JP2000127446A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an ink jet recorder in which operability is enhanced when a cartridge is loaded to a carriage while contributing to reduction in size. SOLUTION: Symmetric positioning protrusions 11 are provided in the recesses made in the opposite side faces of a cartridge and asymmetric rough guide protrusions 12 are provided above the recesses in the opposite side faces. Symmetric positioning grooves 13 to be fitted with the positioning protrusions 11 are made in the opposite faces of the intermediate wall of a carriage 1 and in the inner face of the opposite side walls. Asymmetric guide grooves 16 for guiding the rough guide protrusions 12 are made in the opposite side walls. A cut for releasing the rough guide protrusions 12 is made in the intermediate wall. When a rough guide protrusion 12b is inserted into the guide groove 16, a head cartridge is guided through engagement and when a lock lever 23 is operated, the roll 28 of a lock arm 25 is abutted against and pushed into the cartridge body part 8. Consequently, the head cartridge is secured under a state where the positioning protrusions 11 are fitted in the positioning grooves 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having a detachable head cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to perform full-color recording,
Black cartridge and 3 colors of cyan, magenta and yellow
There is an ink jet recording apparatus having two head cartridges including a color integrated cartridge. Usually, such a head cartridge is configured to be detachably mounted on a carriage so that it can be replaced with a new one when the ink is used up. In this case, it is also possible to mount a light color ink head cartridge in place of the black cartridge to perform photographic photo printing.

The two head cartridges mounted on the carriage can have different external shapes and sizes. However, if the external shapes of the head cartridges are the same, the same mold or the same production line can be used. Therefore, the production efficiency is high and the production cost is very advantageous. In particular, in a head cartridge having a detachable ink tank, the head cartridge excluding the ink tank can be exactly the same except for the electric terminal section, so that a head identification label for user identification can be used. It is preferable that the outer shape is the same shape only by sticking the same.

On the other hand, in an ink jet recording apparatus in which two head cartridges are detachably attached,
Place the head cartridges as close as possible,
It is desirable to reduce the pitch between the nozzles of both head cartridges to minimize the reciprocating range of the carriage. That is, if the reciprocating range of the carriage is reduced, the size of the recording apparatus can be further reduced. Here, when the two head cartridges have completely different shapes, it is possible to optimally arrange the nozzles so that the respective nozzle portions are close to each other when the two head cartridges are arranged.
As described above, when head cartridges having substantially the same outer shape are used, the pitch between nozzles is almost determined by the size (particularly, width) of the head cartridge. The size (width dimension) of the entire head cartridge is substantially determined by the desired ink capacity, and cannot be reduced too much.

[0005]

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a conventional ink jet recording apparatus of a type in which two head cartridges are removably mounted on a carriage. On both side surfaces of the head cartridge 100, positioning projections 101 having a substantially symmetric shape are formed. The carriage 102 has two side walls 104 and 105 and a middle wall 1.
06, and between the one side wall 104 and the middle wall 106 and between the other side wall 105 and the middle wall 106, housing portions 107 and 108 of the head cartridge 100 are provided. On both inner surfaces of the side walls 104 and 105 and on both surfaces of the middle wall 106, positioning grooves 103 with which the positioning protrusions 101 are engaged are formed in substantially symmetric shapes. The positioning groove 103 is formed long to the upper side, and the head cartridge 100 is guided along the positioning groove 103 so as to be introduced in a correct direction from the beginning of mounting, and is finally positioned at a regular position. It has become.

However, in such a configuration, the inner wall 106, which is located between the two head cartridges 100, needs to be thick enough to provide the positioning grooves 103 on both surfaces thereof. The head cartridges 100 cannot be arranged close to each other. As a result, the range of reciprocating movement of the carriage 102 increases, which causes a problem that the miniaturization of the recording apparatus is hindered.

