Abstract: A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer comprising: a body portion housing one or more ink storage compartments; a pagewidth printhead assembly configured to receive ink from the one or more ink storage compartments and having a plurality of nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media; and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the nozzles of the printhead assembly and disposed along the length of the printhead assembly for mating with a corresponding connectors of the inkjet printer to control operation of the nozzles.

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 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: A printing fluid storage device comprising a porous body having a plurality of individual channels arranged in an array to store printing fluid and supply the stored printing fluid to at least one printing fluid ejecting nozzle of a printhead of a printer unit, wherein a first end of each of the channels is in fluid communication with a printing fluid supply to extract printing fluid from the fluid supply for storage therein under capillary action and the stored printing fluid is supplied to the at least one nozzle under capillary action.

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: an ink storage compartment; a docking portion for engaging the interface of the cartridge, the docking portion having a base plate with an ink outlet for connection to an inlet port on the interface; engagement formations for releasably engaging the interface, the engagement formations being formed on the transverse centre line of the base plate; wherein, the centre of the ink outlet is spaced from the transverse centre line.

Abstract: A cradle unit for an inkjet printer comprising: a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead, an ink supply and a capper assembly; and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing; wherein, said body includes an electromagnet assembly mounted thereto which is controlled by said controller for operating said capper assembly of the removable inkjet cartridge.

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 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: An inkjet printer comprising: a printhead with an array of nozzles; a maintenance assembly for moving between a capped position where the assembly covers the array of nozzles, and an uncapped position spaced from the array of nozzles; and, a motorized drive for moving the maintenance assembly between the capped position and the uncapped position; wherein the maintenance assembly has a capper for covering the array and a cleaner for wiping the array, such that the motorized drive uses a cam shaft arrangement for moving the cleaner relative to the capper.

Abstract: A method of refilling a supply of printing fluid in a printing unit, comprising the steps of: removably mounting a dispenser of printing fluid to the printing unit so as to align an outlet of the dispenser with an inlet of a printing fluid storage chamber of the printing unit; determining an amount of printing fluid needed to substantially refill the printing fluid storage chamber; and selectively dispensing an amount of printing fluid from the dispenser corresponding to the determined amount.

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 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 10 for an inkjet printer, with an ink storage compartment 46 and an ink feed system 30 for connection to a printhead 22. The ink storage compartment has a displaceable wall section 48 so that its variable storage volume 46 is variable. The displaceable wall 48 is biased 54 toward expanding the variable storage volume 46 so that there is a negative pressure in the ink storage volume 46, such that ink does not inadvertently leak from the ink ejection nozzles. Without negative pressure, an ink meniscus can bulge from the nozzles. The meniscus will ‘pin’ itself to the edge of the nozzle aperture and may be strong enough to stop ink leakage. However, paper dust or other contaminants will eventually stop the bulging meniscus from pinning itself on the nozzle rim and leakage occurs. A negative pressure in the ink storage volume makes the meniscus invert back into the nozzle aperture.

Abstract: An ink refill unit 155 is adapted for use with an ink cartridge that has a negatively pressurized ink storage compartment 46 that supplies ink to a printhead assembly 22, and an interface for receiving the refill unit 155. The refill unit has a body 157 containing a quantity of ink and a docking portion with an ink outlet. During use, the docking portion establishes fluid communication between the body and the ink storage compartment through the ink outlet upon releasable engagement with the interface, such that ink is drawn from the body into the cartridge because of the negative pressure in the ink storage compartment. Automatically establishing a fluid connection upon engagement with the cartridge, makes the use of the refill unit very simple and intuitive. Using the negative pressure in the cartridge to draw the ink out of the refill speeds the refilling process.

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; and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing; wherein, a plurality of terminals are located along the length of the body to contact corresponding terminals located along the length of the removable inkjet cartridge to enable electrical communication between the controller and 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 printhead for an inkjet printer, the printhead comprising: a printhead integrated circuit having an array of ink ejection nozzles formed on a substrate; a plurality of ink feed conduits for establishing fluid communication with at least one ink storage compartment; and, a polymer sealing film between the ink feed conduits and the printhead integrated circuits, the polymer film having an array of apertures such that the ejection nozzles are in fluid communication with the ink feed conduits; wherein, the polymer sealing film is more than 25 microns thick.

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 the body to cap at least a portion of said printhead; wherein, the body includes a mounting element for removably mounting said capping assembly to said printhead.

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: 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.