JP2001162776A - Carriage of ink jet head, and ink jet printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure electrical connection of FPC provided in a carriage with an electrode of a head by a simple constitution and by a small number of components. SOLUTION: The FPC 11 brought into pressure contact with the electrode of the head 1 by pressing it by a pressing plate 13 which is provided rotatably around the insertion side of the head 1 as a base point and biased by a leaf spring 14 is fixed to a carriage structure, together with the leaf spring 14. One end of this FPC 11 and the leaf spring 14 are fitted on and positioned at a common pin 18 provided on the carriage structure. Thereby the positioning accuracy of the FPC 11 for the electrode is enhanced and it is brought into sure and stable contact with the electrode of the head 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a carriage having an ink jet ejection head mounted thereon and an ink jet printing apparatus such as an ink jet ejection printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc. It is concerned with simplification and stabilization of simple connections.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an ink jet printer has an ink jet head (hereinafter, referred to as an ink jet head) having jet nozzles provided at a fixed distance of about 1 mm from the upper surface of a recording sheet to be conveyed.
The head prints ink on the recording paper. The head that ejects the ink is mounted on a carriage that is driven to reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction. Some inkjet printers have a structure in which a head can be attached to and detached from a carriage. When the head is configured to be detachable from the carriage as described above, the head and the carriage cannot be directly connected.
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 18621, a thin and flexible flexible printed wiring board (FPC) is provided on a carriage, and when the head is mounted on the carriage, the FPC is moved in parallel with respect to the electrode provided on the head, and the FPC is moved. The head and the carriage are electrically connected by being brought into pressure contact with electrodes provided on the head. Then, the FPC is pressed against the electrode of the head via a pad made of an elastic member on the back of the FPC, and the connection between the FPC and the electrode of the head is made uniform by the elastic action of the pad.

[0003]

As described above, when the FPC provided on the carriage is translated in order to electrically connect the head and the carriage, a complicated advance / retreat mechanism is required to translate the FPC. This necessitates a complicated structure of the carriage and requires a large number of parts, which increases the cost.

The present invention has improved the disadvantages and provides a carriage of an ink jet head and an ink jet printing apparatus capable of reliably electrically connecting an electrode of the head to an FPC provided on the carriage with a simple structure and a small number of parts. It is intended to do so.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A carriage of an ink jet head according to the present invention is a carriage on which an ink jet head for ejecting ink onto a recording sheet for printing is detachably mounted, and the starting point of the carriage is based on the insertion side of the head. An electrical connection plate rotatably provided, a pressure plate rotatably provided with the head insertion side as a base point for applying a pressure to the electrical connection plate, Pressure means for rotating the electrical connection plate, and one end of the electrical connection plate is fixed to the carriage structure together with the pressure means.

It is preferable that one end of the electrical connection plate and the pressing means are fitted to a common pin provided on the carriage structure, positioned and fixed to the carriage structure.

It is desirable that one end of the electrical connection plate be sandwiched and fixed between the pressing means and the carriage structure.
Further, it is preferable that the electrical connection plate has the insertion side of the head fixed to the carriage structure.

An ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by using the above-mentioned carriage.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A carriage for mounting an ink jet head (hereinafter referred to as a head) of an ink jet printer according to the present invention has a slot for mounting a plurality of, for example, four heads. The head has an ejection nozzle for forming an ink droplet, an ejection drive mechanism, an ink supply mechanism, and the like. The four heads eject four color inks of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk, respectively, as minute ink droplets. Inject from nozzle. Each slot of the carriage has an arm and an electrical connection.

The arm is formed of a spring material having elasticity, and has a first arm and a second arm formed in a U-shape in which two right and left portions on the upper surface are bent at right angles. The distance between the first arm and the second arm is formed to be slightly larger than the thickness of the head. An elongated hole is provided at the upper part of the first arm and the second arm for vertically moving the roller for holding the head and rotatably holding the roller. The tip of the upper surface has a holding part for holding the shaft of the roller. At the distal ends of the first arm and the second arm, there is provided a convex portion forming a center of rotation, and this convex portion is provided near the lower end portion on both sides of the side where the electrical connection portion of each slot of the carriage is provided. The arm is rotatably supported by fitting with the provided rotation hole. The first arm has a pressing arm which is bent at a minute angle toward the second arm, and has a pressing portion provided at a distal end thereof for pressing a side surface of the head.

