JP2010520822A - Ink supply for handheld inkjet printers - Google Patents

Abstract

A handheld printer is disclosed. The disclosed handheld printer includes a printer housing that defines an interior and has a printhead. The handheld printer further includes an ink container that is connected to the print head so that fluid flows when carried therein. The ink container has a flexible housing, a printed circuit board carried in the flexible housing and cooperating with the print head, and a fluid port carried in the flexible housing.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

Related applications

  This patent application is subject to US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 889,703 (filing date: March 2, 2007) and US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 913,027 as defined in US Patent Act §119 (e). Claiming priority based on No. (Application Date: April 20, 2007). The contents of both provisional patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

  Known printers typically use a mechanically driven carriage to linearly propel, position, and transport the print head to the desired position, adjacent to the print medium. On the other hand, the print media is mechanically driven and is positioned below and / or adjacent to the print head. When an image is drawn during the printing operation, the print head and the print medium are disposed relative to each other.

  Some known printers are portable. For example, components included in portable printers are often miniaturized to reduce the overall weight and size of the device. The configuration and movement of the print head and print medium are the same as those of the known printer described above, regardless of the size of the portable printer. As described above, the print head and the print medium driving mechanism impose limitations on the size of the printer and the materials available for the print medium.

  The present disclosure relates generally to handheld printers. In particular, it relates to a manually driven printer comprising a plurality of separate ink jets and / or ink jet arrays optimized for handheld printers. It is desirable to provide a printer that is more portable and / or more mobile than known printers and portable printers. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a movable printer that has less and / or no need to use a printhead and print media drive in known and portable printers. It would also be desirable to provide an ink supply or ink container that is configured to cooperate with a manually driven or manually driven printing device.

  According to one embodiment, a handheld printer is disclosed. The handheld printer includes a printer housing defining an interior and having a print head. The handheld printer further includes an ink container that is connected to the print head so that fluid flows when carried therein. The ink container has a flexible housing, a printed circuit board carried in the flexible housing and cooperating with the print head, and a fluid port carried in the flexible housing.

  According to another embodiment, an ink container is disclosed that cooperates with a handheld printer. The ink container includes a flexible casing having a size that cooperates with the inside of the handheld printer, a printing substrate that is carried by the flexible casing and cooperates with a print head portion of the handheld printer, and a flexible casing. A fluid port carried in the body.

  According to another embodiment, a method for configuring an ink container to cooperate with a handheld printer is disclosed. The method includes forming a flexible housing having a size that cooperates with the interior of the handheld printer, attaching a printed circuit board to the flexible housing, and a flexible wall portion of the flexible housing. Sealing the fluid port therein.

  According to one embodiment, a handheld printer is disclosed. The handheld printer includes a printer housing defining an interior and having printing means, and a printing substance storage means connected to the printing means so that fluid flows when carried inside, the printing substance storage means being , Flexible storage means, print control means carried in the flexible housing and cooperating with the print head, and fluid control means carried in the flexible housing.

  Additional features and advantages of the disclosed handheld printer are set forth in the detailed description and accompanying drawings set forth below and will be understood by reference thereto.

FIG. 2 is a logical schematic diagram illustrating a handheld printer in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the handheld printer described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged plan view showing the nozzle array shown in FIG. 2A.

It is an expanded sectional view showing the nozzle shown in Drawing 2A and Drawing 2B.

FIG. 2B is a top plan view showing the handheld printer shown in FIG. 2A.

It is a flowchart which shows an example of the positioning operation | movement which a handheld printer performs.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing operation executed by the handheld printer.

It is an enlarged view showing an example of a nozzle array configured according to the teaching content and the disclosure content of this specification. It is an enlarged view showing an example of a nozzle array configured according to the teaching content and the disclosure content of this specification.

FIG. 6B is a bottom plan view showing a handheld printer including the nozzle array shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an ink container configured to cooperate with the handheld printer shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a side view of an ink container configured to cooperate with the handheld printer shown in FIG. 7.

It is a side view which shows the ink container after refilling.

