Patent ID: 6493937
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: B41J,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an ink-jet hard copy apparatus comprising the steps of:fabricating an ink-jet hard copy engine having transporting mechanisms interfacing with and moving ink-jet printing mechanisms, said engine having no ink-jet wet components therein; fabricating a plurality of unitary, swappable, ink-jet writing engines containing all ink-jet wet components including (1) at least one of said ink-jet printing mechanisms, including a plurality of ink-jetting nozzles, (2) at least one servicing mechanism maintaining functional integrity of the ink-jet printing mechanisms, including at least one cap for capping nozzles, at least one waste-ink receptacle for receiving and removing waste-ink, and at least one wiper for wiping the nozzles, (3) at least one predetermined ink, (4) at least one ink container containing a predetermined quantity of said at least one predetermined ink, (5) at least one delivering mechanism delivering said ink from said container to said ink-jet printing mechanism, (6) at least one electrical connector for power and control signals to said writing engine, and (7) a housing holding therein said ink-jet printing mechanism, servicing mechanism, ink, ink container, delivering mechanism, and electrical connector in a respective operational configuration as a unitary, selectively replaceable unit; and, equipping the hard copy engine and the writing engines for replaceably interfacing the unitary, swappable, ink-jet writing engines with the hard copy engine such that the hard copy engine is reusable with a plurality of writing engines.