Lexmark International, Inc.

Thomas Allen Bailey

David Vincent Iorio

David Emerson Greer

Johnnie A Coffey

Ganesh Vinayak Phatak

Brian Dale Cook

Adam Jude Ahne

William Michael Connors

Edmund Hulin James, Iii

Jeffery James Buchanan

Scott Michael Heydinger

John Booth Bates

Tommy Otis Lowe

Brian Andrew Naro

Herman Anthony Smith

David Michael Cseledy

Michael Duane Donovan

Jeffrey James Buchanan

Thomas Daniel Brown

Daniel Scott Powell

Robert White Milgate

Christopher Keith Caspar

Michael Adam Penrod

Timothy Scott Crammer

Takao Hashimoto

John Richard Schlumpf

Zanyao Yan

The invention describes a method and latching assembly for securing a replaceable unit in a carriage assembly of an image forming device. The latching assembly receives the replaceable unit in the carriage assembly. As the replaceable unit gets loaded in the carriage assembly, the latching assembly may automatically apply, using a power source in the image forming device, a force on the replaceable unit in a direction towards the carriage assembly until the replaceable unit is latched therein.

Method and latching assembly for securing replaceable unit

An imaging apparatus includes a print engine for printing on a print medium. A device is communicatively coupled with the print engine. The device is programmed to set a throughput rate for the print engine. A controller reads the device, and operates the print engine at the throughput rate designated by the device.

Method for configuring the throughput rate of an imaging apparatus

A method of performing alignment for printing with a printhead includes bidirectionally printing a plurality of rows of alignment blocks, wherein a bidirectional offset of a plurality of bidirectional offsets is different for each row of the alignment blocks; optically measuring each row to obtain measurement data; determining a statistical data value for each row based on the measurement data; and applying a respective bidirectional offset of the plurality of bidirectional offsets corresponding to a row having the lowest statistical data value of the plurality of rows to align the printhead for printing with the printhead.

Method and apparatus for performing alignment for printing with a printhead

Multi-compartmentalized ink cartridges for ink jet printers and improved methods for making the ink cartridges. The multi-compartmentalized ink cartridge includes a molded, open-topped body having an interior cavity and a printhead surface area opposite the interior cavity. A divider wall is integrally molded with the molded body structure and disposed in the interior cavity to provide at least three segregated ink chambers. The divider wall includes a first wall section and a second wall section attached substantially perpendicular to the first wall section. At least first, second, third molded ink flow paths connect each of the at least three segregated ink chambers with the printhead surface area. The second and third ink flow paths are oriented relative to their corresponding ink chambers for molding with a mold insert tool so that the cartridge body does not require a separately attached member to close mold insert tool insertion areas in the body.

Method for making multi-color ink reservoirs for ink jet printers

Multi-color ink reservoirs for ink jet printers

A printer is provided that allows one or more print cartridges to be installed during printer manufacture with little risk of ink evaporation during shipping so as to eliminate assembly problems associated with installation of print cartridges during initial printer setup.

Printer having one or more print cartridges installed during manufacture

A manually actuated spring loaded latch mechanism for releasably securing a printhead cartridge in a carrier of an ink jet printer. A latch cover engages the printhead cartridge and is secured by an actuator. Depressing the actuator releases the latch cover, which is spring biased to an open position. Further movement of the actuator lifts the printhead cartridge.

Manually actuated carrier latch mechanism

An imaging apparatus includes a first side frame and a second side frame, the second side frame being spaced apart from the first side frame. A guide rail extends between the first side frame and the second side frame. A guide rod having a first end, a second end and an axis is provided that extends between the first side frame and the second side frame, the guide rod being positioned to be substantially parallel to the guide rail. A printhead carrier that carries a printhead has a slotted portion for slideably engaging the guide rail and has a bearing for slideably engaging the guide rod. A first eccentric bushing assembly is provided for movably mounting the first end of the guide rod to the first side frame. A second eccentric bushing assembly is provided for movably mounting the second end of the guide rod to the second side frame. A gap spacing adjustment mechanism is coupled to at least one of the first eccentric bushing assembly and the second eccentric bushing assembly for effecting a change in position of the guide rod in a direction normal to the guide rod axis so as to adjust a spacing of a gap between the printhead and a print medium.

Mechanism to automate adjustment of printhead-to-print medium gap spacing on an imaging apparatus

A printer is provided comprising a housing having a stationary portion and a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position. A carrier is movably mounted within the housing. At least one print cartridge is removably mounted within the carrier. A holding mechanism is provided comprising a locking element pivotably coupled to the stationary housing portion. The locking element is adapted to engage the carrier when engaged by an element on the movable housing portion when the movable housing portion is in its second position and the locking element is adapted to disengage the carrier when the movable housing portion is in its first position.

An ink jet printer includes a printer frame and a maintenance station coupled to the printer frame. The maintenance station includes a maintenance frame having a first side. The first side has formed therein at least a first guide slot and a first flexible end-stop member associated with the first guide slot. A maintenance sled is provided which is movable within the maintenance frame in a first direction. The maintenance sled has a first guide member positioned to slideably ride in the first guide slot. A travel limit of the first guide member in the first direction is defined by the first flexible end-stop member.

Ink jet maintenance station having acoustic dampening

A thermal ink jet printer has two columns of nozzles in its nozzle plate parallel to the direction of motion of each sheet of media. When the sheet of media is thin such as bond paper having a thickness of 0.1 mm, for example, all of the nozzles are available for printing. When the sheet of media is thick such as an envelope having a thickness of 0.5 mm, for example, one-fourth of the nozzles are available for printing, and these are the nozzles first passed by the sheet of media during its advancement. Each sheet of media has the same feed rate although it takes four times as long for the thick sheet of media to be printed.

Thermal ink jet printer

A print media feed system feeds a print medium in an advance direction through a print zone in an ink jet printer. A printhead includes a plurality of ink emitting nozzles and defines the print zone. A media control surface is positioned in association with the printhead. The media control surface is configured for engaging a back side of the print medium. A feed roller is positioned upstream from the print zone relative to the advance direction of the print medium. At least one deflector plate assembly is pivotable about an axis of rotation and includes at least one metering roller and at least one deflector plate. Each metering roller is positioned in association and defines a nip with the feed roller through which the print medium passes. Each deflector plate includes a deflector end which is disposed between each metering roller and the printhead. The deflector end is configured for deflecting the print medium. Each metering roller and the deflector end are movable toward and away from the feed roller upon rotation of the at least one deflector plate assembly about the axis of rotation.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Thomas Allen Bailey