Patent Publication Number: US-9403386-B2

Title: Service module position within printer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/750,554, filed on Jan. 25, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A printer may include a print media path to move and/or route print media through the printer, a print engine to print on the print media, a duplexer to facilitate printing on both sides of the print media, and a service station to service the print engine. For use in an office environment, printer features such as printed media being output face-down in an output bin (for example, for security, confidential, and/or privacy concerns), minimal occupied footprint, and/or convenient use height, may be considered. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one example o an inkjet printing system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of one example of a printhead assembly of an inkjet printing system. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of one example of a layout of a portion of a printer. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of one example of a media handling layout of the printer of  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method of operating a printer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of examples of the present disclosure can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one example of an inkjet printing system  10 . Inkjet printing system  10  includes a fluid ejection assembly, such as printhead assembly  12 , and a fluid supply assembly, such as ink supply assembly  14 . In the illustrated example, inkjet printing system  10  also includes a carriage assembly  16 , a print media transport assembly  18 , a service station assembly  20 , and an electronic controller  22 . 
     Printhead assembly  12  includes one or more printheads or fluid ejection devices which eject drops of ink or fluid through a plurality of orifices or nozzles  13 . In one example, the drops are directed toward a medium, such as print media  19 , so as to print onto print media  19 . Print media  19  includes any type of suitable sheet material, such as paper, card stock, transparencies, Mylar, fabric, and the like. Typically, nozzles  13  are arranged in one or more columns or arrays such that properly sequenced ejection of ink from nozzles  13  causes characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images to be printed upon print media  19  as printhead assembly  12  and print media  19  are moved relative to each other. 
     Ink supply assembly  14  supplies ink to printhead assembly  12  and includes a reservoir  15  for storing ink. As such, in one example, ink flows from reservoir  15  to printhead assembly  12 . In one example, printhead assembly  12  and ink supply assembly  14  are housed together in an inkjet or fluid-jet print cartridge or pen. In another example, ink supply assembly  14  is separate from printhead assembly  12  and supplies ink to printhead assembly  12  through an interface connection, such as a supply tube. 
     Carriage assembly  16  positions printhead assembly  12  relative to print media transport assembly  18  and print media transport assembly  18  positions print media  19  relative to printhead assembly  12 . Thus, a print zone  17  is defined adjacent to nozzles  13  in an area between printhead assembly  12  and print media  19 . In one example, printhead assembly  12  is a scanning type printhead assembly such that carriage assembly  16  moves printhead assembly  12  relative to print media transport assembly  18 . In another example, printhead assembly  12  is a non-scanning type printhead assembly such that carriage assembly  16  fixes printhead assembly  12  at a prescribed position relative to print media transport assembly  18 . 
     Service station assembly  20  provides for spitting, wiping, capping, and/or priming of printhead assembly  12  in order to maintain a functionality of printhead assembly  12  and, more specifically, nozzles  13 . For example, service station assembly  20  may include a rubber blade or wiper which is periodically passed over printhead assembly  12  to wipe and clean nozzles  13  of excess ink. In addition, service station assembly  20  may include a cap which covers printhead assembly  12  to protect nozzles  13  from drying out during periods of non-use, in addition, service station assembly  20  may include a spittoon into which printhead assembly  12  ejects ink to insure that reservoir  15  maintains an appropriate level of pressure and fluidity, and insure that nozzles  13  do not clog or weep. Functions of service station assembly  20  may include relative motion between service station assembly  20  and printhead assembly  12 . Electronic controller  22  communicates with printhead assembly  12 , carriage assembly  16 , print media transport assembly  18 , and service station assembly  20 . Thus, in one example, when printhead assembly  12  is mounted in carriage assembly  16 , electronic controller  22  and printhead assembly  12  communicate via carriage assembly  16 . Electronic controller  22  also communicates with ink supply assembly  14  such that, in one implementation, a new (or used) ink supply may be detected, and a level of ink in the ink supply may be detected. 
     Electronic controller  22  receives data  23  from a host system, such as a computer, and may include memory for temporarily storing data  23 . Data  23  may be sent to inkjet printing system  10  along an electronic, infrared, optical or other information transfer path. Data  23  represents, for example, a document and/or file to be printed. As such, data  23  forms a print job for inkjet printing system  10  and includes one or more print job commands and/or command parameters. 
     In one example, electronic controller  22  provides control of printhead assembly  12  including timing control for ejection of ink drops from nozzles  13 . As such, electronic controller  22  defines a pattern of ejected ink drops which form characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images on print media  19 . Timing control and, therefore, the pattern of ejected ink drops, is determined by the print job commands and/or command parameters. In one example, logic and drive circuitry forming a portion of electronic controller  22  is located on printhead assembly  12 . In another example, logic and drive circuitry forming a portion of electronic controller  22  is located off printhead assembly  12 . 
