EP0313205A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printhead-carriage alignment and electrical interconnect lock-in mechanism
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1988-09-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2008-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) is provided comprising: (a) a carriage (12); (b) a snap-spring (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in position on the carriage; and (c) an interconnect strip (16) for supplying electrical signals to the cartridge, including a force loading spring pad (24) for urging a portion of the interconnect strip (1b) against a portion of the cartridge. The cartridge has top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and includes a printhead (44) on the bottom surface, an electrical contact strip (46) on the back surface connected to the printhead (44), referencing pads (56) on the side surfaces, and a lip (64) on the back surface for accepting the snap-spring (62). Referencing surfaces (60) are provided for receiving the referencing pads on the cartridge. The spring pad (24) urges the interconnect strip (16) against the electrical contact of the cartridge. The printhead cartridge/carriage assembly of the invention requires only one hand of the operator to both insert and lock the cartridge in position. Further, the cartridge/carriage assembly (10) provides simultaneous alignment of the printhead (44) in the X, Y, and Z directions. Finally, contact between the printhead (44) and the interconnect strip (16) is reliably made each time the cartridge is inserted and locked in position, thereby ensuring proper nozzle firing each time.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Pinkernell
- 👤 Larry A. Jackson
- 👤 Paul J. Harmon
- 👤 Steve O. Rasmussen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:18
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J25/00; B41J25/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) for use in an ink-jet printer for printing on a print medium, said assembly comprising: (a) a carriage (12); (b) means (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in position in said carriage, said cartridge having top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and including a printhead (44) on said bottom surface, a contact strip (46) on said back surface connected to said printhead, referencing pads (56) on said side surfaces, and a lip (64) on said back surface for accepting a snap spring (62) for locking said cartridge in position, said securing means including said snap spring and means (60) for receiving said referencing pads on said cartridge; and (c) interconnect means (16) for supplying electrical signals to said cartridge including force loading means (24) for urging said interconnect means against said contact of said cartridge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) for use in an ink-jet printer for printing on a print medium, said assembly comprising: (a) a carriage (12); (b) means (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in position in said carriage, said cartridge having top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and including a printhead (44) on said bottom surface, a contact strip (46) on said back surface connected to said printhead, referencing pads (56) on said side surfaces, and a lip (64) on said back surface for accepting a snap spring (62) for locking said cartridge in position, said securing means including said snap spring and means (60) for receiving said referencing pads on said cartridge; and (c) interconnect means (16) for supplying electrical signals to said cartridge including force loading means (24) for urging said interconnect means against said contact of said cartridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said carriage comprises a support base (18) and a chute (20) fastened thereto, said chute adapted to receive said cartridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The assembly of Claim 2 wherein said chute includes a spring means (58) in one side thereof for urging against a corresponding side of said cartridge to engage the X reference pad (56x) of said cartridge against the X reference pad (60x) of said carriage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said carriage and said cartridge are provided with means (20b, 50a, 50b, 68) and reference surfaces (56, 60) to assist in locking and unlocking said cartridge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of Claim 4 wherein said carriage base includes finger-engaging pads (20b, 68) thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly of Claim 4 wherein said cartridge is provided with a visual reference surface (52a) and said carriage base is provided with a corresponding surface (67a) for receiving said reference surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of Claim 4 wherein said cartridge is provided with finger-engaging pads (50a, 50b) thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
The assembly of Claim 4 including bail-less, self-locking means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of Claim 8 wherein said bail-less, self-locking means is comprised of forces provided by a rear spring (62) and an interconnect spring pad (24).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of Claim 9 wherein said forces provide a repeatable, accurate, no-slop referencing of said cartridge to said carriage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly of Claim 10 wherein said locking and unlocking of said cartridge in said carriage is accomplished in a single motion to substantially simultaneously provide said referencing and to establish said electrical interconnect.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of Claim 4 wherein said cartridge includes lock-out ears (54) for preventing improper orientation of said cartridge in said carriage base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly of Claim 1 further including bearing means (70) for encompassing a carriage rod to permit said carriage to travel bidirectionally in a direction normal to the direction of print medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of Claim 13 further including belt attachment means (72) adjacent said bearing means to permit attachment of a belt thereto in association with a motor for controlled moving of said carriage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of Claim 1 further including spacing means (74) for maintaining said printhead a fixed distance from said print medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
