Cartridge including adhesive coated print media and an ink supply

A CARTRIDGE INCLUDING ADHESIVE COATED PRINT MEDIA AND AN INK SUPPLY

PCT/AU99/00985

WO 00/28379

Field of the Invention.,,.

The present inventions relate to prmtmg devices and more particu ar y 0 _־ printing devtce «»״ “^soc1at־d “״״‘ ׳’״““'”־ ““““ cartridges and the like.

Background of the Invention ־־JJJJjrb״־־d־v־i־p־dmth־pr־f^d_t0m־״u־lt־־d_rap-־־. demand inkjet printing technology »4 ·״«״*»י״ ״ However, in most instances the invent! ve aspects are equally appliaab'e^{10 3}V^{s em£}

Disclosure of the Invention _In accordance with a ta aspect of the invention there is provided a stteta printing digital camera device, said device including;

sticker storage means;

sticker feed means;

an image sensor for sensing an image, aomternalinkjetprintheadoperativelyassociatcd wilh said image sensor and or a modification thereof, an ink supply; and means to deliver ink to said printhead.

Preferably, the device is sized and packaged so as to be readily po more preferably so as to be hand held.

The sticker printer ־nd camera device can forth« comprise ״nag־ effect ״־־mg means for setting an image eff־« to be applied »the sensed image; and mage sensor and adapted to modify the sensed image in accordance with the current settmg of the image effect setting means.

The image effect setting means can comprise adialorasliderhavmganiim of effect images indicated them״־· The sticker supply ־־d the ink supply ־1־

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-2preferably replenishable and at least one preferably includes an associated authentication system.

Cutting means for severing printed portions of the printed stickers may also be provided.

Preferably the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a cartridge for a printing device, said cartridge including:

a cartridge casing defining a first container portion for housing therein a supply of adhesive coated print media and a second container portion for storing an ink supply.

Preferably, the cartridge includes some form of authentication means that is recognisable by the printing device.

Desirably, the ink storage container portion of the cartridge includes one or more ink outlets that are piercable upon installation so as to connect with an ink distribution unit on the printing device.

In the preferred form, the casing housing the sticker rollers of a generally annular configuration with the ink storage container extending outwardly therefrom. Preferably, the cartridge casing is adapted to snap fit with the device with which it is to be used.

In one particularly preferred form, the cartridge is sized and configured for use with a sticker printing digital camera device of the kind described hereafter.

The third aspect of the present invention therefore provides a printer including a printing means, a print media transport means, an ink storage means, a fluidic connection between said ink storage means and said printing means, and a data connection means for transferring print data to said printing means, wherein said data connection means is a PC card (PCMCIA) interface.

Preferably the print media transport means is associated with a docking bay adapted to receive a paper cartridge and arranged to transport paper from the cartridge past the printing means.

Preferably the printer is contained within a support case, and wherein the PC card interface protrudes from one end of the case.

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-3Preferably the printing means comprise an inkjet printhead.

Preferably the printhead is a pagewidth inject printhead.

In one form of the invention the sheet paper cartridge is adapted to hold business card size sheets of paper and the assembled cartridge and printer are approximately the size of a PCMCIA type III card.

Preferably the printhead includes an array of ink ejection nozzles, each nozzle communicating with a chamber incorporating a paddle moved by a thermal bend actuator adapted to be activated for the ejection of ink on demand from the nozzle.

The fourth aspect of the present invention therefore provides a print on demand 10 camera system comprising a camera unit incorporating a lens, an image sensor, image processing means, a power supply and a PCMCIA interface arranged to receive a signal from the image sensor via the image processing means, and a detachable printer unit having a PCMCIA interface engageable with the camera unit.

Preferably the printer unit has a support case with the PCMCIA interface protruding from one end of the case.

Preferably the printer unit includes a page width inkjet printhead, and a docking bay adapted to receive a paper cartridge and arranged to feed paper from the cartridge past the printhead.

Preferably the docking bay is adapted to receive a sheet paper cartridge.

