# Patent

## Title
Media cartridge for inkjet printhead

## Abstract

A media cartridge for an inkjet printhead that has a roll of media substrate wrapped around a tubular core that stores a supply of ink. The ink outlets are at the end of the core and the drive gear for the drive roller is adjacent the end of the core. Providing the media in a roll allows the cartridge to be small and compact. The hollow core holds a relatively large amount of ink and the ink outlets and drive roller at one end of the cartridge allows the cartridge to be installed with a convenient single action.

## Background
This is a Continuation-In-Part of Ser. No. 09/112,743 filed Jul. 10, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,951.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to digital cameras and in particular, the onboard processing of image data captured by the camera.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilising a charge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on an electronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer system for subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilising a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may available to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements.
Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of a captured image and normally present the image in an orientation to which it was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image. Also, much of the environmental information available when the picture was taken is lost. Furthermore, the type or size of the media substrate and the types of ink used to print the image can also affect the image quality. Accounting for these factors during post processing of the captured image data can be complex and time consuming.
The present Applicant addresses these issues with a digital camera having an image processor takes account of the lighting conditions at the time of image capture, and confirms the type of ink and media, in order to enhance the quality of the printed image. This camera is described below and in many of the cross referenced documents incorporated herein by reference.
One particular feature of this camera is the instant production of personalised postcards using an inbuilt printhead. This requires a media cartridge that holds a reasonable amount of print media while remaining compact enough to keep the overall dimensions of the camera and cartridge acceptable to users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a media cartridge for supplying print media to a printhead, the cartridge comprising:
a roll of print media;
a casing with a rotatable core for supporting the media roll;
an ink supply within the core;
at least one ink outlet at one end of the core for establishing fluid communication between the ink supply and the printhead;
a drive roller assembly for engaging an external drive to feed the print media to the printhead; wherein,
the longitudinal axes of the core, and rollers of the drive roller assembly are parallel.
A media cartridge adopting this design is particularly compact, has a high media and ink capacity and relatively cost effective to manufacture. The majority of the components can be made from injection molded plastics and snap fitted together.
In some embodiments, the core is segmented with different coloured inks stored in each of the segments, wherein each of the segments has a respective ink outlet in the end of the core.
Preferably, the drive roller assembly comprises at least one media de-curling roller; such that,
as the media is fed to the printhead, it wraps around a portion of the at least one de-curling roller to remove residual curl caused by storage as a roll.
Providing the media in a roll allows the cartridge to be small and compact. However, the curl imparted to the media from being stored as a roll can interfere with printing when the media substrate passes the printhead. Using a de-curling roller within the drive rollers can straighten the media enough for flat engagement with the platen opposite the printhead.
The invention will be described with respect to its use with a digital camera with an inbuilt printhead. However, it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative and the invention has clear application in many other fields.
Preferably, the cartridge has one de-curling roller and two pinch rollers, wherein the pinch rollers maintain the media substrate wrapped around the required portion of the de-curling roller. In a further preferred form, one of the pinch rollers is driven. In some forms, the driven pinch roller has a geared axle that extends beyond the casing for engagement with an external drive source via a corresponding gear.
Preferably, and an outer cover enclosing the roll and the drive roller assembly, the outer cover comprising two interengaging side moldings that snap lock together to form a media outlet slot adjacent the drive roller assembly. Preferably, one side of the slot has a resilient guide extending away from the slot for resilient engagement with a paper path leading to the printhead upon installation of the cartridge. In particular embodiments, the printhead is controlled by an image processor and the cartridge further comprises an authentication chip for confirming the suitability of the ink and the media to the image processor.
In a particularly preferred form, the cartridge is configured for engagement with a cartridge interface such that the ink outlets establish fluid communication with the printhead, the image processor accesses the authentication chip, the geared axle of the drive roller engages the external drive and the resilient guide extending from the outlet slot engages the paper feed path, in a single installation action.
According to a related aspect, there is provided a digital camera for use with a media cartridge comprising a supply of media substrate on which images can be printed, and an information store with information relating to the media substrate, the camera comprising:
an image sensor for capturing an image;
an image processor for processing image data from the image sensor and transmitting processed data to a printhead; and,
a cartridge interface for accessing the information such that the image processor can utilise the information relating to the media substrate.
The camera accesses information about the media substrate so that the image processor can utilise the information to enhance the quality of the printed image.
Preferably, the media substrate has postcard formatting printed on its reverse surface so that the camera can produce personalised postcards, and the information store has the dimensions of the postcard formatting to allow the image processor to align printed images with the postcard formatting.
In a further preferred form the cartridge further comprises an ink supply for the printhead and the information store is an authentication chip that allows the image processor to confirm that the media substrate and the ink supply is suitable for use with the camera.
According to a related aspect, there is provided a digital camera for sensing and storing an image, the camera comprising:
an image sensor with a charge coupled device (CCD) for capturing image data relating to a sensed image, and an auto exposure setting for adjusting the image data captured by the CCD in response to the lighting conditions at image capture; and,
an image processor for processing image data from the CCD and storing the processed data; wherein,
the image processor is adapted to use information from the auto exposure setting relating to the lighting conditions at image capture when processing the image data from the CCD.
Utilising the auto exposure setting to determine an advantageous re-mapping of colours within the image allows the processor to produce an amended image having colours within an image transformed to account of the auto exposure setting. The processing can comprise re-mapping image colours so they appear deeper and richer when the exposure setting indicates low light conditions and re-mapping image colours to be brighter and more saturated when the auto exposure setting indicates bright light conditions.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which:
FIG. 1 illustrates the method of operation of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 illustrates a form of print roll ready for purchase by a consumer;
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view, partly in section, of an alternative form of a print roll;
FIG. 4 is a left side exploded perspective view of the print roll of FIG. 3; and,
FIG. 5 is a right side exploded perspective view of a single print roll.



DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiment is preferable implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the present applicant's application entitled “A Digital Image Printing Camera with Image Processing Capability”, the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables below.
The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device leading to the production of various effects in any output image. The manipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can be implemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards having encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, the cards hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage of important data and images.
In the preferred embodiment, the Artcam has an auto exposure sensor for determining the light level associated with the captured image. This auto exposure sensor is utilised to process the image in accordance with the set light value so as to enhance portions of the image.
Preferably, the area image sensor includes a means for determining the light conditions when capturing an image. The area image sensor adjusts the dynamic range of values captured by the CCD in accordance with the detected level sensor. The captured image is transferred to the Artcam central processor and stored in the memory store. Intensity information, as determined by the area image sensor, is also forwarded to the ACP. This information is utilised by the Artcam central processor to manipulate the stored image to enhance certain effects.
Turning now to FIG. 1, the auto exposure setting information 1 is utilised in conjunction with the stored image 2 to process the image by utilising the ACP. The processed image is returned to the memory store for later printing out 4 on the output printer.
A number of processing steps can be undertaken in accordance with the determined light conditions. Where the auto exposure setting 1 indicates that the image was taken in a low light condition, the image pixel colours are selectively re-mapped so as to make the image colours stronger, deeper and richer.
Where the auto exposure information indicates that highlight conditions were present when the image was taken, the image colours can be processed to make them brighter and more saturated. The re-colouring of the image can be undertaken by conversion of the image to a hue-saturation-value (HSV) format and an alteration of pixel values in accordance with requirements. The pixel values can then be output converted to the required output colour format of printing.
Of course, many different re-colouring techniques may be utilised. Preferably, the techniques are clearly illustrated on the pre-requisite Artcard inserted into the reader. Alternatively, the image processing algorithms can be automatically applied and hard-wired into the camera for utilization in certain conditions.
Alternatively, the Artcard inserted could have a number of manipulations applied to the image which are specific to the auto-exposure setting. For example, clip arts containing candles etc could be inserted in a dark image and large suns inserted in bright images.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5, the Artcam prints the images onto media stored in a replaceable print roll 5. In some preferred embodiments, the operation of the camera device is such that when a series of images is printed on a first surface of the print roll, the corresponding backing surface has a ready made postcard which can be immediately dispatched at the nearest post office box within the jurisdiction. In this way, personalized postcards can be created.
It would be evident that when utilising the postcard system as illustrated FIG. 2 only predetermined image sizes are possible as the synchronization between the backing postcard portion and the front image must be maintained. This can be achieved by utilising the memory portions of the authentication chip stored within the print roll 5 to store details of the length of each postcard backing format sheet. This can be achieved by either having each postcard the same size or by storing each size within the print rolls on-board print chip memory.
In an alternative embodiment, there is provided a modified form of print roll which can be constructed mostly from injection moulded plastic pieces suitably snapped fitted together. The modified form of print roll has a high ink storage capacity in addition to a somewhat simplified construction. The print media onto which the image is to be printed is wrapped around a plastic sleeve former for simplified construction. The ink media reservoir has a series of air vents which are constructed so as to minimise the opportunities for the ink flow out of the air vents. Further, a rubber seal is provided for the ink outlet holes with the rubber seal being pierced on insertion of the print roll into a camera system. Further, the print roll includes a print media ejection slot and the ejection slot includes a surrounding moulded surface which provides and assists in the accurate positioning of the print media ejection slot relative to the printhead within the printing or camera system.
Turning to FIG. 3 there is illustrated a single point roll unit 5 in an assembled form with a partial cutaway showing internal portions of the print roll. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate left and right side exploded perspective views respectively. The print roll 5 is constructed around the internal core portion 6 which contains an internal ink supply. Outside of the core portion 6 is provided a former 7 around which is wrapped a paper or film supply 8. Around the paper supply it is constructed two cover pieces 9, 10 which snap together around the print roll so as to form a covering unit as illustrated in FIG. 3. The bottom cover piece 10 includes a slot 11 through which the output of the print media 12 for interconnection with the camera system.
Two pinch rollers 13, 14 are provided to pinch the paper against a drive pinch roller 15 so they together provide for a decurling of the paper around the roller 15. The decurling acts to negate the strong curl that may be imparted to the paper from being stored in the form of print roll for an extended period of time. The rollers 13, 14 are provided to form a snap fit with end portions of the cover base portion 10 and the roller 15 which includes a cogged end 16 for driving, snap fits into the upper cover piece 9 so as to pinch the paper 12 firmly between.
The cover pieces 9, 10 includes an end protuberance or lip 17. The end lip 17 is provided for accurate alignment of the exit hole of the paper with a corresponding printing heat platen structure within the camera system. In this way, accurate alignment or positioning of the exiting paper relative to an adjacent printhead is provided for full guidance of the paper to the printhead.
It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
The present invention is best utilized in the Artcam device, the details of which are set out in the following paragraphs.
Ink Jet Technologies
The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.
The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.
The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewide print heads with 19,200 nozzles.
Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include:
low power (less than 10 Watts)
high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)
photographic quality output
low manufacturing cost
small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)
high speed (<2 seconds per page).
All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. 45 different inkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table below.
The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.
Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.
Cross-Referenced Applications
The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case:












