Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6595633
-
Patent Number
6,595,633
-
Date Filed
Friday, December 14, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 22, 200321 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 105
- 347 108
- 347 104
- 347 37
- 400 283
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A printer pen carriage support for a printer is disclosed. The printer pen carriage support includes a cantilever that fits within a groove of a pen carriage and provides support for the pen carriage. Support structures, such as bushings or bearings, may be included to assist in pen carriage movement along the cantilever.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to printers and, more particularly, to a printer pen carriage support.
2. Related Art
Printers employing a pen carriage (also commonly referred to as a print cartridge or a pen assembly) are well known in the art. The pen carriage typically travels along a guide rod, generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of a print media, and dispenses ink onto the surface of the print media to generate a desired printed image.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,270 to Merrill discloses in
FIG. 1
(reproduced herein as
FIG. 1
for convenience) an ink jet printer
10
having a print head carriage
20
that reciprocates along a scan axis
22
on a guide rod
24
. The typical guide rod has several drawbacks, such as its relative cost and degree of difficulty in securely attaching its ends to printer chassis supports and precisely aligning within the print mechanism (e.g., guide rod alignment relative to the paper path).
The guide rod must also be designed to be very rigid to provide adequate support for the pen carriage and precisely positioned to provide mechanical alignment between the pen carriage and the print media. Often, multiple guide rods or a guide rod and an additional guide are provided. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,572 to Kumar et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses in
FIG. 2
(reproduced herein as
FIG. 2
) dual support and guide rails
32
,
34
for supporting and guiding carriage assembly
20
. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,524 to Nicoloff, Jr. et al. discloses in
FIG. 2
(reproduced herein as
FIG. 3
) a slide rod
36
along with a support bumper
30
which rides along a guide
32
for supporting and guiding carriage
20
. Multiple guide rods or a guide rod and additional supports have the same drawbacks as noted above for the single guide rod, but to a greater degree. Furthermore, multiple guide rods or supports for the pen assembly add to the design and manufacturing cost and complexity. As a result, there is a need for an improved pen assembly support.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A printer pen carriage support is disclosed herein. The printer pen carriage support, in accordance with some embodiments, includes a cantilever that fits within a groove of a pen carriage. The cantilever provides the primary support for the pen carriage as it travels along the printer pen carriage support.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a printer includes a housing, a pen carriage that transports a pen for dispensing a substance onto a sheet of a print media transported near the pen carriage, and a pen carriage support coupled to the housing and which is coupled to and supports the pen carriage by providing a cantilever which fits within a groove of the pen carriage.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a pen carriage assembly includes a pen carriage for transporting a pen to dispense a substance, the pen carriage having a groove along a first side, and a pen carriage support having a cantilever which fits within the groove of the pen carriage and which supports the pen carriage.
The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the present invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows a conventional guide rod for a print cartridge.
FIG. 2
shows a conventional carriage assembly support structure.
FIG. 3
shows a conventional carriage support structure.
FIG. 4
shows a printer with a pen carriage support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11
shows a pen carriage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12
shows a portion of a pen carriage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 4
shows a printer
400
with a pen carriage support
402
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Printer
400
includes a housing
404
, a print media tray
406
, and a pen carriage
408
supported by pen carriage support
402
. Printer
400
is shown in general detail and represents any type of printer that transports a pen in some fashion to dispense ink or some other substance onto print media. For example, printer
400
may represent an ink-jet printer.
As an example of general operation, printer
400
transports, using a transport mechanism (not shown), a sheet of print media from print media tray
406
. The sheet of print media, is passed in close proximity to pen carriage
408
, which travels along a scan axis
410
(i.e., along the x-axis) on pen carriage support
402
and dispenses ink on a surface of the print media to generate a desired printed image. A drive belt or a cable or other means along with a motor, as known in the art, provides the force necessary to propel pen carriage
408
along the path provided by pen carriage support
402
. Ribbon wire provides control signals to pen carriage
408
to energize associated electrical components and control the dispensing of the ink.
Pen carriage
408
may contain one or more cartridges, pens, or print heads to dispense one or more types of ink or other substances and which may be removable from pen carriage
408
or may be semi-permanent or permanent within pen carriage
408
. For example, pen carriage
408
may include one or more ink-jet pens to provide black-and-white or color images.
