Removable inkjet printer cartridge incorproating printhead and ink storage reservoirs
View Patent ↗A printer cartridge includes body configured to facilitate insertion and removal of the printer cartridge, by an end user of the printer cartridge, to and from a complementary cradle in an inkjet printer; one or more printing fluid storages mounted to the body, each printing fluid storage including a polyethylene membrane shaped as a pocket, the polyethylene membrane adapted to expand and collapse; a pagewidth printhead mounted to the body, the pagewidth printhead having a first print chip and a second print chip, the first print chip having an array of nozzles fabricated on a first monolithic substrate and the second print chip having an array of nozzles fabricated on a second monolithic substrate separate from the first monolithic substrate; and, a fluid connection between the printing fluid storage and the first and second print chips. The length of the first print chip added to the length of the second print chip is at least equal to the length of the pagewidth printhead. The pagewidth printhead and the printing fluid storage are mounted to the body such that removal and replacement of the body by an end user of the printer cartridge simultaneously removes and replaces the printing fluid storage, the pagewidth printhead and the fluid connection.
1. A printer cartridge comprising:
a body adapted for insertion and removal of the printer cartridge, by an end user of the printer cartridge, to and from a complementary cradle in an inkjet printer;
one or more printing fluid storages mounted to the body, each printing fluid storage including a polyethylene membrane adapted to expand and collapse;
a pagewidth printhead mounted to the body, the pagewidth printhead having a first print integrated circuit having an array of nozzles fabricated on a first monolithic substrate and a second print integrated circuit having an array of nozzles fabricated on a second monolithic substrate;
an ink refill port defined on the body, the ink refill port including one or more ink inlets respectively in fluid communication with the one or more printing fluid storages; and
a fluid connection between the printing fluid storage and the first and second print integrated circuits, wherein
the length of the first print integrated circuit added to the length of the second print integrated circuit is at least equal to the length of the pagewidth printhead,
the pagewidth printhead and the printing fluid storage are mounted to the body to facilitate removal thereof simultaneously with removal of the body from the complementary cradle, and
the ink refill port is shaped to receive an ink refill cartridge, and adapted to receive from the ink refill cartridge a supply of ink for refilling the one or more printing fluid storages via the one or more ink inlets.
2. A printer cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the first and second print integrated circuits abut together to extend the length of the printhead.
3. A printer cartridge according to claim 2 , further comprising electrical connectors located at opposing ends of the printhead and in electrical communication with the first and second print integrated circuits respectively.
4. A printer cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a data and power connector, the data and power connector adapted to couple with corresponding connectors on the cradle upon insertion of the printer cartridge in the complementary cradle.
5. A printer cartridge according to claim 4 , further comprising a quality assurance (QA) chip mounted to the connector.
6. A printer cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotor element attached to the body, the rotor element having three faces and adapted to engage and be rotated by a drive mechanism of the complementary cradle upon insertion of the printer cartridge in the complementary cradle.
7. A printer cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein one face of the rotor element is a platen face for supporting print media in the vicinity of the pagewidth printhead.
8. A printer cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein one face of the rotor element is a capping face for capping the pagewidth printhead.
9. A printer cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein one face of the rotor element is a blotting face for blotting the pagewidth printhead.