Eastman-kodak Company

R Winfield Trafton

Diana C Petranek

David R Gotham

Mark D Perkins

James S Newkirk

Scott C Robinson

Dana A Carlile

Dwight John Petruchik

Stephen C Arnold

Thomas D Jensen

Patricia L Williams

Steven L Moore

Michelle M DeMeyer

Robert E Ashe

Laura M Latta

Duane J Farling

Gary Alan Kneezel

Steven M Bryant

Frederick Allen Donahue

Eric P Hochreiter

Mary-Irene E Condo

Bonnie J Patterson

Kirk D Farnung

John F Miller

Diana Caroline Petranek

Patricia Lynn Williams

The present invention relates to a method that enables image quality of a printed image to be maintained by reducing unintended variations in drop volume, through the adjustment of ink drop ejecting conditions depending on the amount of ink remaining in an ink tank chamber or reservoir, and/or the ink demand for printing an image. The method of printing of the present invention comprises: providing a printhead in fluid communication with an ink chamber or reservoir; detecting at least one parameter related to an amount of negative pressure provided to the printhead; and adjusting an ink drop ejecting condition of the printhead as a function of the parameter so that an amount of variation in size of ejected ink drop is reduced.

Drop volume compensation for ink supply variation

Embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with gripping features are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fluid reservoir includes a first surface and a fluid-containing body located beneath the first surface. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first surface includes a protruding grip, and the fluid-containing body has a lever extending therefrom. According to an embodiment of the present invention, both the protruding grip and the lever are configured to receive a pinching force that compresses the lever towards the fluid-containing body, facilitates carrying of the fluid reservoir, and facilitates installing and/or releasing the fluid reservoir into/from a chassis of the printing device.

Printing device fluid reservoir with gripping features

Various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with alignment features and various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir chassis with alignment features are disclosed. According to some aspects of these embodiments, the alignment features are grouped together near an ultimate connection point between a fluid reservoir and a chassis to increase design freedom on other regions of the fluid reservoir/chassis. Other aspects of these embodiments include specially designed and located alignment features of a fluid reservoir that engage specially designed and located alignment features of a chassis in sequence throughout the process of inserting the fluid reservoir into the chassis in order to facilitate simple and effective engagement.

Printing device fluid reservoir with alignment features

Printing device fluid reservoir chassis with alignment features

The present invention provides a pedestal that protrudes from a fluid reservoir device that retains fluid for a fluid-ejection printing device. A data storage device may be mounted on the pedestal such that when the fluid reservoir device is inserted into a supporting structure, the pedestal and data storage device mounted thereon protrude into or through an opening in a surface of the supporting structure. Consequently, a disconnectable connection to the data storage device may be made at a location other than the inside of the supporting structure. Accordingly, connection to the data storage device is simplified and the risk of damage or a reduction in performance to the data storage device or its electrical contacts from fluid leaks from the fluid reservoir device is reduced.

Data storage device mounting arrangement for printing device

An ink cartridge incorporating a memory chip includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and plural side walls defining the exterior of the cartridge for enclosing a supply of ink. The bottom wall having an aperture formed therein to provide an opening through the exterior surface of the bottom wall. A pocket-like structure is formed within the bottom wall and/or on an inside surface of the bottom wall. A substrate including a memory chip is received in the pocket-like structure, the substrate including at least one electrical contact that faces the aperture so as to be accessible by a contact member external to the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted in a printer's cartridge receiving receptacle.

Ink cartridge with memory chip and method of assembling

An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a housing for supporting an ink supply in a cavity within the cartridge housing and a color or ink type discrimination structure connected to the cartridge housing, the color discrimination structure being when assembled a generally cylindrical structure having a keyway formed therein wherein the color or ink type discrimination structure may be oriented through rotation about the central axis of the cylindrical structure in one of plural allowable orientations when the cartridge housing is assembled or after assembly to define a color or ink type of ink in the cartridge. Thus, the same structure or parts may be used in different cartridges containing ink of different colors but yet provide color discrimination.

Ink cartridge with color discrimination structure

An ink cartridge has a cartridge housing having a front side wall, a back side wall opposite the front side wall, a pair of opposed left and right side walls separating the front and the back side walls, and a bottom wall, the walls defining an internal cavity within the housing. The front and back side walls each have an internal surface that is curved and there is a generally uniform internal cartridge cavity thickness spacing existing between corresponding points on the respective internal surfaces at a respective section through the cartridge. An ink bag is preferably located within the internal cavity and filled with liquid ink so that the ink bag makes contact with the front side wall, the back side wall and each of the pair of opposed left and right side walls and the bottom wall.

Ink cartridge with internal ink bag and method of filling

Handle for an ink cartridge

Ink cartridge with ink color discrimination structure

Ink cartridge

Growing community of inventors

Brockport, NY, United States of America

R Winfield Trafton