Ink cartridges detent mechanism and method
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of ink cartridges detent mechanism and method, particularly relate to a kind of ink cartridges detent mechanism and method that is used on the affairs machine that printer, multifunctional paper feeding machine, draught machine etc. have ink cartridges device (Cartridge).
Background technology
Along with development of science and technology, various electronic and electrical equipments become in the daily life indispensable instrument.For instance, machine commonly used just includes computer and affairs machines such as printer, facsimile machine, draught machine and duplicator in office.Among the employed mode of printing of these affairs machines, ink jet printing (Inkjet Printing) is a kind of technology that widely adopts at present.
Use the affairs machine of ink jet printing (Inkjet Printing) technology, usually has an ink cartridges (cartridge), its below is connected with an ink jet printing head (printhead), and ink cartridges is to support with a sliding seat (carriage), it can be gone up at the print media (for example paper) of affairs machine move, and carry out the action of ink jet printing.In the time of within ink cartridges places sliding seat, ink cartridges must be fixed (lock-in) in sliding seat, and position (alignment) action, so that ink jet printing head correctly prints.
Common ink cartridges fixture is the mode that adopts monolateral location mostly at present, by a biasing force (Biasing force) is provided, ink cartridges is located towards monolateral snap.For example, United States Patent (USP) numbering US 4,907,018 discloses the fixed mechanism of a kind of ink cartridges and sliding seat, wherein uses a fixture with spring that the liner of ink cartridges side is pushed, and makes ink cartridges to the side snap; In addition, United States Patent (USP) numbering US 5,392,063 discloses a kind of ink cartridges spring clamp, use a clamp with inclination cam (cam) that the top of a plurality of ink cartridges is pushed holding action, make it fix a plurality of ink cartridges simultaneously, and make it rely on the side that cam tilts by the single action of clamp.So way can obtain the preferred positioning reliability, and after each ink cartridges only need once proofread and correct, inserts even take out again, and does not also need to proofread and correct again again.
Yet, in the above-mentioned monolateral locate mode, if the side direction racking is carried out on the top of ink cartridges, for example US 5,392, the structure that 063 patent is disclosed, then can make ink cartridges when the location, because suffered side force is asymmetric, thereby may cause ink cartridges to produce deflection, the potential problems that can't ajust.At this problem, US 5,392, though announcement has the feature of the plastic material of employing low-friction coefficient as the inclination cam in 063 patent, its purpose is to reduce by the minimizing of frictional force the probability of ink cartridges generation deflection; Yet in practical application, the material of low-friction coefficient can not be eliminated frictional force fully, therefore ink cartridges may take place still and " be bitten " when packing into, thereby produce the situation of deflection.
In addition, if the side of ink cartridges is carried out the side direction racking, for example US 4,907, and the structure that 018 patent is disclosed uses lobate shell fragment (leaf spring) that ink cartridges is pushed, and the wall that then can make the ink cartridges side be pushed produces distortion.At this problem, United States Patent (USP) numbering US 5,504,513 discloses a kind of distortion reinforced structure of ink cartridges side, to reduce the distortion of ink cartridges side wall; Yet,, also can't eliminate the generation of distortion fully even adopt the distortion reinforced structure.
Summary of the invention
In view of this, a purpose of the present invention is to propose a kind of ink cartridges detent mechanism and method, be applicable in the above-mentioned ink cartridges fixture, the mode of the monolateral location of sublating in the past in design to be adopted, and the ink cartridges location is carried out on the top of ink cartridges with the lateral force symmetrical manner, ink cartridges produces the problem of deflection or the distortion of side wall in the time of so can avoiding locating.
The present invention discloses a kind of ink cartridges detent mechanism, comprises a sliding seat, a holding device and an ink cartridges.Sliding seat has first datum level perpendicular to first direction, perpendicular to second datum level of second direction and along first sliding part of second direction, wherein first direction and second direction are orthogonal, and first direction and second direction constitute a plane of symmetry.Holding device has a pushing datum level and corresponding to second sliding part of first sliding part, the pushing datum level is symmetrical in the on-plane surface of the plane of symmetry, and slides with respect to sliding seat along second direction by the slip of first sliding part and second sliding part.Ink cartridges is to be removably installed in sliding seat, has a pushing face corresponding to the pushing datum level, corresponding to first locating surface of first datum level and corresponding to second locating surface of second datum level, and wherein pushing face is symmetrical in the plane of symmetry.Wherein this first direction is the turnover direction of a paper, this second direction is the inkjet direction of this ink cartridges, the direction that this third direction moves for this sliding seat, when ink cartridges is installed on sliding seat, first datum level is connected to first locating surface, second datum level is connected to second locating surface, and the pushing datum level slides and the pushing face of being pushed on respect to sliding seat along second direction, and ink cartridges all can be located at first direction, second direction and perpendicular to the third direction of the plane of symmetry.