Pen carriage support
402
may be made of wood, plastic, metal or metal alloy, or any other material that provides the necessary support and rigidity. For example, pen carriage support
402
comprises sheet metal that has been bent or cut and bent to form a ledge, cantilever, flange, or other type of support structure disclosed herein for pen carriage
408
. It should be understood that the cut would generally not be the entire length of pen carriage support
402
, but only over the portion or length that is intended to be traveled by pen carriage
408
. Alternatively, pen carriage support
402
comprises a plastic or a composite-type material that has been formed or molded to a shape, as disclosed herein, to support pen carriage
408
.
Pen carriage support
402
and pen carriage
408
, shown generally in
FIG. 4
, are described in greater detail below in accordance with specific embodiments and illustrated in the corresponding figures.
FIG. 5
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support
502
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Pen carriage support
502
supports a pen carriage
504
that travels along pen carriage support
502
.
Pen carriage support
502
provides a cantilever
512
that fits within a groove
510
(or slot) located in pen carriage
504
. Pen carriage
504
slides along cantilever
512
, which provides the necessary support and mechanical alignment. Groove
510
is a friction guide that fits snugly around cantilever
512
and allows pen carriage
504
to slide easily along scan axis
410
. Alternatively, as discussed below, bushings, bearings, wheels, or other roller-type or slide-type devices may be incorporated to assist pen carriage
504
to slide smoothly along cantilever
512
.
Cantilever
512
provides registration or mechanical support and alignment generally relative to the y-axis. To maintain proper alignment of pen carriage
504
along the z-axis, gravity may be employed such that the weight of pen carriage
504
resists movement away from pen carriage support
502
(i.e., resists movement in the positive z-axis direction).
Alternatively or in conjunction with gravity, the drive belt (or cable), that is used to move pen carriage
504
, is attached to pen carriage
504
at, for example, a position
506
or a position
508
. The drive belt would then limit or resist movement of pen carriage
504
in the positive z-axis direction due to the tension of the drive belt.
As discussed above, pen carriage support
502
may be made of any material that provides sufficient rigid mechanical support for pen carriage
504
. For example, if pen carriage support
502
is formed by a sheet metal cut and fold process, the resulting metal shape will have inherit rigidity and become an integral part of the support structure. Furthermore, the process would be less expensive than prior art structures and easier to secure and align within printer
400
. It should be understood that, as explained above, if a cut-and-bend process is performed, the cut would be generally only along a portion of pen carriage support
502
intended to be traveled by pen carriage
504
.
FIG. 6
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support
602
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Pen carriage support
602
supports a pen carriage
604
, which travels along pen carriage support
602
, by providing a cantilever
608
that fits within a groove
606
of pen carriage
604
. Groove
606
is a friction guide, but may include bushings or rollers as discussed herein (i.e., roller-type or slide-type devices), that allows pen carriage
604
to slide easily along scan axis
410
.
Cantilever
608
provides registration or mechanical support and alignment relative to the y-axis and to the z-axis. As shown, cantilever
608
comprises a first segment (separately labeled and referenced as cantilever
608
(
1
)) measured along the z-axis and a second segment (separately labeled and referenced as cantilever
608
(
2
)) measured along the y-axis, which act to control movement of pen carriage
604
in both the y-axis and the z-axis. The drive belt or other means attached to pen carriage
604
controls its movement along the x-axis.
FIG. 7
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support
702
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Pen carriage support
702
supports a pen carriage
704
, which travels along pen carriage support
702
, by providing a cantilever
706
that fits within a groove
708
of pen carriage
704
. Pen carriage support
702
and pen carriage
704
are similar to pen carriage support
502
and pen carriage
504
, respectively, with the difference being pen carriage support
702
forms cantilever
706
at one side of pen carriage support
702
rather than between its sides as with pen carriage support
502
.
FIG. 8
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support
802
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Pen carriage support
802
supports a pen carriage
804
, which travels along pen carriage support
802
, by providing a cantilever
806
that fits within a groove
808
of pen carriage
804
. Pen carriage support
802
is similar to pen carriage support
602
(FIG.
6
), with the main difference being cantilever
806
is formed at one side of pen carriage support
802
rather than between its sides as with pen carriage support
602
.
FIG. 9
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support
902
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Pen carriage support
902
includes a cantilever
908
to support a pen carriage
904
using a groove
910
, with pen carriage support
902
and pen carriage
904
similar to the structure shown in FIG.
7
. However, pen carriage support
902
and pen carriage
904
differ by the addition of support structures
906
, which may be part of pen carriage support
902
or pen carriage
904
.