In one form of the invention the sheet paper cartridge is adapted to hold business card size sheets of paper and the assembled cartridge and printer are approximately the size of a PCMCIA type III card.

Preferably the printhead includes an array of ink ejection nozzles, each nozzle communicating with a chamber incorporating a paddle moved by a thermal bend 25 actuator adapted to be activated for the ej ection of ink on demand from the nozzle.

In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer unit incorporating a printhead, a print controller chip arranged to control the printhead, and ink and paper supply means, said printer unit being configured to fit witbin a personal computer type disk drive bay.

preferably the printhead is a pagewidth inkjet printhead.

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-4Preferably the ink and paper supply means are provided within a demountable cartridge.

Preferably the demountable cartridge is elongate in shape and adapted to be inserted into the printer unit in a longitudinal direction.

Preferably the printer unit is rotatably mounted to a sub-frame configured to fit within the disk drive bay so that the printer unit is rotatable between an operational position wherein paper from the paper supply means is adapted to be ejected from the front of the disk drive bay and a loading position wherein the demountable cartridge is adapted to be inserted longitudinally into the printer unit.

Preferably the printer unit is rotated approximately 90° between the operational position and the loading position.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand held mobile phone device with integral internal print apparatus and print media supply, said device comprising:

a mobile telephone unit for transmitting and receiving signals;

an internal print media storage unit;

processing means for processing said received and transmitted signals into a printable form;

a printhead and ink distribution unit assembly attached to said processing means 20 for printing out said processed signals onto said print media; and print media feed means to feed said print media from said storage means to said printhead for printing of said processed signal information thereon.

In a first prefened form the print media comprises paper or card sheets. The cards are preferably substantially the size of an average business card. Desirably the 25 printhead and the card storage unit form a snap fit with the mobile telephone unit.

In a second preferred form the print media is in the form of a paper print roll and more preferably the print roll is provided in a cartridge that also includes an integral ink supply.

The printhead can comprise a single unit of the width of the paper or cards and 30 may be formed via semiconductor fabrication techniques.

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-צThe card storage unit can be detachable from the apparatus. The printhead ⁰¹י printhead and ink distribution unit assembly can be separately detachable from the phone apparatus and the print media storage unit.

The printhead can comprise a full colour printhead attached via an ink distribution unit to a series of ink supply reservoirs to supply separate colours to each of the colours of the printhead.

The printhead can comprise an array of ink ejection nozzle arrangements wherein liquid can be ejected by means of activation of a corresponding thermal bend actuator attached to each of the nozzle arrangements.

The printhead preferably can include a series of attached ink supply reservoirs with a first reservoir being substantially larger then the others. The printhead and ink distribution unit and/or the print roll cartridge preferably can include an authentication chip which ensures use of only approved consumables and which can also be used to set a predetermined amount of usage of each item.

The hand held mobile phone can be of any kind and utilising any communications system so long as the transmitted signals can be processed into a printable form. Examples of suitable phone types and/or communications systems include GSM. CDMA, PHS, satellite phone systems, and third generation (3G) internet connected mobile phone systems including GPRS and WCDMA.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand held mobile phone device with integral internal print apparatus, said device comprising:

a mobile telephone unit for transmitting and receiving signals;

processing means for processing said received and transmitted signals into a printable form;

a printhead and ink distribution unit assembly attached to said processing means for printing out said processed signals onto a print media; and print media feed means to feed print media received from a supply external of said phone device to said printhead for printing □f said processed signal information thereon.

Preferably, the print media comprises paper or card sheets.

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-6The printhead can comprise a single unit of the width of the print media and may be formed via semiconductor fabrication techniques.

Desirably, the printhead or printhead and ink distribution unit assembly is detachable from the phone device. In the preferred form the printhead is part of a sub5 assembly also including an inlc distribution unit and ink supply, hereinafter referred to as a printhead and ink supply module.

The printhead can comprise a full colour printhead attached via an ink distribution unit to a series of ink supply reservoirs to supply separate colours to each of the colours of the printhead.

