GB2481571A

GB2481571A - Ink cartridge having a movable part arranged to break printer sensor beam

Info

Publication number: GB2481571A
Application number: GB201008679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Vickers; Nigel John Counihan; Richard Priestley
Original assignee: Dynamic Cassette International Ltd
Current assignee: Dynamic Cassette International Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-19
Filing date: 2010-05-25
Publication date: 2012-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-25
Also published as: DE202011002964U1; GB201008679D0; GB201002868D0; DE202010003856U1; GB2481571B; GB2477958A; GB2477958B

Abstract

An ink cartridge 10 is for a printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source. The cartridge includes a movable part 14 which is arranged to move in two directions during insertion of the cartridge into the printer so that the sensor beam of the printer is broken twice thereby. The ink cartridge 10 may include a cam mechanism (228, Fig.24a) for moving the movable part 14. The movable part 14 may also be resiliently biased by resilient biasing means 33 into a rest position, and engagement of the cartridge 10 with the printer causing movement of the movable part 14.

Description

An Ink Cartridge, a Combination comprising a Cartridge in a Printer, a Set of Cartridges, and a Method in a Printing System The invention relates to an ink cartridge, a combination comprising a cartridge in a printer, a set of cartridges, and a method in a printing system.

EP-A-1570994 discloses a printer which includes in each of four cartridge holders a light source emitting a beam of light to a detector. The ink cartridge for the printer is arranged to be introduced vertically into the cartridge holder of the printer. The light beam is emitted horizontally from the source to the detector. Each cartridge includes a transparent protruding part of the ink tank which lies between the source and detector when the cartridge is fully installed in the holder of the printer. The cartridge includes a shutter mechanism. This is in the form of a pivoting lever mounted inside the ink tank.

It has a float at one end, and at the other end of the lever there is a light shielding plate to interrupt the light beam from the source. When the cartridge is full of ink, the float lifts one end of the lever so that the light shielding plate is in position in the protruding part of the ink tank to interrupt the light beam from the source to the detector. Once the ink level in the ink tank falls below a certain height, the float will drop, and the light shielding plate at the other end of the lever will correspondingly be raised out of the protruding part so that it no longer interrupts the light beam, and light can pass from the source through the transparent protruding part to be received at the detector. The cartridge includes an opaque protrusion below the transparent protruding part. As the ink cartridge is pushed down into the cartridge holder of the printer, the opaque protrusion will break the light beam resulting in a signal so that a control device of the printer can determine that an ink cartridge is being mounted in the cartridge holder of the printer. As the cartridge is moved further into the printer, the opaque protrusion will move past the beam which will subsequently be aligned with the transparent protruding part once the cartridge is fully inserted. If the beam is not broken at that point, the control device will determine not to draw ink from the cartridge.

Several separate parts are required to construct the shutter mechanism. Thus, there is a pillar to be mounted on the floor of the ink tank, and the pivoting connection for the lever and the lever itself. Inserting and assembling the shutter mechanism in the restricted, confined volume of the interior of the cartridge can be a problem. The fact that two parts which protrude are necessary also increases the complexity of manufacture.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the cartridge including a movable part which is arranged to move in two directions during insertion of the cartridge into the printer so that the sensor beam of the printer is broken twice thereby.

In this way, a single part is used to break the same radiation beam twice, doing away with the need for two such parts in the prior system of EP-A-i 570994.

The movable part may be arranged to move in any suitable directions, but preferably at least one direction is parallel to a surface of the cartridge. In a preferred embodiment, the movable part is arranged to move in two opposite directions.

The movable part may be arranged to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer. In particular, the movable part may be mounted such that it is arranged to be movable towards or away from the printhead or ink outlet port of the cartridge.

The ink cartridge preferably comprises an ink tank, the movable part being mounted outside the ink tank and being arranged to be movable with respect to the ink tank.

The movable part is preferably mounted on the same outside wall of the cartridge which includes the printhead or ink outlet port, preferably an ink outlet port.

The movable part may be resiliently biased by resilient biasing means into a rest position, and the engagement of the movable part with the printer may move the movable part against the resilient bias along the movement path. The resilient biasing means may be arranged to return the movable part to the rest position on removal of the cartridge from the printer. The resilient biasing means may take any suitable form and may comprise a spring, such as a helical spring.