Docket




No.
Reference
Title







IJ01US
IJ01
Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer


IJ02US
IJ02
Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer


IJ03US
IJ03
Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet


IJ04US
IJ04
Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer


IJ05US
IJ05
Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer


IJ06US
IJ06
Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer


IJ07US
IJ07
Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink




Jet Printer


IJ08US
IJ08
Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink




Jet Printer


IJ09US
IJ09
Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer


IJ10US
IJ10
Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer


IJ11US
IJ11
Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic




Ink Jet Printer


IJ12US
IJ12
Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer


IJ13US
IJ13
Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer


IJ14US
IJ14
Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink




Jet Printer


IJ15US
IJ15
Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink




Jet Printer


IJ16US
IJ16
Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink




Jet Printer


IJ17US
IJ17
PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating




Pressure Ink Jet Printer


IJ18US
IJ18
Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink




Jet Printer


IJ19US
IJ19
Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer


IJ20US
IJ20
Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer


IJ21US
IJ21
Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer


IJ22US
IJ22
Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer


IJ23US
IJ23
Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink




Jet Printer


IJ24US
IJ24
Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink




Jet Printer


IJ25US
IJ25
Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer


IJ26US
IJ26
Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer


IJ27US
IJ27
Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer


IJ28US
IJ28
Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer


IJ29US
IJ29
Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer


IJ30US
IJ30
Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE




and Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer


IJ31US
IJ31
Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink




Jet Printer


IJ32US
IJ32
A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink




Jet Printer


IJ33US
IJ33
Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink




jet printer


IJ34US
IJ34
Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator




comprising an external coiled spring


IJ35US
IJ35
Trough Container Ink Jet Printer


IJ36US
IJ36
Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet


IJ37US
IJ37
Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum




Actuator Ink Jet


IJ38US
IJ38
Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet


IJ39US
IJ39
A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink




jet printing device


IJ40US
IJ40
A thermally actuated ink jet printer having




a series of thermal actuator units


IJ41US
IJ41
A thermally actuated ink jet printer




including a tapered heater element


IJ42US
IJ42
Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet


IJ43US
IJ43
Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic




Ink Jet


IJ44US
IJ44
Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink




jet printer


IJ45US
IJ45
Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer









Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee.
The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.















Actuator mechanism (18 types)



Basic operation mode (7 types)



Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)



Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)



Actuator motion (19 types)



Nozzle refill method (4 types)



Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)



Nozzle clearing method (9 types)



Nozzle plate construction (9 types)



Drop ejection direction (5 types)



Ink type (7 types)










The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above.
Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these 45 examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology.
Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a printer may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.
Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.
The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.










ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)











Actuator






Mechanism
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Thermal bubble
An electrothermal heater
Large force generated
High power
Canon Bubblejet 1979



heats the ink to
Simple construction
Ink carrier limited
Endo et al GB patent



above boiling point,
No moving parts
to water
2,007,162



transferring significant
Fast operation
Low efficiency
Xerox heater-in-pit 1990



heat to the aqueous ink.
Small chip area required for
High temperatures
Hawkins et al U.S. Pat. No.



A bubble nucleates and
actuator
required
4,899,181



quickly forms, expelling

High mechanical
Hewlett-Packard TIJ



the ink. The efficiency

stress
1982 Vaught et al



of the process is low,

Unusual materials
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728



with typically less than

required



0.05% of the electrical

Large drive



energy being transformed

transistors



into kinetic energy of

Cavitation causes



the drop.

actuator failure





Kogation reduces





bubble formation





Large print heads





are difficult to





fabricate


Piezoelectric
A piezoelectric
Low power consumption
Very large area
Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No.



crystal such as lead
Many ink types can be used
required for
3,946,398



lanthanum zirconate
Fast operation
actuator
Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212



(PZT) is electrically
High efficiency
Difficult to
1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No.



activated, and either

integrate with
3,747,120



expands, shears, or

electronics
Epson Stylus



bends to apply pressure

High voltage drive
Tektronix



to the ink, ejecting

transistors required
IJ04



drops.

Full pagewidth print





heads impractical due





to actuator size





Requires electrical





poling in high field





strengths during





manufacture


Electro-strictive
An electric field is
Low power consumption
Low maximum strain
Seiko Epson, Usui et all



used to activate
Many ink types can be used
(approx. 0.01%)
JP 253401/96



electrostriction in
Low thermal expansion
Large area required
IJ04



relaxor materials such
Electric field strength required
for actuator due to



as lead lanthanum
(approx. 3.5 V/μm) can be
low strain



zirconate titanate
generated without difficulty
Response speed is



(PLZT) or lead
Does not require electrical
marginal ( ̃10 μs)



magnesium niobate
poling
High voltage drive



(PMN).

transistors required





Full pagewidth print





heads impractical due





to actuator size


Ferroelectric
An electric field is
Low power consumption
Difficult to
IJ04



used to induce a
Many ink types can be used
integrate with



phase transition
Fast operation (<1 μs)
electronics



between the
Relatively high longitudinal
Unusual materials



antiferroelectric
strain
such as PLZSnT are



(AFE) and ferroelectric
High efficiency
required



(FE) phase. Perovskite
Electric field strength of around
Actuators require



materials such as
3 V/μm can be readily
a large area



tin modified lead
provided



lanthanum zirconate



titanate (PLZSnT)



exhibit large strains



of up to 1% associated



with the AFE to FE



phase transition.


Electrostatic
Conductive plates are
Low power consumption
Difficult to operate
IJ02, IJ04


plates
separated by a
Many ink types can be used
electrostatic devices



compressible or fluid
Fast operation
in an aqueous



dielectric (usually

environment



air). Upon application

The electrostatic



of a voltage, the

actuator will normally



plates attract each

need to be separated



other and displace ink,

from the ink



causing drop ejection.

Very large area



The conductive plates

required to achieve



may be in a comb or

high forces



honeycomb structure, or

High voltage drive



stacked to increase the

transistors may be



surface area and

required



therefore the force.

Full pagewidth print





heads are not





competitive due to





actuator size


Electrostatic pull
A strong electric field
Low current consumption
High voltage required
1989 Saito et al, U.S. Pat. No.


on ink
is applied to the
Low temperature
May be damaged by
4,799,068



ink, whereupon

sparks due to air
1989 Miura et al, U.S. Pat. No.



electrostatic attraction

breakdown
4,810,954



accelerates the ink

Required field
Tone-jet



towards the print

strength increases



medium.

as the drop





size decreases





High voltage drive





transistors required





Electrostatic field





attracts dust


Permanent
An electromagnet
Low power consumption
Complex fabrication
IJ07, IJ10


magnet electro-
directly attracts a
Many ink types can be used
Permanent magnetic


magnetic
permanent magnet,
Fast operation
material such as



displacing ink and
High efficiency
Neodymium Iron Boron



causing drop ejection.
Easy extension from single
(NdFeB) required.



Rare earth magnets
nozzles to pagewidth print
High local currents



with a field strength
heads
required



around 1 Tesla can be

Copper metalization



used. Examples are:

should be used for



Samarium Cobalt

long electromigration



(SaCo) and magnetic

lifetime and low



materials in the

resistivity



neodymium iron boron

Pigmented inks are



family (NdFeB,

usually infeasible



NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB, etc)

Operating temperature





limited to the Curie





temperature (around





540 K)


Soft magnetic core
A solenoid induced a
Low power consumption
Complex fabrication
IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10


electro-magnetic
magnetic field in a
Many ink types can be used
Materials not usually
IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17



soft magnetic core or
Fast operation
present in a CMOS fab



yoke fabricated from a
High efficiency
such as NiFe, CoNiFe,



ferrous material such as
Easy extension from single
or CoFe are



electroplated iron
nozzles to pagewidth print
required



alloys such as CoNiFe
heads
High local currents



[1], CoFe, or NiFe

required



alloys. Typically, the

Copper metalization



soft magnetic material

should be used for



is in two parts,

long electromigration



which are normally held

lifetime and low



apart by a spring. When

resistivity



the solenoid is actuated,

Electroplating is



the two parts attract,

required



displacing the ink.

