| US 7,524,016 B2 | ||
| Cartridge unit having negatively pressurized ink storage | ||
| Kia Silverbrook, Balmain (Australia); Akira Nakazawa, Balmain (Australia); Christopher Hibbard, Balmain (Australia); Paul Ian Mackey, Balmain (Australia); Norman Micheal Berry, Balmain (Australia); and Garry Raymond Jackson, Balmain (Australia) | ||
| Assigned to Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd, Balmain, New South Wales (Australia) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 20, 2004, as Appl. No. 11/14,769. | ||
| Application 11/014769 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/760254, filed on Jan. 21, 2004, granted, now 7,448,734. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0157040 A1, Jul. 21, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. B41J 2/165 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 347—29 [347/86] | 14 Claims |
| 1. A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer, the cartridge unit comprising:
a printhead assembly having an array of ink ejection nozzles;
an ink storage compartment sealed from atmosphere, the ink storage compartment having a variable storage volume and a displaceable
wall section biased to expand the variable storage volume to generate a sustained negative pressure, whereby an ink pressure
at the array of ink ejection nozzles is reduced;
an ink feed system for connecting the ink storage compartment to the printhead assembly; and,
a printhead maintenance assembly, the printhead maintenance assembly having a capper spring biased against the array of ink
ejection nozzles for covering the array of ink ejection nozzles, wherein,
the printhead maintenance assembly includes a catch element engaged with an actuator, the catch element being movable by the
actuator in a direction to counteract the biasing of the capper against the array of ink ejection nozzles.
|