Image forming apparatus and vibration prevention mechanism of a carriage

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a print head that reciprocates along a guide rail includes a carriage on which the print head is mounted. The print head is supplied with ink through a tube from an ink cartridge that is arranged outside the carriage. The carriage includes an engaging portion that slidably engages the carriage with the guide rail, an urging portion that presses the guide rail against the engaging portion, and a base portion on which the urging portion is mounted. The urging portion includes an elastic member that is in contact with the base portion at one end thereof, and a wedge-shaped member that is connected to the other end of the elastic member and urged in a direction in which the guide rail is pressed against the engaging portion by the elastic force of the elastic member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a carriage transport mechanism, as viewed from the lower side, according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic side end view of the carriage transport mechanism, as viewed in the direction indicated by an arrow A1 in FIG. 1A, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carriage and guide shafts, as viewed from the lower side, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side end view of the carriage and guide shafts as viewed in the direction indicated by an arrow A2 in FIG. 2, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a slide member that is utilized for preventing vibration of the carriage according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side end view of the slide member according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view that illustrates a state where projecting portions of the slide member are in contact with the guide shaft according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a carriage and guide shafts, as viewed from the lower side, according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side end view of the carriage and guide shafts, as viewed in the direction indicated by an arrow A3 in FIG. 7, according to the second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus having a print head that reciprocates along a guide rail, comprising: a carriage on which the print head is mounted, wherein the print head is supplied with ink through a tube from an ink cartridge that is arranged outside the carriage, whereinthe carriage includes: an engaging portion that slidably engages the carriage with the guide rail;an urging portion that presses the guide rail against the engaging portion; anda base portion on which the urging portion is mounted, and whereinthe urging portion includes: an elastic member that is in contact with the base portion at one end thereof; anda wedge-shaped member that is connected to the other end of the elastic member and urged in a direction in which the guide rail is pressed against the engaging portion by the elastic force of the elastic member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion has a first surface, and a second surface that makes an angle with the first surface, and wherein the wedge-shaped member presses the guide rail against both the first surface and second surface of the engaging portion by the elastic force of the elastic member.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a compression spring.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a plate spring.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped member has a plurality of projections formed on a surface that faces the guide rail, and wherein the plurality of projections are in contact with the guide rail.

6. A vibration prevention mechanism of a carriage on which a print head is mounted, wherein the print head reciprocates along a guide rail, the print head being supplied with ink through a tube from an ink cartridge that is arranged outside the carriage, comprising: an engaging portion that slidably engages the carriage with the guide rail;an urging portion that presses the guide rail against the engaging portion; anda base portion on which the urging portion is mounted, whereinthe urging portion includes: an elastic member that is in contact with the base portion at one end thereof; anda wedge-shaped member that is connected to the other end of the elastic member and urged in a direction in which the guide rail is pressed against the engaging portion by the elastic force of the elastic member.