US006450605B1
(io) Patent No.: US 6,450,605 Bl (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 17,2002
(54) MODULAR PRINTHEAD AND METHODS OF LOADING AND PRINTING USING IT
(76) Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Unit 3, 9
Pembroke St., Epping, NSW, 2121
(AU); Kia Silverbrook, 393 Darling
St., Balmain, NSW 2041 (AU)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/436,818
(22) Filed: Nov. 9, 1999
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Nov. 9, 1998 (AU) PP7024
(51) Int. C I. B41J 2/21
(52) U.S. CI 347/12; 347/43
(58) Field of Search 347/9, 10, 11,
347/12, 13, 20, 40, 41, 42, 47, 49
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,975,679 A * 11/1999 Nicoloff, Jr. et al 347/43
6.183.055 Bl * 2/2001 Kanematsu et al 347/9
6.183.056 Bl * 2/2001 Corrigan et al 347/14
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Anh T. N. Vo
(57) ABSTRACT
The present invention relates to a modular printhead for a color printer. The printhead includes a plurality of nozzles each of which has an ink supply port, an ink deposition port and a firing control port to receive signals to cause deposition of an ink dot from the deposition port (firing) during a firing cycle of the printhead. The nozzles of the printhead are arranged in groups, or pods, with the ink supply ports of the nozzles of each pod connected to a common ink supply line. The nozzles of each pod are arranged in rows (the rows extend in the direction across the page to be printed), and the rows of nozzles are offset from each other so that the nozzles of each row deposit dots onto different lines if fired simultaneously. Pods of each different color are arranged together into operating groups in which selected mutually exclusive sub-groups of nozzles have their firing control ports gated to enable them to be fired simultaneously at predetermined phases of a firing cycle. Methods of loading and printing are also claimed.
8 Claims, 34 Drawing Sheets