Therefore, as another conventional example, concave portions 114 are provided on both side surfaces of the head cartridge 110, and these concave portions 11 are provided.
4 includes a positioning protrusion 111 formed therein. According to this configuration, when the two head cartridges 110 are arranged as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a portion where the middle wall 116 becomes thicker due to the provision of the positioning protrusions 111 and the positioning grooves 113 can be offset by the concave portions 114. The outermost surfaces of both head cartridges 110 can be arranged close to each other. That is, the nozzle pitch is changed from L to L ′, and the carriage width is changed to W without changing the ink capacity.
Or W '. Since the reciprocating distance of the carriage 112 generally increases and decreases by twice the amount of change in the pitch between nozzles, the first conventional example shown in FIG.
Can be reduced by 2 × (L−L ′) as compared with the second conventional example shown in FIG.

However, in order to secure the ink capacity, the concave portion cannot be formed in a very wide area on the side surface of the head cartridge 110.
11 and the positioning groove 113 can be formed only below the side surface. Therefore, although the positioning of the head cartridge 110 is possible, it is not possible to guide the head cartridge 110 to be introduced in the correct direction from the beginning of mounting as in the first conventional example. For this reason, when the user attempts to mount the head cartridge 110 on the carriage 112 for the first time, it is difficult to understand from which direction the head cartridge 110 is to be mounted. There is a possibility that a short circuit may occur when ink is applied to the connector of the carriage 112.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to reduce the pitch between the nozzles of the two head cartridges while securing the ink capacity, thereby reducing the reciprocating range of the carriage and contributing to the miniaturization of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which guides a user in a correct direction from the beginning of mounting to prevent an accident at the time of mounting.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A feature of the present invention is that in an ink jet recording apparatus in which two head cartridges having substantially the same outer shape are mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage, both side surfaces of the head cartridge are provided. A positioning projection and a rough guide projection are provided on the head cartridge, and the positioning projection is located symmetrically on both sides of the head cartridge, and the rough guide projection is located asymmetrically on both sides, The carriage has both side walls and a middle wall, and a housing portion for the head cartridge is provided between one of the side walls and the middle wall and between the other side wall and the middle wall. Positioning grooves into which the positioning protrusions are respectively fitted are provided symmetrically on the both side walls and the middle wall, and the rough guide protrusions are provided on the both side walls. It is where the guide groove for each guide is provided asymmetrically.

It is preferable that recesses are formed on both side surfaces of the head cartridge, the positioning projections are provided in the recesses, and the rough guide projections are provided outside the recesses.

Another feature of the present invention is that in an ink jet recording apparatus in which two head cartridges having substantially the same outer shape are mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage, positioning is performed on both side surfaces of the head cartridge. Groove and a rough guide projection are provided, the positioning groove is located symmetrically on both sides of the head cartridge, the rough guide projection is located asymmetrically on both sides, and the carriage is A side wall and a middle wall, and between the one side wall and the middle wall, and between the other side wall and the middle wall, an accommodation portion for the head cartridge is provided, Positioning projections respectively fitted into the positioning grooves are provided symmetrically on both side walls and the middle wall, and the rough guide projections are respectively provided on the both side walls. Guide grooves that are in the place provided asymmetrically.

Preferably, the head cartridge has a detachable ink tank.

It is preferable that the rough guide projection has a shape that restricts the rotation of the head cartridge when engaged with the guide groove.

According to such a configuration, the two head cartridges have the same shape, and the rough guide projections are formed at asymmetrical positions on both side surfaces, so that when the two head cartridges are arranged side by side, The adjacent rough guide projections of each head cartridge are located at positions shifted without overlapping. Therefore, if the height of the rough guide projection is equal to or less than the thickness of the inner wall of the carriage, when the two head cartridges are arranged side by side, the two head cartridges are arranged close to each other without being limited to the rough guide projections. Therefore, the size of the apparatus can be suppressed.

Further, when the head cartridge is set, the guide groove of the carriage and the rough guide projection engage with each other to guide the head cartridge to a proper position, so that the operability is good and the head cartridge is accidentally hit and broken. Nor. At this time, among the rough guide projections formed on both side surfaces of the head cartridge, only the outer one that actually engages with the guide groove to guide is provided, and the rough guide projection on the carriage middle wall side is the guide. I haven't. However, since the lateral displacement of the head cartridge is regulated by the middle wall, the engagement between the rough guide projection and the guide groove is not disengaged in that range, so that a sufficient guide function can be exerted on only one side. .