The movable part may be mounted for movement in any suitable way, but preferably is mounted for movement by sliding. The movable part may move along a track defined by the cartridge. Preferably there is no seam between connected parts of the cartridge in the track or the movable part.

The cartridge may include a part which is arranged to be moved by engagement with the printer to initiate movement of the movable part.

The cartridge may include any suitable means for movement of the movable part and may include a cam mechanism.

Indeed, according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge including a cam mechanism and a movable part moved thereby.

The cam mechanism may take any suitable form and may comprise a cam surface and a cam follower. The cam follower or cam surface may be provided on the movable part, but in a preferred embodiment, the cam follower is provided on the movable part. The movable part is preferably urged against the cam surface by resilient means such as a spring. The cam mechanism is preferably arranged to be operated by engagement of part of the cam mechanism with part of the printer. The part of the cam mechanism which engages part of the printer may be associated with the cam surface.

Said part of the cam mechanism and the cam surface are preferably arranged to move in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer. The cam surface preferably is provided on the underside of a piston of the printer to be moved by engagement with the printer. The piston is preferably biased into position by a spring.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a set of cartridges according to the first aspect of the invention.

The cartridges of the set may contain different colours of ink.

Preferably, the movement of the movable part is different for different cartridges in the set. Where each cartridge includes a cam mechanism, the cam mechanism may have a different profile on different cartridges. In this way, the duration of the period for which the beam is broken the first time can be altered, and also the duration of the period between the two break events.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a combination comprising a cartridge in a printer, the printer including a source of electromagnetic radiation and a detector to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation from the source, the cartridge being a cartridge according to the first aspect of the invention, the combination being such that, on insertion of the cartridge into the printer, the movable part is arranged to break the beam, then to move in a first direction out of the beam so that the beam reaches the detector, then to move in a second direction so that the movable part breaks the beam again.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method in a printing system including a printer and at least one ink cartridge, the printer including a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the method comprising inserting the cartridge into the printer, a movable part of the cartridge breaking the beam when the cartridge is partly inserted into the printer, then moving to lie outside the beam on further insertion of the cartridge, and then moving in a different direction so as to interrupt the beam again as the cartridge is moved to the final insertion position in the printer.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the ink cartridge comprising an ink tank and a movable part, the movable part being mounted outside the ink tank such that it is arranged to be movable with respect to the ink tank in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer, the cartridge being such that in at least one position on the movement path of the movable part, the movable part breaks the beam, and in at least another position on the movement path of the movable part, the beam is not broken, the movable part being resiliently biased by resilient biasing means into a rest position, and engagement of the cartridge with the printer causing movement of the movable part along the movement path.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the ink cartridge comprising an ink tank and a movable part, the movable part being mounted on an outside wall of the cartridge which includes a printhead or an ink outlet port to receive an ink withdrawal needle of the printer, the movable part being mounted such that it is arranged to be movable towards or away from the printhead or ink outlet port, the cartridge being such that in at least one position on its movement path the movable part breaks the beam, and in at least another position on its movement path the beam is not broken, the movable part being resiliently biased by resilient biasing means into a rest position, and engagement of the cartridge with the printer causing movement of the movable part along the movement path.

The cartridge preferably includes a part which is arranged to be moved by engagement with the printer to initiate movement of the movable part.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ink cartridge in a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cartridge of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation from the other side of the cartridge of Fig. 1 in cross-section; Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the front and below of the cartridge of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view from the front and above of the cartridge of Fig. 1; Figs. 6a to 6d are side elevations in partial cross-section to show the travel of the cartridge of the first embodiment into a printer; Fig. 7 is a detail view of an ink cartridge in a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of an ink cartridge in a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 is a perspective view from the front, below and the right hand side of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective view from the front, below and the left hand side of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a perspective view from the front, above and the right hand side of the cartridge in Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a perspective view from the front, above and the left hand side of the cartridge in Fig. 8; Fig. 13 is a perspective view from the front, above and the right hand side of the main part of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 14 is a perspective view from the rear, above and the right hand side of the main part of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the lid of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 17 is an elevation from the right hand side of the main part of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 18 is a side elevation in cross section at AA in Fig. 8 of the cartridge in Fig. 8; Fig. 19 is a detailed perspective view of the movable part and piston of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 20 is an end elevation of the movable part and piston of the cartridge of Fig. 8; Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the cartridge of Fig. 8 showing reflection of a beam of light; Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the main part of the cartridge of Fig. 8 being offered up in a printer; Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the main part of the cartridge of Fig. 8 mounted in a printer; Fig. 24a is a detail side elevation partly cut away showing the cam mechanism of the fourth embodiment in a first position, Fig. 24b shows the cam mechanism in a second position, and Fig. 24c shows the cam mechanism in a third position; Fig. 25a is a schematic view of a cam mechanism of Fig 24, and Fig. 25b is the corresponding electrical signal waveform produced; Fig. 26a is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a cam mechanism and Fig. 26b is the corresponding electrical signal waveform produced; and Fig. 27a is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a cam mechanism and Fig. 27b is the corresponding electrical signal waveform produced.