High saturation flux





density is required





(2.0-2.1 T is





achievable with





CoNiFe [1])


Magnetic
The Lorenz force acting
Low power consumption
Force acts as a
IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16


Lorenz force
on a current carrying
Many ink types can be used
twisting motion



wire in a magnetic field
Fast operation
Typically, only a



is utilized.
High efficiency
quarter of the sole-



This allows the
Easy extension from single
noid length provides



magnetic field to be
nozzles to pagewidth print
force in a useful



supplied externally to
heads
direction



the print head, for

High local currents



example with rare earth

required



permanent magnets.

Copper metalization



Only the current

should be used for



carrying wire need be

long electromigration



fabricated on the print-

lifetime and low



head, simplifying

resistivity



materials requirements.

Pigmented inks are





usually infeasible


Magneto-striction
The actuator uses the
Many ink types can be used
Force acts as a
Fischenbeck, U.S. Pat. No.



giant magnetostrictive
Fast operation
twisting motion
4,032,929



effect of materials such
Easy extension from single
Unusual materials
IJ25



as Terfenol-D (an
nozzles to pagewidth print
such as Terfenol-D



alloy of terbium,
heads
are required



dysprosium and iron
High force is available
High local currents



developed at the

required



Naval Ordnance

Copper metalization



Laboratory, hence Ter-

should be used for



Fe-NOL). For best

long electromigration



efficiency, the

lifetime and low



actuator should be

resistivity



pre-stressed to

Pre-stressing may



approx. 8 MPa.

be required


Surface tension
Ink under positive
Low power consumption
Requires supplementary
Silverbrook, EP 0771


reduction
pressure is held in
Simple construction
force to effect drop
658 A2 and related



a nozzle by surface
No unusual materials required
separation
patent applications



tension. The surface
in fabrication
Requires special ink



tension of the ink is
High efficiency
surfactants



reduced below the
Easy extension from single
Speed may be limited



bubble threshold,
nozzles to pagewidth print
by surfactant



causing the ink to
heads
properties



egress from the nozzle.


Viscosity
The ink viscosity is
Simple construction
Requires supplementary
Silverbrook, EP 0771


reduction
locally reduced to
No unusual materials required
force to effect drop
658 A2 and related



select which drops
in fabrication
separation
patent applications



are to be ejected. A
Easy extension from single
Requires special ink



viscosity reduction
nozzles to pagewidth print
viscosity properties



can be achieved
heads
High speed is



electrothermally with

difficult to achieve



most inks, but

Requires oscillating



special inks can be

ink pressure



engineered for a 100:1

A high temperature



viscosity reduction.

difference (typically





80 degrees) is required


Acoustic
An acoustic wave is
Can operate without a nozzle
Complex drive circuitry
1993 Hadimioglu et al,



generated and
plate
Complex fabrication
EUP 550,192



focussed upon the

Low efficiency
1993 Elrod et al, EUP



drop ejection region.

Poor control of drop
572,220





position





Poor control of drop





volume


Thermoelastic
An actuator which
Low power consumption
Efficient aqueous
IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18


bend actuator
relies upon
Many ink types can be used
operation requires
IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22



differential thermal
Simple planar fabrication
a thermal insulator
IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28



expansion upon
Small chip area required for
on the hot side
IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32



Joule heating is used.
each actuator
Corrosion prevention
IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36




Fast operation
can be difficult
IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40




High efficiency
Pigmented inks may
IJ41




CMOS compatible voltages and
be infeasible, as




currents
pigment particles




Standard MEMS processes can
may jam the bend




be used
actuator




Easy extension from single




nozzles to pagewidth print




heads


High CTE
A material with a very
High force can be generated
Requires special
IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20


thermoelastic
high coefficient of
PTFE is a candidate for low
material (e.g. PTFE)
IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24


actuator
thermal expansion (CTE)
dielectric constant insulation
Requires a PTFE
IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30



such as
in ULSI
deposition process,
IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44



polytetrafluoroethylene
Very low power consumption
which is not yet



(PTFE) is used.
Many ink types can be used
standard in ULSI fabs



As high CTE materials
Simple planar fabrication
PTFE deposition



are usually non-
Small chip area required for
cannot be followed



conductive, a heater
each actuator
with high temperature



fabricated from a
Fast operation
(above 350° C.)



conductive material
High efficiency
processing



is incorporated. A 50
CMOS compatible voltages and
Pigmented inks may



μm long PTFE bend
currents
be infeasible, as



actuator with
Easy extension from single
pigment particles



polysilicon heater
nozzles to pagewidth print
may jam the bend



and 15 mW power
heads
actuator



input can provide 180



μN force and 10



μm deflection.



Actuator motions include:



1) Bend



2) Push



3) Buckle



4) Rotate


Conductive
A polymer with a
High force can be generated
Requires special
IJ24


polymer
high coefficient of
Very low power consumption
materials development


thermoelastic
thermal expansion
Many ink types can be used
(High CTE conductive


actuator
(such as PTFE) is
Simple planar fabrication
polymer)



doped with conducting
Small chip area required for
Requires a PTFE



substances to
each actuator
deposition process,



increase its
Fast operation
which is not yet



conductivity to about
High efficiency
standard in ULSI fabs



3 orders of magnitude
CMOS compatible voltages and
PTFE deposition cannot



below that of
currents
be followed with high



copper. The conducting
Easy extension from single
temperature (above



polymer expands
nozzles to pagewidth print
350° C.) processing



when resistively heated.
heads
Evaporation and CVD



Examples of conducting

deposition techniques



dopants include:

cannot be used



1) Carbon nanotubes

Pigmented inks may



2) Metal fibers

be infeasible, as



3) Conductive polymers

pigment particles



such as doped

may jam the bend



polythiophene

actuator



4) Carbon granules


Shape memory
A shape memory alloy
High force is available (stresses
Fatigue limits
IJ26


alloy
such as TiNi (also
of hundreds of MPa)
maximum number of



known as Nitinol -
Large strain is available (more
cycles



Nickel Titanium alloy
than 3%)
Low strain (1%) is



developed at the
High corrosion resistance
required to extend



Naval Ordnance
Simple construction
fatigue resistance



Laboratory) is
Easy extension from single
Cycle rate limited



thermally switched
nozzles to pagewidth print
by heat removal



between its weak
heads
Requires unusual



martensitic state and
Low voltage operation
materials (TiNi)



its high stiffness

The latent heat of



austenic state. The

transformation must



shape of the actuator

be provided



in its martensitic

High current operation



state is deformed

Requires pre-stressing



relative to the

to distort the



austenic shape.

martensitic state



The shape change



causes ejection



of a drop.


Linear Magnetic
Linear magnetic
Linear Magnetic actuators can
Requires unusual semi-
IJ12


Actuator
actuators include the
be constructed with high
conductor materials



Linear Induction
thrust, long travel, and high
such as soft magnetic



Actuator (LIA), Linear
efficiency using planar
alloys (e.g. CoNiFe



Permanent Magnet
semiconductor fabrication
[1])



Synchronous Actuator
techniques
Some varieties also



(LPMSA), Linear
Long actuator travel is available
require permanent



Reluctance Synchronous
Medium force is available
magnetic materials



Actuator (LRSA), Linear
Low voltage operation
such as Neodymium



Switched Reluctance

iron boron (NdFeB)



Actuator (LSRA),

Requires complex



and the Linear Stepper

multi-phase drive



Actuator (LSA).

circuitry





High current operation



















BASIC OPERATION MODE











Operational mode
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Actuator directly
This is the simplest
Simple operation
Drop repetition rate is usually limited to less
Thermal inkjet


pushes ink
mode of operation:
No external fields required
than 10 KHz. However, this is not
Piezoelectric inkjet



the actuator directly
Satellite drops can be avoided if
fundamental to the method, but is related
IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04



supplies sufficient
drop velocity is less than 4
to the refill method normally used
IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09



kinetic energy to
m/s
All of the drop kinetic energy must be
IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16



expel the drop. The
Can be efficient, depending
provided by the actuator
IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24



drop must have a
upon the actuator used
Satellite drops usually form if drop velocity
IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28



sufficient velocity

is greater than 4.5 m/s
IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32



to overcome the


IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36



surface tension.


IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40






IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44


Proximity
The drops to be
Very simple print head
Requires close proximity between the print
Silverbrook, EP 0771



printed are selected
fabrication can be used
head and the print media or transfer roller
658 A2 and related



by some manner (e.g.
The drop selection means does
May require two print heads printing
patent applications



thermally induced
not need to provide the
alternate rows of the image



surface tension
energy required to separate
Monolithic color print heads are difficult



reduction of pressur-
the drop from the nozzle



ized ink). Selected



drops are separated



from the ink in the



nozzle by contact with



the print medium or



a transfer roller.


Electrostatic pull
The drops to be printed
Very simple print head
Requires very high electrostatic field
Silverbrook, EP 0771


on ink
are selected by
fabrication can be used
Electrostatic field for small nozzle sizes is
658 A2 and related



some manner (e.g.
The drop selection means does
above air breakdown
patent applications



thermally induced
not need to provide the
Electrostatic field may attract dust
Tone-Jet



surface tension
energy required to separate



reduction of pressur-
the drop from the nozzle



ized ink). Selected



drops are separated



from the ink in the



nozzle by a strong



electric field.


Magnetic pull on
The drops to be
Very simple print head
Requires magnetic ink
Silverbrook, EP 0771


ink
printed are selected
fabrication can be used
Ink colors other than black are difficult
658 A2 and related



by some manner (e.g.
The drop selection means does
Requires very high magnetic fields
patent applications



thermally induced
not need to provide the



surface tension
energy required to separate



reduction of pressur-
the drop from the nozzle



ized ink). Selected



drops are separated



from the ink in the



nozzle by a strong



magnetic field acting



on the magnetic ink.


