Print media cartridge incorporating print media and ink housing assemblies
View Patent ↗An ink and print media cartridge includes a print media housing assembly that defines a region in which print media can be stored and includes a feed mechanism to feed the print media from the housing assembly. An ink housing assembly is fast with the print media housing assembly. The ink housing assembly defines at least one ink chamber in which ink can be received and an ink outlet in fluid communication with the or each respective, ink chamber. The ink housing assembly includes a deformable partition that extends across the at least one ink chamber, such that the ink is contained on one side of the deformable partition.
1. An ink and print media cartridge for connection to a printer device, the ink and print media cartridge comprising:
a print media housing assembly having a top molding coupled to a bottom molding, the top and bottom moldings defining a region therebetween in which print media is stored;
a feed mechanism, including a geared roller assembly, provided in the print media housing for feeding the print media out of the cartridge;
an ink housing assembly attached to an underside of the bottom molding, the ink housing assembly defining with the underside of the bottom molding an ink chamber in which ink is received, the ink housing assembly further including an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink chamber; and
a deformable partition provided in the ink housing assembly and extending across the ink chamber, the deformable partition containing therein the ink, wherein
a portion of the bottom molding extends beyond a peripheral edge of the top molding to define an ink supply connection manifold with the ink housing assembly,
the ink outlet is provided on the ink supply connection manifold so as to be spatially clear of the print media housing assembly, and
the ink chamber is provided with an air vent for facilitating the intake of air into the ink chamber upon collapse of the deformable partition.
2. An ink and print media cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom moldings define a slot from which the sheets are fed by the geared roller assembly.
3. An ink and print media cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the geared roller assembly includes pick up rollers mounted on a drive shaft to engage the print media, and the top and bottom moldings define a formation in which the drive shaft is rotatably positioned.
4. An ink and print media cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ink supply chamber is an elongate channel substantially spanning a width of the ink and print media cartridge.
5. An ink and print media cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ink housing assembly defines a plurality of ink supply chambers, and a plurality of ink outlets respectively corresponding to the plurality of ink supply chambers.