Ina preferred form, the printhead comprises an array of ink ejection nozzle arrangements wherein liquid can be ejected by means of corresponding actuators attached to ejection paddles associated with each of the nozzle arrangements. Preferably, the actuators are thermal bend actuators.

The printhead and ink supply module preferably includes an ink distribution unit 15 connected with a series of attached ink supply reservoirs, with a first reservoir being substantially larger than the others which is preferably used to store black ink. The printhead and the ink distribution unit assembly or printhead and ink supply module optionally forms a releasable snap fit with the mobile telephone unit.

The printhead or printhead and inlc distribution unit assembly also preferably 20 includes an authentication means that in the preferred embodiment is in the form of an authentication chip. This enables the use of only approved consumables with the phone device and also optionally records use and consumption data and which may be used to allow for only a predetermined amount of usage of the printhead or printhead and ink supply module.

The print media can be fed into the printer phone manually. Alternatively, a print media dispensing device can be used that preferably includes.

a print media storage region having a dispensing outlet;

a printer phone cradle to support said printer phone and align a print media inlet thereon with the dispensing outlet of the print media storage region; and

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-7a dispensing ejector mechanism operable to eject a predetermined quantity of print media through the dispensing outlet and into the printer phone print media inlet for engagement with an associated print media feed means provided in said phone.

Desirably, the print media is in the form of card or paper sheets.

Preferably, the ejector mechanism comprises a slider operable to select and engage one of the card or paper sheets and drive it through the dispensing outlet.

Desirably, the print media storage means includes a means to bias a supply of print media disposed therein toward said ejector mechanism and into alignment with said dispensing outlet.

While the preferred telephone unit of the invention is a PHS phone device, the invention is equally applicable to any type of mobile phone utilising any communications system, so long as the transmitted signals can be processed into a printable form. Examples of other suitable phone types and/or communication systems include GSM, CDMA satellite phone systems and third generation internet connected mobile phone (3G) systems including GPRS & WCDMA.

In accordance with a first form of the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game console device including:

means to receive detachable interactive program storage means for execution by said console;

processing and operating means for executing said interactive program stored on said detachable interactive program storage means, said program execution causing the generation of images for display on an image display means;

communication means to enable operational interaction from control devices during execution of said program; and an integral printer apparatus including a printhead, ink supply unit, and print media feed means;

said printer apparatus being operatively associated with said processing and operating means to print out on to print media images relevant to said interactive program.

I״ the preferred form, the console is designed for use with a detachable controller module that includes a variety of interactive control devices such as

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-8joysticks and control buttons etc. This controller may communicate with the console by wireless communication means such as the new “Bluetooth” system or by cable or other suitable communication means.

Preferably, the integral printer apparatus includes an internal print media supply 5 unit.

In the preferred form, the print media is in the form of sheets of paper or card and the print media supply unit and ink supply unit are jointly housed in a replaceable cartridge assembly.

In one particularly preferred form, the replaceable cartridge includes a print 10 media feed roller device that interacts with a non-replaceable print media feed mechanism provided within the console.

Desirably, the interactive program is activated to print out images via the printer apparatus at certain predetermined positions in the program.

The printer apparatus preferably comprises an inlcjet printer that is optionally in 15 the form of a pagewidth array of ink ejection nozzles which eject ink by means of a series of actuators. Preferably, the actuators are thermal bend actuators.

In a preferred form, the detachable program storage means is in the form of a Digital Video Disk also known as a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) executable by a DVD player. In other similarly preferred forms CD-ROMs and semiconductor 20 memory cartridges can be used in place of DVDs with appropriate drives or connectors, hardware and software.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a digital cartridge for a printing device, the cartridge including a casing having:

a first portion for housing therein a supply of print media;

a print media exit opening; and an integral media transport mechanism disposed upon operation to pick up and drive an amount of said print media through said exit opening.

In tlie preferred form, the cartridge includes a second storage portion for housing therein a supply of ink.

