Abstract:
A pagewidth inkjet printer includes a chassis; a pagewidth inkjet printhead mounted on the chassis; a cover assembly mounted on the chassis to accommodate a printing cartridge storing sheets of media and an ink supply; a printed circuit board mounted on the chassis and connected to the printhead to control operation of the printhead; an ink supply manifold connected to the printhead to supply the printhead with ink, the ink supply manifold being connected the ink supply of the printing cartridge via ink conduits; and a print media feed arrangement mounted on the chassis to feed print media from the cartridge through the printer. The cover assembly includes a rotatable axle and a cog mounted on each end of the rotatable axle, the cogs engage corresponding racks on the printing cartridge to inhibit skewing of the cartridge as the printing cartridge is inserted into and withdrawn from the cover assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/368,992 filed Feb. 10, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/592,983 filed on Nov. 6, 2006, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,943, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/503,916 filed on Aug. 9, 2004, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,523, which is a 371 of PCT/AU03/00160 filed on Feb. 12, 2003 all of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a printer for a conveyance and to a conveyance including such printer. 
         [0003]    In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term “conveyance” is to be understood in a broad sense as any form of device which conveys persons and/or goods and includes, but is not necessarily limited to, road vehicles, rail vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft and waterborne craft. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    These days, more and more information is provided to people. The information is made available in various forms, including audible forms and visual forms. Often, the information is made available to persons in a conveyance. 
         [0005]    There are situations where it is desirable to have a record of such information. To date, making a record of such information means that the person needs some means to record the information, for example, on a magnetic recording medium by way of a dictation machine or by making written notes on paper. Often such recording devices are not readily to hand and vital information can be lost. 
         [0006]    It would be desirable if a relatively economical and robust printed could be provided in a conveyance for recording printable information in hard copy. It would also be desirable 
       CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
       [0007]    Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention on 12 Feb. 2003: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00154 
                 PCT/AU03/00151 
                 PCT/AU03/00150 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00145 
                 PCT/AU03/00153 
                 PCT/AU03/00152 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00168 
                 PCT/AU03/00169 
                 PCT/AU03/00170 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00162 
                 PCT/AU03/00146 
                 PCT/AU03/00159 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00171 
                 PCT/AU03/00149 
                 PCT/AU03/00167 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00158 
                 PCT/AU03/00147 
                 PCT/AU03/00166 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00164 
                 PCT/AU03/00163 
                 PCT/AU03/00165 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00160 
                 PCT/AU03/00157 
                 PCT/AU03/00148 
               
               
                   
                 PCT/AU03/00156 
                 PCT/AU03/00155 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0008]    The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by cross-reference. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a pagewidth inkjet printer comprises a chassis; a pagewidth inkjet printhead mounted on the chassis to carry out a printing operation on sheets of media; a cover assembly mounted on the chassis to accommodate a printing cartridge storing the sheets of media and an ink supply; a printed circuit board mounted on the chassis and connected to the printhead to control operation of the printhead; an ink supply manifold connected to the printhead to supply the printhead with ink, the ink supply manifold being connected the ink supply of the printing cartridge via ink conduits; and a print media feed arrangement mounted on the chassis to feed print media from the cartridge through the printer. The cover assembly includes a rotatable axle and a cog mounted on each end of the rotatable axle, the cogs being configured to engage corresponding racks on the printing cartridge to inhibit skewing of the cartridge as the printing cartridge is inserted into and withdrawn from the cover assembly. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    A preferred and exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:— 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a three dimensional, front view of a printer, in accordance with the invention, for a conveyance; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a three dimensional, rear view of the printer; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a three dimensional, front view of the printer illustrating cartridge insertion or removal; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a three dimensional view of the printer with a top cover removed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a three dimensional, exploded view of the printer; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the printer; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a sectional, side view of the printer taken along line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a sectional, end view of the printer taken along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows a first drive arrangement of the printer; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  shows a second drive arrangement of the printer; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  shows a three dimensional, top view of an ink cartridge for the printer; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  shows a three dimensional, bottom view of the cartridge; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  shows a three dimensional, exploded view of the cartridge; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  shows a plan view of the cartridge; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  shows a sectional, end view taken along line XV-XV in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  shows a sectional, side view of the cartridge taken along line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  shows a schematic, plan view of one embodiment of the cartridge; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  shows a schematic, plan view of another embodiment of the cartridge; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  shows a schematic, plan view of a further embodiment of the cartridge; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  shows a schematic, plan view of yet a further embodiment of the cartridge; 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  shows a schematic representation of an interior compartment of a vehicle indicating various locations for the printer of  FIGS. 1 to 10 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  shows a three dimensional view of a vehicle audio unit incorporating a printer, in accordance with the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  shows a three dimensional view of a further vehicle audio unit incorporating a printer and other devices; 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  shows a three dimensional view of yet a further vehicle audio unit incorporating the printer; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 25  shows a three-dimensional view of still a further vehicle audio unit incorporating a printer and other devices. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    Referring to the drawings, reference numeral  10  generally designates a printer, in accordance with the invention, for a conveyance as defined herein. The printer  10  is intended for use in any suitable type of conveyance of the type described. However, for ease of reference, the printer  10  will be described with reference to its application in a motor vehicle. 
