartridge, said unit comprises a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the print cartridge; a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing; a seal for sealing off one end of the fluid reservoir, the seal being movable within the fluid reservoir; an ejector assembly comprising a spring biased plunger engaged against the seal, the plunger having defined on a side thereof a number of groves; an actuator mechanism comprising a rod to which a pawl and an arm are attached, the pawl adapted to engage with the grooves to negate a biasing force of the plunger against the seal; and an actuator shaft attached to the housing, the actuator shaft being slidable with respect to housing so as to be exposed outside of the housing.

Abstract: A method of priming a printhead cartridge upon installation in a printer, the printhead cartridge having a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to a media substrate fed past the printhead in a media feed direction, by providing a printer with at least three ink tanks for storing the inks of different color, the printer also having a cradle for supporting the printhead cartridge adjacent a media feed path, a fluid interface in fluid communication with the ink tanks, 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, placing the printhead cartridge in the cradle while the latch is in the open position, the printhead cartridge having a fluid coupling positioned to align with the fluid interface when placed in the cradle, moving the latch to the closed position to secure the printhead cartridge in cradle,

Abstract: Disclosed is a cradle for holding an ink cartridge within an inkjet printer. The cradle comprises a recess for receiving and releasably retaining the ink cartridge; an interface corresponding to an ink storage compartment of the ink cartridge; a pair of arms for receiving and retaining a PCB assembly containing a print engine, each of the arms adapted to engage with a first end of a corresponding tension spring; and a cover assembly pivotally attached to the cradle, the cover adapted to engage with a second end of the tension springs. The interface is provided on the cover assembly. The tension springs are engaged with the cover assembly and the PCB assembly such that movement of the cover assembly to an open position relieves a tension in the tension springs with respect to the PCB assembly, whereby the PCB assembly pivots away from corresponding electrical contacts of the inkjet printer.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a replaceable ink cartridge with an ink storage volume and an ink outlet. The ink outlet has an outlet valve that is biased closed and opens upon installation in the printer. The cartridge also has 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 bag has an air inlet with a frangible seal configured to be ruptured upon installation of the cartridge such that the air bag is vented to atmosphere. The printer also has a pressure regulating valve for establishing fluid communication between the printhead and the ink storage volume wherein, the pressure regulating valve is biased closed and opens in response to a predetermined ink pressure difference across the valve.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles, an ink manifold for distributing ink to the printhead IC, the ink manifold having an ink inlet and an ink outlet, an accumulator, and a downstream pump in fluid communication with the ink outlet. The downstream pump is independently operable. This allows the printhead to be primed or deprimed for storage and transport and it allows the printhead IC to be cleaned by a foam formed by air forced through the ink election nozzles.

Abstract: A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer is provided which has a body portion having ink storage compartments, a pagewidth printhead configured to receive ink from the compartments and distribute the ink to nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media, and a capping assembly for capping the printhead. The capping assembly has a body which extends the printhead length, a capping element housed within the body and having a rim portion which caps at least a portion of the printhead and a displacement assembly housed within the body for moving the capping element between a first position where the rim portion extends from the body and a second position where the rim portion is contained within the body. The displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet which determines the position. The ink storage compartments comprise absorption material which stores the ink under capillary action.

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, and a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis. Also included are a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them, the moldings in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, and a motorized drive for moving the maintenance chassis between a capped position and an uncapped position to facilitate wiping the printhead of the printer.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit (68) with nozzles for ejecting ink and a support structure (64, 174, 176) for supporting the printhead IC. The support structure having ink conduits (182) for supplying the array of nozzles. A plurality of cavities (200), each cavity having an opening that establishes fluid communication with the ink conduits, the openings being configured such that the cavities do not prime with ink when the ink conduits are primed from the ink supply. By leaving unprimed cavities throughout the support structure, any pressure pulses in the ink are damped by compression of the trapped gas pockets. Distributing the cavities rather than using one relatively large cavity, means that the pressure pulse is being damped along the length of the printhead IC, instead of allowing the pulse to travel the length of the ink conduit until it reaches the single damper and compresses the gas.

