Compact color printer module
View Patent ↗A printer module for a compact printer system comprises a stationary printhead, an ink reservoir, a motive means and an image storing means, all housed within an elongate body. The motive means carries a printable media past the printhead which prints a full width image in a single pass. A power supply is also preferably housed within the elongate body. The body is preferably cylindrical and approximately the size of a large pen. The printhead is suitably a monolithic drop-on-demand inkjet printer.
1. A printer module for a compact printer system, the module comprising:
an elongate body having a longitudinal axis;
a stationary printhead housed within said body,
the body having two opposing slots, the slots being parallel to the longitudinal axis and interconnected by a paper path which passes through the body;
powered rollers for moving a printable media through the paper path and past said stationary printhead;
an ink reservoir within said body and communicating with said printhead;
a storage device within said body for storing an image to be printed by said printhead; and
said printhead printing said image on substantially the full width of said printable media in a single pass;
the elongate body including at least one connector at an end of said body for connecting one or more further modules including a body having a complementary connector, when said printer module connects with said at least one further module, the body of the printer module substantially abuts the body of the one or more further modules;
the printer module further comprising a bus providing power and data between said printer module and said one or more further modules.
2. The printer module of claim 1 further comprising a controller, said controller controlling operation of said printer module.
3. The printer module of claim 2 wherein said storage device is flash memory associated with said controller.
4. The printer module of claim 2 wherein said controller includes a device for transferring said image to said printhead.
5. The printer module of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for detecting said printing media and activating said means for moving said printing media in response to said detection.
6. The printer module of claim 1 further comprising a power source within said housing.
7. The printer module of claim 1 wherein the connection between the printer module and the at least one further module is a substantially rigid connection.
8. The printer module of claim 1 wherein the elongate body is substantially cylindrical.
9. The printer module of claim 1 wherein the printhead is a monolithic drop-on-demand inkjet printer.
10. The printer module of claim 1 wherein the means for moving printable media comprises a motive means driving one or more powered rollers adjacent one or more neutral rollers.
11. The printer module of claim 10 wherein the motive means is an electric motor and gearbox.
12. The printer module of claim 2 wherein said controller incorporates image processing and quality assurance integrated circuits.
13. The printer module of claim 10 wherein the powered rollers are located on opposites sides of the printhead.