CN100344449C

CN100344449C - Injector system for printing engine

Info

Publication number: CN100344449C
Application number: CNB2004100966827A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 卡·西尔弗布鲁克; 托比·艾伦·金; 盖瑞·罗蒙德·杰克逊
Original assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-30
Filing date: 2000-06-30
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-30
Also published as: CN1618611A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a print engine with a detachable ink box. The present invention comprises a support member and a plurality of fluid conduit pipes arranged on the support member, wherein the fluid conduit pipes are used for providing various kinds of fluid from each fluid source to the print engine; one fluid conduit pipe is used for transporting air to the print head; a sealing device can move correspondingly to the support member; when the sealing device is arranged in a first position, inlets of the fluid conduit pipes are sealed; the sealing device can be moved to a second position to expose the inlets of the fluid conduit pipes, and thus, respective fluid source fluid of the fluid conduit pipe can be communicated with the fluid conduit pipes; when the ink box is disassembled from the print engine, a spiral spring acts on the sealing device in order to push the sealing device to the first position.

Description

A kind of ejector system that is used for print engine

The application is dividing an application of No. 00819703.2 patent application of CN that is entitled as " a kind of injection equipment that is used for print engine " submitted on June 30th, 2000.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of ejector system that is used for print engine, more specifically, the present invention relates to a kind of ejector system that is applied to have the print engine of removable cartridge.

Background technology

In using the print engine of demountable print cartridge, print cartridge not only is responsible for providing ink to print engine, but also provides air on page width printing head, in order to blow away the foreign particle on the print-head nozzle, prevents that it from blocking ink-jet apparatus.Under such situation, need respectively hang oneself into black tubule and air inlet tubule of ink and air delivered to the printhead place.In the prior art, when print cartridge when print engine is pulled down, these tubules can be exposed in the air, therefore, are easy to be subjected to outside contamination.So, a kind of system must be provided, wherein the perforate of these tubules can be closed, to prevent to enter foreign material such as chip.

Herein, term " page width " is meant that printhead once prints delegation on print media, and at print media during through printhead, printhead does not laterally slide or rasterisation on print media.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a kind of ejector system that is used to have the print engine of removable cartridge, wherein the sky of opening of each tubule can be sealed and prevent outside contamination.

For this reason, the invention provides a kind of ejector system that is used to the print engine of removable cartridge, this ejector system comprises:

A bracing or strutting arrangement has a plurality of fluid conduit systems above, and being used for provides fluid from each fluid source to the printhead of print engine, and one of them fluid conduit systems is to be used for carrying to described printhead the air conduit of air;

A sealing device, it is set to and can moves with respect to bracing or strutting arrangement, when this device is positioned at primary importance, the hole of advancing of fluid conduit systems can be sealed, and when it moves to second position, expose the hole of advancing of fluid conduit systems, fluid conduit systems is communicated with its fluid source fluid separately; And

A thrust unit, this thrust unit are acted on described sealing device and are shifted described sealing device onto its primary importance when described print cartridge when described print engine is pulled down.

According to related fields of the present invention, a kind of ejector mechanism that is used for print engine is provided, described ejector mechanism comprises:

Can comprise an ink supply member on the described bracing or strutting arrangement, have fluid conduit systems on this ink supply member, be used for to described printhead ink delivery.

Printhead can use different types of ink to print, and can comprise a plurality of fluid conduit systems and described air conduits that independently are used for various inks in the described mechanism.Exactly, the printhead ink (cyan, magenta and yellow) that can print the ink (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) of four kinds of different colours or print three kinds of colors add the 4th kind can only be under infrared spectrum visible infrared ink.

Each fluid conduit systems can be one a tubule, and an end seals, and has at least one at pipe on the sidewall and enter the hole.If necessary, described at least ink conduit has a pair of relative hole that is located on the described tubule sidewall.

Sealing device can comprise a containment member of being made by elastomeric material, and the sealing member is provided with a plurality of holes, and the size in each hole is set to its corresponding tubule can form close fit (snug fit) with it.