  In accordance with the embodiments and ideas described herein, a mobile or manually propelled printer is realized that is small and suitable for printing on a wide variety of print media. In the illustrated movable or manual propulsion type printer, the carriage and the paper feed mechanism are not provided, and a scan sensor and a position sensor may be provided.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram 100 showing the physical and logical components of a movable or manually propelled printer 102. In this specification, printers, printing devices, handheld printers, movable printers, and manually propelled printers are interchangeable terms. The printer 102 may include a controller 104 that receives power from the power source 106 and communicates with the print head 108 and the sensor unit 110. According to this embodiment, the sensor unit 110 may include one or more position sensors or navigation sensors 112 and one or more optical imaging sensors 114. The controller 104 and the sensor unit 110 cooperate to facilitate precise and accurate positioning of the print head 108 in printing and / or scanning operations. Accurate positioning ensures that the printer 102 can generate or print an image and scan or acquire an image.

  The controller 104 may include a communication interface or communication module 116 connected to the image processing module 118 and the image information source 120. On the other hand, the image processing module 118 may be communicably connected to the printing module 122 and the imaging module 124. According to the present embodiment, the printing module 122 and the imaging module 124 are communicably connected to the positioning module 126.

  The image information source 120 can be any type of device capable of transmitting data associated with an image, picture, or file to be printed by the printhead 108. The image information source 120 may include a general purpose computing device, such as a desktop computing device, a laptop computing device, a mobile computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, etc., or removable. It may be a storage device, for example, a flash memory data storage device that stores data such as image data. If the image information source 120 is a removable storage device, such as a universal serial bus (USB) storage device, the communication interface 116 includes a port that engages and communicatively engages with the storage device, such as a USB port. Good. According to another embodiment, the communication interface 116 may include a wireless transceiver to implement wireless communication of image data between the image information source 120 and the controller 104. Alternatively, the communication interface 116 may facilitate the formation of an infrared (IR) communication link, a wireless (RF) communication link or any other known or under-developed communication system, communication method or communication medium.

  According to other alternative embodiments, the communication interface 116 may be configured to communicate with the image information source 120 via one or more wired and / or wireless networks. Such networks may include, but are not limited to, personal area networks (PAN), local area networks (LAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), wide area networks (WAN), and the like. Such networks include, for example, IEEE 802.11x (where x is a, b, g and n, etc.), 802.16, 802.15.4, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Global System For. It may be constructed in accordance with any standard and / or specification including Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Ethernet, etc.

  The image processing module 118 may receive image data from the communication interface 116 and process the received image data to facilitate the printing process. Alternatively, the processing of the image data may be executed by the image information source 120 or other device or module, and the processed image may be communicated to the communication interface 116. The processed image data may be given to the printing module 122. The print module 122 can cache or store the processed image data and may communicate the data in real time for printing by the printhead 108.

  The positioning module 126 may provide position information to the printing module 122. The position information may be utilized to calculate the relative position of the printhead 108 relative to a reference point defined or constructed on the print medium or in image data being printed and / or scanned. Position information may be generated or calculated by positioning module 126 based on signals received from one or more navigation sensors 112, measurement results, or other information. The navigation sensor 112 may be, for example, an optoelectronic sensor, an electromechanical sensor, or one or more inertial sensors, and may be configured to provide position information and direction information to the printer 102 and the printhead 108. The position information and orientation information may be utilized by the positioning module 126 to accurately determine the position of the printer 102 and print head 108 relative to the surface of the print medium on which the image data is reconstructed. As used herein, the term “printing medium” may be of that type as long as it is a material or medium on which a printing substance, such as ink, powder, etc., is deposited.

  The position information provided by the navigation sensor 112 is utilized by the print module 122 via the positioning module 126 to adjust the position of the print head 108 relative to the position in the processed image data provided by the image processing module 118. It may be done. The print module 122 may then instruct the print head 108 to control the print head 108 to eject and deposit ink on the print medium to represent a corresponding portion of the processed image data.

  Printhead 108 is an inkjet printhead having a plurality of members or nozzles (see FIGS. 2A and 2B for details) configured to eject printing material, eg, liquid ink droplets, onto the print medium. It may be. The printing material may be contained in a container or cartridge. The container or cartridge may contain black ink and / or multiple color inks. Examples of multiple color inks include cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink. is there. In other embodiments, other printing technologies may be used, such as toner printers such as laser printers or light emitting diode (LED) printers, solid ink printers, sublimation printers, printers that do not use ink, and the like.

