JP2000225693A - Printing device and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save on the manufacturing cost and running cost of a printing device. SOLUTION: This ink cartridge is of such a structure that a lateral face having no protruding part of an elastic body is shifted into one of the lateral faces of an ink cartridge body 1. In addition, a flexible printed substrate 3 is mounted on an ink cartridge body 1 in such a way that the lateral face having the protruding part of the elastic body 2 is covered. On the other hand, a contact point part 4a corresponding to the arrangement of contact points on the flexible printed substrate 3, is provided on a flat plate circuit substrate 4, and the ink cartridge body 1 is mounted on a carriage. Thus the flexible printed substrate 3 and the contact point part 4a are pressed into contact with each other, so that a signal from the printing device to the ink cartridge can be transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is characterized by the structure of an ink jet printing apparatus used in connection with information equipment such as a personal computer, and more particularly, the structure of a reciprocating carriage with an ink cartridge detachably mounted. Related to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ink jet printing apparatus, a contact portion (electrode) provided in a convex shape at an end portion of a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter, referred to as FPC) is fixed to a carriage. By mounting an ink cartridge, a flat contact pattern of a printed circuit board exposed from the ink cartridge is pressed against the contact portion, so that a control signal can be transmitted from a printing apparatus main body to the ink cartridge. I have. The ink cartridge ejects the ink toward the printing paper in accordance with a control signal given from the printing apparatus main body.

In the above-described printing apparatus, a relatively expensive FPC is used as a signal contact portion. Further, since the surface of the contact portion is plated with gold, the production cost increases. there were. In addition, FP
There is also a problem that the structure for fixing the C makes it difficult to remove the parts of the replacement unit when a failure such as a failure of the carriage or a failure of the contact portion occurs.

An ink jet recording apparatus proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-52377 is an invention made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and is provided with a projection for transmitting a signal to an ink cartridge. By sandwiching a flexible flat cable (hereinafter, referred to as FFC) between the fixing plate and a holding plate having a hole at a position corresponding to the projection, an end of the FFC is exposed from the hole of the holding plate. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the cost of parts, simplify the assembling work, and facilitate maintenance by forming a contact portion.

[0005]

However, according to the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, since the number of parts of the carriage is large and complicated, it is disadvantageous to reduce the cost of the ink jet recording apparatus main body. That was an issue. Further, the contact portion formed by exposing the end portion of the FFC in a convex shape is easily worn, and therefore, there is a problem that an increased opportunity for repair and replacement of parts increases running cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a printing apparatus which is advantageous in reducing both the manufacturing cost and the running cost by simplifying the structure of the contact portion of the carriage. Aim. Another object is to provide an ink cartridge used for the same purpose.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having an electrode to be brought into contact with an electrode of the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge, and providing a signal to the ink cartridge through the electrode. In a printing apparatus that performs printing by controlling the ejection of ink, the electrodes are formed substantially flat at positions corresponding to the electrodes of the ink cartridge formed in a convex shape.

According to the present invention, since the electrodes of the printing apparatus which are to be brought into contact with the electrodes of the ink cartridge are made substantially flat, the wear of the electrodes is reduced, so that the running cost of the printing apparatus can be expected to be reduced. Also, since the substantially flat electrode has a simple component shape, a reduction in manufacturing cost can be expected.

An ink cartridge according to a second aspect of the present invention is an ink cartridge having an electrode that is to be brought into contact with an electrode of the printing device when the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing device, wherein the electrode and the electrode of the printing device formed substantially flat. An elastic body having a projection and a bendable electrode attached to the elastic body are provided at corresponding positions, and are formed in a convex shape.

In the present invention, by providing a convex structure of the electrode on the side of the ink cartridge which is replaced when the ink is consumed, the wear of the electrode on the printing apparatus is reduced, and thus the running cost of the printing apparatus is reduced. Can contribute to down.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a main part of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, showing the structure of a carriage on which an ink cartridge is detachably mounted. In the drawing, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped 1 having a step on the bottom side is an ink cartridge body to be mounted on the carriage. The flat plate 2 is made of rubber or the like, and is an elastic body that applies a constant pressure to the contact portion.
A plurality of protrusions are provided on one side thereof. In addition, a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the elastic body 2 is provided on one side surface of the ink cartridge main body 1, and a side surface of the elastic body 2 on which the protrusion is not provided is fitted. Furthermore,
By covering the side surface of the elastic body 2 on which the protrusion is provided,
A flexible printed circuit board 3 is mounted on the ink cartridge body 1.

On the other hand, a flat plate 4 is a circuit board of a printing apparatus, and the circuit board 4 is provided with contact portions 4a corresponding to the contact patterns of the flexible printed board 3. By mounting the ink cartridge body 1 on the carriage, the flexible printed circuit board 3 and the contact portion 4a are pressed against each other, so that a signal can be transmitted from the printing apparatus to the ink cartridge.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the cutting plane AA shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a convex contact portion is formed by projecting a contact pattern of the flexible printed circuit board 3 by a projection of an elastic body 2 fitted into a recess provided in the ink cartridge body 1. When the ink cartridge is mounted, the contact portion is pressed against the contact portion 4a on the printing device side.

[0014]

According to the printing apparatus of the first aspect as described above, the substantially flat electrode reduces the wear thereof and repairs the electrode.
Since the chance of replacing parts is reduced, an excellent effect of reducing the running cost of the printing apparatus is obtained. Further, since the substantially flat electrode has a simple component shape, it has an excellent effect of reducing the manufacturing cost.

In the ink cartridge according to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing a convex structure of the electrode on the side of the ink cartridge which is replaced as the ink is consumed, the wear of the electrode on the printing apparatus is reduced. This has an excellent effect of reducing running costs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a main part of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along a cutting plane AA.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge main body 2 Elastic body 3 Flexible printed board 4 Circuit board

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having an electrode to be brought into contact with an electrode of the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge, and performing printing by giving a signal to the ink cartridge through the electrode to control ink ejection. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is formed substantially flat at a position corresponding to the electrode of the ink cartridge formed in a convex shape. 2. An ink cartridge having an electrode which is to be brought into contact with an electrode of the printing device by being attached to the printing device, wherein the electrode has a projection formed at a position which should correspond to the electrode of the printing device formed substantially flat. An ink cartridge comprising: an elastic body provided with; and a bendable electrode attached to the elastic body, and formed in a convex shape.