Patent Application
20080008512
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring to
Alternatively, imaging apparatus 14 may be a standalone unit that is not communicatively linked to a host, such as host 12. For example, imaging apparatus 14 may take the form of an all-in-one, i.e., multifunction, machine that includes standalaone copying and facsimile capabilities, in addition to optionally serving as a printer when attached to a host, such as host 12.
Host 12 may be, for example, a personal computer including an input/output (I/O) device, such as keyboard and display monitor. Host 12 further includes a processor, input/output (I/O) interfaces, memory, such as RAM, ROM, NVRAM, and a mass data storage device, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM and/or DVD units. During operation, host 12 may include in its memory a software program including program instructions that function as an imaging driver, e.g., printer driver software, for imaging apparatus 14. Alternatively, the imaging driver may be incorporated, in whole or in part, an imaging apparatus 14.
In the embodiment of
Controller 18 includes a processor unit and associated memory, and may be formed as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Controller 18 communicates with print engine 20 by way of a communications link 24. Controller 18 communicates with user interface 22 by way of a communications link 26. Communications links 24 and 26 may be established, for example, by using standard electrical cabling or bus structures, or by wireless connection.
Print engine 20 may be, for example, an ink jet print engine configured for forming an image on a sheet of print media 28, such as a sheet of paper, transparency or fabric. Print engine 20 may include, for example, a guide frame 30 and a reciprocating printhead carrier 32 slidably coupled to guide frame 30. Printhead 32 is mechanically and electrically configured to mount and carry at least one printhead cartridge 34.
Guide frame 30 defines a bi-directional main scan path 36, including direction 36A and direction 36B. During a printing operation, guide frame 30 guides printhead carrier 32 back and forth along bi-directional main scan path 36, and in turn printhead carrier 32 transports printhead cartridge 34 in a reciprocating manner over an image surface of the sheet of print media 28.
In accordance with the present invention, printhead carrier 32 is configured to facilitate side entry loading and side latching of printhead cartridge 34. In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
As shown in
Ink is contained in reservoir body 42, and top cover 44 completes the enclosure to contain the ink. Fluid passageways (not shown) provide one or more paths for ink to flow from reservoir body 42 to ink jet printhead 46.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5A-5C, printhead carrier 32 includes a cartridge receptacle 52 forming a box-like structure defining an interior space 54. Cartridge receptacle 52 has a carrier floor 56, a carrier ceiling 58, a carrier back wall 60, a carrier front wall 62, a carrier side wall 64 and a carrier side opening 66.
In one exemplary embodiment, cartridge receptacle 52 of printhead carrier 32 is molded as a single-piece unitary structure having defined therein positioning datums 68A-1A, 68A-2A, 68A-3A located on carrier side wall 64, positioning datums 68B-1 and 68C located on carrier back wall 60, and a positioning datum 68B-2 located on carrier floor 56. The datums of printhead carrier 32 define absolute locating positions for positioning printhead cartridge 34 in printhead carrier 32.
Carrier back wall 60 has an exterior 70 including a bearing member 72 that engages guide frame 30 by way of a slidable coupling. For example, guide frame 30 may include a guide rod 30-1, and bearing member 72 may have a bore 72-1 for receiving the guide rod of guide frame 30. A set of electrical contacts 74 are provided on carrier back wall 60 in interior space 54. The set of electrical contacts 74 are communicatively coupled to controller 18, such as by a multi-conductor cable. The step of electrical contacts 74 provide electrical power and signal communication to TAB circuit 48 when printhead cartridge 34 is installed in printhead carrier 32.
Each of the carrier back wall 60, carrier front wall 62, and carrier side wall 64 extends upwardly from a perimeter of carrier floor 56, with carrier side wall 64 being interposed between carrier back wall 60 and carrier front wall 62. Carrier front wall 62 is positioned opposite across carrier floor 56 from carrier back wall 60. Carrier side wall 64 is arranged substantially perpendicular to each of carrier back wall 60 and carrier front wall 62. Carrier ceiling 58 is positioned opposite carrier floor 56, and is separated therefrom by carrier back wall 60, carrier front wall 62, and carrier side wall 64. Carrier side opening 66 is located opposite across carrier floor 56 from carrier side wall 64, wherein printhead cartridge 34 is received through carrier side opening 66 into interior space 54 during a cartridge loading operation.
Door 76, sometimes referred to herein as a side door, is coupled to cartridge receptacle 52 adjacent carrier side opening 66. Door 76 has an open position 78 to facilitate said entry insertion of printhead cartridge 34 through carrier side operation 66 into interior pace 54. As shown in
To open door 76, as shown in
Referring again to
Cartridge receptacle 52 has a lateral guide member 94 positioned opposite across carrier floor 56 from carrier side wall 64. Lateral guide member 94 extends upwardly from carrier floor 56, and in the present embodiment terminates before reaching carrier ceiling 58. Lateral guide member 94 has a proximal end 94-1 and a distal end 94-2. Proximal end 94-1 connects to carrier back wall 60, and distal end 94-2 extends toward carrier front wall 62 and forms a gap 96 between distal end 94-2 and a carrier front wall 62 at carrier side opening 66.
At step S100, side door 76 of printhead carrier 32 is opened, if not already opened, to expose carrier side opening 66 leading to interior space 54 in cartridge receptacle 52.
At step S102, printhead cartridge 34 is inserted through carrier side opening 66 in cartridge receptacle 52 into interior space 54 along arc-shaped loading path 102. At this time, head portion 100 of printhead cartridge 34 is received into guide channel 98 to guide a back side 42-4 of printhead cartridge 34 toward carrier back wall 60 of virtride receptacle 52 as printhead cartridge 34 is rotated along arc-shaped loading path 102.
At step S104, side door 76 is closed to latch printhead cartridge 34 in position in cartridge receptacle 52 of printhead carrier 32.
With the embodiments described above, the overall printhead carrier may be as much as 35 percent smaller than some prior designs. Also, user forces need to latch the printhead carrier have been reduced considerably, in some instances by as much as approximately 200 percent. Further, with the present invention the impulse forces applied to the printhead cartridge are reduced from that of many over-center snap-closure type latching designs, both during cartridge latching and de-latching.
While this invention has been described with respect to embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