Desirably, the print media transport mechanism comprises a pick up roller assembly and more particularly includes:

WO 00/28379 PCT/AU99/00985 *9 a drive shaft;

pick up rollers secured to the drive shaft; and a drive gear, the shaft and rollers being captively supported within the casing.

Preferably tlie drive gear is positioned to be external to the casing to engage a powered corresponding gear provided on the printing device with which it is to be used. Alternatively an opening may be provided in the casing to facilitate this engagement with the powered gear of the printer device.

Desirably, the ink. storage portion is segregated into a plurality of distinct chambers for storing a supply of different coloured inks.

Preferably, the ink is stored within the second ink storage portion in a collapsible bladder. The bladder may be in the form of a fully flexible sealed bag which locates within an external rigid casing. More preferably, the ink can be stored within a region defined on one side by a rigid portion of the casing to which has been sealed a collapsible membrane which defines the other side. Desirably, at least a portion of the rigid housing adjacent the side of the collapsible membrane or bag that is not in fluid communication with the ink, includes vent means to facilitate ingress of air to allow the membrane to collapse as the ink supply is consumed.

In the preferred form, the ink storage portion also includes one or more ink outlets each having a seal which is piercable upon connection with the printing device. Desirably, these outlets are in the form of nozzle connections adapted for attachment with an ink distribution connection provided on the printer.

Preferably, the digital printing device is a drop-on-demand inkjet printing device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred examples of the inventions will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the sticker printing camera according to the first aspect of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the sticker printing camera of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a left hand side view of the sticker printing camera of the previous figures;

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-10Fig. 4 is a right hand side view of the sticker printing camera of the previous figures;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the sticker printing camera device as shown in Fig. 1 including the sticker printroll and ink cartridge;

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the sticker printing camera from the previous figures with the .uppermost cover portions removed to illustrate the sticker storage area, ink supply, feeder and printer mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the printer mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figs. 1-5;

Fig. 9 is a part sectioned top plan view showing detail of the printer mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the sticker roll and ink cartridge;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the sticker roll and ink cartridge shown with the base 15 moulding removed;

Fig. 12 is a front view showing the interaction of the cartridge with the printer mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the major components of the electrical control circuitry of the sticker printing camera;

Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Preferred embodiments of the various aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to figures 1 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

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-11The preferred embodiment of the first and second aspects of the invention comprises a sticker printing camera able to print stickers on demand on a replenishable printroll. The “stickercam” 1 as illustrated in the accompanying figures has a multi-part housing defined by an external front cover moulding 2, an internal sub-structure and rear molding 3, a sticker and ink cartridge molding 4 and an external rear coyer 5.

The housing in the illustrated preferred form is generally tear drop shaped in elevation, the generally circular portion 6 being adapted to store stickers in a printroll form and the remaining portion housing the ink supply 7, printhead assembly 30 and sticker feed mechanism 27.

The view finder 10 is also disposed at or near the centre of the circular portion 6 and extends fully through the casing from the front cover modding 2 to an optional eye piece 11 on the rear. Provided immediately below the view finder 10 at the front of the casing is a camera lens 12 which is operatively associated with the suitable image sensing and processing means such as the CCD 13׳ shown in figure 13. Further, a¹‘/take” button U is provided at the top of the casing together with ax/print” button 15 for taking and printing images respectively.

The preferred “stickercam” as illustrated also includes an “effects dial” 16 which is rotatable so as to implement a series of effects such as normal, black and white, sepia, soft blending, etc. It can also be used for the addition of graphical clip arts such as love hearts, flowers, surprise effects etc. On the dial, a series of icon pictures may be provided on which is printed an indicator of the effect. The effect placed at the indicator marker 17 is the one then applied by the camera. The effect dial can be implemented by placing a series of conductive segments on the reverse side of the wheel with the conductive segments forming a binary pattern indicative of the type of effect to be displayed. The segments can complete a circuit monitorable by the stickercam so as to provide for the effect.

