Print engine with air-cleaned printhead
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorsKia Silverbrook, Tobin King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A print engine includes a stepper motor that advances print media upon demand and simultaneously drives an air pump. A molding provides a receptacle that receives an impeller of the air pump, an air inlet pin that couples with an air filter located on a print cartridge and an air conduit that couples the output of the air pump to a print head assembly. In use, the air pump operates to direct air across a print head of the print head assembly thereby inhibiting accumulation of foreign particles about the print head.
Claims14
A print engine assembly arranged to receive a cartridge of print media, the print engine assembly including;
- a drive motor;
- an air pump coupled to the drive motor;
- and
- a first molding defining an air supply channel between the air pump and a print head assembly whereby air from the air pump acts to inhibit accumulation of foreign particles about the print head.
A print engine assembly arranged to receive a cartridge of print media, the print engine assembly including:
- a stepper motor arranged to intermittently advance print media;
- an air pump arranged to be driven by the stepper motor during advance of the print media;
- a first molding defining an air supply channel between the air pump and a print head assembly;
- an air inlet pin continuous with the first molding arranged to mate with an air filter assembly of the cartridge of print media;
- and
- whereby filtered air from the air pump is directed to the print head assembly thereby inhibiting accumulation of foreign particles about the print head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.