Printer having self-referencing printhead
View Patent ↗An inkjet printer having a body configured to receive a printhead assembly of at least one printhead integrated circuit having ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the integrated circuit(s) to distribute ink to the nozzles, and a plurality of mounting features on the body configured to cooperate with corresponding complementary reference features of the ink distribution support upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer, where the cooperation provides information on the location of the nozzles. The printhead assembly is incorporated in a printing cartridge and the body of the printer has a cartridge receiving slot. The mounting features include a mesa feature and protrusions arranged in the slot The reference features include a slot in the ink distribution support which cooperates with the mesa feature and a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the ink distribution support which cooperates with the protrusions.
1. An inkjet printer comprising:
a body configured to receive a printhead assembly, the printhead assembly comprising at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the, or each, printhead integrated circuit, the ink distribution support being arranged, in use, to distribute ink to the nozzles; and
a plurality of mounting features on the body for mounting the printhead assembly at the ink distribution support, each mounting feature being configured to cooperate with a corresponding complementary reference feature of the ink distribution support upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer, the cooperation providing information on the location of the nozzles,
wherein the printhead assembly is incorporated in a printing cartridge and the body of the printer has a cartridge receiving slot for removably receiving the printing cartridge, and
the mounting features include a mesa feature and protrusions arranged in the cartridge receiving slot, and the reference features include a slot in the ink distribution support configured to cooperate with the mesa feature and a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the ink distribution support configured to cooperate with the protrusions.
2. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein the ink distribution support is an elongate support, and the, or each, printhead integrated circuit is mounted to extend longitudinally along the elongate support.
3. A printer according to claim 2 , wherein the, or each, printhead integrated circuit is mounted along the elongate support so that the nozzles create a printing zone which extends across a pagewidth.
4. A printer according to claim 3 , wherein the pagewidth is 100.9 millimeters.
5. A printer according to claim 3 , wherein the, or each, reference feature of the ink distribution support is arranged beyond the longitudinal extent of the printing zone and the, or each, mounting feature is arranged to correspond with the corresponding reference feature.
6. A printer according to claim 1 , further comprising print control circuitry for controlling operation of the ink ejection nozzles of the received printing cartridge.
7. A printer according to claim 6 , wherein the print control circuitry is configured to use the information of the location of the nozzles to control said operation.
8. A printer according to claim 6 , wherein the print control circuitry incorporates an electrical connection interface arranged in the cartridge receiving slot for communicating power and data to the nozzles of the received printing cartridge via electrical contacts of the printhead assembly.
9. A printer according to claim 8 , wherein the electrical connection interface defines at least one further mounting feature configured to cooperate with a further complementary reference feature of the printing cartridge.
10. A printer according to claim 9 , wherein the further complementary reference feature of the printing cartridge is a surface adjacent the electrical contacts of the printhead assembly which is configured to cooperate with the electrical connection interface.