     In one example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , printhead assembly  12  is a wide-array or multi-head printhead assembly and includes a carrier  1601 , as an example of carriage assembly  16 , and a plurality of printhead dies  1201  mounted on carrier  1601 . In one implementation, printhead dies  1201  are arranged and aligned in one or more overlapping rows (as oriented in  FIG. 2 ) such that printhead dies  1201  in one row overlap at least one printhead die  1201  in another row. As such, printhead assembly  12  may span a nominal page width or a width shorter or longer than a nominal page width. For example, printhead assembly  12  may span 8.5 inches of a Letter size print medium or a distance greater than or less than 8.5 inches of the Letter size print medium. While four printhead dies  1201  are illustrated as being mounted on carrier  1601 , the number of printhead dies  1201  mounted on carrier  1601  may vary. 
     In one implementation, printhead assembly  12 , as a wide-array or multi-head printhead assembly including printhead dies  1201 , is a non-scanning type printhead assembly such that carrier  1601  fixes printhead assembly  12  at a prescribed position relative to print media transport assembly  18  ( FIG. 1 ). With a position of printhead assembly  12  fixed, print media  19  ( FIG. 1 ) is moved or advanced relative to printhead assembly  12  during printing. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of one example of a layout of a portion of a printer  100 . In one implementation, printer  100  includes one or more input trays  110  to supply print media  102 , as an example of print media  19 , a print engine  120  to print on print media  102 , an output tray or bin  130  to receive printed print media  102 , a duplex module  140  to facilitate two-sided printing on print media  102 , and one or more service modules  150  to service print engine  120 . 
     Input trays  110 , as described below, supply a bulk quantity of print media  102  or supply a single quantity of print media  102  to print engine  120  for printing on print media  102  by print engine  120 . In one implementation, input trays  110  include a main media tray  110   a , an accessory or auxiliary media tray  110   b , and a manual or bypass media tray  1100  (also known as a multi-purpose tray). In one example, main media tray  110   a  and/or auxiliary media tray  110   b  each have a 500 sheet capacity (i.e., one ream). 
     In one implementation, bypass media tray  110   c  includes a door  112  which is selectively opened (and closed) (as indicated by the double arrow) to facilitate manual input of print media  102  to printer  100 . More specifically, bypass media tray  110   c  receives manual input of print media  102  from externally of printer  100  such that print media  102  is directed to print engine  120  for printing, as described below. Print media manually input to printer  100  may include, for example, envelopes, letterhead, checks, or other print media suited for single or manual input. 
     Print engine  120  can be a laser print engine, an inkjet print engine, or any other type of print engine. in one implementation, a print area or print zone  122  is defined in which printing on print media  102  by print engine  120  occurs. In one example, printer  100  is implemented as an inkjet printing system, such as inkjet printing system  10 , and print engine  120  includes, for example, printhead assembly  12 . When print engine  120  is implemented as an example of printhead assembly  12 , print zone  122  includes print zone  17  as defined between printhead assembly  12  and print media  19  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Output bin  130  is provided at an end of a print media path through printer  100 , as described below. In one implementation, output bin  130  holds printed output in a face-down orientation (i.e., the side of the print media just printed by the print engine faces the output bin when the printed print media is output), By providing face-down output in output bin  130 , security, confidential, and/or privacy concerns are addressed since a front of the printed print media  102  is not visible. In addition, with face-down output in output bin  130 , a correct print order of a multi-page print job may be achieved in that a first page of the multi-page print job may be printed first and output first (FIFO). As such, processing time of a multi-page print job may be minimized since each page of the multi-page print job may be processed in-order (i.e., first to last) as compared to reverse processing of a multi-page print (i.e., last page first) and outputting of the multi-page print job in a face-up orientation. 
     Duplex module  140  can be operated to facilitate printing on both sides of print media  102 , as described below. In addition, service modules  150   a  and/or  150   b  provide for servicing of print engine  120 , and may be implemented as examples of service station assembly  20  to provide for spitting, wiping, capping and/or priming of printhead assembly  12 , as described above, when print engine  120  is implemented as an example of printhead assembly  12 . 
     In one example, an access door  114  (openable in the direction indicated by arrow  115 ) is provided at a side of printer  100  adjacent print engine  120  and duplex module  140 , and adjacent the print media path provided through printer  100  described below, to provide access, for example, for the clearance of print media jams. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of one example of a media handling layout of printer  100 . The media handling layout of printer  100  may include a variety of guides, rollers, wheels, etc. to achieve the handling and routing of print media described below. As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , printer  100  includes a print media path  200  which routes print media  102  through printer  100  for printing on print media  102  by print engine  120 . More specifically, print media path  200  routes print media  102  from one or more of input trays  110 , to and through print zone  122  of print engine  120 , and to output bin  130 . 