         [0037]    The printer  10  includes a chassis  12  ( FIG. 4 ) which is covered by a top cover  16  that has an access opening  18  closed off by a flap  20 . The flap  20  is spring biased so that, when a cartridge  22  has been removed from the printer  10 , the flap is urged to the position shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0038]    In the particularly preferred embodiment, the printer  10  does not have any of its own controls and, effectively, is a dumb unit. The unit is therefore actuated from a device from which it is desired to print material. 
         [0039]    The device that sends commands to the printer  10  can either be hard wired to the printer  10 , for example, via a wiring loom of the motor vehicle or, instead, the device may send commands to the printer  10  in a wireless manner. For this purpose, the printer  10  includes a port  24  able to detect wireless communications of some form. 
         [0040]    Various forms of wireless communications can be employed such as an infrared communication system, a personal area network (PAN) system referred to as Bluetooth, a radio local area network (LAN) or a digital cordless telephone system. 
         [0041]    Further, the device which communicates with the printer  10  can be of various forms such as, for example, a palm computer, a laptop computer, a mobile telephone, a digital camera, a scanner, a diagnostics system for the motor vehicle, a navigation system, a vehicle entertainment system, or the like. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list and those skilled in the art will readily conceive of other devices that can communicate with the printer  10 . 
         [0042]    The port  24  is mounted on a front face  26  of the printer  10 . As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2  of the drawings, a rear face  28  of the printer  10  accommodates a data socket  30  and a power socket  32 . It will be appreciated that, when the printer  10  communicates exclusively in a wireless manner, the data socket  30  may be omitted. 
         [0043]    The printer  10  incorporates a printhead  34  ( FIG. 4 ). The printhead  34  is a pagewidth ink jet printhead. More particularly, the printhead  34  is a four color printhead, or three color plus infrared ink, printhead that prints photo quality prints on print media stored in the cartridge  22 . The printhead  34  comprises an array of nozzles to provide printing at 1600 dpi. The nozzles of the printhead  34  are manufactured using the applicant&#39;s Memjet technology. 
         [0044]    The printhead  34  receives commands from a printed circuit board (PCB)  36  secured to the chassis  12 . 
         [0045]    A pair of drive motors  38  and  40  is mounted on a sidewall  42  of the chassis  12 . The drive motor  38 , which is in the form of a stepper motor, drives a first drive arrangement in the form of a first gear train  44 . The first gear train  44  is mounted on a side molding  46  of the chassis  12 . 
         [0046]    The drive motor  40 , which is also in the form of a stepper motor, drives a drive roller  48  via a second drive arrangement. The second drive arrangement comprises a second gear train  50 . 
         [0047]    The printhead  34  receives ink from ink hoses  52  that communicate with an ink supply reservoir  54  ( FIGS. 13 and 15 ) of the cartridge  22  via an ink supply manifold  56 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, an exploded view of the printer  10  is illustrated. It is to be noted that the printhead  34  communicates with the PCB  36  via a TAB film  54 . 
         [0049]    A slot  58  is defined in the side molding  46 . The slot  58  receives a corresponding formation of the cartridge  22  in it. Further, a roller set  60  is mounted on a base  62  of the printer  10 . The roller set  60  comprises a rotatable axle  62 . A cog  64  is mounted proximate each end of the axle  62 . Each cog  64  engages a rack  100 ,  102  ( FIG. 12 ) on the cartridge  22  for inhibiting skewing of the cartridge  22  as it is inserted into, or withdrawn from, the interior of the printer  10 . 