Shutter
The actuator moves a
High speed (>50 KHz)
Moving parts are required
IJ13, IJ17, IJ21



shutter to block ink
operation can be achieved
Requires ink pressure modulator



flow to the nozzle.
due to reduced refill time
Friction and wear must be considered



The ink pressure is
Drop timing can be very
Stiction is possible



pulsed at a multiple
accurate



of the drop ejection
The actuator energy can be



frequency.
very low


Shuttered grill
The actuator moves a
Actuators with small travel can
Moving parts are required
IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19



shutter to block ink
be used
Requires ink pressure modulator



flow through a grill
Actuators with small force can
Friction and wear must be considered



to the nozzle. The
be used
Stiction is possible



shutter movement need
High speed (>50 KHz)



only be equal to
operation can be achieved



the width of the



grill holes.


Pulsed magnetic
A pulsed magnetic
Extremely low energy operation
Requires an external pulsed magnetic field
IJ10


pull on ink pusher
field attracts an ‘ink
is possible
Requires special materials for both the



pusher’ at the drop
No heat dissipation problems
actuator and the ink pusher



ejection frequency.

Complex construction



An actuator controls



a catch, which



prevents the ink



pusher from moving



when a drop is not



to be ejected.



















AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)











Auxiliary






Mechanism
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





None
The actuator directly
Simplicity of construction
Drop ejection energy must be supplied
Most inkjets, including



fires the ink drop,
Simplicity of operation
by individual nozzle actuator
piezoelectric and



and there is no
Small physical size

thermal bubble.



external field or other


IJ01-IJ07, IJ09, IJ11



mechanism required.


IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22






IJ23-IJ45


Oscillating ink
The ink pressure
Oscillating ink pressure can
Requires external ink pressure oscillator
Silverbrook, EP 0771


pressure
oscillates, providing
provide a refill pulse,
Ink pressure phase and amplitude must
658 A2 and related


(including
much of the drop
allowing higher operating
be carefully controlled
patent applications


acoustic
ejection energy. The
speed
Acoustic reflections in the ink chamber
IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17


stimulation)
actuator selects
The actuators may operate with
must be designed for
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



which drops are to be
much lower energy



fired by selectively
Acoustic lenses can be used to



blocking or enabling
focus the sound on the



nozzles. The ink
nozzles



pressure oscillation



may be achieved by



vibrating the print



head, or preferably



by an actuator in



the ink supply.


Media proximity
The print head is
Low power
Precision assembly required
Silverbrook, EP 0771



placed in close
High accuracy
Paper fibers may cause problems
658 A2 and related



proximity to the
Simple print head construction
Cannot print on rough substrates
patent applications



print medium. Selected



drops protrude from



the print head further



than unselected drops,



and contact the print



medium. The drop soaks



into the medium fast



enough to cause



drop separation.


Transfer roller
Drops are printed to
High accuracy
Bulky
Silverbrook, EP 0771



a transfer roller
Wide range of print substrates
Expensive
658 A2 and related



instead of straight
can be used
Complex construction
patent applications



to the print medium.
Ink can be dried on the transfer

Tektronix hot melt



A transfer roller
roller

piezoelectric inkjet



can also be used for


Any of the IJ series



proximity drop



separation.


Electrostatic
An electric field is
Low power
Field strength required for separation
Silverbrook, EP 0771



used to accelerate
Simple print head construction
of small drops is near or above air
658 A2 and related



selected drops towards

breakdown
patent applications



the print medium.


Tone-Jet


Direct magnetic
A magnetic field is
Low power
Requires magnetic ink
Silverbrook, EP 0771


field
used to accelerate
Simple print head construction
Requires strong magnetic field
658 A2 and related



selected drops of


patent applications



magnetic ink towards



the print medium.


Cross magnetic
The print head is
Does not require magnetic
Requires external magnet
IJ06, IJ16


field
placed in a constant
materials to be integrated in
Current densities may be high, resulting



magnetic field. The
the print head manufacturing
in electromigration problems



Lorenz force in a
process



current carrying wire



is used to move the



actuator.


Pulsed magnetic
A pulsed magnetic
Very low power operation is
Complex print head construction
IJ10


field
field is used to
possible
Magnetic materials required in print head



cyclically attract a
Small print head size



paddle, which pushes



on the ink. A small



actuator moves a



catch, which



selectively prevents



the paddle from moving.



















ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD











Actuator






amplification
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





None
No actuator mechanical
Operational simplicity
Many actuator mechanisms have insuf-
Thermal Bubble InkJet



amplification is

ficient travel, or insufficient force,
IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, IJ07



used. The actuator

to efficiently drive the drop ejection
IJ16, IJ25, IJ26



directly drives the

process



drop ejection process.


Differential
An actuator material
Provides greater travel in a
High stresses are involved
Piezoelectric


expansion bend
expands more on
reduced print head area
Care must be taken that the materials
IJ03, IJ09, IJ17-IJ24


actuator
one side than on
The bend actuator converts a
do not delaminate
IJ27 IJ29-IJ39, IJ42,



the other. The
high force low travel actuator
Residual bend resulting from high
IJ43, IJ44



expansion may be
mechanism to high travel,
temperature or high stress during



thermal, piezoelectric,
lower force mechanism.
formation



magnetostrictive, or



other mechanism.


Transient bend
A trilayer bend
Very good temperature stability
High stresses are involved
IJ40, IJ41


actuator
actuator where the two
High speed, as a new drop can
Care must be taken that the materials



outside layers are
be fired before heat dissipates
do not delaminate



identical. This cancels
Cancels residual stress of



bend due to ambient
formation



temperature and



residual stress.



The actuator only



responds to transient



heating of one side



or the other.


Actuator stack
A series of thin
Increased travel
Increased fabrication complexity
Some piezoelectric ink



actuators are stacked.
Reduced drive voltage
Increased possibility of short circuits
jets



This can be

due to pinholes
IJ04



appropriate where



actuators require high



electric field



strength, such as



electrostatic and



piezoelectric



actuators.


Multiple actuators
Multiple smaller
Increases the force available
Actuator forces may not add linearly,
IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, IJ20



actuators are used
from an actuator
reducing efficiency
IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, IJ43



simultaneously to
Multiple actuators can be



move the ink. Each
positioned to control ink flow



actuator need
accurately



provide only a portion



of the force required.


Linear Spring
A linear spring is
Matches low travel actuator
Requires print head area for the spring
IJ15



used to transform a
with higher travel



motion with small
requirements



travel and high force
Non-contact method of motion



into a longer travel,
transformation



lower force motion.


Reverse spring
The actuator loads a
Better coupling to the ink
Fabrication complexity
IJ05, IJ11



spring. When the

High stress in the spring



actuator is turned off,



the spring releases.



This can reverse the



force/distance curve



of the actuator to



make it compatible



with the force/time



requirements of the



drop ejection.


Coiled actuator
A bend actuator is
Increases travel
Generally restricted to planar
IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35



coiled to provide
Reduces chip area
implementations due to extreme



greater travel in a
Planar implementations are
fabrication difficulty in other



reduced chip area.
relatively easy to fabricate.
orientations.


Flexure bend
A bend actuator has
Simple means of increasing
Care must be taken not to exceed the
IJ10, IJ19, IJ33


actuator
a small region near
travel of a bend actuator
elastic limit in the flexure area



the fixture point,

Stress distribution is very uneven



which flexes much

Difficult to accurately model with finite



more readily than

element analysis



the remainder of the



actuator. The



actuator flexing is



effectively converted



from an even



coiling to an angular



bend, resulting in



greater travel of



the actuator tip.


Gears
Gears can be used to
Low force, low travel actuators
Moving parts are required
IJ13



increase travel at
can be used
Several actuator cycles are required



the expense of
Can be fabricated using
More complex drive electronics



duration. Circular
standard surface MEMS
Complex construction



gears, rack and pinion,
processes
Friction, friction, and wear are possible



ratchets, and other



gearing methods can



be used.


Catch
The actuator controls
Very low actuator energy
Complex construction
IJ10



a small catch. The
Very small actuator size
Requires external force



catch either enables

Unsuitable for pigmented inks



or disables movement of



an ink pusher that is



controlled in a bulk



manner.


Buckle plate
A buckle plate can be
Very fast movement achievable
Must stay within elastic limits of the
S. Hirata et al, “An Ink-



used to change a

materials for long device life
jet Head . . . ”, Proc.



slow actuator into a

High stresses involved
IEEE MEMS, February



fast motion. It can

Generally high power requirement
1996, pp 418-423.



also convert a high


IJ18, IJ27



force, low travel



actuator into a high



travel, medium force



motion.


Tapered magnetic
A tapered magnetic
Linearizes the magnetic
Complex construction
IJ14


pole
pole can increase
force/distance curve



travel at the expense



of force.


Lever
A lever and fulcrum
Matches low travel actuator
High stress around the fulcrum
IJ32, IJ36, IJ37



is used to transform
with higher travel



a motion with small
requirements



travel and high force
Fulcrum area has no linear



into a motion with
movement, and can be used



longer travel and
for a fluid seal



lower force. The



lever can also



reverse the direction



of travel.


Rotary impeller
The actuator is
High mechanical advantage
Complex construction
IJ28



connected to a rotary
The ratio of force to travel of
Unsuitable for pigmented inks



impeller. A small
the actuator can be matched



angular deflection of
to the nozzle requirements by



the actuator results
varying the number of



in a rotation of the
impeller vanes



impeller vanes, which



push the ink against



stationary vanes and



out of the nozzle.


