Patent Application
20080186187
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ink jet imaging, and, more particularly, to an ink tank having an integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical ink jet printhead cartridge has an ink tank to which a printhead chip is mounted. A memory may be integrated into the printhead chip. Removing the printhead chip from the ink tank, and making the printhead chip a permanent or semi-permanent part of the printer leaves the ink tank without memory. This reduces the overall functionality of the ink tank.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) refers to a technology that uses memory and electromagnetic waves to identify an object. An RFID tag includes an RFID chip forming a transponder/memory and an antenna connected to the RFID chip. Identification information is stored in the RFID chip. The antenna enables the RFID chip to transmit the identification information to an RFID reader. The RFID reader converts the electromagnetic waves received from the RFID tag into digital information corresponding to the stored identification information.
The present invention provides an ink tank having an integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
The invention, in one form thereof, is directed to an ink tank. The ink tank includes a reservoir body for containing an ink supply. The reservoir body has a top opening. A top cover is attached to the reservoir body to close the top opening. The top cover is formed from a molded material. An RFID tag is insert molded in the top cover when the top cover is molded.
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to an ink tank. The ink tank includes a reservoir body for containing an ink supply. The reservoir body has a top opening. A top cover is attached to the reservoir body to close the top opening. The top cover has an outer surface and a recessed region having a floor lower than the outer surface. An RFID tag is secured in the recessed region of the top cover.
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to an ink tank. The ink tank includes a reservoir body for containing an ink supply. The reservoir body has a top opening. A top cover is attached to the reservoir body to close the top opening. The top cover has an outer surface. The top cover is formed from a molded material. An RFID tag is integrated into the top cover by one of insert molding the RFID tag in the top cover when the top cover is molded or securing the RFID tag in a recessed region of the top cover with the RFID tag being lower than the outer surface.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring to
Alternatively, imaging apparatus 14 may be a standalone unit that is not communicatively linked to a host, such as host 12. For example, imaging apparatus 14 may take the form of an all-in-one, i.e., multifunction, machine that includes standalone copying and facsimile capabilities, in addition to optionally serving as a printer when attached to a host, such as host 12.
Host 12 may be, for example, a personal computer including an input/output (I/O) device, such as keyboard and display monitor. Host 12 further includes a processor, input/output (I/O) interfaces, memory, such as RAM, ROM, NVRAM, and a mass data storage device, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM and/or DVD units. During operation, host 12 may include in its memory a software program including program instructions that function as an imaging driver, e.g., printer driver software, for imaging apparatus 14. Alternatively, the imaging driver may be incorporated, in whole or in part, in imaging apparatus 14.
In the embodiment of
Controller 18 includes a processor unit and associated memory, and may be formed as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Controller 18 communicates with print engine 20 via a communications link 24. Controller 18 communicates with user interface 22 via a communications link 26. Communications links 24 and 26 may be established, for example, by using standard electrical cabling or bus structures, or by wireless connection.
Print engine 20 may be, for example, an ink jet print engine configured for forming an image on a sheet of print media 28, such as a sheet of paper, transparency or fabric. Print engine 20 may include, for example, a reciprocating printhead carrier 30. Printhead carrier 30 is mechanically and electrically configured to mount and carry at least one ink tank 32, and in the present embodiment includes ink tanks 32-1, 32-2, 32-3 and 32-4.
A cover 34 of imaging apparatus 14 is located above and extends over ink tanks 32-1, 32-2, 32-3 and 32-4. Cover 34 may be, for example, configured for latching a respective ink tank 32 to printhead carrier 30, or may be configured as part of an outer or intermediate case of imaging apparatus 14.
During operation, each ink tank 32 is in fluid communication with a corresponding ink jet micro-fluid ejection device 36, e.g., an ink jet printhead. Those skilled in the art will recognize that each ink tank 32 and ink jet micro-fluid ejection device 36 may be formed as separable components, in which case micro-fluid ejection device 36 may include a separate ink jet nozzle array corresponding to each color of ink of ink tanks 32-1, 32-2, 32-3 and 32-4. Alternatively, each ink tank 32 and ink jet micro-fluid ejection device 36 may be formed as an integrated unit, e.g., as an ink jet printhead cartridge.
