Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6773100
-
Patent Number
6,773,100
-
Date Filed
Thursday, December 19, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 10, 200419 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Lemm; Brian A.
- Chaclas; Angelo N.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 49
- 347 86
- 347 87
- 347 214
- 347 108
- 399 110
- 399 111
- 399 262
- 399 207
- 399 208
- 220 676
- 220 677
- 222 325
- 222 83
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A receiving assembly for an ink cartridge is provided. A replaceable ink cartridge is provided with one or more bosses that extend out from the ink cartridge. A lever is rotatively mounted to a housing for the ink cartridge. The lever includes a curved cam slot. During rotational movement of the lever, the cam slot operatively engages a respective boss and causes the boss to follow a cam formed by the sides of the cam slot. Following the cam form by the cam slot cause the boss to move either upward or downward, according to the direction of the rotational movement, and corresponding movement of the ink cartridge. Downward movement of the ink cartridge will cause a needle mounted to the housing to puncture a septum in the bottom of the ink cartridge, thereby allowing access to the ink contained therein.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of ink jet printing, and more particularly to a receiving assembly for inserting and removing a disposable ink cartridge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ink jet printing mechanisms are well known and have been adapted to a variety of applications and devices, including, for example, office printers, point of sale devices, and mailing machines. Generally, ink jet printing mechanisms include a print head that ejects a series of ink drops onto paper or other medium, until a desired image is achieved. A reservoir of ink keeps the print head supplied with ink.
Typically, a mailing machine utilizes an ink jet printing mechanism in conjunction with a postage metering system included in the mailing machine. Postage metering systems store and dispense postage. Print quality, therefore, becomes more significant in that the ink jet printer must operate reliably to prevent the operator from experiencing loss of postal funds (money) due to a postage indicia being unreadable. Therefore, proper delivery of ink from the ink cartridge to the print head has increased importance. Delivery of the ink can be facilitated by proper installation of an ink cartridge.
In many applications it is desirable to have a user replaceable ink cartridge for providing the reservoir of ink. In this manner, when one supply of ink has been exhausted, an empty ink cartridge may be replaced with a new ink cartridge to replenish the ink supply.
An ink cartridge should be easily inserted into and removed from the ink jet printing mechanism. Preferably, even an inexperienced operator should find the process intuitive and the process should require minimal physical effort. Due to the location of an ink cartridge within a mailing machine, insertion and extraction of an ink cartridge can sometimes be difficult for some operators.
Ink cartridges typically include a septum that is pierced with a needle to access a supply of ink within the cartridge. For safety reasons, a blunt needle is utilized to pierce the septum of the ink cartridge. The use of a blunt needle can result in a higher than desirable force to perform the piercing operation. In addition, incorporation of an ink jet printing mechanism within a mailing machine may limit access to the location of insertion, thereby adding to the difficulty of supplying the force required to puncture the septum with the blunt needles. Extraction of an empty ink cartridge may also be difficult if the location of the ink cartridge limits access to it.
Therefore, there is a need for an assembly to receive an ink jet cartridge that is intuitive to a user regarding insertion and extraction of the ink cartridge, and that is easy to utilize and does not require an inordinate amount of physical force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention alleviates the problems associated with the prior art and provides a receiving assembly for an ink cartridge that is easy to use and does not require an inordinate amount of physical force to insert or extract an ink cartridge.
In accordance with the present invention, a replaceable ink cartridge is provided with one or more bosses that extend out from the ink cartridge. A lever is rotatively mounted to a housing for the ink cartridge. The lever includes a curved cam slot. During rotational movement of the lever, the cam slot operatively engages a respective boss and causes the boss to follow a cam formed by the sides of the cam slot. Following the cam form by the cam slot causes the boss to move either upward or downward, according to the direction of the rotational movement, and corresponding movement of the ink cartridge. Downward movement of the ink cartridge will cause a needle mounted to the housing to puncture a septum in the bottom of the ink cartridge, thereby allowing access to the ink contained therein. The mechanical advantage provided by the lever assembly of the present invention facilitates removal or insertion of an ink cartridge and significantly reduces the amount of force required by an operator to insert or remove the ink cartridge.
Therefore it should now be apparent that the invention substantially achieves all the above aspects and advantages. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Various features and embodiments are further described in the following figures, descriptions and claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
illustrate a frontal view and a profile view, respectively, of an ink cartridge according to the present invention;
FIG. 2
illustrates a side view of a lever utilized to insert and extract an ink cartridge according to the present invention;
FIG. 3
illustrates an ink cartridge being inserted into a receiving assembly utilizing the lever of
FIG. 2
in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4
illustrates an ink cartridge fully inserted into the receiving assembly with the lever of
FIG. 2
in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 5
illustrates a perspective view of the lever of FIG.
2
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention includes apparatus and methods for inserting and removing an ink cartridge from an ink jet printing mechanism, such as, for example, those utilized in conjunction with a mailing machine. According to the present invention, a housing is adapted to receive an ink cartridge and an insertion mechanism rotatively mounted to the housing is utilized to facilitate insertion of the ink cartridge into the housing, including puncturing of one or more septum with a blunt needle during the insertion. The insertion mechanism can also be utilized to facilitate removal of the ink cartridge from the pocket.
