Printing cartridge with ink and print media supplies
View Patent ↗A printing cartridge includes a hollow core. An ink supply is arranged within the core. A cylindrical former contains the core. A print media supply is wrapped around the former. A cover assembly contains the print media supply and defines a feed opening from which the print media supply is fed. A feed mechanism feeds the print media supply from the cover assembly.
1. A printing cartridge that comprises
a hollow core;
an ink supply arranged within the core;
a cylindrical former containing the core;
a print media supply wrapped around the former;
a cover assembly that contains the print media supply and defines a feed opening from which the print media supply is fed; and
a feed mechanism for feeding the print media supply from the cover assembly.
2. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , which includes an integrated circuit device that is configured to permit authentication of the ink supply and the print media supply.
3. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 2 , in which the integrated circuit device is an authentication chip mounted on the core and configured to engage a corresponding authentication device of a printer.
4. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , in which the ink supply includes a number of ink chambers positioned in the core and an ink sponge positioned in each chamber, each sponge storing ink of a particular colour, a connecting arrangement being positioned on one end of the core so that each chamber can be connected to an ink conduit and an air inlet arrangement at an opposite end of the core so that air can enter the core as ink is fed from the core.
5. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 4 , in which the connecting arrangement comprises a sealing cap that is engaged with the said one end of the core, the sealing cap defining weakened zones in alignment with respective ink chambers so that the sealing cap can be pierced with respective ink conduits.
6. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 4 , in which the cover assembly comprises a pair of cover members that are fastened to each other to enclose the print media supply, the cover members being shaped to provide access to the ink chambers.
7. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , in which the feed mechanism includes a roller assembly that is positioned in the cover assembly to receive the print media and to feed the print media out of the feed opening and includes a drive roller with a drivable end.
8. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 7 , in which the roller assembly includes a pair of pinch rollers that engage the drive roller, the print media being received between the pinch rollers and the drive roller, the pinch rollers being oriented to perform a de-curling operation on the print media as it is fed through the roller assembly.