  The imaging module 124 may receive image information from one or more optical imaging sensors 114. The optical imaging sensor 114 may be a charge coupled device (CCD) configured and arranged to capture multiple images representing the surface of a print medium or other scanable medium. The plurality of images thus imaged may be processed by the imaging module 124 and reconstructed to produce an image of a print or scannable medium. The imaging module 124 may receive position information from the positioning module 126 in order to proceed with the arrangement and reconstruction of a plurality of captured images provided by the optical imaging sensor 114. As such, the printer 102 may be utilized to scan, process, store, and duplicate images in cooperation with the imaging module 124, the positioning module 126, and the printing module 122.

  According to another embodiment, the imaging module 124 may be utilized to calibrate the positioning module 126. For example, the image captured by the optical imaging sensor 114 may be compared with the processed image data provided by the image processing module 118, and based on the results, accumulated positioning errors may be compensated and / or the positioning module. 126 may be reoriented. For example, if the printer 102 leaves the print medium during execution of the printing procedure, the positioning module 126 may lose sight of the reference point associated with the printing procedure.

  FIG. 2A is a bottom plan view illustrating a printing device 200 configured to include the logical schematic 100 and the teachings described in connection with a movable or manually propelled printer 102. Thus, the components and elements of the printer 102 may be included in the printing device 200 or may be essential in the printing device 200. For example, the printing device 200 includes a housing 202 that supports and carries the print head 108 and a sensor unit 110 having a pair of navigation sensors 112 and one or more optical imaging sensors 114. The housing 202 may further include a cover or panel 212. The cover 212 may be provided so as to move with a hinge with respect to the housing 202, or may be attached so as to be pivotable. The cover 212 may protect the interior 214, including, for example, components and elements of the printer 102 that are disposed or accessible within the housing 202.

  A pair of navigation sensors 112 may be utilized by the positioning module 126 (see FIG. 1) to determine positional information regarding the optical imaging sensor 114 and / or the printhead 108. The housing 202 is relatively fixed with respect to the pair of navigation sensors 112 so that the image and / or position information obtained by the navigation sensor 112 is accurately correlated with the optical imaging sensor 114 and the print head 108. The optical imaging sensor 114 and the print head 108 are supported.

  According to this example embodiment, the print head 108 may be an inkjet print head having a plurality of nozzle arrays for a plurality of different colored inks. For example, when the print head 108 is a color (CMYK) print head, the nozzle array 204 for cyan ink (C), the nozzle array 206 for magenta ink (M), and the nozzle array for yellow ink (Y). 208 and a nozzle array 210 for black ink (K). The nozzle array 204-210 of the print head 108 may be disposed adjacent to the optical imaging sensor 114. With such a configuration, the optical imaging sensor 114 can obtain information on the ink that is ejected and deposited on the print medium by the print head 108. This information may be used for error correction and verification of the processed image data in a release process and / or a printing process.

  In the present embodiment example, the nozzle arrays 204-210 are arranged for each color. For example, the arrangement and order of the colors stored in the nozzle array 204-210 may be determined when a predetermined deposition order and / or color stored in the nozzle array 204-210 is deposited and mixed to create a new color. It may be determined based on the required amount. When using a different color as the basic color or constituent color, for example, a color other than CMYK, the order or arrangement of the nozzles may need to be changed in order to obtain a desired color, color combination, or the like.

  FIG. 2B is an enlarged plan view showing the nozzle array 204. It should be understood that the nozzle array 204 is illustrated by way of example, and that the teachings and concepts described in connection with this nozzle array example can be applied to other nozzle arrays and / or nozzle array structures. The nozzle array 204 has a plurality of separate nozzles, as identified by reference numbers 204a-204g. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the nozzles 204a-204g are offset or offset from each other along the length of the nozzle array 204. By disposing in this way, it is possible to manufacture or form the flow paths 212a to 212g respectively corresponding to the nozzles 204a to 204g. The channels 212a-212g may be connected to allow fluid to flow to a container (not shown) that stores or contains printing material or ink to be ejected from the nozzles 204a-204g.