Can be on the containment member for each supply tubule of supplying ink is provided with opening, and on the outer surface of sealing device, be provided with a platform that is used to seal the supply tubule of supply air.

Containment member can be contained on the molded item, and this molded item can move with respect to bracing or strutting arrangement.

This molded item can be fixed (be hold captive) with respect to a bracing or strutting arrangement.

Thrust unit can be a helical spring that is clipped between bracing or strutting arrangement and the molded item.

In the ejector system of the present invention, when print cartridge was disassembled, thrust unit can promote the primary importance of entering the hole that sealing device moves it fluid-encapsulated conduit, thereby can prevent that outside contamination from entering.

Description of drawings

The present invention will be described below in conjunction with example and accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is the 3-D view of the print engine of drafting according to the present invention, comprises its assembly;

Fig. 2 is the three-dimensional, exploded view of print engine;

Fig. 3 is to use the 3-D view of the print engine of detachable print cartridge, among the figure print engine has been removed;

Fig. 4 is the three dimensional back view of print engine, and print cartridge wherein is represented by dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is the three-dimensional section view of print engine;

Fig. 6 is the three-dimensional, exploded view of printhead subassembly on the print engine;

Fig. 7 is the partial sectional view of printhead subassembly;

Fig. 8 is the cross-sectional end view of printhead subassembly, and the caping mechanism among the figure is positioned at the caping position;

What Fig. 9 showed is the printhead subassembly, and the caping mechanism among the figure is positioned at the position of uncapping;

Figure 10 is the partial 3 d view of print engine, and print cartridge has wherein been removed.

The specific embodiment

In drawing, Reference numeral 500 typically refers to print engine according to the invention, and print engine 500 has a print engine assembly 502, and a dismountable print cartridge 504 wherein is housed.

In being called the patent application common co-pending of " print cartridge (A Print Cartridge) " (document number CA02) and " ink cartridge (An Ink Cartridge) " (document number CA04), the name of our bulletin describes this print cartridge 504 in detail, above-mentioned two patents are applied for simultaneously, its international patent application no is respectively PCT/AU00/00741 and PCT/AU00/00742, at this its disclosed content quotation is come in.

Have a subassembly 506 and another subassembly 508 on the print engine assembly 502.

A chassis 510 is arranged on the subassembly 506, and chassis 510 comprises in first molded item, 512, the first molded items 512 and is provided with ink-feed channel 514.Ink in the print cartridge 504 is sent into printhead 516 (Fig. 5,6,7) on the printhead subassembly 508 via ink-feed channel 514.Printhead 516 can with the ink printed of four kinds of colors also can with the ink of three kinds of colors add the 4th kind only under infrared spectrum visible ink (hereinafter referred to as infrared ink) print.Correspondingly, just need set 4 ink-feed channel 514 and an air supply channel 518 in molded item 512, air blows to printhead 516 by air supply channel 518, piles up on the nozzle guard of printhead 516 to prevent extraneous particle.

Also comprise a lid shape molded item 520 on the chassis 510, a pump 522 is housed on it.Pump 522 is suction pumps, produces suction by this pump, make air by the supply tubule 524 and air admission hole 526 of supplying air after, via the air cleaner in the print cartridge 504.Air is discharged by venthole 528, offers the air supply channel 518 on the chassis 510.

First drive motors also is housed on the chassis 510, and this motor is a stepper motor 530, comes driving pump 522 by first train 532.This stepper motor 530 also links to each other by the active roller 534 (Fig. 5) in the roll wheel assembly 536 on second train 538 and the print cartridge 504.Engageable parts 540 (Fig. 2) engagement on train 538 and the end that is contained in active roller 534, thereby make stepper motor 530 can control the feeding of on subassembly 508, carrying print media 542 in the printhead 516, thereby realize when medium when printhead passes through for 516 times, print image in the above.Be noted that and have only when printing on print media 542 that stepper motor 530 just drives print media 542, similarly, 522 of pumps are just blown to printhead 516 when printing.