Printhead carrier 30 transports each ink tank 32, and in turn each ink jet micro-fluid ejection device 36, in a reciprocating manner in a bi-directional main scan direction, i.e., axis, 38 over an image surface of the sheet of print media 28 during a printing operation. Each of ink tanks 32-1, 32-2, 32-3 and 32-4 may contain a different color of ink, e.g., black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, respectively.
As shown schematically in
Each ink tank 32, e.g., ink tank 32-4 in the example of
As shown schematically in
During operation, RFID reader 40 sends electromagnetic waves via reader antenna 42, which are directed to antenna 58 of RFID tag 52. Antenna 58 of RFID tag 52 is tuned to receive these electromagnetic waves. RFID chip 56 of RFID tag 52 is powered from the electromagnetic field associated with the electromagnetic waves sent by RFID reader 40. RFID chip 56 then generates an electromagnetic signal modulated with information stored on RFID chip 56, and sends the electromagnetic signal back to RFID reader 40. In turn, RFID reader 40 converts the received electromagnetic signal into digital data corresponding to the information stored in RFID chip 56, and forwards information to, for example, controller 18 for further processing or action. The information stored in the memory of RFID chip 56 may include, for example, ink tank identification information and operational information, including a gas gage, color information, encoded ink properties for optimizing printouts, geographic information, OEM identification, and manufacturing data.
In the exemplary embodiment described above with respect to
The material composition of RFID tag 52, e.g., substrate 54, is selected to withstand a molding temperature of the molded material forming top cover 50, as set forth in the Table 1 below. As can be seen from Table 1 below, top cover 50 may be formed, for example, from a thermoplastic material or a thermo-set material, and may be formed from one of a transparent material and an opaque material.
For convenience, Table 1 in some cases uses acronyms rather than the full chemical name for the material. A table of acronyms with the full chemical names for the material follows thereafter in Table 2.
The groups 1, 2 and 3 are identified for convenience as exemplary combinations of RFID tag materials and corresponding ink tank materials.
As an example, an ink tank material, such as polypropylene, may be molded at 230 degrees Celsius (C) (446 degrees Fahrenheit (F). RFID tag materials may be specified to have higher withstanding temperatures. For instance, Delo-Katiobond 4670 available from Delo Industrial Adhesives is an ultraviolet (UV) cured encapsulant with a short time use temperature specification of 250 degrees C. (482 degrees F.). This can hold the wire-bonded RFID chip 56 to substrate 54 such as fiberglass with epoxy adhesive MCHT, which has a 3 minute temperature specification of 290° C. (554 degrees F.).
RFID tag 80 is similar to RFID tag 52 described above, but in addition includes a substrate 82 having a plurality of holes 84, individually identified as holes 84-1 and 84-2, which are located to correspond to the pin pattern of pins 78. RFID tag 80 may be positioned in recessed region 74 with holes 84-1 and 84-2 receiving pins 78-1 and 78-2, respectively. Then, using a thermal upset swaging (heat stake) process, RFID tag 80 is attached to floor 76 of top cover 70 by melting the ends of pins 78-1 and 78-2 over holes 84-1, 84-2, such the distal ends of pins 78-1 and 78-2 are enlarged so as to mechanically lock RFID tag 80 into position on top cover 70. The depth of recessed region 74 may be selected such that RFID tag 80 is positioned lower than outer surface 72, and RFID tag 80 may be sealed with an epoxy.
Those skilled in the art will recognize these heat stake features may take on a multitude of embodiments, the optimum depending on factors such as the RFID tag and top cover material properties, shape/size constraints of the top cover and/or RFID tag, manufacturing, shipping, and operating environment conditions, etc.
As an alternative to the embodiment of
While this invention has been described with respect to embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