  FIG. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the nozzle 204a. Specifically, the nozzle 204a may be formed in the casing 214 such that the flow path 212a is connected to the discharge port 216 so that fluid flows. In operation, printing material may be provided to nozzle 204a via flow path 212a and discharge chamber 218. A discharge chamber 218 may be provided for each of the nozzles 204a-204g, and may be separately identified by reference numbers 218a-218g. The printed material or ink may be retained by capillary action as it is conveyed to the discharge chamber 218.

  The nozzle 204a may further include a heating element 220, eg, a resistor. In operation, the heating element 220 generates heat in response to an applied current. The heat thus generated forms bubbles 222 by evaporating the printing material. As the bubble 222 expands, the printing material in the discharge chamber 218 may be discharged from the discharge port 216 and deposited on the surface of a print medium (not shown). When the bubble 222 disappears, a vacuum may be formed. The vacuum thus obtained may draw or replenish the printed material from the container (not shown) to the discharge chamber 218 via the channel 212a. By activating and / or igniting each heating element provided in each of the nozzles 204a to 204g constituting the nozzle array 204, the print head 108 and the printing module 122 release the printing substance to the printing medium. An image may be generated.

  FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the printing device 200 shown in FIG. 2A. The printing device 200 may have various user controls, buttons, touch screens, etc., depending on the functions designed for or supported by the controller 104 illustrated in FIG. For example, the printing device 200 includes a print control input 302, a scan control input 304, and a display 306 that are communicatively connected to the controller 104. The print control input 302 may provide the controller 104 with a signal that can be used to initiate / resume a printing operation. The scan control input 304 may provide the controller 104 with a signal that can be used to initiate / restart the scan operation.

  The display 306 may be a passive display, an interactive display, or the like, but may provide various information to the user. This information includes the current operating status of the printing device 200 (for example, printing, printing ready, scanning, scanning ready, printing image reception, printing image transmission, scanning image transmission, etc.), remaining battery power, It may be related to an error (eg, scan / position / print error, etc.) or a command (eg, “position the device on the portion of the image to be printed for reorientation”, etc.). If display 306 is an interactive display, it may provide a control interface in addition to or instead of control inputs 302 and 304.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the positioning operation 400 executed by the printing device 200 shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. In block 402, the positioning operation 400 may be initiated by the start of a scanning or printing operation. For example, the print control input 302 (see FIG. 3) may provide a signal to the controller 104 (see FIG. 1) to initiate a printing operation, or the scan control input 304 (see FIG. 3). (See FIG. 1) may provide a signal to the controller 104 (see FIG. 1) to initiate the scan operation.

  At block 404, the positioning module 126 may construct a reference point on the print medium. For example, when the printing device 200 is placed at a desired starting position, the user may be instructed to activate one of the inputs 302, 304 by a character string or graphics provided via the display 306. Alternatively, the orientation and reference point may be established when the user has previously placed the printing device 200 at the desired starting position and the appropriate inputs 302, 304 are activated.

  At block 406, the positioning module 126 uses the information provided by the navigation sensor 112 to determine position information, for example, a translational and / or rotational change relative to the reference point, with respect to the printing device 200. As good as The change in translation direction may be determined by tracking incremental changes in the position of the navigation sensor along the two-dimensional coordinate system, eg, Δx and Δy. The change in rotational direction may be determined, for example, by tracking an incremental change in the angle of the printing device with respect to the y-axis, eg, ΔΘ. Such changes in translational direction and / or rotational direction may be determined by the positioning module comparing such successive navigation images captured by the navigation sensor 112 to detect such movement.

  In block 408, the positioning module 126 may further receive processed image data from the image processing module 118. If some or all of an image has already been deposited or printed at a predetermined position, the optical imaging sensor 114 is used to determine the accuracy of the calculated position arrangement for the received processed image data. It may be verified. For example, the optical imaging sensor 114 may extract a sample from the deposited image (or the image to be scanned) and compare this sample to a corresponding position in the received processed image data. This verification may find and compensate for images that are imperfectly printed and / or deposited.

  In block 410, the positioning module 126 may compensate for differences and deviations between the calculated position arrangement and the received processed image data. In one example, if there is enough information, for example, if there is enough material deposited at the location that the optical imaging sensor 114 scans, the positioning module 126 will position information so that these two images match. May be offset for alignment. If the positioning module 126 cannot determine an appropriate offset based on available information, the optical imaging sensor 114 may be used to collect more information to identify the pattern, and so on. The additionally obtained information and / or pattern may be used by the positioning module 126 to determine the offset required to align the calculated position arrangement with the received processed image data. Correction and compensation may be performed continuously or periodically depending on, for example, image complexity, available processing power, desired resolution, and the like.

