Inkjet printer with releasable print cartridge
View Patent ↗An inkjet printer includes a cradle; a print cartridge removably received in the cradle, the print cartridge housing a plurality of ink storage reservoirs and a pagewidth printhead; a rotor element provided on the print cartridge, the rotor element having a platen face, a capping face, and a blotter face; and a rotor element drive assembly provided on the cradle for rotating the rotor element to position one of the platen face, the capping face, and the blotter face adjacent to the pagewidth printhead. The print cartridge is provided with a pair of end plates attached to opposite ends of the print cartridge, each end plate defining a slot within which a spring is provided. The rotor element is mounted within the slots and biased towards the printhead by the springs.
1. An inkjet printer comprising:
a cradle;
a print cartridge removably received in the cradle, the print cartridge housing a plurality of ink storage reservoirs and a pagewidth printhead;
a rotor element provided on the print cartridge, the rotor element having a platen face, a capping face, and a blotter face; and
a rotor element drive assembly provided on the cradle for rotating the rotor element to position one of the platen face, the capping face, and the blotter face adjacent to the pagewidth printhead, wherein
the print cartridge is provided with a pair of end plates attached to opposite ends of the print cartridge, each end plate defining a slot within which a spring is provided, and
the rotor element is mounted within the slots and biased towards the printhead by the springs.
2. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a fastening arrangement for fastening the print cartridge within the cradle, the fastening arrangement including a latch connected by a hinge to the cradle.
3. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the print cartridge includes a body in which the ink storage reservoirs are housed, the body defining a number of passageways for conveying ink from an externally fitted ink refill cartridge to each of the ink storage reservoirs.
4. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the print cartridge has an ink distribution molding defining ink distribution conduits for distributing ink from the storage reservoirs to the pagewidth printhead.
5. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said body defines an air distribution channel adjacent the elongate ink distribution conduits that distributes pressurized air to nozzles of the printhead.
6. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a porous air filter extends along the length of the air distribution channel to remove dust and particulate matter from the pressurized air.
7. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the pressurized air is provided by an air compressor incorporated into the cradle.
8. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a rotor element angle sensor provided on the cradle for sensing an orientation of the rotor element.