Hewlett-packard Company

Preston D Seu

James P Axtell

David J Lowe

Trudy L Benjamin

Blair M Kent

Patrick V Boyd

Gary Douglas Powell

Winthrop D Childers

Norman E Pawlowski

Jaren D Marler

Clement C Lo

Ted Tuern Lee

A manufacturing method provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions. The writing engine subsystem includes: one or more printing modules having print head elements with concomitant ink manifold components and ink flow and pressure regulation mechanisms; one or more ink containers&mdash;either permanent, refillable, or replaceable; one or more ink formulations; one or more ink delivery means, such as tubes and valves fluidically coupling the ink containers to the ink manifolds; service station components; and a framework to retain the elements in a unitary module, insertable cassette-like manner.

Method of manufacture for ink-jet hard copy apparatus using a modular approach to ink-jet technology

A printing media cartridge for a drum-type hard copy apparatus has printing media supply within the drum. Printable sheet lengths of printing medium are extracted from the interior of the drum through a slot such that individual prints can be produced using the drum outer surface as a platen. Removing a print from the platen extracts the next sheet length from within the drum which is then automatically wrapped back onto the drum's outer surface and aligned for the next print cycle. Printer control encoding is provided with the cartridge.

Drum type hard copy apparatus

A multi-compartment ink-jet cartridge body structure, which includes a unitary body having a plurality of ink reservoir compartments. Each compartment includes an outlet port through which ink passes to feed the ink to an ink-jet printhead nozzle array. The body further includes a printhead nozzle array mounting region, and an ink manifold structure including a plurality of corresponding ink channels each leading from a corresponding outlet port to a feed opening formed at the printhead mounting region. The body and manifold structure are formed as a unitary one-piece structure. A lid is attached to the unitary body to cover the compartments. The body includes an external wall, and an access opening is formed in the wall adjacent the manifold structure. A seal structure attached to the body for sealing the access opening. The body structure can be fabricated by a plastic material using an injection molding process. The access opening is a mold slide insert opening in the nosepiece area, and the seal structure seals the slide insert opening. The molding process can be carried out by a three piece mold set to fabricate the body.

Unitary one-piece body structure for ink-jet cartridge

An inkjet printing system includes a permanent or semi-permanent inkjet pen containing small glass beads for ink containment and to provide backpressure to the ink. The inkjet pen walls are transparent, and the printer has an optical sensor that detects changes in reflectivity in the glass beads. The glass beads change in reflectivity depending on whether or not they are saturated with ink. The change in reflectivity therefore functions as an effective out-of-ink detector. When an out of ink indication is made, the printer executes a refill of the pen. Two embodiments of refill mechanisms are disclosed: a trailing tube design, and a take-a-sip design.

Inkjet ink level detection

The present invention provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions. The writing engine subsystem includes: one or more printing modules having print head elements with concomitant ink manifold components and ink flow and pressure regulation mechanisms; one or more ink containers&mdash;either permanent, refillable, or replaceable; one or more ink formulations; one or more ink delivery means, such as tubes and valves fluidically coupling the ink containers to the ink manifolds; service station components; and a framework to retain the elements in a unitary module, insertable cassette-like manner. The present invention further provides a hard copy engine compatible with such a writing engine. The hard copy engine does not contain any components requiring direct contact with ink. Ink-wetted components are predisposed to ink-jet technological changes without affecting the electrical interface and the mechanical interface between the writing engine and the hard copy engine.

Modular ink-jet hard copy apparatus and methodology

A multi-compartment ink-jet cartridge body structure, including a unitary body having a plurality of ink reservoir compartments. Each compartment includes an outlet port through which ink passes to feed ink to an ink-jet printhead nozzle array. The body further includes a printhead nozzle array mounting region, and an ink manifold structure including a plurality of corresponding ink channels each leading from a corresponding outlet port to a feed opening formed at the printhead mounting region. The body and manifold structure are formed as a unitary one-piece structure. A lid is attached to the unitary body to cover the compartments. The body includes an external wall, and an access opening is formed in the wall adjacent the manifold structure. A seal structure attached to the body for sealing the access opening. The body structure can be fabricated by a plastic material using an injection molding process. The access opening is a mold slide insert opening in the nosepiece area, and the seal structure seals the slide insert opening. The molding process can be carried out by a three piece mold set to fabricate the body.