  In block 412, the positioning operation 400 and position calculation may be evaluated. If the position information is determined to be accurate, the positioning operation 400 may be completed at block 414. If the position information is incomplete, inaccurate or unacceptable, the positioning operation 400 may return to block 406 and be performed again.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a printing operation 500 executed by the printing device 200. At block 502, the printing operation 500 may begin or may be initiated, for example, by a signal from the print control input 302.

  In block 504, the print module 122 may receive processed image data from the image processing module 118. As described above, the image data may be received in raw or unprocessed form from the image information source 120 and processed by the image processing module 118 for printing. Alternatively, the image data may be pre-processed by the image information source 120 and communicated to the print module 122 as described with reference to FIG.

  At block 506, the display 306 may indicate that the printing device 200 is ready to print the processed image data. The display 306 may further present the processed image data in a thumbnail form. The thumbnail image displayed on the display 306 may be used to indicate the status of the printing operation 500. For example, the thumbnail image may be erased, may be given a gradation, or may be changed in other ways as the printing device 200 supplies the processed image data to the print medium and prints the thumbnail image. It may be done.

  At block 508, the print module 122 may receive a signal representing a print command generated by the user activating the print control input 302 at block 516.

  In block 510, the printing module 122 may further receive position information from the positioning module 126.

  At block 512, the printing module 122 may determine whether to deposit a printing material, such as one or more colors of ink, at a given location on the surface of the print media. For example, whether to print or whether to deposit ink is a function of the total droplet volume to be applied at a given location on the surface of the print media and the droplet volume already deposited at that location. It may be determined as If further printing or ink deposition is to be performed, at block 514, as the user moves or propels the printing device 200 over the surface of the print media, the printing module 122 applies an appropriate amount of printing material to the printhead 108. It may be released. The printing operation 500 may return to block 510 to receive additional position information to deposit more ink.

  If no further printing or ink deposition is to be performed, at block 516, the printing operation 500 may determine whether the print job is complete. Whether or not the print job is complete may be determined as a function of the ratio of the printed volume to the total print volume. Alternatively, a decision may be made to end the printing operation 500 even if the printed volume is less than the total printed volume. For example, in one embodiment, the printing operation 500 may be terminated when the printed volume is 95% of the total printed volume. If the print job is complete, printing operation 500 ends at block 518. If the print job is not complete, the printing operation 500 may return to block 510 to further receive position information to deposit more ink.

  6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of the physical structure of the printhead 108 with a nozzle array configured to optimize handheld printer functionality. For example, in a normal printing operation, the user may propel or move the printing device 200 in the lateral direction, as indicated by arrow A (see FIG. 2A). On the other hand, the printing device 200 is moved in the front-rear direction, and the linear nozzle array 204-210 is moved to a desired position on the surface of the printing medium and positioned. The printing material, specifically CMYK ink, is emitted from the printing device 200 according to the instructions of the printing module 122, but is often calibrated to form or achieve various colors depending on the deposition sequence and / or amount of deposition. , Tested and deployed. For example, in order to form a predetermined color, it is necessary to deposit 4 in cyan, 2 in yellow, 6 in magenta, a specific order and a specific amount. Maintaining or complying with the correct deposition order can be difficult given the irregular movement of the printing device 200 and the physical structure of the nozzle arrays 204-210.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a printhead 108 that includes a concentric circular nozzle array 600 optimized for multidirectional printing. More specifically, the concentric circular nozzle array 600 includes a nozzle array 604 for cyan ink (C), a nozzle array 606 for magenta ink (M), a nozzle array 608 for yellow ink (Y), and black ink. A nozzle array 610 for (K) may be included. According to this embodiment example, the circular nozzle arrays 604-610 may be provided concentrically around the reference point 602 and arranged equidistant from the reference point 602. Furthermore, the optical imaging sensor 114 may be disposed at the reference point 602.

