Printer Module With Capping Mechanism
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorsKia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printer module includes an elongate body. A motor assembly is operatively mounted to an end of the body. A quartet of rollers is rotationally mounted with respect to the body and extends along the inside of the body. The rollers include a pair of driven rollers coupled to the motor assembly and a pair of free rotation neutral rollers. The rollers are arranged in pinching pairs with each pair including a respective driven and neutral roller. An elongate printhead is operatively mounted to extend along the body, and is configured to print ink upon print media passing through the body and between the pairs of rollers.
Claims9
A printer module comprising:
- a body having a media entry slot and a media exit slot;
- a quartet of rollers each rotationally mounted with respect to the body and extending along the inside of the body, the rollers comprising a pair of driven rollers and a pair of neutral rollers, the rollers being arranged to form two pinching pairs of rollers with the pinching pairs comprising respective driven and neutral rollers;
- a motor assembly for driving the driven rollers;
- a stationary printhead positioned between the driven rollers and the neutral rollers to print ink upon print media passing through the body;
- and
- a capping mechanism, the capping mechanism comprising:
- a blotter;
- a capping arm supporting the blotter;
- a clutch operatively associated with at least one of the driven rollers to move the capping arm from a first configuration where the blotter covers the printhead to a second configuration where the printhead is uncovered by the blotter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.