Patent ID: 6906778

Claim:
An apparatus for recording and generating images, the apparatus comprising a printing unit that comprises: a carrier dimensioned to approximate a PCMCIA memory card, a media supply being receivable in the carrier; a page width print head assembly that is mounted in the carrier to print images on the media, the page width print head assembly including at least one print head chip and a suitable printing microprocessor that is configured to control operation of the print head chip; an ink distribution arrangement including an ink storage and feed structure that is in fluid communication with a channeling structure, the ink storage and feed structure including a pair of outer ink reservoirs and a pair of rows of ink storage channels, the channeling structure including a pair of rows of feed channels, each feed channel being in fluid communication with a storage channel and at least one nozzle of the printhead chip so that ink can be fed from the outer ink reservoirs to a nozzle arrangement of the print head chip, wherein at least some of the storage channels and the feed channels have progressively decreasing cross-section towards the printhead chip; and a media feed mechanism positioned in the carrier to feed media to and from the print head chip; and an image recordal apparatus, configured for releasable engagement with the printing unit, the apparatus comprising a housing in which the carrier is received, the housing being dimensioned to define a sleeve for the carrier so that at least half the carrier is received in the housing; an image sensing device that is positioned on the housing to sense an image to be generated; an image sensing microprocessor that is positioned in the housing and is operatively arranged with respect to the image sensing device to control operation of the image sensing device; wherein both the printing unit and the image recordal apparatus have complementary releasable data connectors so that the image sensing microprocessor can communicate image data to the printing microprocessor of the printing unit.