  According to this example embodiment, the circular nozzles 604-610 are configured as shown and positioned relatively to deposit and print multiple colors along various or multiple vectors or directions. Will be able to. For example, instead of propelling the printing device 200 laterally (see arrow A in FIG. 2A) to perform ink ejection and printing, the user follows any direction or vector on the surface of the print media. The printing device 200 may be moved to discharge the printing material. Vector arrows B, C, and D show three separate directions in which the user can propel the printing device 200. It should be understood that any number of directions or vectors may be utilized because of the circular arrangement in the concentric circular nozzle array 600. Although vector arrows B, C, and D have been specifically mentioned as vector directions that may drive printing device 200, regardless of this, the relative position and alignment of circular nozzle arrays 604-610 are relative to each other and Note that the reference point 602 is fixed and constant. Further, as shown by extending the vector B, the front end edge (near reference numeral B) and the rear end edge (near reference numeral B ′) of the circular arrangement of the nozzle array 600 are substantially mirror images of each other. However, it would constitute two separate arrays that could be used to eject the printed material. When the printing device 200 is moved over the printing surface, the printing module 122 can, for example, print material from a circular nozzle array 606 disposed substantially adjacent to the front edge (near reference numeral B). Discharge, printing material discharge from a circular nozzle array 606 disposed substantially adjacent to the rear edge (near reference sign B ′), control, time control, and other Can be used to indicate points.

  FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating another example embodiment of a printhead 108 that includes a polygonal nozzle array 600 ′ optimized for multidirectional printing. Specifically, the polygon nozzle array 600 ′ includes a nozzle array 604 ′ for cyan ink (C), a nozzle array 606 ′ for magenta ink (M), a nozzle array 608 ′ for yellow ink (Y), and A nozzle array 610 ′ for black ink (K) may be included. According to this embodiment example, the polygon nozzle array 600 ′ may be provided substantially concentrically around the reference point 602 ′, and may be provided at substantially the same distance from the reference point 602 ′. Furthermore, the optical imaging sensor 114 may be disposed at the reference point 602 ′.

  FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view illustrating a printing device 700 that includes the teachings described in connection with the movable or manually propelled printer 102 and the logic schematic 100. Specifically, in the printing device 700, the concentric circular nozzle array 600 and the image sensor array 714 (see the image sensor array 114 in FIG. 6A) may be mounted on the printer housing 702. Specifically, the image sensor array 714 may be mounted or arranged in the center or the center portion of the circular nozzle array 600. The imaging element array 714 may be, for example, a line scanner, an optical sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD), or any other imaging device or scanning device.

  The housing 702 further includes a lock mechanism 704 disposed substantially adjacent to the concentric circular nozzle array 600. The locking mechanism 704 may be a spring loaded latch that is removable from the protective cap or cap 800 (see FIGS. 8A-8B) but is configured to cooperate. Alternatively, the lock mechanism 704 may be a friction lock that engages and fixes the cap 800 using a slip or interference fit with respect to the housing 702.

  8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating a flexible ink container 800 configured in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein. According to this example embodiment, the ink container 800 may have a container or wall surface 802 that is flexible and / or semi-rigid. For example, the container 802 may be formed from a plastic, layered Mylar® material or other malleable material that is resistant to tearing or puncturing. Container 802 may further be formed from a material that is chemically inert to the printing material or ink stored in interior 804. The container 802 may be divided into separate chambers, internal regions, etc. to store a plurality of different printed materials.

  Ink container 800 may further include a fluid port 806 disposed or carried as part of container 802. For example, if the container 802 has a hollow bag-like structure, the fluid port 806 may be coupled as part of the wall structure. The fluid port 806 may be formed of a material that is complementary to the material of the container 802. As such, the fluid port 806 and the container 802 may be coupled or joined together to seal the ink container 800 so that fluid does not leak. The fluid port 806 material may be coupled to the container 802 material by friction welding or sonic welding. Alternatively, the fluid port 806 may be a two-part tapered member configured to form a compression seal or pressure seal to secure the material of the container 802.

  The ink container 800 may further include a printed substrate 808 that is bonded, sealed, or otherwise bonded to the material of the container 802. The printed circuit board 808 may control fluid communication between the print material stored in the interior 804 and the printhead 108. Alternatively, the printed circuit board 808 may have the components and functions of the print head 108.

