Print module having replaceable printhead cartridge
AssigneeMemjet Technology Limited
InventorMark Profaca
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A print module includes a printhead cartridge releasably engaged with a supply module. The supply module has an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module positioned on opposite external sidewalls of the body and flanking the body, each of the ink inlet and ink outlet modules having a respective ink coupling engaged with complementary inlet and outlet couplings of the printhead cartridge. The ink inlet and outlet modules each include a respective lever mechanism for slidably moving the ink inlet and outlet modules relative to the opposite external sidewalls of the body between a coupled position in which the supply module is fluidically coupled to the printhead cartridge and a decoupled position in which the supply module is fluidically decoupled from the printhead cartridge.
Claims13
A print module comprising a printhead cartridge releasably engaged with a supply module, wherein the supply module comprises:
- a body housing electronic circuitry for supplying power and data to a printhead of the printhead cartridge;
- and
- an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module positioned on opposite external sidewalls of the body and flanking the body, each of the ink inlet and ink outlet modules having a respective ink coupling engaged with complementary inlet and outlet couplings of the printhead cartridge,
- wherein the ink inlet and outlet modules each comprise a respective lever mechanism for slidably moving the ink inlet and outlet modules relative to the opposite external sidewalls of the body between a coupled position in which the supply module is fluidically coupled to the printhead cartridge and a decoupled position in which the supply module is fluidically decoupled from the printhead cartridge.
A method of coupling a printhead cartridge with a supply module, the supply module comprising a body housing electronic circuitry for supplying power and data signals to the printhead cartridge;
- and an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module positioned on external opposite sidewalls of the body and flanking the body, each of the ink inlet and outlet modules having a respective ink coupling, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the printhead cartridge relative to the supply module so as to align the ink inlet and ink outlet couplings of the supply module with complementary inlet and outlet couplings at each end of the printhead cartridge;
- actuating a first lever mechanism so as to slide the ink inlet module relative to one external sidewall of the body and engage the ink coupling of the ink inlet module with the complementary inlet coupling of the printhead cartridge;
- and
- actuating a second lever mechanism so as to slide the ink outlet module relative to an opposite external sidewall of the body and engage the ink coupling of the ink outlet module with the complementary outlet coupling of the printhead cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.