Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating and air evacuation system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A medium advancement system advances the print medium from an input tray to the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater whose position is fixed in relation to the printer body heats the medium to cause accelerated drying of the ink deposited on the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing. The duct system includes an elongated inlet opening fixed in position relative to the printer body and disposed along the extent of the printer housing. The air and ink carrier vapors are drawn into the inlet opening and away from the print zone.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. A radiant print heater heats the medium at the print area to increase the ink carrier evaporation rate. The heater includes a wire heating element placed in a reflectorized cavity beneath the printing area, and radiant heat energy is directed onto the lower surface of the print medium through a grill. The heating element is energized by a low voltage signal. The print heater heats the portion of the medium disposed at the print area during print operations to cause accelerated drying of ink deposited on the medium.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating and air evacuation system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A medium advancement system advances the print medium from an input tray to the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater whose position is fixed in relation to the printer body heats the medium to cause accelerated drying of the ink deposited on the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing. The duct system includes an elongated inlet opening fixed in position relative to the printer body and disposed along the extent of the printer housing. The air and ink carrier vapors are drawn into the inlet opening and away from the print zone.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A pinch wheel is mounted to be spring-loaded against an exit drive roller in close proximity to a print zone, with the pinch wheel formed by a dual starwheel having two spaced-apart sets of teeth for contacting a newly-printed media surface without puncturing or damaging the media.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. A media advancing mechanism advances the print medium through a media path during print operations. Electrically energized heater elements heat a portion of the print medium at the print area. A power supply supplies electrical power to the heater elements and the media advancing mechanism. A single fan airflow system with multiple ducts evacuator air from the printer, including the print area. The airflow system evacuates excess ink spray and carrier vapor from the print area, provides cooling for the power supply and other electronics, and actively ventilates the preheater and print heater to avoid runaway temperatures.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference suppressing (EMI) interconnect for connecting a DC motor to a DC source comprising a pair of copper sheets disposed between insulative sheets, and wrapped around the motor housing. A lead extends from each copper sheet for being connected to one side of the DC source. A connector tab extends from each copper sheet for being connected to one terminal of the DC motor. The copper sheets may be spaced laterally apart and disposed between a single pair of insulative sheets, or may be overlayed and separated by an insulative sheet. EMI suppression provided is greater than that possible with known capacitance devices of similar capacitance values.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) for use with ink-jet printers is disclosed. The assembly is provided with means (56) for ensuring that an ink-jet cartridge (20) is securely locked in place in a cartridge carrier (12), means (78, 78a, 80, 80a, 82, 82a) for ensuring that cartridge is registered in a given, fixed, repeatable position each time, means (128) for ensuring that the cartridge is spaced from the printing medium (40) a minimum, fixed distance, means (100) on the carriage for maintaining this fixed distance, and interconnect means (84) for connecting a printhead assembly (34) on the cartridge with a microprocessor for controlling the pattern of ink drop ejection. The assembly further includes a preloader assembly (106) for preventing backward rotational pivoting of the carriage about a slider rod (44) associated with a platen (46) of the printer and for urging the carriage toward the medium on the platen.