  FIG. 8B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the fluid port 806. According to this example embodiment, the fluid port 806 has a substantially hollow and cylindrical body 810. A flow path 812 that passes through the main body 810 is formed in the main body 810. The flow path 812 may be used to allow fluid to communicate between a printing material (not shown) stored in the interior 804 and the exterior of the ink container 800. The fluid port 806 may include a resealable valve or diaphragm 814 that controls the flow and movement of fluid in and out of the interior 804. The diaphragm 814 may be a flexible or deformable seal that is carried within the flow path 812 of the fluid port 806. Septum 814 may further include a seam or tear 816 that is utilized to refill interior 804. For example, the seam 816 may be forced open to allow refilling while simultaneously engaging the exterior of the filling device (see FIG. 9) to prevent leakage.

  The fluid port 806 may further include a groove 818 formed in the outer surface of the body 810. According to this example embodiment, the groove 818 may be sized to receive the material of the container 802. The material of the container 802 may be coupled or otherwise joined to the fluid port 806 to form a liquid tight seal and / or a tight seal. The portion of the body 810 adjacent to the groove 818 of material, for example, the vicinity of the outer surface 818a may be joined by heating. The material of the body 810 and the material of the container 802 are complementary to each other, but may be mixed to form or build a sealed portion.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a refilling operation performed on the ink container 800. The syringe 900 may be used to supply or transport the printed material into the interior 804 of the ink container 800. For example, the needle portion 902 of the syringe 900 may be inserted or forced through the seam 816. The diaphragm 814 expands and deforms to place the needle portion 902 into the interior 804 while simultaneously forming a sealing portion around the outer surface of the needle portion 902. In this manner, the interior 904 of the syringe 900 may be connected to the interior 804 of the ink container 800 for fluid flow. The printed material may be transported, injected, or otherwise moved from the syringe 900 to the ink container 800 as indicated by arrows E and E ′. This process may be reversed to remove the printed material from the interior 804 or may be performed using another syringe or other fluid transfer device.

  It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the presently preferred embodiments described herein can be altered and modified in various ways. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its original effect. Therefore, such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims (20)

A printer housing defining an interior and having a print head;
An ink container connected to the print head to allow fluid to flow when carried in the interior;
The ink container is
A flexible housing;
A printed circuit board carried by the flexible housing and cooperating with the print head;
A handheld printer having a fluid port carried in the flexible housing. The handheld printer of claim 1, wherein the fluid port includes a flexible diaphragm. The handheld printer of claim 2, wherein the flexible diaphragm cooperates with a refilling syringe. The handheld printer according to claim 1, wherein the flexible housing includes a plurality of fluid chambers. The handheld printer of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of fluid chambers is in communication with at least one fluid port. The handheld printer according to claim 1, wherein the flexible casing is a plastic casing that is resistant to tearing. The handheld printer of claim 1, wherein the fluid port and the printed circuit board cooperate to define a fluid interface. An ink container that cooperates with a handheld printer,
A flexible housing sized to cooperate with the interior of the handheld printer;
A printed circuit board carried by the flexible housing and cooperating with a printhead portion of the handheld printer;
An ink container comprising: a fluid port carried in the flexible casing. The ink container according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the fluid ports has a flexible diaphragm. The ink container according to claim 8, wherein the flexible housing has a plurality of fluid chambers. The ink container according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of fluid chambers is in communication with at least one fluid port. The ink container according to claim 8, wherein the flexible casing is a plastic casing resistant to tearing. The ink container according to claim 8, wherein the fluid port and the printed substrate cooperate to define a fluid interface. A method of configuring an ink container to cooperate with a handheld printer, comprising:
Forming a flexible housing having a size that cooperates with the interior of the handheld printer;
Attaching a printed circuit board cooperating with a print head portion of the handheld printer to the flexible housing;
Sealing a fluid port within a flexible wall portion of the flexible housing. The method of claim 14, wherein sealing the fluid port comprises disposing a flexible diaphragm. The method of claim 14, wherein forming the flexible housing comprises forming a plurality of fluid chambers. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of fluid chambers is in communication with at least one fluid port. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein forming the flexible housing comprises forming the flexible housing from a plastic that is resistant to tearing. The method of claim 14, wherein attaching the printed substrate comprises heat sealing the printed substrate to the flexible housing. The method of claim 14, further comprising: filling the flexible housing with a printing material using a refill syringe.

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