Particularly, among the above-mentioned ink cartridges detent mechanism, holding device can be arranged to a guiding breech lock and a compression spring, the guiding breech lock has the pushing datum level and second sliding part, and the compression spring is arranged between sliding seat and the guiding breech lock, will guide breech lock and slide to ink cartridges along the second direction pushing.
In addition, the present invention also discloses a kind of ink cartridges localization method, comprise the following steps: at first, one sliding seat is provided, this sliding seat has perpendicular to first datum level of first direction and perpendicular to second datum level of second direction, wherein first direction and second direction are orthogonal, and first direction and second direction constitute a plane of symmetry.Secondly, provide an ink cartridges, this ink cartridges has a pushing face, corresponding to first locating surface of first datum level and corresponding to second locating surface of second datum level, and wherein pushing face is the on-plane surface that is symmetrical in this plane of symmetry.Secondly, ink cartridges is installed on sliding seat, makes first datum level be connected to first locating surface, second datum level is connected to second locating surface, and makes ink cartridges in first direction and second direction location.At last, along the pushing face of second direction pushing ink cartridges, make ink cartridges in third direction location perpendicular to first direction and second direction.Wherein, the action of the pushing face of pushing ink cartridges can utilize the pushing datum level of aforesaid guiding breech lock to carry out.Wherein this first direction is the turnover direction of a paper, and this second direction is the inkjet direction of this ink cartridges, the direction that this third direction moves for this sliding seat,
In ink cartridges detent mechanism of the present invention and the method, the pushing datum level is preferably formed by the low-friction coefficient material, to reduce the probability of ink cartridges generation deflection more by the minimizing of frictional force.In addition, second datum level and second locating surface preferably adopt rough surface, to produce certain frictional force in second direction, avoid ink cartridges to break away from the equilbrium position because of inertia force when third direction is located.
Again, in ink cartridges detent mechanism of the present invention and the method, ink cartridges can also have an ink jet printing head, the opposition side of the pushing face of being arranged at, and one electronics connect (electrical interconnection) device, be arranged at the side of ink cartridges, in order to receive control signal towards sliding seat.
For above-mentioned and other purpose of the present invention, feature and advantage can be become apparent, several concrete preferred embodiments cited below particularly, and cooperate appended graphic elaborating.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the stereogram of the ink cartridges detent mechanism of one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 A is the stereogram of sliding seat in the foregoing description;
Fig. 2 B is the stereogram of the sliding seat of Fig. 2 A in other direction;
Fig. 3 A is the stereogram of the foregoing description ink inside casket;
Fig. 3 B is the stereogram of the ink cartridges of Fig. 3 A in other direction;
Fig. 4 A is the stereogram of guiding breech lock in the foregoing description;
Fig. 4 B is the front view of the guiding breech lock of Fig. 4 A;
Fig. 4 C is the side view of the guiding breech lock of Fig. 4 A;
Fig. 5 A is the stereogram of the guiding breech lock of another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 B is the front view of the guiding breech lock of Fig. 5 A;
Fig. 5 C is the side view of the guiding breech lock of Fig. 5 A.
The specific embodiment
See also Fig. 1, ink cartridges detent mechanism of the present invention is described with a specific embodiment.
Shown in the stereogram of Fig. 1, the ink cartridges detent mechanism of present embodiment is made of a sliding seat 10, an ink cartridges 20 and a holding device 30.Particularly, holding device 30 is made of a guiding breech lock 40 and a compression spring 50.In addition, list three directions of X, Y, Z of a spatial coordinate among Fig. 1, paper turnover direction (first direction) when wherein the Y direction is the printing of affairs machine, the Z direction is the inkjet direction (second direction) of ink cartridges 20, the direction (third direction) that directions X then moves for sliding seat 10, the side direction of ink cartridges 20 just, X, Y, three directions of Z are vertical each other.Below please refer to this spatial coordinate, the structure of each assembly is described respectively.
Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B are the stereochemical structure that is shown sliding seat 10 by different directions.Shown in Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B, sliding seat 10 has the load bearing seat of two carrying ink cartridges 20, and each load bearing seat has first sliding part 12 that is provided with along Z direction (second direction) respectively, and the benchmark portion 14 that carries out Y, Z direction location for ink cartridges 20.It is one L shaped that benchmark portion 14 is substantially, has perpendicular to the first datum level 14b of Y direction (first direction) and perpendicular to the second datum level 14c of Z direction (second direction), in order to the free degree of limit ink casket 20 in Y, Z direction.12 of first sliding parts are a slide bumping, guiding breech lock 40 in order to restriction holding device 30 slides in Z direction (third direction), therefore it has X plane 12a and Y plane 12b, in order to the free degree of restriction directions X and Y direction, so can make guiding breech lock 40 only have the free degree respectively in the Z direction.In addition, can be found out by Fig. 2 A that each load bearing seat of sliding seat 10 is symmetrical in a plane of symmetry substantially, this plane of symmetry is the Y-Z plane that is made of vertical each other Y, Z direction, and directions X (third direction) is perpendicular to this plane of symmetry.
