Inkjet printer cradle with single drive motor performing multiple functions
View Patent ↗An inkjet printer cradle complementary to an inkjet printer cartridge of a type including a pagewidth printhead, said cradle including an air compressor for producing air to be directed over the pagewidth printhead, a print media transport assembly arranged to convey print media across the printhead, a single motor; and a transmission assembly arranged to couple the single motor to the air compressor and to the print media transport assembly, wherein the transmission assembly includes a direct drive coupling from a spindle of the single motor to the air compressor and a geared coupling from the spindle to the print media transport assembly.
1. An inkjet printer cradle complementary to an inkjet printer cartridge of a type including a pagewidth printhead, said cradle including:
a number of mechanisms auxiliary to said cartridge including a print media transport assembly and printhead capper drive assembly, the printhead capper drive assembly being configured to operatively engage with a capper assembly of the printer cartridge upon removable engagement of the printer cartridge with the cradle, the capper assembly incorporating a rotor element having a printhead capping face, an ink blotting face and a print media platen face and the printhead capper drive assembly incorporating a rotor element drive assembly for driving said rotor element to align one of said faces with the printhead;
a single motor; and
a transmission assembly coupling the single motor to each of the number of mechanisms, such that upon receiving the printer cartridge, the cradle and printer cartridge form an inkjet printer.
2. An inkjet printer cradle according to claim 1 , wherein the number of mechanisms further include an air compressor.
3. An inkjet printer cradle according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission assembly drive coupling between the compressor and a spindle of the motor.
4. An inkjet printer cradle according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission assembly includes a worm gear extended from a spindle of the motor and meshed with a cog of the print media transport and a cog of the printhead capper drive assembly.