The ink cartridge 10 of the first embodiment of the invention comprises an ink tank 12, a movable part 14 and a release mechanism 16.

The ink tank 12 is generally in the form of a slim rectangular parallelepiped, except for the front wall 18 which is of a more complex shape.

In the lower part of the front wall 18 is a cylindrical projection 24 which defines centrally thereof a horizontal ink outlet port 26.

The release mechanism 16 comprises a cup shaped member 30 with a shaft 32 protruding rearwardly therefrom. The shaft 32 is received in one end of a helical spring 33, the other end of which is received in a hollow cylindrical projection 34. The release mechanism 16 is provided within the cavity 36 defined by a housing 40 of the ink cartridge 10 in the upper section thereof.

The cavity 36 is defined by a rear wall 38, which is a wall of the ink tank 12 and mounts the hollow cylindrical projection 34, and a protruding front section 44, which defines a horizontal passage 42 in which the cup-shaped part 30 slides and is guided. An opening 48 in the front of the protruding front section 44 of the housing 40 leads to the horizontal passage 42. The cup-shaped part has a rearwardly extending peripheral skirt 90. An upstanding blade 92 is provided on top of the front section 44 of the housing 40.

The movable part 14 includes a main plate 50 which lies alongside a vertical section 52 of the front wall 18 and is connected through a vertical rib (not shown) to a parallel retaining plate 54. The rib of the movable part 14 is received in a slot in the front wall 18 so that the movable part 14 is free to move vertically, but forwards and backwards movement is prevented by the two plates 50, 54 and sideways movement is limited by the sides of the slot and the rib of the movable part 14. Thus, the movable part 14 can only move vertically, the slot limiting its movement and forming a track therefor. Directly behind the retaining plate 54 is the front wall of the ink tank 12.

A finger 56 extends forwardly from the upper part of the main plate 50 before turning through 900 to extend upwardly. The upper end of the finger 56 forms a detent 58. Thus, the end of the finger 56 includes a triangular shaped forward protrusion 58 which tapers to the end of the finger 56. The underside 46 of the housing 40 defines a slot 60 to receive the vertical part 62 of the finger 56. The front edge 64 of the slot 60 is further rearwards than the forwardmost tip of the detent 58. The finger 56 is resilient and hence when the movable part 14 is lifted upwards so that the end 62 of the finger 56 enters the slot 60, the detent 58 will engage the front edge 64 of the slot 60 causing the finger 56 to flex to allow the detent 58 to pass the end 64 of the slot 60 and then straighten above it to retain the movable part 14 in a raised, rest position, hanging from the finger 56.

At the lower part of the main plate 50 of the movable part 14 is provided a blade 70. The blade 70 lies in the vertical plane and is elongate in a forwards direction so that it extends further than the cylindrical projection 24 defining the ink outlet port 26, but not as far as the front section 44 of the housing 40. Above the blade 70 and spaced therefrom by a uniform depth gap 72 is a reflecting member 74. The lower surface of the reflecting member 74 is prism shaped defining two surfaces 76 at right angles to one another, each at 45° to the vertical. The reflecting member 74 extends the same distance from the main plate 50 as the blade 70.

Beneath the movable part 14 and above the cylindrical projection 24 defining the ink outlet port 26 is provided a prism shaped part 80. The prism shaped part 80 presents a horizontal upper surface 82 and two angled downwardly facing surfaces 84, 86. One of the surfaces 84 forms a boundary with atmospheric air, while the other angled surface 86 forms a boundary with the interior of the ink tank 12 and so is in contact with ink or air depending upon the fill level of the cartridge 10.