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. Carriage 1 reciprocated by a drive mechanism (not shown)
Has the side walls 14 and 15 and the middle wall 2, and the accommodating portion 3 of the head cartridge is located between the side walls 14 and the middle wall 2.
A housing part 4 for the head cartridge is provided between the head cartridge 2 and the inner wall 2. For normal full-color recording,
A black cartridge 5 and a three-color cartridge 6 (cyan, magenta, and yellow) are mounted in the storage unit 3 and the storage unit 4, respectively. However, when recording in a photo-like photo color, the photo cartridge 7 is used instead of the black cartridge 5.
(Black, light cyan, light magenta).

The three types of head cartridges 5, 6, 7 shown in FIG. 1 have ink tanks 18, 1 in which inks of respective colors are stored in a cartridge body 8 having substantially the same external shape.
9 and 20 are detachably mounted.
Therefore, the head cartridges 5, 6, 7 can be supplied with high production efficiency and as a result at low cost.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cartridge body 8 has a nozzle 9 on the lower surface and a wiring board 1 for electrical connection on the back.
0 is provided respectively. Then, a recess 31 is formed at the lower part of both side surfaces with a step, and the recess 31 is formed.
The positioning projection 11 is provided in the inside. The rough guide projection 12 is formed above the recess 31, that is, at a position corresponding to the outermost surface of the cartridge body 8.
The positioning projections 11 are located symmetrically on both sides of the cartridge main body 8, while the rough guide projections 12 are located asymmetrically on both sides.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, a thick portion 32 corresponding to the concave portion 31 of the cartridge body 8 is provided on both surfaces of the inner wall 2 of the carriage 1 and lower portions of the inner surfaces of both side walls 14 and 15. The thickened portion 32 is provided with a positioning groove 13 into which the positioning protrusion 11 is fitted in order to hold the head cartridges 5, 6, 7 at regular positions. Each positioning groove 13 is formed in a symmetrical shape. Further, guide grooves 16 for guiding the rough guide projections 12 are formed in the upper portions of the thick portions 32 on the inner surfaces of the side walls 14 and 15 so as to guide the rough guide projections 12 in the correct insertion direction when the head cartridges 5, 6, and 7 are mounted. ing. Each guide groove 16
Are provided asymmetrically in correspondence with the rough guide projections 12. Above the thick portion 32 of the middle wall 2, a notch 33 is formed to allow the rough guide projection 12 to escape. The carriage 1 has a connector 22 for making electrical contact with the wiring board 10 of the cartridge body 8 and a lock lever for interlocking the head cartridges 5, 6, and 7 to easily introduce and fix them. 23 and a leaf spring 30 for urging the head cartridges 5, 6, 7 in the horizontal direction to stabilize the position.

Next, the operation of mounting the head cartridges 5, 6, 7 on the carriage 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the user first operates the knob 8a of the cartridge body 8.
And insert the rough guide projection 12b into the guide groove 16 of the carriage 1. By simply pushing in from this state, the guide is smoothly guided to the normal lock standby state (see FIG. 6) by the engagement between the guide groove 16 and the rough guide protrusion 12b. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an accident such that the nozzle section 9 of the head cartridges 5, 6, 7 is crushed and damaged by erroneous insertion, or an electrical short circuit is caused by applying ink to the connector 22 on the carriage side. . Here, one side (side wall 1) is engaged with the guide groove 16.
Only the rough guide projections 12b on the side in contact with the inner walls 4 and 15 (the back side in the drawing) and the rough guide projections 12a on the other side (the side in contact with the inner wall 2 and the front side in the drawing) It is located and has no guidance function. However, since the lateral displacement of the head cartridges 5, 6, and 7 is regulated by the middle wall 2, the rough guide projections 12b and the guide grooves 16 are formed.
Of the rough guide projection 12 on one side.
A sufficient guiding function can be exerted only by guiding b. Since the rough guide protrusions 12a and 12b are rounded bosses, the rough guide protrusions 12a and 12b are restricted so as not to rotate in the guide groove 16, and the effect of preventing the head cartridges 5, 6, and 7 from being out of order is obtained. .