The electrical connection portion has a pad made of an FPC and a rubber-like elastic body, a pressure plate, and a leaf spring. The pressure plate is pressed against the arm side by the elastic force of the leaf spring, and before the head is mounted in the slot. Has a pressure plate, a pad, and an FPC arranged at positions slightly rotated counterclockwise from the vertical direction. The insertion end of the electrical connection portion and the leaf spring are fixed to a rib on the upper surface of the carriage. When this electrical connection portion is fixed to the rib on the upper surface of the carriage, the insertion side end of the thin and soft FPC head is fitted to the pin provided on the rib by the leaf spring and the rib, and pressed by the leaf spring. FPC
To increase the strength around the fixed part.

When the head is mounted in the slot of the carriage, the arm is rotated about a convex portion provided at the tip of the first arm and the second arm as a center of rotation, and the roller is retracted from above the slot. Then, the electrode side, which is the electrical connection part of the head, is set to the FPC side, and the head is inserted into the slot while the side surface on the electrode side of the head is brought into contact with the roller and imitated. When the head is inserted into the slot, the face plate provided at the tip of the nozzle surface of the head hits the FPC. When the head is further inserted into the slot, the face plate rotates the FPC, the pad, and the pressure plate to deflect the leaf spring. When the head is fully inserted into the slot,
The amount of deflection of the leaf spring is maximized, the elastic force of the leaf spring is applied to the pressing plate, and F is applied via the pad by the force applied to the pressing plate.
The PC is pressed, and the FPC is pressed against the electrode of the head with a uniform contact force. In this state, the arm is rotated, and the upper portion of the head is pressed by the long hole of the arm and the roller held by the pressing portion, and the slot of the head is formed by the pressing portion provided on the pressing arm of the first arm of the arm. Hold down the sides along the wall and keep the head fixed in the slot.

[0013]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view and FIG. 2 is a sectional view. As shown in FIG.
For example, a carriage 2 on which an ink jet head (hereinafter, referred to as a head) 1 of an ink jet printer has a slot 3 for mounting a plurality of, for example, four heads 1. The head 1 has an ejection nozzle for forming ink droplets, an ejection drive mechanism, an ink supply mechanism, and the like. The four heads 1 each use, for example, four color inks of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk. It is ejected from the ejection nozzle as a droplet. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the carriage 2 is reciprocated by a transport roller 4 along a guide shaft 5 provided in a direction orthogonal to each slot 3. Each slot 3 of the carriage 2 has an arm 6 and an electrical connection 7.

The arm 6 is formed of a resilient spring material. As shown in a perspective view of FIG. 3, the first arm 6 is formed in a U-shape in which two right and left portions of an upper surface 61 are bent at right angles.
2 and a second arm 63. The distance between the first arm 62 and the second arm 63 is formed to be slightly larger than the thickness of the head 1. First arm 62 and second arm 63
A long hole 64 for vertically moving the roller 9 and rotatably holding the roller 9 is provided at an upper portion of the upper surface 61, and a pressing portion 65 for pressing the shaft of the roller 9 is provided at the tip of the upper surface 61. First arm 6
2 has a support arm 66 and a holding arm 67 at the lower part thereof.
A support arm 68 having substantially the same shape as the support arm 66 of the first arm 62 is provided below the second arm 63. A support arm 66 of the first arm 62 and the second arm 63,
A protrusion 69 forming a center of rotation is provided at the tip of 68. The protrusion 69 is provided near the lower end portion on both sides of the side where the electrical connection portion 7 of each slot 3 of the carriage 2 is provided. The arm 6 is rotatably supported by being fitted into the hole 10. The holding arm 67 of the first arm 62 is bent at a small angle toward the second arm 63 and has a pressing portion 70 at its tip for pressing the side surface of the head 1.