Referring now to
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B and
2
, an ink cartridge
101
and a lever
200
according to the present invention are illustrated. The ink cartridge
101
has one or more bosses
102
,
104
or other latching device that can be engaged by the lever
200
. A frontal view (
FIG. 1A
) shows the bosses
102
,
104
extending out from the sides of the ink cartridge
101
. A side view (
FIG. 1B
) shows a boss
104
of a generally circular shape.
An ink cartridge
101
can also include one or more septum
105
,
106
or other device for sealing a supply of ink contained within the ink cartridge
101
. In order to access the ink contained within the ink cartridge
101
, the septum
105
,
106
can be punctured with a needle.
The lever
200
can be utilized to operatively engage the boss
102
,
104
formed into each side of the ink cartridge
101
or otherwise attached to the ink cartridge
101
. The boss
102
,
104
can be engaged with a curved cam slot
203
in each side of the lever
200
or some other engaging mechanism. Preferably, as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, the cam slots
203
do not pass completely through the lever
200
, but are provided with a wall
209
on the outside that strengthens the lever
200
by spanning the slots
203
along their full length. The curved cam slots
203
can include an open end
205
for receiving, or otherwise engaging a respective boss
102
,
104
. The lever
200
can also include a pivotal mount
204
on each side. The pivotal mounts
204
can be utilized to mount the lever
200
and allow rotational movement in the lever
200
about the pivotal mounts
204
. The lever
200
can include a handle portion
201
which can be grasped by an operator to supply rotational movement to the lever
200
during insertion or removal of an ink cartridge. The handle portion
201
can be connected to a body portion
202
on each side. Each body portion
202
includes a cam slot
203
and a pivot
204
.
During rotational movement of the lever
200
around the pivots
204
, the cam slots
203
can operatively engage a respective boss
102
,
104
and cause the respective boss
102
,
104
to follow a cam formed by the sides of the cam slots
203
. The shape of the cam formed by the cam slots
203
can control movement of the respective boss
102
,
104
and an ink cartridge
101
to which the bosses
102
,
104
are attached. The lower surface
206
of the cam slots
203
can be adapted to support the respective boss
102
,
104
located on the ink cartridge
101
when the lever is in a non-inserted position.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
, a receiving assembly
300
is illustrated which can receive an ink cartridge
101
. The receiving assembly
300
can include a housing
301
with an open end
305
and a closed end
306
. The open end
305
and closed end
306
can define a pocket for receiving an ink cartridge
101
. The receiving assembly
300
can also include one or more needles
303
mounted to the closed end of the housing
306
and positioned to pierce corresponding septum
105
,
106
that seal ink within the ink cartridge
101
. The septum
105
-
106
can be pierced as the ink cartridge
101
is move downward from a non-inserted position to an inserted position.
In order to move the cartridge
101
from the non-inserted position to the inserted position, the lever
200
can be rotatively moved about the pivot mounts
204
in a direction indicated by arrow
304
for causing downward movement of the ink cartridge
101
. As the lever
200
is rotatively moved, the cam slots
203
in each body portion
202
can operatively engage a respective boss
102
,
104
which is formed into, or attached to, the ink cartridge
101
. A mechanical advantage is provided by the location of the cam slots
203
within the lever
200
and the arc of the cam surface forming the cam slots
203
. The mechanical advantage can facilitate insertion or removal of an ink cartridge
101
. In some embodiments, the combination of the location of the cam slots
203
relative to the handle
201
and the arc of the cam slots
203
can reduce the amount of force required to insert an ink cartridge
101
, including piercing the septum
105
,
106
, to one pound or less of force.
Engagement of the bosses
102
,
104
in the cam slots
203
causes the bosses
102
,
104
to follow a cam formed by a curved of the earn slots
203
. Following the cam formed by the cam slots
203
causes the bosses
102
,
104
to move either upward or downward according to the direction of the rotational movement, and hence movement of the ink cartridge
101
either upward or downward according to the direction of the rotational movement. Downward movement of the ink cartridge
101
can cause the needles
303
to contact and eventually pierce the septum
105
,
106
. A bottom surface
206
of the cam slots
203
can engage the bosses
102
,
104
when the lever
200
is in a non-inserted position. The curve of each cam slot
203
can be operative through rotation of the lever
200
to cause an upper surface
207
of the cam slots
203
to engage the boss
102
,
104
and push the ink cartridge
101
down onto the needles
303
.
Referring now to
FIG. 4
, the receiving assembly
300
is shown with the lever
200
rotated around the mounts
204
into an inserted position. The ink cartridge
101
is moved downward into the housing
301
until the needles
303
have pierced the septum
105
,
106
allowing the needles
105
,
106
to access the ink contained within the ink cartridge
101
. The bosses
102
,
104
can be positioned at an end point
401
of the cam slots
203
and locked into the inserted position while the lever
200
is maintained in the inserted position.