On the molded item 512 on the chassis 510 a plurality of Pipe for supplying ink are installed, the i.e. supply tubule 544 that communicates with ink-feed channel 514, in the middle of the flange assembly 546 that the supply tubule 544 of supply ink is made with elastomeric material on the print cartridge 504, be used for from the inking chamber of print cartridge 504 or storage lattice 548 (Fig. 5) extraction ink to offer printhead 516.

Second motor, promptly direct current generator 550, are supported on the lid shape molded item 520 on chassis 510 by pressing from both sides 552.This motor is used for driving cutter sweep---and break bar assembly 554, finishing image after the printing on the print media, cut it from remaining print media.Have a helical gear 556 on the output shaft of motor 550, helical gear 558 engagements that have on the worm gear 560 of helical gear 556 and break bar assembly 554.Worm gear 560 is contained on the chassis base plate 564 of printhead subassembly 508 by bearing 562, can rotate.

Break bar assembly 554 has a break bar 566, and this break bar is installed on the gentle arm 568 of elasticity of installing rack 570.Worm gear 560 from the process of installing rack 570 other processes is: when worm gear 560 rotated, installing rack 570 and break bar 566 laterally passed through from chassis base plate 564.Installing rack 570 sticks together with the lid 572 of base plate 564, rotates with respect to worm gear 560 to stop installing rack 570.And break bar 566 is close to the upper casing or the cover of printhead subassembly 508, with effective cutting print media 542.Cover 574 is metals, thereby works as break bar 566 from covering the shape parts through out-of-date, forms an action that is similar to scissors, and the print media of stamping image is cut with remainder.

Subassembly 506 has an ejector mechanism 576, ejector mechanism 576 be contained on the chassis 510 and above the flange 578 of a Band clamp 580 is arranged, by this flange 578 ejector mechanism 576 is clipped on the chassis 510, stick together with it.Plug-in unit 582 of making by elastomeric material of flange 578 supportings.Elastic plugin is provided with a plurality of openings 584.Opening 584 will supply ink supply tubule 544 advance hole sealing, enter into the supply tubule 544 of supply ink with the particle that stops the outside, and thus in admission passage 514 and the printhead 516.In addition, the face that forms of the surface of plug-in unit 582 or platform 586 hole of advancing that will supply the supply tubule 524 of air for identical purpose is blocked.

A helical spring 588 is housed between chassis 510 and the flange 578, in Figure 10, can be clear that at Fig. 3: when print cartridge 504 when print engine 500 is pulled down, this helical spring 588 with flange 578 shift onto one with chassis 510 position spaced.Ejector mechanism shown in Fig. 4 is in the position of withdrawal.

Mention above: printhead subassembly 508 has a base plate 564, and the caping mechanism 590 that is contained on the base plate 564 is transportable, can shift to or move apart printhead 516.Have an elongated rib shape flange 592 in the caping mechanism 590, be arranged on the carrier 593, carrier 593 is installed in place on the moving mechanism 594, and when printhead 516 was not worked, this displacement mechanism moved rib shape flange 592, docks with printhead 516 with it.Conversely, when printhead 516 work, this displacement mechanism produces action, makes rib shape flange 592 retractions, thereby separates with printhead 516.

Have a printhead support molded item 596 on the printhead subassembly 508, above printhead 516 just is installed in.Plug-in unit 599 on this molded item 596 and the molded item 596 has formed a passage 598, and when print image on print media, print media passes through from here.A groove 700 is arranged on the molded item 596, and when caping mechanism 590 was in its caping position, caping mechanism 590 was stretched by groove 700 places.

Ink feed arrangement 702 is installed on the plug-in unit 599, be positioned at cover 574 below.Have a ridged part 704 on the ink feed arrangement 702, and a foundry goods 706 is housed on ridged part 704, formed an ink feeding pod 708 between ridged part 704 and the foundry goods 706, this pod communicates with ink-feed channel 514 on the chassis 510, and (Fig. 7) is sent to printhead 516 to ink via here.

An air supply channel 711 (Fig. 8) is arranged on the ridged part 704 on printhead 516 next doors.