The electrical connection portion 7 has an FPC 11, a pad 12 made of a rubber-like elastic body, a pressing plate 13, and a leaf spring 14. The FPC 11 is provided along the groove end of the slot 3 and is connected to an electric drive circuit. A pressure plate 13 is provided on the back surface of the FPC 11 via a pad 12. The pressure plate 13 has a semicylindrical convex portion 15 at the center of the surface opposite to the contact portion with the pad 12, and a pin 16 provided at the tip of the convex portion 15. The leaf spring 14 is formed in a substantially L-shape, and one end thereof is fitted to a pin 18 provided on a rib 17 on the upper surface of the carriage 2 together with an end of the FPC 11 on the insertion side of the head 1 and positioned. It is fixed at 19. A pin 16 of the pressure plate 13 is inserted into a round hole formed in an L-shape and provided at the distal end of the leaf spring 14 on the movable side, and the pressure plate 13 is pressed against the arm 6 by the elastic force of the leaf spring 14. Before the head 1 is mounted in the slot 3, the pressure plate 13, the pad 12, and the FPC 11 are arranged at positions slightly rotated counterclockwise from the vertical direction. As described above, the electrical connection portion 7 is connected to the rib 1
7, the thin and soft end of the FPC 11 on the insertion side of the head 1 is fitted to the pin 18 provided on the rib 17 by the leaf spring 14 and the rib 17 and pressed by the leaf spring 14 to fix the fixing hole of the FPC 11. Increase the strength of the surroundings. The pressure plate 13, pad 12, and FPC before the head 1 is mounted
The position of 11 may be regulated by a rib provided on the carriage 2.

When the head 1 is mounted in the slot 3 of the carriage 2 constructed as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the arm 6 is moved counterclockwise with the projection 69 of the support arms 66 and 68 as the center of rotation. The roller 9 rotates to retract the roller 9 from above the slot 3. Then, the head 1 is inserted into the slot 3 while the electrode side, which is the electrical connection part of the head 1, is set to the FPC 11 side, and the electrode-side side surface of the head 1 is brought into contact with the rollers 9 to follow them. The side surface of the head 1 on the electrode side is
When the roller 9 is inserted into the slot 3 in contact with the head 1, the roller 9 rotates, so that the frictional load on the side surface of the head 1 can be reduced as much as possible. Further, since the side surface of the head 1 is guided by the rollers 9 when the head 1 is inserted into the slot 3, it is possible to prevent the head 1 from erroneously climbing over the FPC 11 or the like. When the head 1 is inserted into the slot 3,
The face plate 8 provided at the tip of the nozzle surface of the head 1 hits the FPC 11. When the head 1 is further inserted into the slot 3, the face plate 8 rotates the FPC 11, the pad 12, and the pressing plate 13 clockwise,
The leaf spring 14 into which the third pin 16 is inserted is bent. When the head 1 is inserted, the insertion side of the head 1 of the FPC 11 is fixed to the rib 17 on the upper surface of the carriage 2 together with the leaf spring 14, so that the thin and soft FPC 11 can be maintained in a stretched state without loosening. it can. And FIG.
When the head 1 is completely inserted into the slot 3 as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the amount of deflection of the leaf spring 14 is maximized, and the elastic force of the leaf spring 14 is applied to the pressing plate 13, and is applied to the pressing plate 13. The FPC 11 is pressed via the pad 12 by the applied force, and the FPC 11 is pressed against the electrode of the head 1 with a uniform contact force. In this state, the arm 6 is rotated clockwise. When the arm 6 is rotated clockwise, the roller 9 held by the long hole 64 of the arm 6 and the holding portion 65 gets over the slope provided at the upper end of the head 1 and stops, and the head 1 is applied downward. The head 1 is fixedly held in the slot 3 by pressing the side surface of the head 1 along the groove wall of the slot 3 with the pressing portion 70 provided on the pressing arm 67 of the first arm 62 of the arm 6. . The pressing portion 70 of the holding arm 67 is
When rotating the head 1, the head 1 is rotated clockwise while rubbing the side surface of the head 1. Therefore, a force for pressing the head 1 inserted into the slot 3 acts, and the head 1 inserted into the slot 3 is further stabilized, and the FPC 11 and the head are rotated. The contact force of one electrode can be made more stable.

