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 positons; 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 refill unit for refilling an ink storage compartment supplying a printhead assembly with an array of nozzles, wherein during use, the ink storage compartment is maintained at a negative pressure to avoid inadvertent ink leakage from the nozzles, the refill unit comprising: a body containing a quantity of ink; an ink outlet; and a repressurizing arrangement; wherein, upon engagement of the refill unit with the ink storage compartment, the repressurizing arrangement causes part of the ink storage compartment to be inwardly depressed as the ink from the body is drawn into the ink storage compartment through the ink outlet by the negative pressure until pressure equalization; and, upon subsequent disengagement of the refill unit from the ink storage compartment, the repressurizing arrangement releases the inwardly depressed part of the ink storage compartment to re-establish the negative pressure.

Abstract: A printing fluid refill unit for a print engine, comprising an information storage element for storing information on the amount of printing fluid contained in the refill unit and for connecting with an information reader incorporated in the print engine for reading the information stored by the storage element when the refill unit is mounted to the print engine, wherein the information stored by the storage element enables the reader to control the refilling of the print engine with the printing fluid contained in the refill unit.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, the cartridge comprising: 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 for supplying ink to a printhead with an array of nozzles; wherein, 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 cartridge unit for an inkjet printer comprising: a body portion having one or more ink storage compartments; and a pagewidth printhead assembly mountable to said body and configured to receive ink from the one or more compartments and to distribute the ink along the length of the printhead assembly.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a cradle unit of an inkjet printer having a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing; the cover assembly comprising: a refill actuator for dispensing ink from an ink refill unit into said refillable ink supply.

Abstract: An ink refill unit for replenishing an ink cartridge in an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge having an interface for engaging the ink refill unit, the ink refill unit comprising: a body containing a quantity of ink; and, an ink outlet for engaging an ink inlet in the interface; wherein a feature of the ink refill unit and a feature of the interface form a pair of complementary features that have a keyed connection with each other when the ink refill unit engages the interface.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer comprising: a body portion for receiving ink from one or more ink sources and having one or more channels formed therein for distributing the ink substantially along the length of the printhead assembly; one or more integrated circuits extending substantially the length of the printhead assembly, the or each integrated circuit having a plurality of nozzles, each of the nozzles being arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media; and an ink distribution member upon which the or each integrated circuit is fixed and which distributes the ink from the body portion to each of the integrated circuits; wherein the ink distribution member is a unitary element having a plurality of conduits formed therethrough, each of the conduits having an inlet which receives ink from one of the channels of the body portion and an outlet which delivers the ink to a predetermined number of nozzles of the one or more integrated circuits.

Abstract: An ink priming system for a cartridge unit of the type having a pagewidth printhead assembly in fluid communication with one or more ink storage compartments, the system comprising: a priming inlet provided on said printhead assembly for receiving a supply of ink for priming the cartridge unit; an ink flow passage providing fluid connection between said printhead assembly and one of the ink storage compartments; and a bypass flow passage providing additional fluid connection between the ink flow passage and the ink storage compartment; wherein the ink supplied to the priming inlet of the printhead assembly flows from the printhead assembly to the ink storage compartment via the ink flow passage and the bypass flow passage to prime both the printhead assembly and the ink storage compartment with ink simultaneously.

Abstract: A cradle unit for an inkjet printer comprising: a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply; a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing; and a plurality of terminals in electrical communication with said controller for transmitting control signals from said controller to corresponding terminals provided on said cartridge; wherein said plurality of terminals are arranged to pivotally engage with said corresponding terminals provided on said cartridge when said cartridge is received by said body.

Abstract: A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer comprising: a body portion having one or more ink storage compartments; a pagewidth printhead assembly mountable to said body portion and configured to receive ink from the one or more compartments for printing; and a capper unit mountable to said body portion so as to extend along the length of the printhead assembly, the capper unit housing a capping element which is movable with respect to the capper unit to contact a surface of the printhead assembly.

Abstract: An ink refill unit for replenishing an ink cartridge in an inkjet printer, the ink refill unit comprising: a body containing ink; an ink outlet for engaging a complementary ink inlet in the cartridge; and, a visual indicator to provide a visual indication when a predetermined quantity ink has flowed from the refill unit into the cartridge.

Abstract: A capping assembly for capping a pagewidth printhead of an inkjet printer comprising: a body configured to extend the length of the printhead; and a capping element housed within said body and movable with respect to said body between a first and a second position, said first position being where a portion of the capping element extends from said body, and said second position being where said capping element is contained within said body; wherein, the capping element is biased into said first position.

Abstract: A refill unit for refilling an ink storage compartment with an interface for releasably engaging with the refill unit, the interface having valves for controlling ink flows into, and out of, the storage compartment, the refill unit comprising: a body containing a quantity of ink; an ink outlet; and, valve actuators for actuating the valves when the refill unit engages the interface; such that, the valve actuators actuate the valves in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A capping assembly for capping a pagewidth printhead of an inkjet printer comprising: a body configured to extend the length of the printhead; a capping element housed within said body and having a rim portion adapted to cap at least a portion of the printhead; a displacement assembly housed within the body for moving the capping element between a first position where the rim portion of the capping element extends from said body, and a second position where the rim portion of the capping element is contained within the body; wherein, the displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet which determines the position.

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 comprising: 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; wherein 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 refill unit 155 for refilling a ink storage compartment 46 that supplies ink to a printhead 22. The ink storage compartment 46 having an interface 61 for receiving the refill unit 155. The interface 61 having an inlet valve 18 biased to its closed configuration. The refill unit 155 has an inlet valve actuator 152 for opening the inlet valve 18 as the refill unit 155 engages the ink interface 61 so that the ink in the body is in fluid communication with the ink storage compartment 46. By configuring the refill unit so that it opens the inlet valve on the ink cartridge at the same time that it docks with the cartridge, the risk of dust or other contaminants getting into the cartridge is reduced. This improves the performance and operational life of the printhead nozzles.

Abstract: A system for controlling refilling of a print engine by a printing fluid refill unit, comprising: an information storage element incorporated in the refill unit for storing information on the amount of printing fluid contained in the refill unit; and an information reader incorporated in the print engine for reading the information stored by the storage element when the refill unit is mounted to the print engine and for controlling the refilling of the print engine with the printing fluid contained in the refill unit based on the information read.

Abstract: A cradle unit for an inkjet printer comprising: a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and a refillable ink supply; and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing; wherein, said body includes a cover assembly for enclosing the removable inkjet cartridge within the body, said cover assembly having at least one port formed therein through which a refill unit is received for refilling the ink supply of the cartridge.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer comprising: a body portion for receiving ink from one or more ink sources and distributing the ink along the length of the printhead assembly; one or more integrated circuits extending substantially the length of the printhead assembly, the or each integrated circuit having a plurality of nozzles formed thereon, each of the nozzles being arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media; and an ink distribution member upon which the or each integrated circuit are fixed and which distributes the ink from the body portion to the nozzles of the or each integrated circuit; wherein the body portion has one or more connectors formed thereon for securing the printhead assembly to the one or more ink sources to facilitate ink flow therebetween.