Print media and fluid cartridge of photofinishing system
View Patent ↗A print media and printing fluid cartridge is provided removably mounted to a support structure of a digital photofinishing system in juxtaposition with a printer mounted to the support structure together with a digital processor and print media drive mechanism. The cartridge has a roll of print media, a print media delivery arrangement arranged to couple with the drive mechanism so as to feed the print media from the roll to the printer, and at least one removable printing fluid first cartridge for feeding printing fluid to the printer. The digital processor is arranged to receive digitised data that is representative of a photographic image and to process the data in a manner to generate a drive signal that is representative of the photographic image for the printer. The printer processes the drive signal and page-width prints the photographic image on the fed print media using the fed printing fluid.
1. A print media and printing fluid cartridge removably mounted to a support structure of a digital photofinishing system in juxtaposition with a printer mounted to the support structure together with a digital processor and print media drive mechanism for the printer, the cartridge comprising:
a roll of print media;
a print media delivery arrangement arranged to couple with the print media drive mechanism so as to feed the print media from the roll to the printer on demand; and
at least one removable printing fluid first cartridge for feeding printing fluid to the printer on demand,
wherein the digital processor is arranged to receive digitised data that is representative of a photographic image and to process the data in a manner to generate a drive signal that is representative of the photographic image for the printer, the printer being arranged to process the drive signal and effect page-width printing of the photographic image on the print media fed from the roll of print media using the printing fluid fed from the printing fluid first cartridge.
2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the digital processor is arranged to receive said digitised data from an input source selected from a scanning device, a computer disk, a digital camera output, a digital camera memory card, a digital file and an internet connection.
3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support structure includes a compartment and the cartridge is removably located in the compartment.
4. A cartridge as claimed in claim 3 wherein the roll of the print media is arranged to engage with the print media drive mechanism which is mounted to the compartment.
5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a wall having a door which is arranged to be opened to enable the print media delivery arrangement to couple with print media drive mechanism.
6. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the print media delivery arrangement includes a drive roller and a pinch roller.
7. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printing fluid first cartridge is refillable.
8. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the roll of print media is removably and rotatably mounted to a tubular core of the cartridge and wherein the at least one printing fluid first cartridge is removably located within the tubular core.