Support structures
906
serve to assist pen carriage
904
travel along pen carriage support
902
and may be positioned at various points between pen carriage support
902
and pen carriage
904
. Support structures
906
may comprise friction-reducing ridges, bushings, bearings, rollers, wheels, or other roller-type or slide-type structures.
FIG. 10
shows a cross-sectional view along lines
1
—
1
in
FIG. 4
for a pen carriage support
1002
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Pen carriage support
1002
includes a cantilever
1008
to support a pen carriage
1004
using a groove
1010
, with pen carriage support
1002
and pen carriage
1004
similar to the structure shown in FIG.
6
. However, pen carriage support
1002
and pen carriage
1004
differ by the addition of support structures
906
, which may be part of pen carriage support
1002
or pen carriage
1004
.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 9 and 10
, support structures
906
may be incorporated into any of the embodiments discussed herein to aid in reducing friction and provide ease of movement of the pen carriage on the pen carriage support. Support structures
906
can also be positioned in various strategic load-bearing points. For example in
FIG. 9
, one of support structures
906
, which is labeled as support structure
906
(
1
), is positioned between pen carriage
904
and pen carriage support
902
to absorb some of the load or force exerted along the z-axis and reduce frictional forces.
FIG. 11
shows a pen carriage support
1104
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Pen carriage support
1104
is shown supporting a pen carriage
1106
and is attached to chassis supports
1102
. Chassis supports
1102
are part of or within housing
404
and serve to secure pen carriage support
1104
.
FIG. 11
serves to illustrate various attachment methods for securing various embodiments of the pen carriage support discussed herein within printer
400
. For example, pen carriage support
1104
is shown fitting within grooves
1110
of chassis supports
1102
. Alternatively or in addition to, pen carriage support
1104
may be secured by rivets, screws, or similar attachment devices, such as at points
1108
.
FIG. 12
shows a portion of pen carriage support
1104
, which illustrates how one end of pen carriage support
1104
can fit or snap into grooves
1110
. Furthermore, each end of pen carriage support
1104
may be bent at a right angle and attachment devices, such as rivets or screws, used to secure pen carriage support
1104
to chassis supports
1102
.
Embodiments described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It should also be understood that numerous modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A printer comprising:a housing; a pen carriage that transports a pen for dispensing a substance onto a sheet of a print media transported near the pen carriage; and a pen carriage support coupled to the housing and which is coupled to and supports the pen carriage by providing a cantilever that fits within a groove of the pen carriage.
- 2. The printer of claim 1, wherein the cantilever completely supports the pen carriage.
- 3. The printer of claim 1, further comprising:a motor coupled to the housing; and a drive belt coupled to the motor and to the pen carriage, the motor employing the drive belt to move the pen carriage along the pen carriage support.
- 4. The printer of claim 3, wherein the tension of the drive belt assists in retaining the pen carriage on the pen carriage support.
- 5. The printer of claim 1, further comprising at least one support structure disposed between the pen carriage support and the pen carriage.
- 6. The printer of claim 5, wherein the support structure comprises at least one of a bushing, a ridge, a bearing, a roller, and a wheel.
- 7. The printer of claim 1, wherein the cantilever comprises a first segment for substantially supporting the pen carriage along a first axis and a second segment for substantially supporting the pen carriage along a second axis.
- 8. The printer of claim 1, wherein the pen carriage support is coupled to the housing through each of its ends by fitted grooves within the housing.
- 9. The printer of claim 1, wherein the pen comprises an ink-jet cartridge, an ink pen, or a print head.
- 10. The printer of claim 1, wherein the pen carriage support is made of at least one of a wood, a plastic, a metal, or a metal alloy.
- 11. The printer of claim 1, wherein the pen carriage support is made of sheet metal and formed by a cut-and-bend process.
- 12. A pen carriage assembly comprising:a pen carriage for transporting a pen to dispense a substance, the pen carriage having a groove along a first side; and a pen carriage support having a cantilever that fits within the groove of the pen carriage and which supports the pen carriage.
- 13. The pen carriage assembly of claim 12, further comprising a support structure disposed between the pen carriage support and the pen carriage.
- 14. The pen carriage assembly of claim 12, wherein the cantilever comprises a first segment for substantially supporting the pen carriage along a first axis and a second segment for substantially supporting the pen carriage along a second axis.
US Referenced Citations (3)