Print media and multiple printing fluid cartridge for digital photofinishing system
View Patent ↗A print media and printing fluid cartridge is provided which is arranged to be removably mounted in juxtaposition to a printer of a digital photofinishing system. The cartridge has a tubular core to which a roll of print media is removably and rotatably mounted so as to be fed on demand to the printer and within which a plurality of printing fluid first cartridges are removably located so as to feed a plurality of printing fluids to the printer on demand, and a print media delivery arrangement for coupling with a print media drive mechanism of the digital photofinishing system so as to feed the print media from the roll on demand.
1. A print media and printing fluid cartridge, the cartridge being arranged to be removably mounted in juxtaposition to a printer of a digital photofinishing system and comprising:
a tubular core to which a roll of print media is removably and rotatably mounted so as to be fed on demand to the printer and within which a plurality of printing fluid cartridges are removably located so as to feed a plurality of printing fluids to the printer on demand; and
a print media delivery arrangement comprising an opening in the cartridge which is arranged to enable a roller of a print media drive mechanism of the digital photofinishing system to contact a wound portion of the roll of print media so as to feed an unwound portion of the print media from the roll through the printer by on demand operation of the roller on the wound portion.
2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of printing fluids carried by the printing fluid first cartridges comprise different colored inks.
3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of printing fluids carried by the printing fluid first cartridges comprise inks and ink fixative.
4. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printing fluid first cartridges are refillable.
5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printing fluid first cartridges are arranged so as to each feed the respective printing fluid therein to a print head assembly of the printer on demand.
6. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular core incorporates a bearing arrangement for rotatably supporting the roll of print media.
7. A cartridge as claimed in claim 6 wherein the print media delivery arrangement is arranged to cause said rotation of the roll of print media about the tubular core to feed the print media on demand.
8. A cartridge as claimed in claim 7 wherein the print media delivery arrangement causes said rotation in response to the print media drive mechanism.
9. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cartridge is removably mounted to a support structure of the digital photofinishing system to which the printer is mounted.
10. A cartridge as claimed in claim 9 wherein the print media drive mechanism is located on the support structure, and the print media delivery arrangement is configured to couple with the print media drive mechanism when the cartridge is mounted to the support structure.
11. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a wall in which is arranged printing fluid outlet ports engageable with the printing fluid first cartridges.