289 words
A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) for use in an ink-jet printer for printing on a print medium, said assembly comprising: (a) a carriage (12) comprising a support base (18) and a chute (20) fastened thereto, said chute adapted to receive said cartridge and including a spring means (58) in one side thereof for urging against a corresponding side of said cartridge to engage an X reference pad (56x) of said cartridge against an X reference pad (60x) of said carriage, said support base including bearing means (70) for encompassing a carriage rod to permit said carriage to travel bidirectionally in a direction normal to the direction of print medium and including belt attachment means (72) adjacent said bearing means to permit attachment of a belt thereto in association with a motor for controlled moving of said carriage; (b) bail-less, self-locking means (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in position in said carriage, said cartridge having top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and including a printhead (44) on said bottom surface, a contact strip (46) on said back surface connected to said printhead, referencing pads (56y, 56z) on said side surfaces, and a lip (64) on said back surface for accepting a snap spring (62) for locking said cartridge in position, said securing means including said snap spring and means (60y, 60z) for receiving said referencing pads on said cartridge, with said carriage and said cartridge provided with finger-engaging means (20b, 50a, 50b, 68) to assist in locking and unlocking said cartridge; and (c) interconnect means (16) for supplying electrical signals to said cartridge including force loading means (24) for urging said interconnect means against said contact of said cartridge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
289 words
A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) for use in an ink-jet printer for printing on a print medium, said assembly comprising: (a) a carriage (12) comprising a support base (18) and a chute (20) fastened thereto, said chute adapted to receive said cartridge and including a spring means (58) in one side thereof for urging against a corresponding side of said cartridge to engage an X reference pad (56x) of said cartridge against an X reference pad (60x) of said carriage, said support base including bearing means (70) for encompassing a carriage rod to permit said carriage to travel bidirectionally in a direction normal to the direction of print medium and including belt attachment means (72) adjacent said bearing means to permit attachment of a belt thereto in association with a motor for controlled moving of said carriage; (b) bail-less, self-locking means (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in position in said carriage, said cartridge having top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and including a printhead (44) on said bottom surface, a contact strip (46) on said back surface connected to said printhead, referencing pads (56y, 56z) on said side surfaces, and a lip (64) on said back surface for accepting a snap spring (62) for locking said cartridge in position, said securing means including said snap spring and means (60y, 60z) for receiving said referencing pads on said cartridge, with said carriage and said cartridge provided with finger-engaging means (20b, 50a, 50b, 68) to assist in locking and unlocking said cartridge; and (c) interconnect means (16) for supplying electrical signals to said cartridge including force loading means (24) for urging said interconnect means against said contact of said cartridge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of Claim 16 wherein said carriage base includes finger-engaging pads (20b, 68) thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly of Claim 16 wherein said cartridge is provided with a visual reference surface (52a) and said carriage base is provided with a corresponding surface (67a) for receiving said reference surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of Claim 16 wherein said cartridge is provided with finger-engaging pads (50a, 50b) thereon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of Claim 16 wherein said bail-less, self-locking means is comprised of forces provided by a rear spring (62) and an interconnect spring pad (24).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of Claim 20 wherein said forces provide a repeatable, accurate, no-slop referencing of said cartridge to said carriage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly of Claim 21 wherein said locking and unlocking of said cartridge in said carriage is accomplished in a single motion to substantially simultaneously provide said referencing and to establish said electrical interconnect.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of Claim 16 wherein said cartridge includes lock-out ears (54) for preventing improper orientation of said cartridge in said carriage base.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of Claim 16 further including spacing means (74) for maintaining said printhead a fixed distance from said print medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.