Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A cartridge for a printing device includes a casing defining a first
container portion for housing a supply of stickers and a second
container portion for storing an ink supply. The second container
portion is divided into a number of distinct chambers for storing
different colored inks and the first container is arranged to hold
the stickers in a roll form. The cartridge can require some form
of authentication by the printing device with which it is to be
used. The cartridge can be specifically configured for use with
a sticker printing digital camera device. Digital Camera Patent Claims
We claim:
1. A camera system comprising: an image sensor for sensing an image;
an internal pagewidth inkjet printhead connected to said image sensor
and adapted to print said sensed image or a modification thereof
on demand; an ink supply connected to said printhead; a cartridge
having a view finder therein, said cartridge including a cartridge
casing defining a first container portion of generally annular configuration
for housing therein a supply of adhesive coated print media on a
roll of backing material and a second container portion for storing
said ink supply, wherein said printhead uses ink from said ink supply
to print on said print media and said cartridge casing surrounds
said view finder, said cartridge casing being detachable from said
camera system to allow replenishment of said adhesive coated print
media or ink supply.
2. A camera system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: an
image effect setting means for setting an image effect to be applied
to said sensed image; image processing means inter-connected to
said image effect setting means and said image sensor and adapted
to modify said sensed image in accordance with a setting of said
image effect setting means.
3. A camera system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said image effect
setting means comprises a selector having a number of effect images
indicated thereon.
4. A camera system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cartridge
further includes a blade or a cutter means or a serrated cutter
for severing printed portions of said print media.
Digital Camera Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cartridges for printing systems.
The cartridge has been developed originally as a cartridge for a
sticker printing digital camera device that is preferably sized
to be hand held and will be described hereinafter with reference
to this application. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that the cartridge can be used with many other kinds
and types of printer devices where it is desired to print ink onto
adhesive print media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention there is provided a cartridge
for a printing device, said cartridge including: a cartridge casing
defining a first container portion for housing therein a supply
of adhesive coated print media and a second container portion for
storing an ink supply.
Preferably, the cartridge includes some form of authentication
means that is recognisable by the printing device.
Desirably, the ink storage container portion of the cartridge includes
one or more ink outlets that are piercable upon installation so
as to connect with an ink distribution unit on the printing device.
In the preferred form, the casing housing the sticker rollers of
a generally annular configuration with the ink storage container
extending outwardly therefrom. Preferably, the cartridge casing
is adapted to snap fit with the device with which it is to be used.
In one particularly preferred form, the cartridge is sized and
configured for use with a sticker printing digital camera device
of the kind described hereafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred example of the inventive cartridge will now be described,
by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a sticker printing camera;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the sticker printing camera
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a left hand side view of the sticker printing camera
of the previous figures;
FIG. 4 is a right hand side view of the sticker printing camera
of the previous figures;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the sticker printing
camera device as shown in FIG. 1 including a first embodiment sticker
printroll and ink cartridge of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the sticker printing camera from the previous
figures with the uppermost cover portions removed to illustrate
the sticker storage area, ink supply, feeder and printer mechanism;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the printer mechanism
shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGS. 1-5;
FIG. 9 is a part sectioned top plan view showing detail of the
printer mechanism shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment
sticker roll and ink cartridge of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a front view of the sticker roll and ink cartridge shown
with the base moulding removed; and
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the major components of the
electrical control circuitry.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS
The preferred application of the cartridge is to a sticker printing
camera able to print stickers on demand on a replenishable printroll.
The "stickercam" 1 as illustrated in the accompanying
figures has a multi-part housing defined by an external front cover
moulding 2, an internal sub-structure and rear molding 3, a sticker
and ink cartridge molding 19 and an external rear cover 5.
The housing in the illustrated preferred embodiment is generally
tear drop shaped in elevation, the generally circular portion 6
being adapted to store stickers in a printroll form and the remaining
portion 7 housing the ink supply 22, printhead arrangement 8 and
sticker feed mechanism 27.
The view finder 10 is also disposed at or near the centre of the
circular housing portion 6 and extends fully through the casing
from the front cover 2 to an optional eye piece 11 on the rear.
The casing includes an inner annular wall 50 about which the sticker
roll 18 is received. The annular wall 50 surrounds the view finder
10. Provided immediately below the view finder 10 at the front of
the casing is a camera lens 12 which is operatively associated with
the suitable image sensing and processing means such as the CCD
13 shown in FIG. 12. Further, a "take" button 14 is provided
at the top of the casing together with a "print" button
15 for taking and printing images respectively.