Fig. 3 A and Fig. 3 B are the stereochemical structures that is shown ink cartridges 20 by different directions.Ink cartridges 20 is for being removably installed in the load bearing seat of sliding seat 10, and as shown in Figure 3A, ink cartridges 20 has a pushing face 22 and corresponding to the location division 24 of benchmark portion 14.In addition, in the side of ink cartridges 20, be provided with electronics and connect (electrical interconnection) device 28, in order to receive control signal towards sliding seat.Electronic connecting apparatus 28 can have a flexible print wiring board (Flexible Printed Circuit, FPC), to carry out the transmission of control signal.In addition, an elastomer (not icon) can be set between the flexible print wiring board of sliding seat 10 and electronic connecting apparatus 28,, keep stable control signal transmission so that flexible print wiring board and electronic connecting apparatus 28 are stablized butt.
Pushing face 22 is the on-plane surfaces that are symmetrical in the above-mentioned plane of symmetry (Y-Z plane), example concave surface as shown in Figure 3A, but also can be arranged to the suitable shape that other is symmetrical in the Y-Z plane.Location division 24 is arranged at the both sides of ink cartridges, and is similar with the shape of benchmark portion 14, is one L shaped, and shown in Fig. 3 B, location division 24 has corresponding to the first locating surface 24b of the first datum level 14b and corresponding to the second locating surface 24c of the second datum level 14c.Because the benchmark portion 14 on the sliding seat 10 is arranged to be symmetrical in the above-mentioned plane of symmetry, so the above-mentioned plane of symmetry also is arranged to be symmetrical in location division 24.In addition, shown in Fig. 3 B, ink cartridges 20 also has an ink jet printing head 26, is arranged at the opposition side of pushing face 22, i.e. the downside of ink cartridges 20 is in order to carry out ink jet printing.
As previously mentioned, holding device 30 can be arranged to the structure of a guiding breech lock 40 and a compression spring 50, and compression spring 50 is arranged between sliding seat 10 and the guiding breech lock 40, will guide breech lock 40 and slide to ink cartridges 20 along Z direction (second direction) pushing.Structure as for guiding breech lock 40 then can adopt various structure, below in detail it is described in detail respectively.
Fig. 4 A, Fig. 4 B and Fig. 4 C have disclosed an embodiment of guiding breech lock 40.Shown in Fig. 4 A, guiding breech lock 40 has second sliding part 42 corresponding to first sliding part 12 of sliding seat 10, is sticked in the spring holding section 44 of compression spring 50, and corresponding to a pushing datum level 46 of the pushing face 22 of ink cartridges 20.Second sliding part 42 is the guide grooves shown in Fig. 4 A and Fig. 4 C, corresponding to first sliding part 12, makes that guiding breech lock 40 can be by the cooperating of first sliding part 12 and second sliding part 42, and only has the free degree of Z direction.Pushing datum level 46 is symmetrical in the on-plane surface on the above-mentioned plane of symmetry (Y-Z plane), the convex surface shown in Fig. 4 B for example, but also can be arranged to the suitable shape that other is symmetrical in the Y-Z plane and cooperates with pushing face 22.So, can will guide breech lock 40 by the elastic force of compression spring 50 and slide to ink cartridges 20 with respect to sliding seat 10, and make pushing datum level 46 be pushed on pushing face 22 along Z direction (second direction) along the pushing of Z direction.
In addition, Fig. 5 A, Fig. 5 B and Fig. 5 C then disclose another embodiment of guiding breech lock 40.Shown in Fig. 5 A, guiding breech lock 40 ' is to replace the structure of one originally with a guide seat 43 ' and a rotor 45 ', then there is no structural change as for the spring holding section 44 ' that is sticked in compression spring 50.Guide seat 43 ' is provided with second sliding part 42 ' corresponding to first sliding part 12 of sliding seat 10, the guide groove of second sliding part 42 ' shown in Fig. 5 A and Fig. 5 C, corresponding to first sliding part 12, make that guiding breech lock 40 ' can be by the cooperating of first sliding part 12 and second sliding part 42 ', and only have the free degree of Z direction.Rotor 45 ' can rotate along Y direction (first direction) with respect to guide seat 43 ', and the outer peripheral face of rotor 45 ' is provided with the pushing datum level 46 ' corresponding to the pushing face 22 of ink cartridges 20.Pushing datum level 46 ' is symmetrical in the on-plane surface on the above-mentioned plane of symmetry (Y-Z plane), the arc surface shown in Fig. 5 B for example, but also can be arranged to the suitable shape that other is symmetrical in the Y-Z plane and cooperates with pushing face 22.So, can will guide breech lock 40 ' by the elastic force of compression spring 50 and slide to ink cartridges 20 with respect to sliding seat 10, and make pushing datum level 46 ' be pushed on pushing face 22 along Z direction (second direction) along the pushing of Z direction.