As shown in FIG.
When the lock levers 6 and 7 are in the lock standby state, the lock lever 23
Is operated, the head cartridges 5, 6, and 7 are fixed in the regular locked state shown in FIG. When the lock lever 23 is swung in the lock standby state, the roller 28 at the end of the lock arm 25 comes into contact with the contact portion of the cartridge body 8 and is pushed in by the urging force of the spring 24.
When the lock arm 23 is completely tilted, the positioning protrusion 1
1 is fitted into the positioning groove 13, and the cartridge body 8 is stabilized in a state where the upper abutting portion 26 abuts against the upper abutting portion 27 of the carriage 1. At this time, the pressure contact force of the connector 22 acts in a direction in which the positioning protrusion 11 abuts one side (the left side in FIG. 7) of the positioning groove 13, thereby stabilizing the positions of the head cartridges 5, 6, 7. The pressing force acts on the upper portions of the head cartridges 5, 6, and 7 in a direction away from the carriage 1, but the head cartridges 5, 6, and 7 are stably operated by the action of the spring 24, the lock arm 25, and the roller 28 described above. Is held. Since the positioning projections 11 and the positioning grooves 13 are all provided symmetrically, it is assumed that the positioning projections 11 shown by solid lines and the positioning grooves 13 shown by broken lines are engaged with each other. It is easy to understand.

In the lock standby state shown in FIG. 6, the rough guide projection 12b is
a, the rough guide projection 1
The engagement between the guide groove 2b and the guide groove 16 does not hinder the fixing of the head cartridges 5, 6, 7 due to the swing of the lock lever 23.

Thus, two head cartridges (here, the photo cartridge 7 and the three-color cartridge 6)
8) is attached to the carriage 1 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the rough guide projections 12 located at positions opposing each other on the photo cartridge 7 and the three-color cartridge 6.
a and 12b are located at asymmetric positions, that is, at positions shifted in the Y direction and the Z direction, and are accommodated in the cutouts of the middle wall 2. That is, if the heights of the rough guide projections 12a and 12b are equal to or less than the thickness of the middle wall 2,
By providing a and 12b, the distance between the two head cartridges 6, 7 does not increase. Also,
When attaching or detaching either of the cartridges 6 and 7, the adjacent rough guide projections 12a and 12b do not interfere with each other and hinder the attaching / detaching operation.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the manufacturing cost is reduced by using the head cartridges having substantially the same outer shape, and the reciprocating range of the carriage is reduced by keeping the interval between the two head cartridges small. And the rough guide projections 12
The operability at the time of attaching and detaching the head cartridge can be significantly improved by the a, 12b and the guide groove 16.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, two head cartridges are arranged while being shifted by a predetermined amount in the Y direction.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The head cartridge 50 of this embodiment is
A nozzle portion 9 is provided on the lower surface, and a wiring board 10 for electrical connection is provided on the back surface. In this embodiment,
A positioning groove 54 is formed at the lower part of both side surfaces of the head cartridge 50.
Are provided, and rough guide protrusions 12a, 1
2b is formed. The positioning grooves 54 are located at symmetrical positions on both sides, and the rough guide projections 12a, 12b
Is asymmetric on both sides.

On the other hand, positioning grooves 54 for holding the head cartridge 50 in a proper position are formed on both surfaces of the inner wall 2 of the carriage 51 and lower portions of the inner surfaces of the side walls 14 and 15.
Are provided with positioning projections 56 into which the projections fit. Each positioning groove 13 is formed in a symmetrical shape. A guide groove 16 for guiding the rough guide projection 12 is formed in the upper part of the inner surface of the side walls 14 and 15 so as to guide the head cartridge 50 in the correct insertion direction when the head cartridge 50 is mounted. Each guide groove 16 is provided with each of the rough guide projections 12a, 12a.
It is provided asymmetrically corresponding to b. Above the thick portion 32 of the middle wall 2, a notch 33 is formed to allow the rough guide projection 12 to escape.