Acoustic lens
A refractive or
No moving parts
Large area required
1993 Hadimioglu et al,



diffractive (e.g. zone

Only relevant for acoustic ink jets
EUP 550,192



plate) acoustic lens


1993 Elrod et al, EUP



is used to concentrate


572,220



sound waves.


Sharp conductive
A sharp point is used
Simple construction
Difficult to fabricate using standard
Tone-jet


point
to concentrate an

VLSI processes for a surface ejecting



electrostatic field.

ink-jet





Only relevant for electrostatic ink





jets



















ACTUATOR MOTION











Actuator






motion
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Volume
The volume of the
Simple construction
High energy is typically required to
Hewlett-Packard


expansion
actuator changes,
in the case
achieve volume expansion. This leads to
Thermal InkJet



pushing the ink in
of thermal ink jet
thermal stress, cavitation, and kogation
Canon Bubblejet



all directions.

in thermal ink jet implementations


Linear,
The actuator moves in
Efficient coupling
High fabrication complexity may be
IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ07


normal to
a direction normal
to ink drops
required to achieve perpendicular motion
IJ11, IJ14


chip surface
to the print head
ejected normal to



surface. The nozzle
the surface



is typically in the



line of movement.


Linear,
The actuator moves
Suitable for planar
Fabrication complexity
IJ12, IJ13, IJ15, IJ33,


parallel to
parallel to the print
fabrication
Friction
IJ34, IJ35, IJ36


chip surface
head surface. Drop

Stiction



ejection may still be



normal to the surface.


Membrane push
An actuator with a
The effective
Fabrication complexity
1982 Howkins U.S. Pat. No.



high force but small
area of the
Actuator size
4,459,601



area is used to push
actuator becomes
Difficulty of integration in a VLSI



a stiff membrane that
the membrane area
process



is in contact with



the ink.


Rotary
The actuator causes
Rotary levers may
Device complexity
IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, IJ28



the rotation of some
be used to
May have friction at a pivot point



element, such a grill
increase travel



or impeller
Small chip area




requirements


Bend
The actuator bends
A very small
Requires the actuator to be made from
1970 Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No.



when energized. This
change in
at least two distinct layers, or to
3,946,398



may be due to
dimensions can
have a thermal difference across the
1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No.



differential thermal
be converted
actuator
3,747,120



expansion, piezo-
to a large

IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, IJ19



electric expansion,
motion.

IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29



magnetostriction,


IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34



or other form of


IJ35



relative dimensional



change.


Swivel
The actuator swivels
Allows operation
Inefficient coupling to the ink motion
IJ06



around a central
where the net



pivot. This motion is
linear force on



suitable where there
the paddle is



are opposite forces
zero



applied to opposite
Small chip area



sides of the paddle,
requirements



e.g. Lorenz force.


Straighten
The actuator is
Can be used
Requires careful balance of stresses to
IJ26, IJ32



normally bent, and
with shape
ensure that the quiescent bend is



straightens when
memory alloys
accurate



energized.
where the




austenic phase




is planar


Double bend
The actuator bends in
One actuator can
Difficult to make the drops ejected by
IJ36, IJ37, IJ38



one direction when one
be used to power
both bend directions identical.



element is energized,
two nozzles.
A small efficiency loss compared to



and bends the other way
Reduced chip size.
equivalent single bend actuators.



when another element is
Not sensitive to



energized.
ambient temperature


Shear
Energizing the actuator
Can increase the
Not readily applicable to other actuator
1985 Fishbeck U.S. Pat. No.



causes a shear motion in
effective travel
mechanisms
4,584,590



the actuator material.
of piezoelectric




actuators


Radial
The actuator squeezes
Relatively easy
High force required
1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.


constriction
an ink reservoir,
to fabricate
Inefficient
3,683,212



forcing ink from a
single nozzles
Difficult to integrate with VLSI



constricted nozzle.
from glass
processes




tubing as




macroscopic




structures


Coil/uncoil
A coiled actuator
Easy to fabricate
Difficult to fabricate for non-planar
IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35



uncoils or coils more
as a planar
devices



tightly. The motion of
VLSI process
Poor out-of-plane stiffness



the free end of the
Small area



actuator ejects the ink.
required, therefore




low cost


Bow
The actuator bows (or
Can increase the
Maximum travel is constrained
IJ16, IJ18, IJ27



buckles) in the
speed of travel
High force required



middle when energized.
Mechanically rigid


Push-Pull
Two actuators control
The structure is
Not readily suitable for inkjets which
IJ18



a shutter. One
pinned at both
directly push the ink



actuator pulls the
ends, so has a



shutter, and the other
high out-of-



pushes it.
plane rigidity


Curl inwards
A set of actuators curl
Good fluid flow
Design complexity
IJ20, IJ42



inwards to reduce
to the region



the volume of ink that
behind the



they enclose.
actuator increases




efficiency


Curl outwards
A set of actuators
Relatively simple
Relatively large chip area
IJ43



curl outwards,
construction



pressurizing ink in



a chamber surrounding



the actuators, and



expelling ink from a



nozzle in the chamber.


Iris
Multiple vanes enclose
High efficiency
High fabrication complexity
IJ22



a volume of ink. These
Small chip area
Not suitable for pigmented inks



simultaneously rotate,



reducing the volume



between the vanes.


Acoustic vibration
The actuator vibrates
The actuator can
Large area required for efficient
1993 Hadimioglu et al,



at a high frequency.
be physically
operation at useful frequencies
EUP 550,192




distant from the
Acoustic coupling and crosstalk
1993 Elrod et al, EUP




ink
Complex drive circuitry
572,220





Poor control of drop volume and





position


None
In various ink jet
No moving parts
Various other tradeoffs are required
Silverbrook, EP 0771



designs the actuator

to eliminate moving parts
658 A2 and related



does not move.


patent applications






Tone-jet



















NOZZLE REFILL METHOD











Nozzle refill






method
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Surface tension
After the actuator
Fabrication simplicity
Low speed
Thermal inkjet



is energized, it
Operational simplicity
Surface tension force relatively small
Piezoelectric inkjet



typically returns

compared to actuator force
IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14



rapidly to its normal

Long refill time usually dominates the
IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45



position. This rapid

total repetition rate



return sucks in air



through the nozzle



opening. The ink



surface tension at



the nozzle then



exerts a small force



restoring the meniscus



to a minimum area.


Shuttered
Ink to the nozzle
High speed
Requires common ink pressure oscillator
IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17


oscillating ink
chamber is provided
Low actuator energy, as the
May not be suitable for pigmented inks
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21


pressure
at a pressure that
actuator need only open or



oscillates at twice
close the shutter, instead of



the drop ejection
ejecting the ink drop



frequency. When a drop



is to be ejected, the



shutter is opened for



3 half cycles: drop



ejection, actuator



return, and refill.


Refill actuator
After the main actuator
High speed, as the nozzle is
Requires two independent actuators per
IJ09



has ejected a drop a
actively refilled
nozzle



second (refill) actuator



is energized. The refill



actuator pushes ink



into the nozzle chamber.



The refill actuator



returns slowly, to



prevent its return from



emptying the chamber



again.


Positive ink
The ink is held a slight
High refill rate, therefore a
Surface spill must be prevented
Silverbrook, EP 0771


pressure
positive pressure. After
high drop repetition rate is
Highly hydrophobic print head surfaces
658 A2 and related



the ink drop is ejected,
possible
are required
patent applications



the nozzle chamber fills


Alternative for:



quickly as surface


IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14



tension and ink pressure


IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45



both operate to refill



the nozzle.



















METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET











Inlet






back-flow


restriction


method
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Long inlet
The ink inlet channel
Design simplicity
Restricts refill rate
Thermal inkjet


channel
to the nozzle chamber
Operational simplicity
May result in a relatively large chip
Piezoelectric inkjet



is made long and
Reduces crosstalk
area
IJ42, IJ43



relatively narrow,

Only partially effective



relying on viscous



drag to reduce



inlet back-flow.


Positive ink
The ink is under a
Drop selection and separation
Requires a method (such as a nozzle rim
Silverbrook, EP 0771


pressure
positive pressure,
forces can be reduced
or effective hydrophobizing, or both) to
658 A2 and related



so that in the
Fast refill time
prevent flooding of the ejection surface
patent applications



quiescent state some

of the print head.
Possible operation of the



of the ink drop already


following:



protrudes from the


IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12



nozzle. This reduces


IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22,



the pressure in the


IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ41



nozzle chamber which


IJ44



is required to eject



a certain volume of



ink. The reduction in



chamber pressure



results in a



reduction in ink



pushed out through



the inlet.


Baffle
One or more baffles
The refill rate is not as
Design complexity
HP Thermal Ink Jet



are placed in the
restricted as the long
May increase fabrication complexity
Tektronix piezoelectric



inlet ink flow. When
inlet method.
(e.g. Tektronix hot melt Piezoelectric
inkjet



the actuator is
Reduces crosstalk
print heads).



energized, the rapid



ink movement



creates eddies which



restrict the flow



through the inlet.



The slower refill



process is unre-



stricted, and does



not result in eddies.


Flexible flap
In this method
Significantly reduces back-flow
Not applicable to most inkjet config-
Canon


restricts inlet
recently disclosed by
for edge-shooter thermal ink
urations



Canon, the expanding
jet devices
Increased fabrication complexity



actuator (bubble)

Inelastic deformation of polymer flap



pushes on a flexible

results in creep over extended use



flap that restricts



the inlet.