The cartridge 10 is assembled from two halves, the split of the cartridge being substantially along the vertical centre line down the front of the cartridge 10 labelled A-A in Fig. 2. Thus, one half of the cartridge lOis taken and the movable part 14 is inserted so that the main plate 50 is in front of the front wall 18 and the retaining plate 54 is behind it. The spring 33 is assembled on to the shaft 32 of the cup shaped member 30 which is then laid into the passage 42 with the opposite end of the spring 33 being received in the hollow cylindrical projection 34. The other half of the cartridge 10 is then offered up to the first half and heat is used to seal the halves together. The cartridge is filled with ink, and the movable part 14 is lifted so that the detent 58 lies above the end 64 of the slot 60 and behind the skirt 90 of the cup shaped member 30.

In use, the cartridge 10 is inserted into a printer 100 and the sequence of events is as shown in Figs. 6a to 6d.

The key parts of the printer 100 which interact with the cartridge 10 are shown in Figs. 6a to 6d. Fig. 6a shows the cartridge 10 moving forward horizontally as it enters the cartridge holder of the printer 100 in the direction indicated by the arrow 96 in the figure.

The printer 100 includes an upright wall 98 mounting a plurality of features. The wall 98 mounts an ink withdrawal needle 102 which is horizontal and is received in the ink outlet port 26 of the cartridge 10 as the cartridge 10 advances. Above the ink withdrawal needle 102, extending from wall 98 are provided two arms 104 which lie alongside one another, one of which carries a light source and the other of which carries an optical sensor, the light source on one arm horizontally facing the sensor on the other arm so that a horizontal beam from the source to the sensor is provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the cartridge 10. As the cartridge advances, with the movable part 14 in its raised, rest position, the beam will be broken by the blade 70, which will insert itself between the arms 104 and hence between the light source and optical sensor. This is shown in Figs. 6b and 6c.

As the cartridge 10 advances further, the blade 92 on top of the housing 40 will interrupt the beam between a light source and detector on two further arms 106 at the top of the wall 98 of the printer 100.

The printer 100 also includes a projection 108 with which the cup shaped member 30 and passage 42 are aligned. The projection 108 engages the cup shaped member 30 within the cup thereof to move the cup shaped member 30 backwards down the passage 42 against the bias of the spring 33.

As it does so, the rearwards skirt 90 around the cup shaped member 30 will engage the detent 58 and to push back the detent 58 and the finger 56 will flex to allow this. Once the end of the detent 58 has moved beyond the end 64 of the slot 60, the movable part 14 will fall under gravity to rest on the upper surface 82 of the prism shaped member 80. As it falls, the blade 70 will move so that it no longer interrupts the beam between the arms 104 and the beam will pass through the gap 72 to be received by the optical sensor on the arm 104. As the movable part 14 falls further to the position shown in Fig. 6d however, the beam from the optical sensor will strike the reflective surface 76 of the reflecting member 74 and will be reflected downwards towards the prism shaped member 80. The beam will pass through the horizontal upper surface 82 of the prism shaped member 80 and reach the angled surface 84.

As this is a boundary with air, the light will be reflected across to the opposite surface 86. If there is ink behind that surface, then light will pass into the ink chamber 12 and will not reach the optical sensor on the opposite arm 104. If however there is air behind the surface 86, because the ink level in the ink tank 12 of the cartridge 10 has dropped below the height of the prism shaped member 80, then the light will be reflected at the surface 86 and be directed up to strike the opposite reflecting surface 76 of the reflecting member 74 which will direct the beam onto the optical sensor of the other arm 104. In this way the printer 100, by monitoring the signal received by the optical sensor on the arm 104, can detect whether there is ink in the cartridge 10. If the ink is below the level of the prism shaped member 80 such that light is received at the optical sensor, the printer will detect that the cartridge is nearly out of ink and, to avoid drawing air into the printer, it can determine, for example, to send a message to the user, or to simply stop printing.

In a variation on the first embodiment, means may be provided to urge the movable member 14 downwards after the detent 58 has been released.

This means may take the form of a vertically arranged helical spring.

Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and only the differences between them will be described. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features.

In the second embodiment, the main plate 50 is omitted. Also, the blade 70 and reflecting member 74 are connected by a transparent part 120.

The finger 56 is omitted and in its place a plate 122 is pivotally connected to the top of the reflecting member 74. At its upper end, the plate 122 is pivotally connected to a further plate 124 through a hinge 126. The upper end of the plate 124 is pivotally connected to the front wall 18 of the cartridge 10. A horizontal spring 128 is provided between the hinge 126 and the front wall 18.

