JP2001162777A - Carriage of ink head, and ink jet printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To position an ink jet head to be fitted to a carriage, by a simple constitution, and to ensure electrical connection of FPC provided in the carriage with an electrode of the ink jet head. SOLUTION: A first arm 62 and a second arm 63 which are bent in the substantially U shape by a spring material are inserted into a slot 3 holding the head 1, and the head 1 is held in and fixed by an arm 6 supported rotatably on the side of an electrical connection part 7 in the slot 3 which is connected with the electrode of the head.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a carriage on which an ink jet ejection head is mounted, and an ink jet printing apparatus such as an ink jet ejection printer, facsimile, copying machine, etc. It is about stabilization.

[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.

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head capable of resolving such disadvantages, positioning an ink jet head mounted on a carriage with a simple structure, and reliably electrically connecting an FPC provided on the carriage to an electrode of the ink jet head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carriage and an ink jet printing apparatus.

[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 is made of a spring material. The first arm and the second arm bent in a U shape
Is inserted into a slot for holding the ink jet head, and the ink jet head is sandwiched and fixed by an arm rotatably supported on an electrical connection portion side of the slot which is connected to an electrode of the ink jet head.

A first U-shaped arm is formed.
It is preferable that a convex portion facing outward is formed on the distal end portions of the first arm and the second arm, and the convex portion is fitted into a slit or a hole in the side wall of the slot to be the rotation center of the arm.

[0007] It is desirable that the first arm and the second arm have an ink jet head guide portion bent outward at a small angle at the upper end portion on the center side of the slot.

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 resilient spring material, and has a first arm and a second arm which are formed in a substantially U-shape by bending two right and left portions of the upper surface to an angle slightly larger than a right angle. . 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. Bends bent by a small angle toward the outside are formed at positions on the upper end of the first arm and the second arm that do not interfere with the carriage at the end portions of the long holes. The lower part of the first arm has a supporting arm and a holding arm, and the lower part of the second arm has a supporting arm having substantially the same shape as the supporting arm of the first arm. At the distal ends of the support arm of the first arm and the support arm of the second arm, outwardly projecting portions forming the rotation center of the arms are provided, and the projecting portions are provided with slits provided in each slot of the carriage. The arm is rotatably supported by being fitted. The holding arm of the first arm is bent at a small angle toward the second arm, and has a pressing portion at its tip for pressing a side surface in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle row direction of the head, that is, in a direction in which the carriage is scanned.

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 arm is rotated in this state, the roller held by the long hole of the arm and the holding portion climbs over the slope provided at the upper end of the head and stops, pressurizing the head downward, and pressing the first head of the arm. A reference surface and a carriage that press a side surface in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle row direction along a groove wall of a head slot with a pressing portion provided on an arm holding arm and determine a position of a head in a slot in a nozzle direction. Is pressed against a reference surface that determines the position in the scanning direction, the head is positioned and fixed in the slot, and the FPC provided on the carriage and the electrode of the inkjet head are reliably electrically connected.

[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 spring material having elasticity. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3 and the side view (a) of FIG. The first, which is formed into a substantially U-shape bent at a time
Arm 62 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. An elongated hole 64 for vertically moving the roller 9 and rotatably holding the roller 9 is provided at an upper portion of the first arm 62 and the second arm 63, and a holding portion for pressing the shaft of the roller 9 is provided at a distal end of the upper surface 61. 65. First
A bent portion 66 bent outward by a slight angle is formed at a position not interfering with the carriage 2 at the distal end portion from the long hole 64 of the upper arm 62 and the second arm 63. Also, the first arm 62 and the second arm 6
An outwardly facing convex portion 67 is formed at a position between the long hole 64 and the bent portion 66 that does not interfere with the carriage 2. A support arm 68 and a holding arm 69 are provided below the first arm 62, and a support arm 70 having substantially the same shape as the support arm 68 of the first arm 62 is provided below the second arm 63. At the distal ends of the support arm 68 of the first arm 62 and the support arm 70 of the second arm 63, an outwardly facing convex portion 71 that forms the rotation center of the arm 6 is provided. The arm 6 is rotatably supported by fitting into a slit 10 provided in the vicinity of both side surfaces of the lower end of the slot 3 where the electrical connection portion 7 is provided. The holding arm 69 of the first arm 62 is bent by a small angle toward the second arm 63, and the tip of the holding arm 69 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the pressure unit 72 presses the side surface in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle row direction of the head 1, that is, the direction X in which the carriage 2 is scanned.

When the arm 6 is mounted on each slot 3 of the carriage 2, the support arm 6 of the first arm 62
8 is mounted on each slot 3 while reducing the distance between the tip of the support arm 70 of the second arm 63 and the second arm 63. When the arm 6 is mounted in each slot 3, the convex portion 71 is fitted into the slit 10 of the slot 3 by the restoring force of the arm 6 formed of an elastic spring material. Further, the first arm 62 and the second arm
The protrusion 67 provided on the upper part of the arm 63 is locked to the upper end of each slot 3 to prevent the arm 6 from falling downward by its own weight when the head 1 is not mounted on the arm 6.

