Hewlett-Packard Company

Jayson L Monroe

Robert Warren Beauchamp

David S Hunt

Michael J Klausbruckner

Mark A Hay

Andrew R Robinson

A print cartridge receptacle assembly including a first modular print cartridge receptacle for removably receiving and supporting a single first print cartridge, a second modular print cartridge receptacle for removably receiving and supporting a single second print cartridge, a separate locking mechanism on the first and second modular print cartridge receptacles for individually locking the first and second print cartridges in the modular print receptacles, and alignment surfaces on the first and second modular print cartridge receptacles for aligning and interlocking the first modular print cartridge with the second modular print cartridge. First and second print cartridge driver circuits are mounted on the first and second modular print cartridge receptacles and electrically connected with first and second electrical interconnects. The print cartridge receptacle assembly is usable in a printing system in conjunction with a mechanism for traversing the modular print cartridge receptacle assembly over a print zone and a media moving mechanism for passing media through the print zone. The invention provides for a modular printing system which allows for flexibility in the design of printers for particular or unique applications. The invention allows for modular print cartridge receptacles to be assembled together to quickly produce a functional specialized printing system.

Inkjet printing systems using a modular print cartridge assembly

Disclosed is a modular print cartridge receptacle including a housing for removably receiving and supporting a single print cartridge; a locking mechanism on the housing for locking the print cartridge in the housing; and alignment surfaces on the housing for aligning and interlocking the housing with a second housing, the housing being used separately or in conjunction with a second housing. Also disclosed is a modular print cartridge receptacle including a housing for removably receiving and supporting a single print cartridge; a locking mechanism on the housing for locking the print cartridge in the housing; and a print cartridge driver circuit mounted on the housing and electrically connected with electrical interconnects on the housing for receiving signals from a printer and also electrically interconnected with electrodes on the housing for transmitting signals to the print cartridge when the print cartridge is installed in the housing, the housing being used separately or in conjunction with a second housing. The disclosed is a modular print cartridge receptacle for providing a flexible modular printing system which allows for flexibility in the design of printers for particular or unique applications. The invention allows for multiple modular print cartridge receptacles to be assembled together to quickly produce a functional specialized printing system.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Jayson L Monroe