The signal of telecommunication is sent to printhead 516 via TAB diaphragm 712, and TAB diaphragm 712 is constrained between plug-in unit 599 and the ink feed arrangement 702.

Having 714, one flexible printed circuit boards of angled wing-like part (PCB) 716 on the molded item 596 is mounted and fixed on the wing-like part 714.Rib shape flange 718 on the plug-in unit 599 promotes flexible printed circuit board 716 and contacts with TAB diaphragm 712, makes both conductings.Winding displacement 720 is housed on the flexible printed circuit board 716, is used for powering to other live part of printhead 516 and print engine 500.In addition, have a camera print engine control chip 721 and a quality control chip (not shown) on the flexible printed circuit board 716, the quality control chip can be discerned the compatibility and the applicability of print cartridge 504 and print engine 500.For this reason, have a contact 723 on the printed circuit board (PCB) 716, engage with contact 725 in the print cartridge 504.

Can be clear that from Fig. 7: printhead itself has a nozzle guard 722, is installed on the silicon wafer 724.Ink offers the nozzle battle array (not shown) of printhead 516 via ink supply member 726.When needing ink supply, the outlet on the ink channel 710 of ink supply member 726 and ink feed arrangement 702 is connected, and ink is sent to the nozzle array of printhead 516.

Thereby, the invention of this ejector mechanism 576 is very useful: when with print cartridge 504 when print engine is pulled down, helical spring promotes this mechanism, will supply the supply tubule 524 of air and the hole of advancing of the supply tubule 544 of supplying ink by flange 578 and seal.

Equally also as can be seen: in order to make the more compact structure of print engine 500, most of parts of print engine assembly 502 are all placed in the groove of print cartridge 504 1 ends, make its size littler.

In addition, because employed ejector mechanism is mechanical, has so just reduced the quantity of the power consumption parts in the print engine 500, thereby made the more compact structure of print engine 500.

Those of ordinary skill in the art knows: under the prerequisite of purport of the present invention that does not deviate from disclosed description in the literary composition and protection domain, can carry out various changes and/or modification to the embodiment that provides.Which thereby, all should be considered as the current embodiment that provides illustrative and non-limiting no matter from aspect.

Claims

1, a kind of ejector system that is used to the print engine of removable cartridge, this ejector system comprises:

A bracing or strutting arrangement, it has, and a plurality of to be used for providing the fluid conduit systems of fluid, one of them fluid conduit systems from each fluid source to the printhead of described print engine be air conduit from air to described printhead that carry;

A sealing device, it is set to and can moves with respect to described bracing or strutting arrangement, when described sealing device is positioned at primary importance, seal the hole of advancing of described fluid conduit systems, and described sealing device is movable to second position, exposing the hole of advancing of described fluid conduit systems, and described fluid conduit systems is communicated with its fluid source fluid separately; And

2, ejector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described bracing or strutting arrangement comprises an ink supply member, this ink supply member has the fluid passage that is used for to described printhead ink delivery.

3, ejector system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, described printhead uses polytype ink to print, and described system comprises the discrete fluid conduit systems that is used for described air conduit and all kinds ink.

4, ejector system as claimed in claim 3, wherein, described fluid conduit systems is that end sealing and sidewall are provided with the supply tubule that at least one enters the hole.

5, ejector system as claimed in claim 4, wherein, described sealing device comprises a containment member of being made by elastomeric material, is provided with a plurality of holes in the described containment member, and the size in each hole is set to its corresponding supply tubule close fit with it.

6, as the ejector system in the claim 5, wherein, the supply tubule for each supply ink on the described containment member is provided with the hole, and the periphery of described sealing device is provided with a platform that enters the hole that is used to seal the supply tubule of described supply air.

7, ejector system as claimed in claim 5, wherein, described containment member is installed in the molded item, and this molded item is set to and can moves with respect to described bracing or strutting arrangement.

8, ejector system as claimed in claim 7, wherein, described thrust unit is a helical spring that is clipped between described bracing or strutting arrangement and the described molded item.