In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the head cartridge 50 is smoothly guided by the engagement between the guide groove 16 and the rough guide projection 12b. Therefore, the head cartridge 50 is incorrectly inserted.
Can be prevented from being damaged by hitting the nozzle section 9 or causing an electrical short circuit by applying ink to the connector 22 on the carriage side. Further, since the rough guide projections 12a and 12b are located at asymmetric positions and are accommodated in the notches 33 of the middle wall 2, the rough guide projections 12a and 12b
If the height of 12b is equal to or less than the thickness of the inner wall 2, the rough guide projections 12a and 12b do not increase the interval between the two head cartridges 6 and 7. Further, when one of the cartridges 6 and 7 is attached or detached, the adjacent rough guide projections 12a and 12b do not interfere with each other and do not hinder the attaching / detaching operation.

Further, in this embodiment, positioning grooves 54 are provided on both side surfaces of the head cartridge 50, and positioning protrusions 5 are provided on both side walls 14 and 15 and the middle wall 2 of the carriage 1.
6, the thickness of the inner wall 2 can be kept thin without providing a concave portion on the side surface of the head cartridge or a thick portion of the inner wall 2 of the carriage 1.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the manufacturing cost is reduced by using the head cartridges having substantially the same outer shape, and the reciprocating range of the carriage is reduced by keeping the interval between the two head cartridges small. The size of the rough guide projection 12
The operability at the time of attaching and detaching the head cartridge can be significantly improved by the a, 12b and the guide groove 16.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Reducing the distance between the two head cartridges can contribute to downsizing of the apparatus. In addition, when the head cartridge is mounted, the guide groove of the carriage and the rough guide projection engage with each other to guide the head cartridge to a regular position, so that operability is good and accidents such as accidentally hitting and breaking the head cartridge can be prevented. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the head cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the head cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state before mounting the head cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state during a head cartridge mounting operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state after the mounting of the head cartridge according to the first embodiment is completed.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which two head cartridges are arranged.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a state in which two head cartridges are arranged.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a main part of the first conventional example.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing a main part of the first conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a main part of a second conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a main part of a second conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 2 Middle wall 3, 4 accommodation part 5 Black cartridge (head cartridge) 6 Three-color cartridge (head cartridge) 7 Photo cartridge (head cartridge) 8 Cartridge main body part 8a Knob part 9 Nozzle part 10 Wiring board 11 Positioning protrusion 12, 12a, 12b Rough guide projection 13 Positioning groove 14, 15 Side wall 16 Guide groove 16a Space 18, 19, 20 Ink tank 22 Connector 23 Lock lever 24 Spring 25 Lock arm 26, 27 Upper abutting part 28 Roller 30 Leaf spring 31 Depression 32 Thick part 33 Notch part 34 Contact part 50 Head cartridge 51 Carriage 54 Positioning groove 56 Positioning protrusion

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus in which two head cartridges having substantially the same outer shape are mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage, and positioning projections and rough guides are provided on both side surfaces of the head cartridge. Projections are provided, the positioning projections are located at symmetrical positions on both sides of the head cartridge, the rough guide projections are located at asymmetrical positions on both sides, and the carriage is located on both side walls and the middle wall. The head cartridge accommodating portion is provided between one of the side walls and the middle wall and between the other side wall and the middle wall. Positioning grooves into which the positioning protrusions are fitted are provided symmetrically on the wall, and guide grooves for guiding the rough guide protrusions are not provided on the both side walls. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that provided in the universal. 2. The head cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is formed on both side surfaces of the head cartridge, the positioning projection is provided in the concave portion, and the rough guide projection is provided outside the concave portion. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus in which two head cartridges having substantially the same outer shape are mounted on a reciprocating carriage, wherein positioning grooves and rough guides are provided on both side surfaces of the head cartridge. Projections are provided, and the positioning grooves are symmetrically positioned on both side surfaces of the head cartridge,
The rough guide projections are located at asymmetrical positions on both side surfaces, and the carriage has both side walls and a middle wall, between the one side wall and the middle wall, and the other side wall and the middle wall. And a housing portion for the head cartridge is provided between the two side walls, and the side walls and the middle wall are provided symmetrically with positioning projections respectively fitted in the positioning grooves. A guide groove for guiding each of the rough guide projections is provided asymmetrically. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head cartridge has a detachable ink tank. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rough guide projection has a shape that restricts rotation of the head cartridge in a state where the projection is engaged with the guide groove. .