The electrical connection section 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 on the slot 3 of the carriage 2 constructed as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the arm 6 is moved counterclockwise with the convex portions 71 of the support arms 68 and 70 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. When the head 1 is inserted into the slot 3, the roller 9 guides the side surface of the head 1 in the nozzle row direction Y, and the bent portion 66 provided on the upper part of the arm 6 directs the head 1 in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle row direction. Since the side of X is guided, it is possible to prevent the head 1 from accidentally riding on the upper part of 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 to deflect the leaf spring 14 into which the pin 16 of the pressing plate 13 is inserted. 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 FPC 11 is thin and soft.
The state where the PC 11 is stretched without loosening can be maintained. Then, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 5, when the head 1 is completely inserted into the slot 3, the amount of deflection of the leaf spring 14 becomes maximum, and the elastic force of the leaf spring 14 is applied to the pressing plate 13,
Due to the force applied to the pressure plate 13, F
The PC 11 is pressed, 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 arm 6
The roller 9 held by the long hole 64 and the holding portion 65
Stop over the slope provided at the upper end of the
Is pressed downward, and the pressing arm 69 of the first arm 62 is pressed.
As shown in FIG. 4 (b),
The Z reference surface 22 and the scanning direction X of the carriage, which hold down the side surface in the direction X orthogonal to the nozzle row direction along the groove wall of the slot 3 of the head 1 and determine the position in the vertical direction Z of the head 1 provided in the slot 3 The head 1 is pressed against the X reference plane 21 which determines the position of the head 1, and the head 1 is positioned and fixed in the slot 3. When the arm 6 rotates, the pressing portion 72 of the pressing arm 69 rotates clockwise while rubbing the side surface of the head 1, so that a force for pressing the head 1 inserted into the slot 3 acts and the pressing portion 72 is inserted into the slot 3. The head 1 thus obtained can be more stably held at the reference position, and the contact force between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 can be further stabilized.

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, the 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 72 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.

In the above-described embodiment, the projection 71 provided at the distal end of the support arm 68 of the first arm 62 and the support arm 70 of the second arm 63 is connected to the slit 1 on the side wall of the slot 3.
Although the case where the protrusion 71 fitted into the slit 10 is fitted as the center of rotation of the arm 6 has been described, a hole in which the protrusion 71 is fitted is provided on the side wall of the slot 3 instead of the slit 10. Is also good.

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.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first U-shaped bent first U-shape is formed by the spring material.
Arm and the second arm are inserted into a slot for holding the ink jet head, and the ink jet head is sandwiched and fixed by an arm rotatably supported on an electrical connection portion side of the slot connected to an electrode of the ink jet head. Therefore, the inkjet head mounted in the slot can be accurately fixed with a simple configuration, and the FPC provided on the carriage and the electrode of the inkjet head can be reliably electrically connected.

Further, since the ink jet head inserted into the slot is sandwiched by the arm made of a spring material, the ink jet head can be stably held and the ink jet head can be easily pulled out from the slot.

Further, the first arm and the second arm, each of which is formed in a U-shape of the arm, are provided with outwardly protruding portions provided at the distal end portions of the first arm and the second arm. The center of rotation of the arm can be easily attached to the slot simply by inserting the first arm and the second arm made of a spring material into the slot, and the center of rotation of the arm can be easily set. be able to.

Further, by providing an ink jet head guide portion bent outward by a small angle at the upper end of the slot between the first arm and the second arm on the center side of the slot, the ink jet head mounted in the slot can be connected to the first arm and the first arm. It can be guided and inserted between the two arms and can prevent the nozzle of the inkjet head from hitting the upper end of the slot.

Further, by using this carriage for an ink jet ejection type printer, facsimile, copying machine, etc., the ink jet head can be stably held and driven, and ink droplets can be ejected with stable ink ejection characteristics. By jetting, a high-quality image can be formed stably.

[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 side view showing an arm and a head held by the arm.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a head is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; head; 2; carriage; 3; slot; 6; arm; 7; electrical connection; 9; roller;
2; pad, 13; pressure plate, 14; leaf spring, 62;
Arm, 63; second arm, 64; elongated hole, 65; holding portion, 66; bending portion, 67; convex portion, 68;
69; holding arm, 70; support arm, 71;
2: Pressurizing section.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A carriage for detachably mounting an ink jet head for printing by ejecting ink onto recording paper, comprising a spring material, bent substantially in a U-shape, and bent in a U-shape. The first arm and the second arm are inserted into a slot for holding an ink jet head, and the ink jet head is sandwiched and fixed by an arm rotatably supported on an electrical connection portion of the slot connected to an electrode of the ink jet head. A carriage for an ink jet head. 2. An outwardly projecting portion is formed at a distal end portion of the first arm and the second arm formed in a U-shape of the arm, and the projecting portion is formed as a slit or a hole in a side wall of the slot. 2. The carriage for an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein said carriage is fitted to a center of rotation of said arm. 3. The ink jet head carriage according to claim 1, further comprising an ink jet head guide portion bent outward by a small angle at an upper end of the first arm and the second arm on the center side of the slot. 4. An ink jet printing apparatus using the carriage according to claim 1.