Inlet filter
A filter is located
Additional advantage of ink
Restricts refill rate
IJ04, IJ12, IJ24, IJ27



between the ink inlet
filtration
May result in complex construction
IJ29, IJ30



and the nozzle chamber.
Ink filter may be fabricated



The filter has a
with no additional process



multitude of small
steps



holes or slots,



restricting ink flow.



The filter also



removes particles



which may block the



nozzle.


Small inlet
The ink inlet channel
Design simplicity
Restricts refill rate
IJ02, IJ37, IJ44


compared to
to the nozzle chamber

May result in a relatively large chip


nozzle
has a substantially

area



smaller cross section

Only partially effective



than that of the nozzle,



resulting in easier ink



egress out of the nozzle



than out of the inlet.


Inlet shutter
A secondary actuator
Increases speed of the ink-
Requires separate refill actuator and
IJ09



controls the position
jet print head operation
drive circuit



of a shutter, closing



off the ink inlet when



the main actuator is



energized.


The inlet is
The method avoids
Back-flow problem is
Requires careful design to minimize the
IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06


located behind
the problem of inlet
eliminated
negative pressure behind the paddle
IJ07, IJ10, IJ11, IJ14


the ink-pushing
back-flow by arrang-


IJ16, IJ22, IJ23, IJ25


surface
ing the ink-pushing


IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33



surface of the


IJ34, IJ35, IJ36, IJ39



actuator between the


IJ40, IJ41



inlet and the nozzle.


Part of the
The actuator and a
Significant reductions in back-
Small increase in fabrication complexity
IJ07, IJ20, IJ26, IJ38


actuator moves
wall of the ink
flow can be achieved


to shut off
chamber are arranged
Compact designs possible


the inlet
so that the motion



of the actuator



closes off the inlet.


Nozzle actuator
In some configura-
Ink back-flow problem is
None related to ink back-flow on
Silverbrook, EP 0771


does not result
tions of ink jet,
eliminated
actuation
658 A2 and related


in ink back-flow
there is no expan-


patent applications



sion or movement of


Valve-jet



an actuator which may


Tone-jet



cause ink back-flow


IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17



through the inlet.


IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



















NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD











Nozzle Clearing






method
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Normal nozzle
All of the nozzles are
No added complexity on the
May not be sufficient to displace dried
Most ink jet systems


firing
fired periodically,
print head
ink
IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12



before the ink has a


IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22



chance to dry. When


IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ45



not in use the nozzles



are sealed (capped)



against air.



The nozzle firing is



usually performed



during a special clear-



ing cycle, after first



moving the print head



to a cleaning station.


Extra power to
In systems which heat
Can be highly effective if the
Requires higher drive voltage for
Silverbrook, EP 0771


ink heater
the ink, but do not
heater is adjacent to the
clearing
658 A2 and related



boil it under normal
nozzle
May require larger drive transistors
patent applications



situations, nozzle



clearing can be



achieved by over-



powering the heater



and boiling ink at



the nozzle.


Rapid succession
The actuator is fired
Does not require extra drive
Effectiveness depends substantially
May be used with:


of actuator pulses
in rapid succession.
circuits on the print head
upon the configuration of the inkjet
IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ11



In some configurations,
Can be readily controlled and
nozzle
IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22



this may cause heat
initiated by digital logic

IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34



build-up at the nozzle


IJ36-IJ45



which boils the ink,



clearing the nozzle.



In other situations,



it may cause sufficient



vibrations to dislodge



clogged nozzles.


Extra power to
Where an actuator is
A simple solution where
Not suitable where there is a hard limit
May be used with:


ink pushing
not normally driven
applicable
to actuator movement
IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20


actuator
to the limit of its


IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27



motion, nozzle clearing


IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32



may be assisted by


IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42



providing an enhanced


IJ43, IJ44, IJ45



drive signal to the



actuator.


Acoustic
An ultrasonic wave is
A high nozzle clearing
High implementation cost if system does
IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17


resonance
applied to the ink
capability can be achieved
not already include an acoustic actuator
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



chamber. This wave is
May be implemented at very



of an appropriate
low cost in systems which



amplitude and fre-
already include acoustic



quency to cause
actuators



sufficient force at



the nozzle to clear



blockages. This is



easiest to achieve if



the ultrasonic wave



is at a resonant



frequency of the ink



cavity.


Nozzle clearing
A microfabricated plate
Can clear severely clogged
Accurate mechanical alignment is re-
Silverbrook, EP 0771


plate
is pushed against the
nozzles
quired
658 A2 and related



nozzles. The plate has

Moving parts are required
patent applications



a post for every nozzle.

There is risk of damage to the nozzles



The array of posts

Accurate fabrication is required


Ink pressure pulse
The pressure of the
May be effective where other
Requires pressure pump or other
May be used with all IJ



ink is temporarily
methods cannot be used
pressure actuator
series ink jets



increased so that ink

Expensive



streams from all of

Wasteful of ink



the nozzles. This may



be used in con-



junction with actuator



energizing.


Print head wiper
A flexible ‘blade’
Effective for planar print head
Difficult to use if print head surface is
Many ink jet systems



is wiped across the
surfaces
non-planar or very fragile



print head surface.
Low cost
Requires mechanical parts



The blade is usually

Blade can wear out in high volume print



fabricated from a

systems



flexible polymer, e.g.



rubber or synthetic



elastomer.


Separate ink
A separate heater is
Can be effective where other
Fabrication complexity
Can be used with many


boiling heater
provided at the
nozzle clearing methods

IJ series ink jets



nozzle although the
cannot be used



normal drop e-ection
Can be implemented at no



mechanism does not
additional cost in some inkjet



require it. The
configurations



heaters do not require



individual drive



circuits, as many



nozzles can be cleared



simultaneously, and



no imaging is required.



















NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION











Nozzle plate






construction
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Electroformed
A nozzle plate is
Fabrication simplicity
High temperatures and pressures are
Hewlett Packard


nickel
separately fabricated

required to bond nozzle plate
Thermal Inkjet



from electroformed

Minimum thickness constraints



nickel, and bonded

Differential thermal expansion



to the print head chip.


Laser ablated or
Individual nozzle holes
No masks required
Each hole must be individually formed
Canon Bubblejet


drilled polymer
are ablated by an
Can be quite fast
Special equipment required
1988 Sercel et al.,



intense UV laser in a
Some control over nozzle
Slow where there are many thousands
SPIE, Vol. 998 Excimer



nozzle plate, which
profile is possible
of nozzles per print head
Beam Applications,



is typically a polymer
Equipment required is
May produce thin burrs at exit holes
pp. 76-83



such as polyimide or
relatively low cost

1993 Watanabe et al.,



polysulphone


U.S. Pat. No.






5,208,604


Silicon micro-
A separate nozzle
High accuracy is attainable
Two part construction
K. Bean, IEEE


machined
plate is micromachined

High cost
Transactions on



from single crystal

Requires precision alignment
Electron Devices, Vol.



silicon, and bonded

Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive
ED-25, No. 10, 1978,



to the print head


pp 1185-1195



wafer.


Xerox 1990 Hawkins et






al., U.S. Pat. No.






4,899,181


Glass
Fine glass capillaries
No expensive equipment
Very small nozzle sizes are difficult to
1970 Zoltan U.S.


capillaries
are drawn from glass
required
form
Pat. No. 3,683,212



tubing. This method
Simple to make single nozzles
Not suited for mass production



has been used for



making individual



nozzles, but is



difficult to use for



bulk manufacturing of



print heads with



thousands of nozzles.


Monolithic,
The nozzle plate is
High accuracy (<1 μm)
Requires sacrificial layer under the
Silverbrook, EP 0771


surface micro-
deposited as a layer
Monolithic
nozzle plate to form the nozzle chamber
658 A2 and related


machined using
using standard VLSI
Low cost
Surface may be fragile to the touch
patent applications


VLSI litho-
deposition techniques.
Existing processes can be

IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ11


graphic
Nozzles are etched in
used

IJ12, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20


processes
the nozzle plate using


IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28



VLSI lithography and


IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32



etching.


IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37






IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41






IJ42, IJ43, IJ44


Monolithic,
The nozzle plate is a
High accuracy (<1 μm)
Requires long etch times
IJ03, IJ05, IJ06, IJ07


etched through
buried etch stop in
Monolithic
Requires a support wafer
IJ08, IJ09, IJ10, IJ13


substrate
the wafer. Nozzle
Low cost

IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ19



chambers are etched in
No differential expansion

IJ21, IJ23, IJ25, IJ26



the front of the



wafer, and the wafer



is thinned from the



back side. Nozzles are



then etched in the



etch stop layer.


No nozzle plate
Various methods have
No nozzles to become clogged
Difficult to control drop position accu-
Ricoh 1995 Sekiya et al



been tried to eliminate

rately
U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,413



the nozzles entirely,

Crosstalk problems
1993 Hadimioglu et al



to prevent nozzle


EUP 550,192



clogging. These include


1993 Elrod et al EUP



thermal bubble mecha-


572,220



nisms and acoustic lens



mechanisms


Trough
Each drop ejector has
Reduced manufacturing
Drop firing direction is sensitive to
IJ35



a trough through
complexity
wicking.



which a paddle moves.
Monolithic



There is no nozzle



plate.