Abstract: A printhead assembly with an elongate printhead IC having a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles, and a support structure for supporting the elongate printhead IC on an external surface such that its length is transverse to a media feed direction through the printer. The external surface has a section that is flush with a long side edge of the elongate printhead IC.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly has a number of modular printhead controller printed circuit board (PCB), Electrical connector assemblies operatively connect respective PCBs to each other. Each connector assembly has a connecting member with a series of parallel spaced conducting strips. Each member is shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two PCBs via said conducting strips. Each PCB is mounted to a respective modular support that defines a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof. The PCBs each have electrical connecting strips which overlie the respective recessed portions.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a pagewidth printhead assembly and a capping mechanism. The printhead assembly has a single pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism has a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead and located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from the printhead, and an actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead between a first and second printhead positions and to move the capping member along an arcuate path from the first position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead when the printhead is at the second printhead position.

Abstract: A print engine for a printer unit includes a cradle unit including a print engine controller provided on flex printed circuit board, and a cover assembly for covering a recess defined by the cradle; a replaceable cartridge unit received within the recess of the cradle unit in a releasable manner, the replaceable cartridge having a body, an ink storage module assembly, and a pagewidth printhead assembly; and a print media transport means for transporting print media. The ink storage module assembly includes a plurality of ink storage modules received in the body from a first side, and the pagewidth printhead assembly is mounted to the body at a second side opposite the first side. The cover assembly is engaged with the flex printed circuit board to pivot the flex printed circuit board in and out of electrical engagement with the pagewidth printhead assembly upon closing and opening of the cover assembly with respect to the recess.

Abstract: A printhead assembly has a plurality of printhead modules, each with a plurality of printhead integrated circuits (ICs). The printhead modules also have a print engine controller for controlling the operation of the plurality of printhead ICs. An elongate support frame supports the printhead modules and a connector arrangement is supported by the end plate. The connector has a pair of holes, a first connector extending from the body portion between the holes and a second connector configured to engage with the holes.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a filter with a chamber divided into an upstream section and a downstream section by a filter membrane. An inlet conduit establishes fluid communication between an ink supply and the upstream section. An outlet conduit establishes fluid communication between the downstream section and a printhead. During use at least part of the inlet conduit is elevated relative to the filter membrane. By elevating the inlet conduit relative to the filter membrane, it acts as a bubble trap to retain bubbles that would otherwise obstruct the filter. This allows the filter size to be reduced for a more compact overall design.

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 print engine for an inkjet printer unit includes a cradle unit and a replaceable cartridge unit to be releasably received within the cradle unit. The cartridge unit includes an elongate body defining a row of cavities; an ink storage module assembly including a plurality of ink storage modules received within the cavities, each ink storage module including a collapsible ink storage bag extending between a pair of plates; and a printhead assembly mounted to the body and including an ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) connected to receive ink from the ink storage modules. Each ink storage module further includes a biasing means configured to bias the plates apart so that the bag expands and thereby maintains ink within the bag at negative pressure.

Abstract: A maintenance assembly for a pagewidth printer mounted between posts of a main body of the printer and positioned adjacent a printhead assembly of the printer includes a maintenance chassis defining tongue portions and having ends shaped to fit over the posts of the main body to secure the maintenance assembly in position; 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 in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, the maintenance assembly for wiping the printhead of the printer. The lower maintenance molding is made from a plastic material and forms a body having closed ends and an open top, the ends of the lower maintenance molding defining air vents to facilitate ventilation of the maintenance assembly.

Abstract: A printer is provided having printheads for printing on opposite faces of print media, cappers for capping the printheads, and a transport mechanism for moving the cappers from respective non-capping positions to respective capping positions in an arcuate direction that is approximately normal to the printheads as the capping positions are approached.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink, and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC within the printer. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink, the ink conduits have a meniscus anchor for pinning part of an advancing meniscus of ink to divert the advancing meniscus from a path the advancing meniscus would otherwise take. If a printhead consistently fails to prime correctly because a meniscus pins at one or more points, then the advancing meniscus can be directed so that the advancing meniscus does not contact these critical points. Deliberately incorporating a discontinuity into an ink conduit immediately upstream of the problem area can temporarily pin to the meniscus and skew the meniscus to one side of the conduit and away from the undesirable pinning point.

Abstract: A printer unit is arranged to print documents received from a computer system. The printer unit has a print engine having control electronics. The control electronics are configured to receive document image data from the computer system in the form of a compressed, multi-layer page image. They buffer the image and expand the image to generate an expanded contone layer, a black layer and a layer for infrared printing.