Pagewidth inkjet printer cartridge with a refill port
View Patent ↗A printer cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a body configured for user insertion in, and removal from, a cradle of the inkjet printer; a pagewidth printhead incorporated with the body, the pagewidth printhead having an array of nozzles for ejecting printing fluids onto a media substrate; a flexible membrane attached within the body and defining a plurality of pockets each serving as a printing fluid reservoir, each pocket of the flexible membrane being adapted to expand and contract with a volume of printing fluid stored therein; a cover molding for covering the body and sealing the flexible membrane within the body; and a refill port provided on the cover molding and having a plurality of inlets each respectively in fluid communication with one of the pockets, the refill port being configured to removably receive therein a refill cartridge.
1. A printer cartridge for an inkjet printer, the printer cartridge comprising:
a body configured for user insertion in, and removal from, a cradle of the inkjet printer;
a pagewidth printhead integrated with and fixedly attached to the body, the pagewidth printhead having an array of nozzles for ejecting printing fluids onto a media substrate;
a flexible membrane attached within the body and defining a plurality of pockets each serving as a printing fluid reservoir, each pocket of the flexible membrane being adapted to expand and contract with a volume of printing fluid stored therein;
a cover molding for covering the body and sealing the flexible membrane within the body;
a refill port provided on the cover molding and having a plurality of inlets each respectively in fluid communication with one of the pockets, the refill port being configured to removably receive therein a refill cartridge; and
a plurality of inlet ports each in direct fluid communication with the flexible membrane, the plurality of inlet ports for communicating ink out of each pocket of the flexible membrane.
2. A printer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the refill port includes a fluidic seal adapted to open upon receipt of the refill cartridge in the refill port.
3. A printer cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising an ink delivery molding to which the pagewidth printhead is attached, the ink delivery molding receiving printing fluid from the plurality of pockets via the plurality of inlet ports and further defining a plurality of elongate conduits for communicating printing fluid from the inlet ports to the pagewidth printhead.
4. A printer cartridge according to claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of ink delivery conduits defined in the body and positioned between the ink delivery molding and the plurality of pockets, the plurality of conduits for communicating printing fluid from the plurality of pockets to the plurality of inlet ports.