Printing ink delivery control mechanism

An ink delivery system for a printer, the ink delivery system comprising:

• a first shaft to control a first set of transmission modules of a first set of ink delivery reservoirs;
• a second shaft to control a second set of transmission modules of a second set of ink delivery reservoirs;
• a mechanism to selectively rotationally couple the second control shaft to the first control shaft, the mechanism comprising:
• an input, to receive ink transmission module control rotation;
• an output, to selectively transfer the control rotation to the second shaft;
• and
• a control system, to control the selective transfer of the output,
• wherein the mechanism is moveable into a disengaged configuration by the control system, in which rotation of the input is not transferred to the second shaft via the output, by a first predetermined sequence of rotations of the input, and into an engaged configuration, in which rotation of the input is transferred to the second shaft via the output, by a second predetermined sequence of rotations of the input.

An ink delivery system for a printer, comprising:

• a first shaft for controlling a first set of transmission modules for at least one ink delivery reservoir;
• a second shaft for controlling a second set of transmission modules for at least one further ink delivery reservoir;
• a mechanism for selectively rotationally coupling the second shaft to the first control shaft, the mechanism comprising:
• an input gear, to receive ink transmission module control rotation;
• an output gear, selectively coupled to the second control shaft, to selectively transfer the control rotation to the second shaft;
• and
• a control system, to control the selective transfer of the output gear,
• wherein the mechanism is moveable into a disengaged configuration by the control system, in which rotation of the input gear is not transferred to the second shaft via the output gear, by a first predetermined sequence of rotations of the input gear, and into an engaged configuration, in which rotation of the input gear is transferred to the second shaft via the output gear, by a second predetermined sequence of rotations of the input gear, wherein the control system comprises:
• an intermediate gear configured to rotate about an axis parallel to axes of rotation of the input and output gears, the intermediate gear rotationally coupling the input and output gears;
• a connector mounted rotatably, coaxially and in frictional engagement with the intermediate gear, the connector mounting the output gear in engagement with the intermediate gear so that the axis of rotation of the output gear can rotate about the axis of rotation of the intermediate gear, and the connector having an engaging arm;
• and
• a locking arrangement engaged with the intermediate gear, the locking arrangement being configurable to position the engaging arm of the connector, and therefore the connector, in a first position when the mechanism is in the engaged configuration, and a second position when the mechanism is in the disengaged configuration.

An ink delivery system for a printer, the system comprising:

• an ink supply control motor;
• an ink transmission module configured to activate and deactivate an ink supply by rotational input;
• a selective engagement mechanism, the mechanism having:
• an input gear, coupled to the motor to be rotated thereby;
• an output gear, to selectively transfer the control rotation to the ink transmission module;
• and
• a control system, to control the selective transfer of the output gear,
• wherein the mechanism is moveable into a disengaged configuration by the control system, in which rotation of the input gear is not transferred to the second shaft via the output gear, by a first predetermined sequence of rotations of the input gear, and into an engaged configuration, in which rotation of the input gear is transferred to the second shaft via the output gear, by a second predetermined sequence of rotations of the input gear.

An ink delivery system for a printer, the system comprising:

• an ink supply control motor;
• an ink transmission module configured to activate and deactivate an ink supply by rotation;
• a selective engagement mechanism, the mechanism having:
• an input gear coupled to the motor to be rotated thereby;
• an output gear, selectively coupled to the ink transmission module, to selectively transfer the control rotation to the ink transmission module;
• and
• a control system, to control the selective transfer of the output gear,
• wherein the mechanism is moveable into a disengaged configuration by the control system, in which the output gear does not transfer rotation of the input gear to the ink transmission module, by a first predetermined sequence of rotations of the input gear, and into an engaged configuration, in which the output gear transfers rotation of the input gear to the ink transmission module, by a second predetermined sequence of rotations of the input gear, wherein the control system comprises:
• an intermediate gear configured to rotate about an axis parallel to axes of rotation of the input and output gears, the intermediate gear rotationally coupling the input and output gears;
• a connector mounted rotatably, coaxially and in frictional engagement with the intermediate gear, the connector mounting the output gear in engagement with the intermediate gear so that the axis of rotation of the output gear can rotate about the axis of rotation of the intermediate gear, and the connector having an engaging arm;
• and
• a locking arrangement engaged with the intermediate gear, the locking arrangement being configurable to position the engaging arm of the connector, and therefore the connector, in a first position when the mechanism is in the engaged configuration, and a second position when the mechanism is in the disengaged configuration.

An ink delivery system for a printer, the system comprising:

• ink supply control means;
• ink transmission means for activating and deactivating an ink supply by rotation;
• selective engagement means having:
• input means coupled to the motor for rotation thereby;
• output means for selectively transferring the control rotation to the ink transmission means;
• and
• control means for controlling the selective transfer of the output means,
• wherein the selective engagement means is moveable into a disengaged configuration by the control means, in which rotation of the input means is not transferred to the ink transmission means via the output means, by a first predetermined sequence of rotations of the input means, and into an engaged configuration, in which rotation of the input means is transferred to the ink transmission means via the output means, by a second predetermined sequence of rotations of the input means, wherein the control means comprises:
• an intermediate means for rotating about an axis parallel to axes of rotation of the input means and output means, the intermediate means being for rotationally coupling the input means and output means;
• connecting means mounted rotatably, coaxially and in frictional engagement with the intermediate means, the connecting means being for mounting the output means in engagement with the intermediate means so that the axis of rotation of the output means can rotate about the axis of rotation of the intermediate means, and the connecting means having an engaging means;
• and
• locking means engaged with the intermediate means, the locking means being for positioning the engaging means of the connecting means, and therefore the connecting means, in a first position when the selective engagement means is in the engaged configuration, and a second position when the selective engagement means is in the disengaged configuration.