Printer control circuitry for reading ink information from a refill unit
View Patent ↗A refill unit for refilling an ink cartridge that forms part of an inkjet printer. The printer also having a printhead, control circuitry and an interface for releasably engaging the refill unit. The refill unit has a body containing a quantity of ink, an ink outlet, and a memory circuit for storing information relating to at least one characteristic of the ink. During use the memory circuit allows to the control circuit to interrogate it to verify that the ink in the refill unit is suitable for the printer.
1. An inkjet printer comprising:
an ink cartridge;
a printhead; and
control circuitry for reading ink information from a memory circuit of a refill unit, the ink information relating to at least one characteristic of ink contained in the refill unit, for verifying that the ink in the refill unit is suitable for refilling the ink cartridge from the ink information, and for modifying the maximum print speed of the printhead in response to the ink information.
2. An inkjet printer according to claim 1 wherein the ink information includes the type and color of the ink.
3. An inkjet printer according to claim 2 wherein the information includes the volume of ink in the refill unit.
4. An inkjet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the ink cartridge comprises:
an ink storage compartment and an ink feed system for connection to the printhead which has an array of ink ejection nozzles, and
wherein the ink storage compartment has a variable storage volume and a displaceable wall section biased to expand the variable storage volume to generate a negative pressure therein, thereby preventing ink from inadvertently leaking from the ink ejection nozzles.
5. An inkjet printer according to claim 1 further comprising a printhead maintenance assembly for the printhead, the printhead having a nozzle plate with an array of nozzles formed therein; the printhead maintenance assembly comprises:
a capper to cover the array of nozzles when the printhead is not in use; and
a cleaner for engaging the nozzle plate and wiping across the nozzles, the cleaner being positioned between opposing sides of the capper.
6. An inkjet printer according to claim 1 , wherein:
the ink cartridge has the interface for engaging the refill unit, an ink storage compartment partially defined by a tubular flexible wall, and a constriction mechanism for constricting the flexible tubular wall by a predetermined amount; and
the refill unit comprises a docking portion for engaging the interface of the cartridge, the docking portion having an ink outlet for connection to an inlet port on the interface, and a plurality of constriction actuators for actuating the constriction mechanism as the ink refill unit engages the interface and releases the constriction mechanism as the ink refill unit disengages the interface.
7. An inkjet printer according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer casing with a hingedly mounted panel for accessing its interior; and
a cradle housed within the outer casing for supporting the ink cartridge, the cradle having a hingedly mounted lid that opens to allow the ink cartridge to be inserted and removed,
wherein the hinge axis of the lid and the hinge axis of the panel are parallel, and
wherein the lid and the panel both open in the same direction.
8. An inkjet printer according to claim 1 wherein the printhead is a replaceable pagewidth printhead with an array of nozzles and printhead contacts for transmitting power and print data to the nozzles, the printer further comprising:
contacts corresponding to the printhead contacts for supplying power and print data to the printhead contacts; and
a selective biasing mechanism, such that the printhead contacts and the corresponding contacts are biased into engagement during printing and released from biased engagement when installing or removing the printhead.