The preferred "stickercam" as illustrated also includes
an "effects dial" 16 which is rotatable so as to implement
a series of effects such as normal, black and white, sepia, soft
blending, etc. It can also be used for the addition of graphical
clip arts such as love hearts, flowers, surprise effects etc. On
the dial, a series of icon pictures may be provided on which is
printed an indicator of the effect. The effect placed at the indicator
marker 17 is the one then applied by the camera. The effect dial
can be implemented by placing a series of conductive segments on
the reverse side of the wheel with the conductive segments forming
a binary pattern indicative of the type of effect to be displayed.
The segments can complete a circuit monitorable by the stickercam
so as to provide for the effect.
The stickers are provided in the form of a sticker roll 18 which
is preferably housed in a cartridge assembly 19 according to the
present invention which is releasably secured to the external casing.
This first preferred form of the cartridge is of a similar shape
and structure to the external housing of the camera device and comprises
a top molding 20 which defines a first generally annular sticker
roll containing portion 21 and a second generally triangular sectioned
ink storage portion 22. The ink storage portion is preferably divided
into a plurality of distinct chambers 23 so as to provide for both
color and black and white printing. Two slots are also provided
in the side wall of the cartridge top molding, the first being a
sticker exit slot 24 and the second being a pick up roller slot
25 which forms part of the sticker feed mechanism 27 that is described
in more detail below. The cartridge 19 also includes a base molding
28 which seals both the sticker roll cavity and the ink chambers.
Preferably, ink outlet perforations 29 are provided in the base
molding that are covered by a sealing film that is pierced during
installation so as to be in fluid communication with a printer mechanism
30. Desirably, the cartridge is a sealed unit such that the stickers
and ink supply are to be replenished simultaneously. Conveniently,
the cartridge may be snap fitted with the external housing by means
of pressure snap mounts 31 shown in the drawings.
The sticker feed mechanism 27 and printer mechanism 30 are best
illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9 and 12. The sticker feed mechanism 27
includes a pick up roller 32 which spools the stickers forward once
the cartridge has been inserted in the outer housing. Adjacent the
pick up roller are several pairs of drive rollers or nip rollers
33 which are operated via an appropriate gear chain 34 by the motor
35. A serrated cutter 36 may also be provided as part of the feed
sub-assembly and arranged so as to be adjacent the printed sticker
outlet 37 that is formed as part of the housing front molding 2.
Alternatively, a guillotine type arrangement could be provided.
The printer mechanism 30 is best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and comprises
a page width printhead chip 40 with an ink distribution unit 41.
Forming part of the ink distribution unit is an ink supply connection
manifold 42 which has a plurality of ink inlet projections 43 which
engage the ink outlet perforations 29 on the sticker roll and ink
cartridge 19. Preferably, the printer mechanism and sticker feed
mechanism are a single unit and are detachable for replacement or
repair.
Turning now to FIG. 12 (and FIG. 5), there is shown a schematic
arrangement of a part of the electrical circuitry for the control
and operation of the stickercam device. As can be seen, a simple
flexible PCB harness can be used to interconnect the take and print
buttons 14 and 15 to the CCD 13 and the printhead assembly 30. Also
provided as part of the circuit are contacts 45 for the power supply
which is preferably in the form of a three volt battery 46. Further,
the detachable printhead and/or sticker and ink supply cartridge
preferably include an authentication mechanism such as that outlined
in applicant's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,868. The authentication
chip contact 47 is shown in FIG. 12.
In use, the "stickercam" is oriented toward the target
subject and the take button 14 is then operated to capture the image.
The effects dial 16 can then be rotated and an effect selected.
When the print button 15 is then operated the sticker feed mechanism
27 delivers the next sticker or portion of sticker media to the
printhead assembly 30 for printing of the effect processed image
thereon.
Numerous variations are possible within the overall inventive concept
of the "stickercam". For example, the preferred embodiment
can be implemented as a rearrangement of the system disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,148 also filed by the present applicant. Advantageously,
the image sensor can be of a reduced size to that described in the
above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,148 due to the small size of
the stickers.
Similarly, the electronics of the stickercam can be based around
a CMOS images sensor 13 which also includes processing circuitry
for processing an image and forwarding it to the printhead 40 for
printing. The operation of the internal control electronics can
be substantially as set out in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
6,231,148.
Although the invention has been described with reference to one
specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the inventive cartridge can be embodied in many other forms
and adapted for use with printers and printer applications of all
kinds and types.
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