In use, as the cartridge 10 is advanced into the printer 100, the protrusion 108 engages the hinge 126. The hinge 126 moves towards the wall 18 against the bias of the spring 128. As the upper end of the plate 124 is held, movement of the hinge 126 results in movement being transferred to the plate 122 and hence to the movable part 14 which correspondingly moves downwards in the slot 150 which forms a track for the movable part 14. In this way, as before, the blade 74 initially interrupts the beam between the light source 130 and the optical sensor 132 on the arms 104, but the beam will pass through the transparent part 120 as that comes between the arms 104 so that the signal is received at the optical sensor 132 again, before the movable part 14 moves further down and the beam impinges the reflecting surface 76, at which point the beam will be reflected back to the optical sensor 132 or not depending upon whether there is ink at the boundary with the surface 86 as before.

It is thus seen that in both embodiments the movable part is outside the ink tank to interact with the optical system of the printer.

Fig. 8 shows the main part 160 of an ink cartridge 10 in a third embodiment of the invention and Fig. 9 the corresponding movable part 14.

The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and only the differences between the first and third embodiments will be described. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features.

Whereas the ink cartridge 10 of the first embodiment is in two substantially identical halves prior to assembly, the ink cartridge 10 of the third embodiment comprises a main part 160 defining the majority of the features of the cartridge, and a generally flat lid 180 to close the open side of the main part 160.

Thus, the ink outlet port 26 is defined entirely in the main part 160 as is the prism shaped part 80 and the majority of the housing 40.

In the cartridge 10 of the third embodiment, the part 172 of the ink tank 12 which lies underneath the prism shaped member 8Oso that ink can contact the angled surface 86 is defined in the main part 160 and closed by the lid 180.

In place of the relatively narrow slot 60 of the first embodiment, the ink cartridge 10 of the third embodiment includes an opening 174 which extends over the full width of the underside 46 of the housing 40.

Whereas in the first embodiment, the movable part comprised two plates 50, 54 linked by a rib which is received in a slot in the front wall 18 of the cartridge, in the third embodiment it is the movable part 14 which includes a slot 176, and a rib 162 is provided on the main part 160. Thus, the front wall 18 is connected through the vertical rib 162 to a plate 164 which extends in a parallel plane to the vertical section 52 of the front wall 18 but is relatively slim.

The movable part 14 does not include the rib and retaining plate, and instead extensions 166 from the lateral sides of the main plate 50 extend rearwardly in the opposite direction from the blade 70 and reflecting member 74, the ends 168 of the extensions 166 being turned inwards towards one another so that an undercut channel 170 is provided which in use receives the plate 164 50 that the movable member 14 is mounted thereon.

The vertically arranged plate 164 thus forms a track on which the movable part 14 slides and is guided.

It will be noted that in the ink cartridge of the third embodiment, in the region of the movable part 14 and the plate 164, rib 162 and section 52 of the front wall 18, there is no seam between the parts of the cartridge 10 to be joined. The connection of the main part 160 to the lid 180 is to one side of these parts. Thus, these parts can be moulded accurately leading to greater reliability of operation.

In the first embodiment, the detent 58 was on the end of an elongate resilient finger 56, and pointed forwards. In the cartridge 10 of the third embodiment, the detent 58 points laterally and is provided on the side of the top edge of a wall 182 upstanding on top of the reflecting member 74. The wall 182 extends from the main plate 50 about half to two thirds of the way along the reflecting member 74. The detent 58 is provided as a lateral rib on one side along the whole of the length of the wall 182. The detent 58 tapers towards the top of the wall 182 and the underside 184 is horizontal.

In the third embodiment, the equivalent of the cup shaped part 30 is a hollow piston 186. This has a cup shaped hollow 188 at one end and at the opposite, open end, receives a spring which extends along the axis of the part in the hollow cavity 190 therewithin. The piston 186 is generally rectangular, but with a part cylindrical bulge 192 on one side. A finger 194 depends from the top surface 196 of the piston 186 on one side. The lower end 198 of the finger 194 is tapered 202 to meet the tapered side 200 of the detent 58, and the finger 194 is turned inwards to define a ledge 204 to engage the underside 184 of the detent 58. The finger 194 is elongate and slim.

