Inkjet printer with releasable print cartridge
View Patent ↗An inkjet printer includes a cradle. A print cartridge can engage the cradle in a releasable manner. The print cartridge has a body housing a membrane which includes a number of ink storage reservoirs. The print cartridge also has a pagewidth printhead in fluid communication with the storage reservoirs. The printhead is configured to eject ink from the reservoirs. A fastening arrangement fastens the print cartridge within the cradle.
1. An inkjet printer comprising:
a cradle;
a print cartridge adapted to be removably received in the cradle, the print cartridge housing a membrane defining a number of ink storage reservoirs, and a pagewidth printhead in fluid communication with the storage reservoirs;
a rotor element provided on the print cartridge, the rotor element having a platen face, a capping face, and a blotter face;
a rotor element drive assembly provided on the cradle for rotating the rotor element to position one of the platen face, the capping face, and the blotter face adjacent to the pagewidth printhead; and
a fastening arrangement for fastening the print cartridge within the cradle.
2. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fastening arrangement includes a latch that is connected by a hinge to the cradle.
3. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the print cartridge includes a body in which the membrane is housed, the body defining a number of passageways to convey ink from an externally fitted ink refill cartridge to each of the ink storage reservoirs.
4. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the print cartridge has an ink distribution molding defining ink distribution conduits for distributing ink from the storage reservoirs to the pagewidth printhead.
5. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said body defines an air distribution channel adjacent the elongate ink distribution conduits that distributes pressurized air to nozzles of the printhead.
6. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a porous air filter extends along the length of the air distribution channel to remove dust and particulate matter from the pressurized air.
7. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the pressurized air is provided by an air compressor incorporated into the cradle.
8. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a rotor element angle sensor provided on the cradle for sensing an orientation of the rotor element.