# US 2009/0262154 A1 · Printer Control Circuitry For Reading Ink Information From A Refill Unit

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- Number: US 2009/0262154 A1
- Document ID: US20090262154A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/493,236
- Filed: 2009-06-28
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2004-01-21
- Assignees: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
- Inventors: Kia Silverbrook; Akira Nakazawa; Christopher Hibbard; Paul Ian MacKey; Norman Micheal Berry; Garry Raymond Jackson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090262154A1

## CPC

- B41J 25/34: Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
- B41J 2/04541: {Specific driving circuit}
- B41J 2/04543: {Block driving}
- B41J 2/0458: {controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles}
- B41J 2/04585: {controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators}
- B41J 2/04591: {Width of the driving signal being adjusted}
- B41J 2/135: Nozzles
- B41J 2/14016: {Structure of bubble jet print heads}
- B41J 2/14427: {Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators}
- B41J 2/155: for line printing
- B41J 2/1623: {bonding and adhesion}
- B41J 2/1628: {dry etching}
- B41J 2/1634: {laser machining}
- B41J 2/1637: {molding}
- B41J 2/1642: {thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]}
- B41J 2/1648: {Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators}
- B41J 2/16526: {by applying pressure only}
- B41J 2/16535: {using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence)}
- B41J 2/16585: {for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads}
- B41J 2/1707: {Conditioning of the inside of ink supply circuits, e.g. flushing during start-up or shut-down}
- B41J 2/1714: {Conditioning of the outside of ink supply systems, e.g. inkjet collector cleaning, ink mist removal (B41J2/08, B41J2/16517, B41J2/18 take precedence)}
- B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor}
- B41J 2/17503: {Ink cartridges}
- B41J 2/17506: {Refilling of the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer}
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer}
- B41J 2/17536: {Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape}
- B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure}
- B41J 2/17556: {Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control}
- B41J 2/19: for removing air bubbles
- B41J 2/515: line printer type
- B41J 29/02: Framework
- B41J 29/13: Cases or covers
- B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
- B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles
- B41J 2/1742: {Open waste ink collectors, e.g. ink receiving from a print head above the collector during borderless printing}
- B41J 2002/14362: {Assembling elements of heads}
- B41J 2002/14403: {including a filter}
- B41J 2002/14419: {Manifold}
- B41J 2002/14435: {Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator}
- B41J 2002/14459: {Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers}
- B41J 2002/14475: {characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber}
- B41J 2002/14491: {Electrical connection}
- B41J 2002/17516: {comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag}
- B41J 2202/19: Assembling head units
- B41J 2202/20: Modules
- B41J 2202/21: Line printing
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

A refill unit for refilling an ink cartridge that forms part of an inkjet printer. The printer also having a printhead, control circuitry and an interface for releasably engaging the refill unit. The refill unit has a body containing a quantity of ink, an ink outlet, and a memory circuit for storing information relating to at least one characteristic of the ink. During use the memory circuit allows to the control circuit to interrogate it to verify that the ink in the refill unit is suitable for the printer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inkjet printer comprising:
an ink cartridge;
a printhead; and
control circuitry for reading ink information from a memory circuit of a refill unit, the ink information relating to at least one characteristic of ink contained in the refill unit, for verifying that the ink in the refill unit is suitable for refilling the ink cartridge from the ink information, and for modifying the maximum print speed of the printhead in response to the ink information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An inkjet printer according to claim 1 wherein the ink information includes the type and color of the ink.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An inkjet printer according to claim 2 wherein the information includes the volume of ink in the refill unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge comprises:
an ink storage compartment and an ink feed system for connection to the printhead which has an array of ink ejection nozzles, and
wherein the ink storage compartment has a variable storage volume and a displaceable wall section biased to expand the variable storage volume to generate a negative pressure therein, thereby preventing ink from inadvertently leaking from the ink ejection nozzles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An inkjet printer according to claim 1 further comprising a printhead maintenance assembly for the printhead, the printhead having a nozzle plate with an array of nozzles formed therein; the printhead maintenance assembly comprises:
a capper to cover the array of nozzles when the printhead is not in use; and
a cleaner for engaging the nozzle plate and wiping across the nozzles, the cleaner being positioned between opposing sides of the capper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein:
the ink cartridge has the interface for engaging the refill unit, an ink storage compartment partially defined by a tubular flexible wall, and a constriction mechanism for constricting the flexible tubular wall by a predetermined amount; and
the refill unit comprises a docking portion for engaging the interface of the cartridge, the docking portion having an ink outlet for connection to an inlet port on the interface, and a plurality of constriction actuators for actuating the constriction mechanism as the ink refill unit engages the interface and releases the constriction mechanism as the ink refill unit disengages the interface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An inkjet printer according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer casing with a hingedly mounted panel for accessing its interior; and
a cradle housed within the outer casing for supporting the ink cartridge, the cradle having a hingedly mounted lid that opens to allow the ink cartridge to be inserted and removed,
wherein the hinge axis of the lid and the hinge axis of the panel are parallel, and
wherein the lid and the panel both open in the same direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An inkjet printer according to claim 1 wherein the printhead is a replaceable pagewidth printhead with an array of nozzles and printhead contacts for transmitting power and print data to the nozzles, the printer further comprising:
contacts corresponding to the printhead contacts for supplying power and print data to the printhead contacts; and
a selective biasing mechanism, such that the printhead contacts and the corresponding contacts are biased into engagement during printing and released from biased engagement when installing or removing the printhead.