The Canon Pixma MP980 is a capable all-in-one device that prints, faxes, and copies documents in full color 4,800×9, 600-pixel resolution. The additional features of MP980 include 3.5-inch LCD screen, an easy-to-use control panel, and a media card reader.
The Canon Pixma MP980 measures 7.9 inches high by 18.5 inches wide by 15.2 inches deep. The all-in-one weighs a hefty 24 pounds because of the auto-duplexer built into the back for double-sided prints. Canon MP980 uses six individual Chroma Life 100 ink cartridges including one dedicated gray cartridge for better quality monochrome photos. All of the dye-based color inks cost $12.99 to replace, and the pigment-based black tanks run a bit more at $14.90. Canon estimates a black-and-white document to cost 3 cents, a full-color document costs 5 cents, and it costs 29 cents per 4-inch-by-6-inch color photo; these prices are average for today’s typical photo printer. The scanner of the printer also supports document sizes up to 8.5 inches by 11 inches, but the fixed hinge makes it difficult to stretch the scanner cover over thicker documents and books.
The cheap Canon Pixma MP980 offers a collection of features that make life much easier for the home photo enthusiast. This printer can be connected to the computer through a standard USB cord and to the network with the Ethernet port on the back, or even go wireless with the built-in 802.11b/g wireless print server.
The text print speed of cheap Canon Pixma MP980 is fairly good. It prints about 5.75 pages per minute. Compared with the rest of the competition, though, the MP980 fared about average.
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Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting in an insertion direction on an ink jet printing apparatus having an ink supply needle communicating with a print head, the ink cartridge comprising: a bottom wall; a plurality of side walls; an ink supply port formed in said bottom wall to engage the ink supply needle of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge moves in the insertion direction; a circuit board formed on one of said side walls adjacent to said bottom wall; a plurality of electrodes disposed on the circuit board, each said electrode having at least one contact region, the contact regions being divided into a plurality of groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction of the cartridge, wherein a portion of one said contact region that is located in a center of one of the groups of contact regions is disposed on a central line of said ink supply port; and a semiconductor storage device located on said circuit board and which is in electrical communication with at least some of said contact regions.
2. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are divided into a plurality of groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction of the cartridge, and wherein one said electrode that is located in a center of one of the groups is disposed on a central line of said ink supply port.
3. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus has a plurality of ink supply needles communicating with the print head, the ink cartridge comprises a plurality of ink supply ports formed in said bottom wall to engage respectively the ink supply needles of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge moves in the insertion direction, wherein one said contact region is disposed on a central line of a particular said ink supply port.
4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printing apparatus has a plurality of contact forming members, and said contact regions are areas of said electrodes corresponding in position to the contact forming members of the printing apparatus.
5. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a plurality of groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction of the cartridge, and wherein one said electrode that is located in a center of one of the groups is disposed on a central line of a particular said ink supply port.
6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an overhang portion located on the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.
7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion is located at an upper part of at least one said side wall.
8. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion has a lower part for cooperating with a lever of the ink jet printing apparatus.
9. The ink cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising a rib located between the lower part of the overhang portion and said side wall on which the overhang portion is formed.
10. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion includes a first overhang and a second overhang.
11. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the first and second overhangs are respectively formed on both sides of said side wall.
12. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion extends continuously between both sides of said side wall.