         [0050]    The first gear train  44  engages a pick up roller  68  of the printer  10 . The pick up roller  68  picks up print media in the form of a sheet of paper from a stack  70  of paper ( FIG. 13 ) in the cartridge  22  for feeding to the printhead  34  of the printer  10  when printing is to be effected. 
         [0051]    As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 9  of the drawings, the first gear train  44  is powered by the stepper motor  38  via an axle  72  extending across the printer  10  to convey power from the stepper motor  38  to the first gear train  44 . A gear  74  is mounted against the molding  46  at one end of the axle  72 . The gear  74  drives a reduction gear set  76 . Further, the reduction gear set  76  communicates with a reversing mechanism  78 . Accordingly, the gear train  44  performs two functions. When the reversing mechanism  78  is not selected, the gear train  44  engages an upper rack  80  on the cartridge  22  for feeding the cartridge  22  into the printer  10  or ejecting the cartridge  22  from the printer  10 . Instead, when the reversing mechanism is in the position shown in  FIG. 9  of the drawings, it engages the pick up roller  68  or, more particularly, a gear  82  mounted at an end of the pick up roller  68 . The gear train  44  then serves to feed the paper to the drive roller  48  for conveying to the printhead  34 . 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 to 20  of the drawings, the cartridge  22  is described in greater detail. 
         [0053]    The cartridge  22  comprises a base molding  90  closed off by a metal cover  92 . The cover  92  has a pair of transversely spaced openings  94  defined in its front edge. These openings  94  permit the pick up roller  68  of the printer  10  to engage a topmost sheet of the stack  70  of paper within the cartridge  22 . 
         [0054]    A toothed rack  96  is provided on one side of the cartridge  22 . The toothed rack  96  defines the upper rack  80  that is engaged by a gear of the first gear train  44  for insertion of the cartridge  22  into, or its ejection from, the printer  10 . A rib  98  extends longitudinally along the side of the toothed rack  96 . The rib  98  is received in the slot  58  in the side molding  46  of the printer  10 . A lower surface of the toothed rack  96  also has the rack  100  ( FIG. 12 ) for engagement with one of the cogs  64 . An opposed side of the base molding  90  of the cartridge  22  carries the other rack  102 , which engages the other, cog  64  for inhibiting skewing of the cartridge  22  when it is inserted into, or ejected from, the printer  10 . 
         [0055]    A feed slot  104  is defined at a front edge of the metal cover through which a sheet of paper to be printed is passed in use. The feed slot  104  is partially defined by a plastics strip  106  that inhibits more than one sheet of paper being fed to the printhead  34  at any one time. 
         [0056]    A transversely extending trough  108  is defined outwardly of the strip  106 . The trough  108  accommodates a sprung roller  110  therein. The roller  110  is supported in the trough  108  via a plurality of clips  112 . 
         [0057]    The roller  110  is biased upwardly relative to a base of the trough  108  via a plurality of leaf springs  114 . The leaf springs  114  are formed integrally with an L-shaped metal bracket  116  that partially forms the trough  108 . The roller  110  is a snap-fit in the clips  112 . 
         [0058]    A platen  118  is accommodated in the base molding  90 . The platen  118  is spring biased via a plurality of leaf springs  120  which engage a floor  122  of the base molding  90  for urging the stack  70  of paper against the cover  92 . 
         [0059]    The ink supply reservoir  54  includes an ink supply molding  124  formed integrally with the base molding  90 . The ink supply molding  124  defines a plurality of ink supply channels  126 . Each ink supply channel  126  contains a particular color of ink. In this context, the term “color” is to be understood as including inks that are substantially invisible to humans, such as infrared inks. 
         [0060]    The channels  126  are closed off by a flexible bladder-like membrane  128 , which is heat-sealed to the molding  124 . It will be appreciated that, as ink is withdrawn from each channel  126 , the associated membrane  128  collapses into the channel  126  thereby inhibiting the ingress of air into that channel  126 . 