Below refer again to the structure of above-mentioned arbitrary embodiment, ink cartridges localization method of the present invention is described.
When carrying out the ink cartridges location, at first must provide as described sliding seat 10 of above-mentioned arbitrary embodiment and ink cartridges 20, wherein sliding seat 10 has perpendicular to the first datum level 14b of Y direction (first direction) and perpendicular to the second datum level 14c of Z direction (second direction), and ink cartridges 20 has a pushing face 22, corresponding to the first locating surface 24b of the first datum level 14b and corresponding to the second locating surface 24c of the second datum level 14c, wherein pushing face is the on-plane surface that is symmetrical in the above-mentioned plane of symmetry.When ink cartridges 20 is installed on the load bearing seat of sliding seat 10, the benchmark portion 14 of sliding seat 10 and the location division 24 mutual butts of ink cartridges 20, this moment, the first datum level 14b was connected to the first locating surface 24b, and ink cartridges is located in Y direction (first direction); The second datum level 14c is connected to the second locating surface 24c, and ink cartridges is located in Z direction (second direction).
Particularly, when ink cartridges 20 is installed on the load bearing seat of sliding seat 10, elastomer set between the flexible print wiring board of sliding seat 10 and electronic connecting apparatus 28 is along Y direction pushing ink cartridges 20, and guiding breech lock 40 is compressed the elastic force effect of spring 50, make pushing datum level 46 slide and the pushing face of being pushed on 22 with respect to sliding seat 10 along Z direction (second direction), so can provide the application of force of Y direction and Z direction, and make ink cartridges be the state of balance with joint efforts in Y direction (first direction) and Z direction (second direction) to ink cartridges 20.
In addition, guiding breech lock 40 is compressed the elastic force effect of spring 50, make pushing datum level 46 slide and the pushing face of being pushed on 22 with respect to sliding seat 10 along Z direction (second direction), at this moment because pushing datum level 46 and pushing face 22 are mutual corresponding on-plane surface, so the strength of this racking is converted at the symmetrical even distributed force of directions X (third direction) at pushing datum level 46.The side force that monolateral locate mode adopted in the even distributed force of this racking and the prior art is different, when therefore being partial to a side of directions Xs as if ink cartridges 20, pushing face 22 is subjected to the influence of this even distributed force, can make ink cartridges 20 get back to the equilbrium position of symmetry, simultaneously the phenomenon of more difficult generation deflection.Therefore, ink cartridges 20 can be positioned the equilbrium position at directions X (third direction), and keeps the state of the balance of making a concerted effort of its directions X (third direction).
In this mandatory declaration, though in practical application, the material of low-friction coefficient can not be eliminated frictional force fully, yet because the present invention adopts the stressed symmetrical manner of directions X (third direction) to position, therefore if adopt the low-friction coefficient material, can reduce ink cartridges 20 by the minimizing of frictional force really and when packing into, " be bitten " situation that produces deflection as pushing datum level 46 of the present invention.
In addition, for avoiding making ink cartridges 20 when directions X (third direction) is located, be subjected to the inertia force effect and break away from the equilbrium position, the phenomenon that generation is rocked, the second datum level 14c and the second locating surface 24c can be arranged to rough surface, with when being subjected to the pushing force of Z direction (second direction), produce certain frictional force, so can avoid ink cartridges 20 to produce shaking phenomenon because of the inertia force effect, and ink cartridges 20 print when directions X moves, can keep the balance of making a concerted effort of directions X by this frictional force.
In addition, except the balance of making a concerted effort of keeping ink cartridges 20, because each point of application of ink cartridges 20 and non-colinear design, for example location division 24 and pushing datum level 46 are on the Z direction and non-colinear, and may cause ink cartridges 20 suffered resultant moments is not 0; Therefore, can so that ink cartridges 20 suffered resultant moments are 0, so can make ink cartridges 20 positioning stablities by the setting of pushing datum level 46.
Ink cartridges detent mechanism of the present invention and method, because the mode of the monolateral location that prior art adopted of sublating, ink cartridges produces the phenomenon of deflection in the time of therefore can avoiding locating.In addition, ink cartridges detent mechanism of the present invention and method owing to the side of ink cartridges is not applied strength, therefore can not produce the problem of side wall distortion yet.
Though disclosed the present invention in conjunction with above concrete preferred embodiment; yet it is not in order to limit the present invention; anyly be familiar with this operator; without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; still can do some and change and retouching, so protection scope of the present invention should be with being as the criterion that claim was defined.