Casing for an ink cartridge
View Patent ↗A casing ( 9, 10 ) for a cartridge ( 5 ) which is adapted for supplying print media ( 12 ) and an ink to an inkjet printhead with which the cartridge ( 5 ) is engaged, the casing ( 9, 10 ) including: a core ( 6 ) rotatably mounted inside the casing ( 9, 10 ) which is adapted to support a roll of print media ( 12 ); an ink supply inside the core ( 6 ); and at least one ink outlet at one end of the core ( 6 ) for establishing fluid communication between the ink supply and the printhead.
1. A casing for a cartridge which is adapted for supplying print media and an ink to an inkjet printhead with which the cartridge is engaged, the casing including:
a core rotatably mounted inside the casing which is adapted to support a roll of print media;
an ink supply inside the core; and
at least one ink outlet at one end of the core for establishing fluid communication between the ink supply and the printhead.
2. A casing as claimed in claim 1 including a transport mechanism mounted inside the casing for transporting the print media from the roll of print media to the printhead by rotating the core.
3. A casing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the casing is substantially congruent to the arrangement of the transport mechanism and the roll of print media, when full.
4. A casing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the transport mechanism includes a drive roller adapted to engage an external drive so as to be rotated and thereby transport the print media from the roll of print media to the printhead.
5. A casing as claimed in claim 4 wherein the drive roller includes a geared axle that extends beyond the casing for engagement with the external drive via a corresponding gear.
6. A casing as claimed in claim 4 wherein a longitudinal axis of the core, and the rollers of the drive roller assembly are substantially parallel.
7. A casing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the casing includes a plurality of mouldings that are adapted to be snap-locked together so as to encase at least the roll of print media, the core, the ink supply and the transport mechanism, the moldings being configured so that a slot is formed through which the print media is transported by the transport mechanism, in use.
8. A casing as claimed in claim 7 wherein the slot includes a resilient guide extending away from the slot for resilient engagement with a paper path leading to the printhead upon installation of the cartridge.
9. A casing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ink supply includes a plurality of segments for storing different coloured inks, and, the ink outlet of the core includes an outlet for each segment.