Printer Having A Roll Of Print Media And An Ink-Transmitting Drive Assembly

Abstract

This invention provides for a printer which includes a print roll housing assembly having a number of ink reservoirs defined by a core portion around which a print media is rolled. The printer includes an ink supply and printhead assembly attached to the print roll housing assembly, said printhead assembly having a guillotine blade assembly to cut the print media, and a drive assembly having a platen configured to extract the print media from the print roll unit and feed it past the printhead assembly. The drive assembly has ink transmission channels arranging the ink reservoirs in fluid communication with the ink supply and printhead assembly.

1 . A printer comprising:
 a print roll housing assembly having a number of ink reservoirs defined by a core portion around which a print media is rolled;   an ink supply and printhead assembly attached to the print roll housing assembly, said printhead assembly having a guillotine blade assembly to cut the print media; and   a drive assembly having a platen configured to extract the print media from the print roll unit and feed it past the printhead assembly, said drive assembly having ink transmission channels interposed between the ink reservoirs and the ink supply and printhead assembly to feed ink from the ink reservoirs to the ink supply and printhead assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the core portion includes a former dividing said core into the number of elongate ink reservoirs. 
     
     
         3 . The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the ink supply and printhead assembly includes a number of elongate ink storage chambers in fluid communication with ink manifolds for supplying ink to a printhead integrated circuit attached to a surface of the assembly operatively proximate said platen. 
     
     
         4 . The printer of  claim 3 , wherein the ink storage chambers include a baffle unit having a number of slats arranged transversely in the elongate chambers to reduce acceleration of ink in the storage chambers. 
     
     
         5 . The printer of  claim 4 , wherein the ink supply and printhead assembly includes a filter arranged between the ink storage chambers and the ink manifold, to filter ink passing therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the ink supply and printhead assembly includes an aluminium blade along which the guillotine blade assembly is driven to facilitate cutting of the print media. 
     
     
         7 . The printer of  claim 3 , wherein the ink supply and printhead assembly includes a series of breather holes which are hydrophobically sealed to allow air within the ink storage chambers to escape whilst inhibiting egress of the ink.