In use, the movable part 14 is raised and the finger 194 on the piston 186 resiliently moved outwards by engagement of the tapered side 200 of the detent 58 with the tapered side 202 of the finger 194. Once past the detent 58 the end 198 of the finger 194 snaps back. The movable part 14 is then suspended from the finger 194 of the piston 186 by engagement of the flat underside 184 of the detent 58 with the ledge 204 of the finger 194. As the ink cartridge 10 enters the printer, the piston 186 is pushed backwards against the resilience of the spring 33, and the finger thus slides along the detent 58.

The finger 194 will eventually be moved so far back that it passes beyond the end of the detent 58, at which point the movable part 14 is free to move under gravity and drops, being guided on the plate 164.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 24 to 27. The fourth embodiment is similar to the third embodiment and only the differences between them will be described. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features.

In the ink cartridge of the fourth embodiment, the blade 70 is omitted.

Also, there is no detent 58. Instead, the underside 220 of the piston 186 forms a cam surface for a rounded protrusion 222 which takes the place of the detent 58 at the top of the movable part 14. The top of the protrusion 222 is rounded about an axis perpendicular to the major side of the cartridge and the protrusion has straight, parallel, substantially vertical sides beneath the rounded top. The cam surface 220 is flat apart from an aperture 224. A helical spring 226 is provided which acts between the horizontal upper surface 82 of the prism shaped member 80 and the movable part 14 to bias the protrusion 222 against the cam surface 220.

In use, the cam mechanism 228 of the cartridge 10 is in the rest position as shown in Fig. 24a with the spring 33 urging the piston 186 against the front wall of the housing 40. As the cartridge 10 is inserted into the printer, the projection 108 engages the end of the piston 186 and moves it back against the bias of the spring 33. The piston 186 and cam surface 220 formed as the lower surface thereof thus move rearwards into the cavity 36 of the housing 40, and the cam follower 222 will slide along the cam surface 220. As the cartridge 10 is moved further into the printer, the projection 108 will move the piston 186 further rearwardly and the cam follower 222 will reach the aperture 224 in the cam surface 220 and hence will be moved upwards by the spring 226 into the aperture 224 as shown in Fig. 24b. Consequently, the reflecting member 74 on the movable part 14 will also move upwards and will reach a position such that it no longer interrupts the beam between the arms 104. As the cartridge 10 is pushed further into the printer, the projection 108 will push the piston 186 further into the cavity 36 and the rounded end of the cam follower 222 will ensure that it rides the edge of the aperture 224 to be pushed out of the aperture 224 thereby and continue to ride along the flat cam surface 220. This moves the whole movable part 14 downwards and hence the reflecting member 74 will be moved back between the source and detector on the arms 104 to interrupt the beam again.

This motion is shown schematically in Fig. 25a. Fig. 25b shows the signal from the detector on one of the arms 104. This shows the signal low at distance di of insertion of the cartridge into the printer, as the beam does not reach the detector when the cartridge is first inserted into the printer at the point in insertion when the beam is first broken by the reflecting member 74.

Then as the cam mechanism 228 raises the movable part 14, the signal goes high at d2 as the detector receives the beam, and then goes low again at d3 as the cam mechanism 228 forces the movable part 14 back down again so that the reflecting member 74 breaks the beam again.

It is seen that, when the ink cartridge 10 is removed from the printer, the piston 186 returns to its original position under the bias of the spring 33 so that the system automatically resets itself.

The waveform shown in Fig. 25b might be used to identify a cartridge with a particular colour of ink inside it. Thus, on another cartridge with a different colour of ink, the cam surface 220 on the underside of the piston 186 might have the aperture 224 in a different position, for example, closer to the front of the piston 186, in which case the track would be as shown schematically in Fig. 26a, and the waveform would be as shown in Fig. 26b, with the peak, corresponding to a distance of insertion when the beam is uninterrupted, occurring further on in the course of insertion after the position in which the reflecting member 74 initially breaks the beam. Alternatively or in addition, another cartridge containing a different colour of ink may have a longer aperture 224. That is shown schematically in Fig. 27a. This has the effect that the beam is uninterrupted for a longer period producing the waveform shown in Fig. 27b, enabling that cartridge to be distinguished from the cartridges of Figs. 25 and 26. Similar waveforms are produced if the signal from the detector is measured with respect to time rather than distance.