In the preferred form, the stickers are provided in the form of a sticker roll 18 which is preferably housed in a cartridge assembly 19 which is releasably secured to the external casing. The cartridge is of a similar shape and structure to the external housing and comprises a top molding 20 which defines a generally annular sticker roll

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-12containing portion 21 with a generally triangular sectioned ink storage section 22. The ink storage section is preferably divided into a plurality of distinct chambers 23 so as to provide for both colour and black and white printing. Two slots are also provided in the side wall of the cartridge top molding, the first being a sticker exit slot 24 and the second being a pick up roller slot 25 which forms part of the sticker feed mechanism 27 that is described in more detail below. The cartridge assembly 19 also includes a base molding 28 which seals both the sticker roll cavity and the ink chambers. Preferably, ink outlet perforations 29 are provided in the base molding that are covered by a sealing film that is pierced during installation so as to be in fluid communication with a printhead assembly 30. Desirably, the cartridge is a sealed unit such that the stickers and ink supply are to be replenished simultaneously. Conveniently, the cartridge may be snap fitted with the external housing by means of pressure snap mounts 31 shown in the drawings.

The sticker feed mechanism 27 and printhead assembly 30 are best illustrated in figures 2, 5, 7, 9 and 13. The sticker feed mechanism 27 includes a pick up roller 32 which spools the stickers forward once the cartridge has been inserted in the outer housing. Adjacent the pick up roller are several pairs of drive rollers or nip rollers 33 which are operated via an appropriate gear chain 34 by the motor 35. A serrated cutter 36 may also be provided as part of the feed sub-assembly and arranged so as to be adjacent the printed sticker outlet 37 that is formed as part of the housing front cover molding 2. Alternatively, a guillotine type arrangement could be provided.

The printhead mechanism 30 is best shown in figures 6 and 7 and comprises a page width printhead chip 40 with an ink distribution unit 41. Forming part of the ink distribution unit is an ink supply connection manifold 42 which has a plurality of ink inlet projections 43 which engage the ink outlet perforations 29 on the sticker foil and ink cartridge assembly 19. Preferably, the printer mechanism and sticker feed \mechanism are a single unit and are detachable for replacement or repair.

Turning now to figure 13 (and figure 5), there is shown a schematic arrangement of a part of the electrical circuitry for the control and operation of the stickercam device. As can be seen, a simple flexible PCB harness can be used to interconnect the take and print buttons 14 and 15 to the CCD 13 and the printhead assembly 30. Also

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-13provided as part of the circuit are contacts 45 for the power supply which is preferably in the form of a three volt battery 46. Further, the detachable printhead and/or sticker and ink supply cartridge preferably include an authentication mechanism such as that outlined in applicant’s earlier PCT specification WO 99/04368 entitled “A camera with an internal printing system”. The authentication chip contact 47 is shown in figure 13.

In use, the “stickercam” is oriented toward the target subject and the take button 14 is then operated to capture the image. The effects dial 16 can then be rotated and an effect selected. When the print button 15 is then operated the sticker feed mechanism 27 delivers the next sticker or portion of sticker media to the printhead assembly 30 for printing of the effect processed image thereon.

Numerous variations are possible within the overall inventive concept. For example, the preferred embodiment can be implemented as a rearrangement of the system disclosed in PCT specification WO 99/04551 entitled “A Replenishable One Time Use Camera System” also filed by the present applicant. Advantageously, the image sensor can be of a reduced size to that described in the above referenced PCT specification WO 99/04551 due to the small size of the stickers.

Similarly, the electronics of the stickercam can be based around a CMOS image sensor which also includes processing circuitry for processing an image and forwarding it to the printhead assembly 30 for printing. The operation of the internal control electronics can be substantially as set out in the aforementioned PCT specification WO 99/04551.

The preferred application of the cartridge according to the second aspect of the invention is to a sticker printing camera able to print stickers on demand on a replenishable printroll.

Although the inventions have been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated that they can each be embodied in many other forms.

Material which is outside the scope of the claims does not constitute part of the claimed invention.