         [0061]    Each channel  126  communicates with an ink outlet  130 . Each ink outlet  130  is in the form of a rupturable seal. 
         [0062]    As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the ink supply manifold  56  of the printer  10  includes pins  132 . These pins  132  communicate with the ink supply hoses  52 . When the cartridge  22  is inserted into the printer  10 , and the cartridge  22  is driven home by the gear train  44 , the pins  132  pierce the seals  130  to place the hoses  52  in communication with their associated ink supply channels  126 . 
         [0063]    The cartridge  22  includes a quality assurance chip  134 . This chip  134  ensures correct communications between the cartridge  22  and the printer  10  and that the cartridge  22  is of the required quality. The chip  134  communicates with the printer  10  via chip contacts  136  mounted on the ink supply manifold  56  of the printer  10 . Thus, when the cartridge  22  is driven home by the gear train  44 , the chip  134  engages the contacts  136  for enabling communications to be established between the chip  134  and the circuit board  36  of the printer  10 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 17  shows a first embodiment of the cartridge  22  with the ink supply reservoir  54  arranged on a left side of the cartridge  22  and the stack  70  arranged on the right side of the cartridge  22 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 18  shows another embodiment of the cartridge  22  with the stack  70  arranged on the left side of the cartridge  22  and the ink supply reservoir  54  being arranged on the right side of the cartridge  22 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 19  shows yet a further embodiment with the stack  70  arranged at a front of the cartridge  22  with the ink supply reservoir  54  being arranged at a rear of the cartridge  22 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 20  shows yet a further embodiment with the stack  70  arranged on the platen  118  with the ink supply reservoir  54  being arranged below the platen  118 . It will be appreciated also, with reference to this embodiment that the ink supply reservoir  54  could be arranged above the stack of paper  70  although this will increase the height of the cartridge  22  and, accordingly, the height of the printer  10 . 
         [0068]    The cartridge  22  is a disposable unit so that, once its ink supply and paper supply have been depleted, the cartridge is disposed of. Instead, the cartridge  22  may be re-useable. In the latter case, once the supply of ink and paper in the cartridge  22  have been depleted and the cartridge  22  is ejected from the printer  10 , the used, empty cartridge  22  can be taken by a user to a supplier for a refund, credit or exchange. It is to be noted that the cartridge  22  is automatically ejected from the printer  10  once its supply of paper and/or ink has been depleted. 
         [0069]    As described above, the printer  10  is intended particularly for use in a motor vehicle. The printer  10  is dimensioned to fit in numerous positions in a passenger compartment  130  ( FIG. 21 ) of a motor vehicle  132 . The printer  10  is, desirably, mounted where it is readily accessible within the passenger compartment  130  of the vehicle  132 . 
         [0070]    Various desirable locations within the passenger compartment  130  are now described. Firstly, a printer, designated by the reference numeral  10 . 1 , can be mounted in a dashboard  134  of the vehicle  132 . This provides a good location at least for front occupants of the passenger compartment  130  and, usually, this part of the dashboard  134  of the vehicle  132  is unoccupied by other equipment. 
         [0071]    A second desirable location is in an overhead fitting  136  arranged above a rear view mirror  138  of the passenger compartment  130 . Thus, a printer  10 . 2  can be mounted in this fitting  136 . Once again, this provides good access, at least for front occupants of the passenger compartment. 
         [0072]    Another location in the passenger compartment for a printer  10 . 3  is a glovebox  140 . This is a convenient location in that the printer  10 . 3  can be built into the lid  140  of the glovebox. This renders the printer  10 . 3  readily accessible for servicing purposes. 
         [0073]    Yet a further location is in an upper region of a console  142  as illustrated by printer  10 . 4 . Another suitable location for a printer  10 . 5  is in a lower region of the console  142  where, for example, coin trays or the like are sometimes mounted. A further suitable location is in a central armrest  144  of the passenger compartment  130  in which a printer  10 . 6  could be installed. Still further, if there is sufficient space, printers  10 . 7  could be built into door arm rests  146  of the passenger compartment. Only the person adjacent such a door armrest will have easy access to the printer  10 . 7  but this need not necessarily be a major inconvenience. 
         [0074]    It will also be appreciated that more than one printer can be provided in the passenger compartment. Although not shown, printers can also be provided in back rests of the front seats of the passenger compartment  130 . 