The present invention provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions. The writing engine subsystem includes: one or more printing modules having print head elements with concomitant ink manifold components and ink flow and pressure regulation mechanisms; one or more ink containers--either permanent, refillable, or replaceable; one or more ink formulations; one or more ink delivery means, such as tubes and valves fluidically coupling the ink containers to the ink manifolds; service station components; and a framework to retain the elements in a unitary module, insertable cassette-like manner. The present invention further provides a hard copy engine compatible with such a writing engine. The hard copy engine does not contain any components requiring direct contact with ink. Ink-wetted components are predisposed to ink-jet technological changes without affecting the electrical interface and the mechanical interface between the writing engine and the hard copy engine.

A fluid level detection system for determining the volume of fluid in a container, is disclosed. An embodiment includes a fluid container, a reference chamber, a pressure chamber, an air source, an air management system including at least one orifice, a pressure sensor, a time measurement device, and a computing device. The air management system selectively pressurizes the reference chamber or pressure chamber and selectively discharges the reference chamber or pressure chamber via the orifice. The time measurement device determines elapsed time (.DELTA.t.sub.R) for pressure in the reference chamber to drop from pressure (P.sub.R1) to pressure (P.sub.R2) and elapsed time (.DELTA.t.sub.P) for pressure in the pressure chamber to drop from pressure (P.sub.P1) to pressure (P.sub.P2). The computing device determines a volume of air in the pressure chamber based upon the reference chamber volume, elapsed time (.DELTA.t.sub.R), elapsed time (.DELTA.t.sub.P), and pressures (P.sub.R1), (P.sub.R2), (P.sub.P1), and (P.sub.P2), and determines the volume of fluid in the container based upon the pressure chamber volume and the volume of air in the pressure chamber. A printing device incorporating an embodiment of the fluid level detection system is also disclosed, as is a method for determining the volume of fluid in a container based upon the volume of air in a pressure chamber. An apparatus for use in a printing device is disclosed that includes a printing composition container, a printing composition port coupled to the container, a pressure chamber around the container, and an air port coupled to the pressure chamber.

Fluid level detection apparatus and method for determining the volume of

Described is a printing system including a first array of ink ejection elements formed on a first substrate surface for ejecting droplets of a first ink, a second array of ink ejection elements formed on a second substrate surface for ejecting droplets of a second ink, a memory element associated with the first and second arrays of ink ejection elements contains parameters that relate droplet ejection characteristics of the first and second array of ink ejection elements. The droplet ejection characteristics may contain ink ejection alignment data that enables the calculation of the relative alignment between the first and second arrays of ink ejection elements such that droplets of the first ink can be effectively aligned with droplets of the second ink. Also, ink droplet volume data enables the calculation of the relative drop volume between the first and second arrays of ink ejection elements such that the printing system can provide hue control.

Multiple cartridge printhead assembly for use in an inkjet printing

Disclosed is an improved printer and carriage drive mechanism. The carriage motor is mounted at a first side of the printer chassis, and an idler pulley is mounted at a second side of the chassis. The carriage also has a pair of idler pulleys. A single flat smooth belt is attached to the first side of the chassis. From there, it passes over to and around one of the idler pulleys on the carriage, back to and around the motor pulley, across the print zone and around the idler pulley on the second side of the chassis, back to and around the other carriage idler pulley, and then back to the second side of the chassis, where it is attached. The motor is movably attached to the chassis and is tensioned by a spring. This mechanism provides for substantial mechanical advantage over common simple carriage drive mechanisms. A smaller, less expensive motor and a quieter flat smooth belt can be used. The motor is allowed to run at more optimal speeds and expensive ball bearings can be avoided in the motor and pulleys.

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Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Preston D Seu