     In one implementation, print media path  200  includes an input path portion  202 , a print path portion  204 , and an output path portion  206 . Input path portion  202  communicates with and receives input of print media  102  from main media tray  110   a , accessory or auxiliary media tray  110   b , and/or bypass media tray  110   c  such that, in one implementation, input path portion  202  provides a common input path for all three media trays. Print path portion  204  communicates with and receives print media  102  from input path portion  202 , and directs print media  102  through print zone  122  for printing on print media  102  by print engine  120 . Output path portion  206  communicates with and receives print media  102  from print path portion  204 , and directs printed print media  102  for output at output bin  130 . 
     In one implementation, print path portion  204  of print media path  200  includes a portion which directs print media  102  through print zone  122  in a direction indicated by arrow  204   a , and output path portion  206  of print media path  200  includes a portion which directs print media  102  toward output bin  130  in a direction indicated by arrow  206   a . In one example, the direction indicated by arrow  204   a  is substantially horizontal, and the direction indicated by arrow  206   a  is substantially vertical such that the direction indicated by arrow  206   a  is substantially perpendicular to the direction indicated by arrow  204   a.    
     In one implementation, a main media path portion  202   a  communicates with and extends between main media tray  110   a  and input path portion  202 , and an auxiliary media path portion  202   b  communicates with and extends between auxiliary media tray  110   b  and input path portion  202 . In one example, auxiliary media path portion  202   b  includes a C-shaped or reversing path portion to accommodate different size print media in auxiliary media tray  110   b  as compared with main media tray  110   a  (for example, longer media as noted by L 2  versus L 1 ). More specifically, with auxiliary media path portion  202   b  providing a C-shaped or a reversing path portion, a right side of main media tray  110   a  and a right side of auxiliary media tray  110   b  (as oriented in the drawings) may be aligned with each other while a common input path (for example, input path portion  202 ) may be maintained. 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , printer  100  includes a bypass media path  210  which communicates with and extends between bypass media tray  110   c  and input path portion  202  of print media path  200 . As such, bypass media path  210  communicates to an exterior of printer  100  to receive print media  102  from externally of printer  100  and direct print media  102  to input path portion  202  of print media path  200 . 
     In one implementation, bypass media path  210  includes a bypass path portion  212  which directs print media  102  to print media path  200  in a direction indicated by arrow  212   a . In one example, the direction indicated by arrow  212   a  is in a direction opposite the direction indicated by arrow  204   a  such that the direction that bypass path portion  212  directs print media  102  to print media path  200  (i.e., input path portion  202 ) is opposite the direction that print path portion  204  directs print media  102  through print zone  122 . As such, a compact arrangement of print media path  200  and bypass media path  210  is obtained. 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , printer  100  includes a duplex media path  220  which receives print media  102  and redirects print media  102  to print media path  200 , including, for example, to print path portion  204 , to facilitate printing on a second side of print media  102 . More specifically, after print media  102  is printed on a first side, duplex media path  220  reverses an orientation of print media  102  (i.e., “flips” print media  102 ) such that print media  102  is oriented for printing on a second side. After print media  102  is printed on the second side, print media  102  is routed by print media path portion  200 , including, for example, by output path portion  206 , to output bin  130 , as described above. 
     In one implementation, duplex media path  220  includes a reversing path portion  222  and a duplexing path portion  224 . In one example, reversing path portion  222  is provided by a portion of output path portion  206  such that reversing path portion  222  coincides with output path portion  206 . As such, reversing path portion  222  receives print media  102  from print path portion  204  and reverses a direction of print media  102 , as indicated by arrow  222   a , thereby reversing an orientation of print media  102  for duplex printing. 
     In one example, output path portion  206  is of sufficient length such that print media  102  in reversing path portion  222  remains concealed within printer  100  while a direction of print media  102  is reversed. As such, print media  102  is not exposed externally of printer  100  during a duplex operation. Thus, a user is prevented from touching or pulling print media  102  during a duplex operation. 
     Duplexing path portion  224  receives print media  102  from reversing path portion  222  and redirects print media  102  to print path portion  204  of print media path  200  (for example, via input path portion  202 ). In one implementation, during redirection of print media  102  to print path portion  204 , duplexing path portion  224  includes a portion which directs print media  102  in a direction indicated by arrow  224   a . In one example, the direction indicated by arrow  224   a  is opposite the direction indicated by arrow  204   a  such that the direction that duplexing path portion  224  directs print media  102  to print path portion  204  is opposite the direction that print path portion  204  directs print media  102  through print zone  122 . As such, a compact arrangement of print media path  200  and duplex media path  220  is obtained. 
