Printer module logically and physically connectable to further modules
View Patent ↗A printer module having an elongate cylindrical body is disclosed. The printer module includes modular connectors arranged on longitudinal ends of the body to permit at least an image processing module to be attached to the body. A communications bus associated with the modular connectors interconnects the printing module and other modules, including the image processing module to facilitate communication between the printing mechanism and the image processing module for receiving print data. A pagewidth printing mechanism positioned in the body and adjacent a media feed path prints the print data onto print media in the media feed path.
1. A printer module comprising:
an elongate, substantially cylindrical body;
a print media feed path extending through the body from an input end to an output end;
a pagewidth printing mechanism positioned adjacent the media feed path between the input end and the output end for printing the print data onto print media in the media feed path;
at least one modular connector arranged on a longitudinal end of the body to permit at least an image processing module, having a substantially cylindrical shape, to be attached to the body; and
a communications bus associated with the modular connector for interconnecting the printing module and the image processing module to facilitate communication between the printing mechanism and the image processing module for receiving print data.
2. A printer module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the body is dimensioned to be generally pen-sized.
3. A printer module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pagewidth printing mechanism incorporates a drop-on-demand pagewidth inkjet printhead.
4. A printer module as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the pagewidth inkjet printhead is configured to generate 1600 dpi resolution with bi-level dots in a plurality of colors.
5. A printer module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one modular connector further permits an image sensing module to be attached to the body, the communications bus being configured to receive image data from the image sensing module and the printing mechanism being configured to print the image data.
6. A printer module of claim 5 wherein the image data is received as contone L*a*b* image data.
7. A printer module as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a power source, wherein
at least the image processing module receives power from the printer module through the communications bus, the image processing module requiring connection to the printer module to be operable.
8. A printer module of claim 1 wherein each modular connector comprises a releasable push on fitting providing physical connection between the image processing module and the printer module.
9. A printer module of claim 8 wherein said releasable push on fitting is a bayonet fitting.
10. A printer module of claim 1 wherein said communications bus is a SerialBus.