Method and apparatus for converting an ink-jet printer into a scanner and copier

A combined ink jet printing and copying apparatus comprising:

• an ink jet printer;
• having
• a frame defining a print media path,
• a carriage mounted on a horizontal axis for longitudinal movement across the print media path, and
• at least one ink jet printing cartridge removably mounted on the carriage and having a first electrical interconnect, and
• a central process unit (CPU) operatively connected to the printing cartridge electrical interconnect for controlling the printing of images on print media transported along the print media path by transmitting print signals to the printing cartridge through the cartridge electrical interconnect;
• a scanner cartridge adapted to be mounted in said carriage either in place of or adjacent to a said ink jet printing cartridge for scanning an image on print media transported along the print media path, the scanner cartridge including
• a scanner housing mountable on the carriage, the housing having an aperture for transmitting scanning light and receiving light reflected off the print media,
• a scanner electrical interconnect mounted on the scanner housing and operatively coupled to the CPU when the scanner cartridge is mounted in said carriage,
• a resistor array mounted on the housing which encodes an identification code of the scanner cartridge, wherein said identification code is automatically read by the CPU through the scanner cartridge electrical interconnects thereby identifying the scanner cartridge to the CPU and enabling a scanning mode of operation,
• a light source mounted within the housing for emitting light through the aperture onto the media such that the emitted light is reflected off of images on the media and received through the aperture,
• a light sensor mounted within the housing for sensing the reflected light and converting the sensed light to uncompensated analog signals,
• means mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the light sensor for converting the uncompensated analog signals to image data,
• means mounted within the housing and for transmitting the image data to the CPU via the scanner electrical interconnect;
• means for storing the image data;
• and
• means for printing the stored image data.

A method of copying an image using an ink jet printer, said printer having at least one ink jet cartridge adapted to be releasably mounted in a print media scanning carriage and printer electronics electrically coupled to said ink jet cartridge via an electrical interconnect mounted on the cartridge, said printer having a printing mode operable by placing a printing media in the printer and transmitting printer command signals to the ink jet cartridge through the electrical interconnect mounted on the cartridge so as to cause the ink jet cartridge to print an image on said printing media, the method of copying an image comprising the steps of:

• placing print media in the printer;
• said print media having an image to be copied recorded thereon;
• removing the ink jet cartridge from the carriage;
• placing a scanner cartridge in the carriage, said scanner cartridge having an electrical interconnect mounted on said scanner cartridge;
• automatically identifying said scanner cartridge as a scanner cartridge to said printer electronics and initiating a scanning mode;
• scanning the image with the scanner cartridge so that image data is generated which represents the image;
• transmitting said image data to the printer electronics via the scanner cartridge interconnect;
• storing the image data received from the scanner cartridge in memory resident in the printer;
• removing the scanner cartridge from the carriage;
• replacing the ink jet cartridge in the carriage;
• automatically identfying the ink jet cartridge as an ink jet cartridge to said printer electronics and initiating a printing mode;
• and
• printing the image data.

A method of copying an image using an ink jet printer having an ink jet cartridge replaceably mounted on a carriage, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing print media in the printer;
• said print media having an image to be reproduced thereon;
• removing the ink jet cartridge from the carriage;
• placing a scanner cartridge in the carriage;
• automatically recognizing a current cartridge as a scanner cartridge;
• automatically scanning the image with the scanner cartridge so that image data is generated which represents the image;
• storing the image data in memory resident in the printer;
• removing the scanner cartridge from the carriage;
• placing the ink jet cartridge in the carriage,
• automatically recognizing a current cartridge as an ink jet cartridge;
• and
• automatically printing the image data.