     In one example, one sheet of print media  102  may be routed through duplex media path  220  while another sheet of print media  102  is being routed through print media path  200  including, more specifically, while another sheet of print media  102  is being routed through print path portion  204  and print zone  122 . Thus, increased throughput may be achieved since duplexing of one sheet (i.e., flipping) and printing of another sheet may be performed in parallel. 
     As schematically illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , components of printer  100  are arranged to provide a compact and efficient design of printer  100 . For example, duplex module  140  is positioned adjacent and laterally of main media tray  110   a  and “overlaps” main media tray  110   a  in a vertical position or direction. As such, duplexing path portion  224  is positioned adjacent and laterally of main media tray  110   a  within a height (H) of main media tray  110   a.  Thus, main media tray  110   a  can accommodate a larger quantity of print media (for example, 500 sheets) without increasing a total height of printer  100 . In addition, bypass media path  210  is positioned adjacent and laterally of main media tray  110  and bypass media tray  110   c  overlaps main media tray  110   a  in a vertical position or direction. As such, bypass path portion  212  is positioned adjacent and laterally of main media tray  110  within a height (H) of main media tray  110   a.    
     In one implementation, service module  150   a  is combined with duplex module  140  and is positioned adjacent and laterally of main media tray  110   a  in an area under print zone  122  and print engine  120 . In addition, service module  150   b  is positioned adjacent and laterally of print engine  120  in an area above main media tray  110   a  such that print engine  120  is moved vertically (as indicated by double arrow  120   a ) and service module  150   b  is moved horizontally (as indicated by double arrow  150   c ) to service print engine  120 . As such, service module  150   a  is positioned adjacent and laterally of main media tray  110   a  within a height (H) of main media tray  1108 , and service module  150   b  is positioned vertically of main media tray  110   a  within a width (W) of main media tray during non-servicing of print engine  120 . Accordingly, a compact and efficient design of printer  100  is obtained, In addition, with space provided above service module  150   b  within a height of print engine  120 , output bin  130  can accommodate a larger quantity of printed print media (for example, 500 sheets) without increasing a total height of printer  100 . 
     In one implementation, output bin  130  “overlaps” a footprint of (or is “nested” within) printer  100  such that minimal overhang of outputted print media  102  occurs beyond output bin  130 . In addition, bypass media tray  110   c  is provided with an opening extending into printer  100  whereby bypass media tray  110   c  “overlaps” a footprint of (or is “nested” within) printer  100  such that minimal overhang of inputted print media  102  occurs beyond bypass media tray  110   c . As such, with minimal overhang of outputted print media  102  from output bin  130  and minimal overhang of inputted print media  102  from bypass media tray  110   c , an operational width of printer  100  and, therefore, an occupied footprint of printer  100 , may be reduced. 
     In one implementation, a storage space  160  is provided below output bin  130  in an area above service module  150   b , and, in one example, is provided laterally of an area of print engine  120 . In one example, output bin  130  forms a roof profile of storage space  160 . In addition, in one example, storage space  160  is an open (or exposed) storage space such that storage space  160 , in one example, is open to a front of printer  100 , or, in another example, is open to both a front and a back of printer  100 . Thus, in one implementation, storage space  160  is permanently open to a front of printer  100 , or, in another implementation, is permanently open to a front and a back of printer  100 . As such, storage space  160  may provide an area for convenient storage of items usable or associated with printer  100 , such as, for example, additional print media, a stapler, etc.  FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method  300  of operating a printer, such as printer  100 . With method  300 , at  310 , print media, such as print media  102 , is received from a media tray, such as main media tray  110   a , as schematically illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 . The print media may also be received from auxiliary media tray  110   b  or bypass media tray  110   c,  also as schematically illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 . 
     At  320 , the print media, such as print media  102 , is directed through a print zone of the printer, such as print zone  122  of printer  100 , in a first direction, such as direction  204   a , as schematically illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 . More specifically, the print media is directed along a print media path, such as print media path  200 , as schematically illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 . In one example, the print media is directed along an input path, such as input path portion  202 , and directed along a print path, such as print path portion  204 , in the direction indicated by arrow  204   a . As such, print engine  120  may print on the print media as the print media is routed through print zone  122 . 
     At  330 , the print media, such as print media  102 , is received from the print zone, such as print zone  122 , and redirected to the print zone, such as print zone  122 , as schematically illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 . More specifically, redirecting the print media to the print zone includes directing the print media in a second direction opposite the first direction, such as the direction indicated by arrow  224   a . In one example, redirecting the print media to the print zone includes directing the print media along a duplexing path portion positioned laterally of the main media tray within a height of the main media tray, such as duplexing path portion  224  positioned adjacent and laterally of main media tray  110   a  within height (H) of main media tray  110   a , as schematically illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 . 
     Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.