Nozzle slit
The elimination of
No nozzles to become clogged
Difficult to control drop position accu-
1989 Saito et al


instead of
nozzle holes and

rately
U.S. Pat. No.


individual
replacement by a

Crosstalk problems
4,799,068


nozzles
slit encompassing



many actuator posi-



tions reduces nozzle



clogging, but in-



creases crosstalk due



to ink surface waves



















DROP EJECTION DIRECTION











Ejection






direction
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Edge
Ink flow is along the
Simple construction
Nozzles limited to edge
Canon Bubblejet 1979


(‘edge shooter’)
surface of the chip,
No silicon etching required
High resolution is difficult
Endo et al GB patent



and ink drops are
Good heat sinking via sub-
Fast color printing requires one print
2,007,162



ejected from the chip
strate
head per color
Xerox heater-in-pit 1990



edge.
Mechanically strong

Hawkins et al U.S.




Ease of chip handing

Pat. No. 4,899,181






Tone-jet


Surface
Ink flow is along the
No bulk silicon etching
Maximum ink flow is severely restricted
Hewlett-Packard TIJ


(‘roof shooter’)
surface of the chip,
required

1982 Vaught et al



and ink drops are
Silicon can make an effective

U.S. Pat. No.



ejected from the chip
heat sink

4,490,728



surface, normal to
Mechanical strength

IJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20



the plane of the chip.


IJ22


Through chip,
Ink flow is through
High ink flow
Requires bulk silicon etching
Silverbrook, EP 0771


forward
the chip, and ink
Suitable for pagewidth print

658 A2 and related


(‘up shooter’)
drops are ejected
High nozzle packing density

patent applications



from the front sur-
therefore low manufacturing

IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24



face of the chip.
cost

IJ27-IJ45


Through chip,
Ink flow is through
High ink flow
Requires wafer thinning
IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06


reverse
the chip, and ink
Suitable for pagewidth print
Requires special handling during
IJ07, IJ08, IJ09, IJ10


(‘down shooter’)
drops are ejected
High nozzle packing density
manufacture
IJ13, IJ14, IJ15, IJ16



from the rear surface
therefore low manufacturing

IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ25



of the chip.
cost

IJ26


Through actuator
Ink flow is through
Suitable for piezoelectric
Pagewidth print heads require several
Epson Stylus



the actuator, which
print heads
thousand connections to drive circuits
Tektronix hot melt



is not fabricated as

Cannot be manufactured in standard
piezoelectric ink jets



part of the same

CMOS fabs



substrate as the

Complex assembly required



drive transistors.



















INK TYPE











Ink type
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Aqueous, dye
Water based ink
Environmentally friendly
Slow drying
Most existing inkjets



which typically
No odor
Corrosive
All IJ series ink jets



contains: water,

Bleeds on paper
Silverbrook, EP 0771



dye, surfactant,

May strikethrough
658 A2 and related



humectant, and

Cockles paper
patent applications



biocide.



Modern ink dyes



have high water-



fastness, light



fastness


Aqueous, pigment
Water based ink
Environmentally friendly
Slow drying
IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26



which typically
No odor
Corrosive
IJ27, IJ30



contains: water,
Reduced bleed
Pigment may clog nozzles
Silverbrook, EP 0771



pigment, surfactant,
Reduced wicking
Pigment may clog actuator mechanisms
658 A2 and related



humectant, and
Reduced strikethrough
Cockles paper
patent applications



biocide.


Piezoelectric ink-jets



Pigments have an


Thermal ink jets (with



advantage in reduced


significant



bleed, wicking


restrictions)



and strikethrough.


Methyl Ethyl
MEK is a highly vola-
Very fast drying
Odorous
All IJ series ink jets


Ketone (MEK)
tile solvent used for
Prints on various substrates
Flammable



industrial printing
such as metals and plastics



on difficult surfaces



such as aluminum cans.


Alcohol
Alcohol based inks
Fast drying
Slight odor
All IJ series ink jets


(ethanol, 2-
can be used where
Operates at sub-freezing
Flammable


butanol, and
the printer must
temperatures


others)
operate at tempera-
Reduced paper cockle



tures below the
Low cost



freezing point of



water. An example of



this is in-camera



consumer photographic



printing.


Phase change
The ink is solid at
No drying time - ink instantly
High viscosity
Tektronix hot melt


(hot melt)
room temperature, and
freezes on the print medium
Printed ink typically has a ‘waxy’ feel
piezoelectric ink jets



is melted in the
Almost any print medium can
Printed pages may ‘block’
1989 Nowak U.S. Pat.



print head before jet-
be used
Ink temperature may be above the curie
No. 4,820,346



ting. Hot melt inks
No paper cockle occurs
point of permanent magnets
All IJ series ink jets



are usually wax based,
No wicking occurs
Ink heaters consume power



with a melting point
No bleed occurs
Long warm-up time



around 80° C. After
No strikethrough occurs



jetting the ink freezes



almost instantly upon



contacting the print



medium or a transfer



roller.


Oil
Oil based inks are
High solubility medium for
High viscosity: this is a significant
All IJ series ink jets



extensively used in
some dyes
limitation for use in inkjets, which



offset printing. They
Does not cockle paper
usually require a low viscosity. Some



have advantages in
Does not wick through paper
short chain and multi-branched oils



improved characteris-

have a sufficiently low viscosity.



tics on paper (especi-

Slow drying



ally no wicking or



cockle). Oil soluble



dies and pigments are



required.


Microemulsion
A microemulsion is a
Stops ink bleed
Viscosity higher than water
All IJ series ink jets



stable, self forming
High dye solubility
Cost is slightly higher than water based



emulsion of oil, water,
Water, oil, and amphiphilic
ink



and surfactant. The
soluble dies can be used
High surfactant concentration required



characteristic drop
Can stabilize pigment
(around 5%)



size is less than
suspensions



100 nm, and is deter-



mined by the preferred



curvature of the



surfactant.









Ink Jet Printing

A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Austra-





lian


U.S.


Provi-


Pat. NO./Patent


sional


Application


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PO8066
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,227,652




and Apparatus (IJ01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8072
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,213,588




and Apparatus (IJ02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8040
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,213,589




and Apparatus (IJ03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8071
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,231,163




and Apparatus (IJ04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8047
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,247,795




and Apparatus (IJ05)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8035
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,394,581




and Apparatus (IJ06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8044
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,244,691




and Apparatus (IJ07)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8063
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,257,704




and Apparatus (IJ08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8057
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,416,168




and Apparatus (IJ09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8056
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,220,694




and Apparatus (IJ10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8069
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,257,705




and Apparatus (IJ11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8049
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,247,794




and Apparatus (IJ12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8036
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,234,610




and Apparatus (IJ13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8048
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,247,793




and Apparatus (IJ14)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8070
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,264,306




and Apparatus (IJ15)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8067
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,241,342




and Apparatus (IJ16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8001
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,247,792




and Apparatus (IJ17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8038
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,264,307




and Apparatus (IJ18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8033
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,254,220




and Apparatus (IJ19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8002
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,234,611




and Apparatus (IJ20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8068
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,302,528




and Apparatus (IJ21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8062
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,283,582




and Apparatus (IJ22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8034
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,239,821




and Apparatus (IJ23)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8039
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,338,547




and Apparatus (IJ24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8041
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,247,796




and Apparatus (IJ25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8004
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
09/113,122




and Apparatus (IJ26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8037
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,390,603




and Apparatus (IJ27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8043
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,362,843




and Apparatus (IJ28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8042
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,293,653




and Apparatus (IJ29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8064
15 Jul. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,312,107




and Apparatus (IJ30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9389
23 Sep. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,227,653




and Apparatus (IJ31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9391
23 Sep. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,234,609




and Apparatus (IJ32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0888
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,238,040




and Apparatus (IJ33)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0891
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,188,415




and Apparatus (IJ34)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0890
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,227,654




and Apparatus (IJ35)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0873
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,209,989




and Apparatus (IJ36)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0993
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,247,791




and Apparatus (IJ37)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0890
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation Method
6,336,710




and Apparatus (IJ38)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP1398
19 Jan. 1998
An Image Creation
6,217,153




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ39)


PP2592
25 Mar. 1998
An Image Creation
6,416,167




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ40)


PP2593
25 Mar. 1998
Image Creation Method
6,243,113




and Apparatus (IJ41)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3991
9 Jun. 1998
Image Creation Method
6,283,581




and Apparatus (IJ42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3987
9 Jun. 1998
Image Creation Method
6,247,790




and Apparatus (IJ43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3985
9 Jun. 1998
Image Creation Method
6,260,953




and Apparatus (IJ44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3983
9 Jun. 1998
Image Creation Method
6,267,469




and Apparatus (IJ45)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









Ink Jet Manufacturing

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Austral-


U.S. Pat.


ian


No./Patent


Provi-


Application


sional


and Filing


Number
Filing Date
Title
Date







PO7935
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,224,780




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM01)


PO7936
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,235,212




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM02)


PO7937
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,280,643




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM03)


PO8061
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,284,147




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM04)


PO8054
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,214,244




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM05)


PO8065
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,071,750




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM06)


PO8055
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,267,905




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM07)


PO8053
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,251,298




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM08)


PO8078
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,258,285




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM09)


PO7933
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,225,138




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM10)


PO7950
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,241,904




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM11)


PO7949
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,299,786




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM12)


PO8060
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
09/113,124




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM13)


PO8059
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,231,773




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM14)


PO8073
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,190,931




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM15)


PO8076
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,248,249




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM16)


PO8075
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,290,862




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM17)


PO8079
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,241,906




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM18)


PO8050
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
09/113,116




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM19)


PO8052
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,241,905




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM20)


PO7948
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,451,216




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM21)


PO7951
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,231,772




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM22)


PO8074
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,274,056




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM23)


PO7941
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,290,861




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM24)


PO8077
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,248,248




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM25)


PO8058
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,306,671




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM26)


PO8051
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,331,258




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM27)


PO8045
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,110,754




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM28)


PO7952
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,294,101




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM29)


PO8046
15 Jul. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,416,679




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM30)


PO8503
11 Aug. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,264,849




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM30a)


PO9390
23 Sep. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,254,793




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM31)


PO9392
23 Sep. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,235,211




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM32)


PP0889
12 Dec. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,235,211




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM35)


PP0887
12 Dec. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,264,850




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM36)


PP0882
12 Dec. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,258,284




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM37)


PP0874
12 Dec. 1997
A Method of Manufacture
6,258,284




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM38)


PP1396
19 Jan. 1998
A Method of Manufacture
6,228,668




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM39)


PP2591
25 Mar. 1998
A Method of Manufacture
6,180,427




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM41)


PP3989
9 Jun. 1998
A Method of Manufacture
6,171,875




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM40)


PP3990
9 Jun. 1998
A Method of Manufacture
6,267,904




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM42)


PP3986
9 Jun. 1998
A Method of Manufacture
6,245,247




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM43)


PP3984
9 Jun. 1998
A Method of Manufacture
6,245,247




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM44)


PP3982
9 Jun. 1998
A Method of Manufacture
6,231,148




of an Image Creation
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IJM45)









Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.
