         [0075]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exemplified locations as described above are not the only locations in which printers  10  could be installed and it is conceivable that printers could be stored in less convenient location such as in footwells of the passenger compartment  130 , under the front seats, in an arm rest of a rear seat of the passenger compartment  130 , or the like. 
         [0076]    Also, it is envisaged that receiving sockets for printers can be molded into relevant fittings in the passenger compartment  130  during manufacture of the vehicle  132 . The receiving sockets could include wiring for the printer  10 . The receiving sockets can then be closed off by blanking plates, the relevant blanking plate being removed to facilitate installation of the printer  10 . 
         [0077]    In another embodiment of the invention, the printers  10  are built into and form part of car audio devices, which are also referred to as in car entertainment (ICE) units. 
         [0078]    Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 22  of the drawings, an ICE unit  150  is illustrated. The ICE unit  150  incorporates a radio having an LCD display  152 , a CD player having a slot  154  in a front panel of the unit  150  and various controls  158 . 
         [0079]    The ICE unit  150  includes a printer  10  as described above including the cartridge  22 . The ICE unit  150  includes controls  160  for controlling printing from the printer  10 . The controls  160  are used for instructing the printer  10  to print required information. Depending on the material to be printed, the LCD  152  can be used for previewing material to be printed. 
         [0080]    It is envisaged that this embodiment of the invention will be used for printing information from radio broadcasts, CD&#39;s played in the CD player  150 , or the like. 
         [0081]    Referring now  FIG. 23  of the drawings a variation of the ICE unit  150  illustrated in  FIG. 22  is illustrated. With reference to  FIG. 22 , like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. 
         [0082]    In this embodiment of the invention, the ICE unit  150  includes a slot  162  in which a digital camera  164  is received. The digital camera  164  and the slot  162  have corresponding electrical contacts so that information can be downloaded from the camera  164  to be printed via the printer  10 . Accordingly, it is an advantage of this embodiment of the invention that information from a digital camera can be downloaded as soon as a user of the camera has used the camera and/or has returned to the vehicle  132 . Thus, the user need not, unlike at present, await the user&#39;s return to a venue where the camera can communicate with a computer for downloading information captured by the camera  164 . 
         [0083]    It is also contemplated that a suitable slot  162  could be incorporated in, for example, the dashboard  134  of the vehicle  132  as illustrated at  166  so that a camera can be incorporated in the vehicle  132  for printing on any one of the printers  10 . 1  to  10 . 7 . In other words, the slot  166  need not form part of an ICE unit but may be provided as a separate feature in the vehicle  132  in association with one of the printers  10 . 1  to  10 . 7 . 
         [0084]    Referring now to  FIGS. 24 and 25  of the drawings, a further ICE unit  170  is provided. In this embodiment, the ICE unit  170 , in addition to a CD player  172  and a radio having controls  174 , includes a full color LCD  176 . The ICE unit  170  further functions as a satellite navigation unit and may also be used for receiving television signals. The unit  170  incorporates a printer  10  of the type described above. The unit  170  includes controls  178 . These controls  178  are GPS controls and are used for satellite navigation purposes. In addition, a further bank of controls  180  is provided for controlling the printer  10 . 
         [0085]    With this unit  170 , a map, or the like, can be downloaded and printed via the printer  10  or images from the LCD  176  when it is used as a television receiver can be printed via the printer  10 . 
         [0086]    The unit  170  shown in  FIG. 25  of the drawings, once again, incorporates a slot  182  for receiving a digital camera  184 . The slot  182  and the digital camera  184  therefore have corresponding electrical contacts for enabling data to be downloaded from the digital camera  184  to be printed on the printer  10 . 
         [0087]    Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that an in-vehicle printer  10  is provided for enabling suitable materials to be downloaded and printed rapidly. Further, the fact that the printhead  34  of the printer  10  uses a pagewidth, full color printhead means that high quality images can be printed using the printer  10 . It will also be appreciated that, due to the fact that the printhead  34  is a pagewidth printhead and does not traverse the media on which an image is being printed, it is less susceptible to jolting, bumping or other such disturbances. In other words, it is less likely to produce a poor quality image even if printing is taking place while the vehicle is moving. 
         [0088]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a number of specific embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can be embodied in many other forms without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.