While this variation can be used to distinguish between cartridges containing different colours of ink, it can also be used to distinguish cartridges which differ in other ways. Thus, a different waveform might be used to distinguish small and large capacity cartridges or cartridges carrying different types of chip, for example.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An ink cartridge for a printer, the printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the cartridge including a movable part which is arranged to move in two directions during insertion of the cartridge into the printer so that the sensor beam of the printer is broken twice thereby.
2. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable part is arranged to move in at least one direction which is parallel to a surface of the cartridge.
3. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the movable part is arranged to move in two opposite directions.
4. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the movable part is arranged to be movable in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer.
5. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable part is mounted such that it is arranged to be movable towards and/or away from the printhead or ink outlet port of the cartridge.
6. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ink cartridge comprises an ink tank, the movable part being mounted outside the ink tank and being arranged to be movable with respect to the ink tank.
7. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable part is mounted on the same outside wall of the cartridge which includes a printhead or ink outlet port.
8. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable part is mounted on the same outside wall of the cartridge which includes an ink outlet port.
9. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cartridge includes a cam mechanism by means of which the movable part is arranged to move in two directions.
10. An ink cartridge including a cam mechanism and a movable part moved thereby.
11. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the cam mechanism comprises a cam surface and a cam follower.
12. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cam follower is provided on the movable part.
13. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 12, wherein the movable part is urged against the cam surface by resilient means, such as a spring.
14. An ink cartridge as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the cam mechanism is arranged to be operated by engagement of part of the cam mechanism with part of the printer.
15. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 14, wherein said part of the cam mechanism is arranged to move in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer.
16. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the part of the cam mechanism which engages part of the printer is associated with the cam surface.
17. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cam surface is provided on the underside of a piston of the printer to be moved by engagement with the printer.
18. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 17, wherein the piston is biased into position by a spring.
19. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable part is resiliently biased by resilient biasing means into a rest position, and the engagement of the cartridge with the printer causes movement of the movable part along the movement path.
20. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 19, wherein the resilient biasing means is arranged to return the movable part to the rest position on removal of the cartridge from the printer.
21. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a spring.
22. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable part is mounted for movement by sliding.
23. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 22, wherein the movable part is arranged to move along a track defined by the cartridge.
24. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 23, wherein there is no seam between connected parts of the cartridge in the track or the movable part.
25. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cartridge includes a part which is arranged to be moved by engagement with the printer to initiate movement of the movable part.
26. A set of cartridges, each cartridge being as claimed in any preceding claim.
27. A set as claimed in claim 26, wherein different cartridges of the set contain different colours of ink.
28. A set as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the movement of the movable part is different for different cartridges in the set.
29. A set as claimed in any of claims 26, 27 and 28, wherein, where each cartridge includes a cam mechanism, the cam mechanism has a different profile on different cartridges in the set.
30. A combination comprising a cartridge in a printer, the printer including a source of electromagnetic radiation and a detector to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation from the source, the cartridge being a cartridge as claimed in any of claims 1 to 25, the combination being such that, on insertion of the cartridge into the printer, the movable part is arranged to break the beam, then to move in a first direction out of the beam so that the beam reaches the detector, then to move in a second direction so that the movable part breaks the beam again.
31. A method in a printing system including a printer and at least one ink cartridge, the printer including a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the method comprising inserting the cartridge into the printer, a movable part of the cartridge breaking the beam when the cartridge is partly inserted into the printer, then moving to lie outside the beam on further insertion of the cartridge, and then moving in a different direction so as to interrupt the beam again as the cartridge is moved to the final insertion position in the printer.
32. An ink cartridge for a printer, the printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the ink cartridge comprising an ink tank and a movable part, the movable part being mounted outside the ink tank such that it is arranged to be movable with respect to the ink tank in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer, the cartridge being such that in at least one position on the movement path of the movable part, the movable part breaks the beam, and in at least another position on the movement path of the movable part, the beam is not broken, the movable part being resiliently biased by resilient biasing means into a rest position, and engagement of the cartridge with the printer causing movement of the movable part along the movement path.