As described above, since the FPC 11 is pressed by the pressure plate 13 urged by the leaf spring 14 and pressed against the electrode of the head 1, a contact pressure between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 can be obtained with a simple structure. . Further, the force applied to the center of the pressure plate 13 by the leaf spring 14 is transmitted to the FPC 11 through the pad 12 made of a rubber-like elastic material.
1 can apply a uniform force over the entire surface of the FP 1 and the elasticity of the pad 12 made of a rubber-like elastic body makes the FP
The contact pressure between C11 and the electrode of the head 1 can be evenly distributed, and the head 1 can be driven stably. Further, one end of the FPC 11 is fitted to a pin 18 provided on a rib 17 and pressed by a leaf spring 14, so that when the head 1 is mounted, the thin and soft FPC 11 rubs against the face plate 8. FPC around the hole fitted to the pin 18 of the rib 17
11 can be prevented from being damaged or damaged.

When removing the head 1 inserted into the slot 3 as described above, the arm 6 is rotated counterclockwise to retract the roller 9 from the upper surface of the head 1. At this time, the pressing portion 70 of the arm 6 rotates counterclockwise while rubbing the side surface of the head 1 and applies a force to float the head 1. Therefore, the head 1 can be easily pulled out of the slot 3. When the head 1 is taken out of the slot 3, the pressure plate 13 and the pad 1 are
2 and the FPC 11 rotate counterclockwise, return to a position slightly rotated counterclockwise from the vertical direction, and stop.

In the above embodiment, the case where the contact force between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 is obtained by applying the elastic force of the substantially L-shaped leaf spring 14 to the pressing plate 13 has been described. The contact pressure between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 may be obtained by applying an elastic force to the pressurizing plate 13 using.

The carriage 2 constructed as described above
Is used in an ink jet ejection type printer, facsimile, or copier, so that the head 1 can be driven stably to eject ink droplets with stable ink ejection characteristics, thereby stably producing a high-quality image. Can be formed.

[0021]

As described above, the present invention provides an electric device which is rotatably provided with the insertion side of the head as a base and which is pressed against a head electrode by being pressed by a pressing plate which is urged by a pressing means. Since the electrical connection plate is fixed to the carriage structure together with the pressurizing means, no special fixing tool for fixing the electrical connection plate is required, and the number of parts of the carriage can be reduced to facilitate assembly. .

Further, by positioning one end of the electrical connection plate and the pressurizing means by fitting them into a common pin provided on the carriage structure, the positioning accuracy of the electrode of the electrical connection plate is improved, and the electrode of the head is improved. And reliable and stable contact.

Further, by fixing one end of the electric connection plate by sandwiching it between the pressing means and the carriage structure, even if the thin and soft electric connection plate is rubbed and pulled by the inserted head, the electric connection is made. Damage or breakage around the fixing portion of the plate can be prevented.

Further, by using this carriage for an ink jet printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, or the like, the head can be driven stably so that ink droplets can be jetted with stable ink jet characteristics. High quality images can be stably formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an arm of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where a head is mounted.

[Description of Signs] 1; Head; 2; Carriage; 3; Slot; 6; Arm; 7; Electrical connection; 11; FPC;
13; pressure plate 14; leaf spring, 17; rib, 18; pin.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A carriage for removably mounting an ink jet head for ejecting ink onto recording paper to perform printing, comprising: an electric connection plate rotatably provided around a head insertion side; A pressurizing plate that is provided rotatably with the insertion side as a base and applies a pressing force to the electrical connection plate, and pressurizing means that presses the pressurization plate to rotate the pressurization plate and the electric connection plate. An ink jet head carriage, wherein one end of an electrical connection plate is fixed to a carriage structure together with a pressing means. 2. A carriage for an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein one end of said electrical connection plate and said pressurizing means are fitted and positioned on a common pin provided on said carriage structure and fixed to said carriage structure. 3. The ink jet head carriage according to claim 1, wherein one end of the electrical connection plate is fixed by sandwiching one end of the electrical connection plate between the pressing means and the carriage structure. 4. An ink jet printing apparatus using the carriage according to claim 1.