Referring now to
FIG. 5
, a perspective view of a lever
200
according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The perspective view shows an example of a lever
200
with a handle
201
connected to a pair of body portions
202
each having curved cam slots
203
and rotational mounts
204
formed next to each slot
203
. The cam slots
203
can each include an open end
205
for engaging a respective boss formed into opposite sides of the ink cartridge
101
. The cam slots
203
can engage respective bosses
102
,
104
when the lever
200
is in a non-inserted position. The curve of each cam slot
203
can be operative through rotation of the lever
200
to cause an upper surface
207
of each cam slot
203
to engage the boss
102
,
104
and push the ink cartridge
101
down onto the needles
303
. Optionally, the end of each cam slot
203
will have a straight portion that will be substantially horizontal with respect to the bosses
102
,
104
when the lever
200
is in the inserted position, thus ensuring a locking action of the lever
200
and preventing the ink cartridge
101
from back-driving the lever
200
out of the inserted position. When the exemplary lever
200
is installed on a housing
301
, the ink cartridge
101
can fit between the body portions such that the bosses
102
,
104
will engage the slots
203
.
A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various mechanical means for engaging an ink cartridge with a lever can be utilized. Components of the present invention can be formed from plastic, steel, aluminum, alloy or other material. In addition, the cartridge can be made to incorporate a lever mechanism into one unit such that each time the cartridge is replaced the lever is also replaced as a unit. Other variations relating to implementation of the functions described herein can also be implemented. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A receiving assembly for receiving an ink cartridge having one or more septum sealing ink within an ink holding chamber, the receiving assembly comprising:a housing defining a pocket for receiving the ink jet cartridge, the pocket having an open end and a closed end; one or more needles corresponding with each septum mounted to the closed end of the housing and protruding into the pocket; and an insertion mechanism rotatively mounted to the housing to operatively engage the ink bet cartridge for repositioning the ink let cartridge between a non-inserted position and an inserted position, the insertion mechanism including a lever having a pair of curved cam slots, each cam slot having an open end for engaging a respective boss formed into opposite sides of the ink cartridge when the lever is in the non-inserted position, the curves of the cam slots being operative through rotation of the lever to cause an upper surface of each cam slot to engage the respective boss and push the ink cartridge down into the pocket, wherein the non-inserted position causes at least one of the one or more needles to be removed from a corresponding septum and the inserted position causes at least one of the one or more needles to pierce a corresponding septum.
- 2. The receiving assembly of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of each cam slot is adapted to support a respective boss located on the ink cartridge when the lever is in the non-inserted position.
- 3. The receiving assembly of claim 1, wherein an end of each cam slot opposite the open end has a straight portion that is substantially horizontal with respect to the respective bosses when the lever is in the inserted position.
- 4. A housing for a replaceable ink cartridge, the housing comprising:an open end for receiving the replaceable ink cartridge; a closed end opposite the open end, the closed end including at least one needle extending into the housing; a lever rotatably mounted to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position, the lever having a pair of curved cam slots, each cam slot having an open end for engaging a respective boss on opposite sides of the ink cartridge when the lever is in the first position, the curves of the cam slots being operative through rotation of the lever into the second position to cause an upper surface of each cam slot to engage the respective boss and push the ink cartridge down into the housing towards the closed end such that the at least one needle pierces a corresponding septum of the ink cartridge.
- 5. A mailing machine comprising:a receiving assembly for receiving an ink cartridge having one or more septum sealing ink within an ink holding chamber, the receiving assembly comprising: a housing defining a pocket for receiving the ink jet cartridge, the pocket having an open end and a closed end; one or more needles corresponding with each septum mounted to the closed end of the housing and protruding into the pocket; and an insertion mechanism rotatively mounted to the housing to operatively engage the ink jet cartridge for repositioning the ink jet cartridge between a non-inserted position and an inserted position, the insertion mechanism including a lever having a pair of curved cam slots, each cam slot having an open end for engaging a respective boss formed into opposite sides of the ink cartridge when the lever is in the non-inserted position, the curves of the cam slots being operative through rotation of the lever to cause an upper surface of each cam slot to engage the respective boss and push the ink cartridge down into the pocket, wherein the non-inserted position causes at least one of the one or more needles to be removed from a corresponding septum and the inserted position causes at least one of the one or more needles to pierce a corresponding septum.
- 6. The mailing machine of claim 5, wherein a lower surface of each cam slot is adapted to support a respective boss located on the ink cartridge when the lever is in the non-inserted position.
- 7. The mailing machine of claim 5, wherein an end of each cam slot opposite the open end has a straight portion that is substantially horizontal with respect to the respective bosses when the lever is in the inserted position.
- 8. A method for inserting an ink cartridge with one or more septum into a housing, the method composing:locating a lever in a non-inserted position; inserting an ink cartridge into the housing; engaging the ink cartridge with the lever via at least one boss extending from the ink cartridge; and rotating the lever into an inserted position, wherein the rotation of the lever causes the ink cartridge to move into the housing and on to one or more needles, each needle corresponding with a septum and mounted to a closed end of the housing.
US Referenced Citations (8)