U.S.


Australian


Pat. No./Patent


Provisional


Application and


Number
Filing Date
Title
Filing Date







PO8003
15 Jul. 1997
Supply Method and
6,350,023




Apparatus (F1)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8005
15 Jul. 1997
Supply Method and
6,318,849




Apparatus (F2)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9404
23 Sep. 1997
A Device and
09/113,101




Method (F3)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









MEMS Technology

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor microelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.
















U.S.


Australian


Pat. No./Patent


Provisional


Application and


Number
Filing Date
Title
Filing Date







PO7943
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS01)



PO8006
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS02)
6,087,638





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8007
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS03)
09/113,093





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8008
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS04)
6,340,222





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8010
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS05)
6,041,600





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8011
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS06)
6,299,300





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7947
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS07)
6,067,797





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7945
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS08)
09/113,081





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7944
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS09)
6,286,935





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7946
15 Jul. 1997
A device (MEMS10)
6,044,646





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9393
23 Sep. 1997
A Device and
09/113,065




Method (MEMS11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0875
12 Dec. 1997
A device (MEMS12)
09/113,078





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0894
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
09/113,075




Method (MEMS13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Austral-


U.S. Pat. No./


ian


Patent


Provis-


Application


ional


and Filing


Number
Filing Date
Title
Date







PP0895
12 Dec. 1997
An Image Creation
6,231,148




Method and
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IR01)


PP0870
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
09/113,106




Method (IR02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0869
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
6,293,658




Method (IR04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0887
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation
09/113,104




Method and
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IR05)


PP0885
12 Dec. 1997
An Image
6,238,033




Production
(Jul. 10, 1998)




System (IR06)


PP0884
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation
6,312,070




Method and
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IR10)


PP0886
12 Dec. 1997
Image Creation
6,238,111




Method and
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (IR12)


PP0871
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
09/113,086




Method (IR13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0876
12 Dec. 1997
An Image
09/113,094




Processing
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Method and




Apparatus (IR14)


PP0877
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
6,378,970




Method (IR16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0878
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
6,196,739




Method (IR17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0879
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
09/112,774




Method (IR18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0883
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
6,270,182




Method (IR19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0880
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
6,152,619




Method (IR20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0881
12 Dec. 1997
A Device and
09/113,092




Method (IR21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Austra-


U.S. Pat. No./


lian


Patent


Provis-


Application


ional


and Filing


Number
Filing Date
Title
Date







PP2370
16 Mar. 1998
Data Processing
09/112,781




Method and
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus (Dot01)


PP2371
16 Mar. 1998
Data Processing
09/113,052




Method and
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Apparatus




(Dot02)









Artcam Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of camera and data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device as described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Austral-


U.S. Pat. No./


ian


Patent


Provi-


Application


sional


and Filing


Number
Filing Date
Title
Date







PO7991
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/113,060




and Apparatus (ART01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7988
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,476,863




and Apparatus (ART02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7993
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/113,073




and Apparatus (ART03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9395
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,322,181




and Apparatus (ART04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8017
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,747




and Apparatus (ART06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8014
15 Jul. 1997
Media Device (ART07)
6,227,648





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8025
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,750




and Apparatus (ART08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8032
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,746




and Apparatus (ART09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7999
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,743




and Apparatus (ART10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7998
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,742




and Apparatus (ART11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8031
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,741




and Apparatus (ART12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8030
15 Jul. 1997
Media Device (ART13)
6,196,541





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7997
15 Jul. 1997
Media Device (ART15)
6,195,150





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7979
15 Jul. 1997
Media Device (ART16)
6,362,868





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8015
15 Jul. 1997
Media Device (ART17)
09/112,738





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7978
15 Jul. 1997
Media Device (ART18)
09/113,067





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7982
15 Jul 1997
Data Processing Method
6,431,669




and Apparatus (ART 19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7989
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,362,869




and Apparatus (ART20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8019
15 Jul. 1997
Media Processing Method
6,472,052




and Apparatus (ART21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7980
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,356,715




and Apparatus (ART22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8018
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,777




and Apparatus (ART24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7938
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/113,224




and Apparatus (ART25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8016
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,366,693




and Apparatus (ART26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8024
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,329,990




and Apparatus (ART27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7940
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,072




and Apparatus (ART28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7939
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/112,785




and Apparatus (ART29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8501
11 Aug. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,137,500




and Apparatus (ART30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8500
11 Aug. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,796




and Apparatus (ART31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7987
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,071




and Apparatus (ART32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8022
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,398,328




and Apparatus (ART33)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8497
11 Aug. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/113,090




and Apparatus (ART34)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8020
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,431,704




and Apparatus (ART38)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8023
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,222




and Apparatus (ART39)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8504
11 Aug. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,786




and Apparatus (ART42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8000
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,415,054




and Apparatus (ART43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7977
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/112,782




and Apparatus (ART44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7934
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,056




and Apparatus (ART45)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7990
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,059




and Apparatus (ART46)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8499
11 Aug. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,486,886




and Apparatus (ART47)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8502
11 Aug. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,381,361




and Apparatus (ART48)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7981
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,317,192




and Apparatus (ART50)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7986
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,057




and Apparatus (ART51)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7983
15 Jul. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,054




and Apparatus (ART52)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8026
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,752




and Apparatus (ART53)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8027
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,759




and Apparatus (ART54)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8028
15 Jul. 1997
Image Processing Method
09/112,757




and Apparatus (ART56)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9394
23 Sep. 1997
Image Processing Method
6,357,135




and Apparatus (ART57)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9396
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/113,107




and Apparatus (ART58)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9397
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,271,931




and Apparatus (ART59)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9398
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,353,772




and Apparatus (ART60)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9399
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,106,147




and Apparatus (ART61)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9400
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/112,790




and Apparatus (ART62)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9401
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,304,291




and Apparatus (ART63)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9402
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
09/112,788




and Apparatus (ART64)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9403
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,305,770




and Apparatus (ART65)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9405
23 Sep. 1997
Data Processing Method
6,289,262




and Apparatus (ART66)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0959
16 Dec. 1997
A Data Processing Method
6,315,200




and Apparatus (ART68)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP1397
19 Jan. 1998
A Media Device (ART69)
6,217,165





(Jul. 10, 1998)

## Claims

1. A media cartridge for supplying print media to a printhead, the cartridge comprising:
a roll of print media; 
a casing with a rotatable core for supporting the media roll; 
an ink supply within the core; 
at least one ink outlet at one end of the core for establishing fluid communication between the ink supply and the printhead; 
a drive roller assembly for engaging an external drive to feed the print media to the printhead; wherein, 
the longitudinal axes of the core, and rollers of the drive roller assembly are parallel.

2. A media cartridge according to claim 1 wherein, the core is segmented with different coloured inks stored in each of the segments, wherein each of the segments has a respective ink outlet in the end of the core.

3. A media cartridge according to claim 2 wherein, the drive roller assembly has one de-curling roller and two pinch rollers, wherein the pinch rollers maintain the media substrate wrapped around the required portion of the de-curling roller.

4. A media cartridge according to claim 3 wherein, one of the pinch rollers is driven.

5. A media cartridge according to claim 4 wherein, said one of the pinch rollers has a geared axle that extends beyond the casing for engagement with an external drive source via a corresponding gear.

6. A media cartridge according to claim 5 wherein, the casing has an outer cover enclosing the roll and the drive roller assembly, the outer cover comprising two interengaging side moldings that snap lock together to form a media outlet slot adjacent the drive roller assembly.

7. A media cartridge according to claim 6 wherein, one side of the slot has a resilient guide extending away from the slot for resilient engagement with a paper path leading to the printhead upon installation of the cartridge.

8. A media cartridge according to claim 7 wherein, the printhead is controlled by an image processor and the cartridge further comprises an authentication chip for confirming the suitability of the ink and the media to the image processor.

9. A media cartridge according to claim 8 wherein, the cartridge is configured for engagement with a cartridge interface such that the ink outlets establish fluid communication with the printhead, the image processor accesses the authentication chip, the geared axle of the drive roller engages the external drive and the resilient guide extending from the outlet slot engages the paper feed path, in a single installation action.