33. An ink cartridge for a printer, the printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the ink cartridge comprising an ink tank and a movable part, the movable part being mounted on an outside wall of the cartridge which includes a printhead or an ink outlet port to receive an ink withdrawal needle of the printer, the movable part being mounted such that it is arranged to be movable towards or away from the printhead or ink outlet port, the cartridge being such that in at least one position on its movement path the movable part breaks the beam, and in at least another position on its movement path the beam is not broken, the movable part being resiliently biased by resilient biasing means into a rest position, and engagement of the cartridge with the printer causing movement of the movable part along the movement path.
34. An ink cartridge for a printer, the ink cartridge being substantially as described herein with reference to Figs 1 to 6, 7, 8 to 23 or 24 to 27 of the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An ink cartridge for a printer, the printer having a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the cartridge including a movable part which is arranged to move in two directions during insertion of the cartridge into the printer so that the sensor beam of the printer is broken twice thereby.2. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable part is arranged to move in at least one direction which is parallel to a surface of the cartridge.3. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the movable part is arranged to move in two opposite directions.4. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the movable part is arranged to be movable in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer.5. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable part is mounted such that it is arranged to be movable towards and/or away from the printhead or ink outlet port of the cartridge.6. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ink cartridge comprises an ink tank, the movable part being mounted outside the ink tank and being arranged to be movable with respect to the ink tank.7. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable part is mounted on the same outside wall of the cartridge which includes a printhead or ink outlet port.8. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable part is mounted on the same outside wall of the cartridge which includes an ink outlet port.9. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cartridge includes a cam mechanism by means of which the movable part is arranged to move in two directions.10. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cam mechanism comprises a cam surface and a cain follower.11. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cam follower is provided on the movable part.12. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 11, wherein the movable part is urged against the cam surface by resilient means, such as a spring.13. An ink cartridge as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the cam mechanism is arranged to be operated by engagement of part of the cam mechanism with part of the printer.14. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 13, wherein said part of the cam mechanism is arranged to move in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer.15. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the part of the cam mechanism which engages part of the printer is associated with the cam surface.16. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cam surface is provided on the underside of a piston of the printer to be moved by engagement with the printer.17. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 16, wherein the piston is biased into position by a spring.18. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable part is resiliently biased by resilient biasing means into a rest position, and the engagement of the cartridge with the printer causes movement of the movable part along the movement path.19. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 18, wherein the resilient biasing means is arranged to return the movable part to the rest position on removal of the cartridge from the printer.20. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a spring.21. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable part is mounted for movement by sliding.22. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 21, wherein the movable part is arranged to move along a track defined by the cartridge.23. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 22, wherein there is no seam between connected parts of the cartridge in the track or the movable part.24. An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cartridge includes a part which is arranged to be moved by engagement with the printer to initiate movement of the movable part.25. An ink cartridge for a printer, the ink cartridge being substantially as described herein with reference to Figs 24 to 27 of the accompanying drawings.26. A set of cartridges, each cartridge being as claimed in any preceding claim.27. A set as claimed in claim 26, wherein different cartridges of the set contain different colours of ink.28. A set as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the movement of the movable part is different for different cartridges in the set.29. A set as claimed in any of claims 26, 27 and 28, wherein, where each cartridge includes a cam mechanism, the cam mechanism has a different profile on different cartridges in the set.30. A combination comprising a cartridge in a printer, the printer including a source of electromagnetic radiation and a detector to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation from the source, the cartridge being a cartridge as claimed in any of claims 1 to 25, the combination being such that, on insertion of the cartridge into the printer, the movable part is arranged to break the beam, then to move in a first direction out of the beam so that the beam reaches the detector, then to move in a second direction so that the movable part breaks the beam again.31. A method in a printing system including a printer and at least one ink cartridge, the printer including a source emitting a beam of radiation and a detector to detect radiation from the source, the method comprising inserting the cartridge into the printer, a movable part of the cartridge breaking the beam when the cartridge is partly inserted into the printer, then moving to lie outside the beam on further insertion of the cartridge, and then moving in a different direction so as to interrupt the beam again as the cartridge is moved to the final insertion position in the printer.*::r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1008679.1 Examiner: Mr Marc Collins Claims searched: 1-9, 19-3 1 Date of search: 25 October 2010 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims A,E -WO 2010/075718 Al (NINESTAR IMAGE CO. LTD.) A -US 2006/007283 Al (SACCO JR. et al.) A -US 2009/241695 Al (SUGAHARA) A -EP1570994A1 (BROTHER IND. LTD.) Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after. hut with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP. WO & US patent dociinients classified in the following areas of the 1JKCX Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC B41J The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report EPODOC, WPI, TXTE, TXTT International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From B41J 0002/175 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk