The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 01, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1998
Andrew R. Robinson, San Diego, CA (US);
David S. Hunt, San Diego, CA (US);
Robert W. Beauchamp, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Michael J. Klausbruckner, San Diego, CA (US);
Mark A. Hay, Poway, CA (US);
Jayson L. Monroe, San Diego, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
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.