JP2004025568A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet printer in which contact sections of a cartridge electrode and a carriage electrode are continuously and surely contacted with each other. <P>SOLUTION: A flexible printed circuit board 11 having formed thereon the cartridge electrode is attached to an ink cartridge 1 on its face at the side of a carriage 2 and a recess 13 is provided to the face, and then a magnetic material 12 is fitted to the recess 13. A flexible printed circuit board 21 having formed thereon the carriage electrode is attached to the carriage 2 on its face at the side of the ink cartridge 1 and a recess 23 is provided to the face, and then a permanent magnet 22 is fitted to the recess 23. When the ink cartridge 1 is loaded to a predetermined position of the carriage 2, the magnetic material 12 is magnetized by a magnetic field of the permanent magnet 22 so that they are attracted to each other. As the permanent magnet 22 moves toward the ink cartridge 1 by the attractive force, a projection of the contact section 24 of the carriage electrode is pressed against the contact section of the cartridge electrode 14 to be electrically connected thereto. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus having a carriage that reciprocates with an ink cartridge mounted thereon.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional inkjet type printing apparatus mounts a flexible printed wiring board having a contact portion (electrode) provided on a protrusion at an end portion on a carriage, and a flexible printed circuit having a flat contact pattern corresponding to the contact portion. The printed wiring board is mounted on the ink cartridge. Then, the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage, the contact pattern of the ink cartridge is brought into contact with the contact portion of the carriage, and a force is applied from the outside by a mechanism for maintaining the contact state to maintain the contact state. Further, a concave portion is provided on the surface of the carriage on which the flexible printed wiring board is mounted, and an elastic body provided with a projection having substantially the same shape is inserted at a position corresponding to the projection of the flexible printed wiring board. With such a structure, the elastic printed body presses the flexible printed wiring board of the carriage and the elastic body and the stress from the elastic body. The contact portion and the contact pattern surely contact each other. Thereby, the ink cartridge and the printing apparatus main body are electrically connected (conductive).
[0003]
The electrical connection between the contact portion of the carriage and the contact pattern of the ink cartridge causes the ink cartridge to receive a control signal from the main body of the printing apparatus, and discharge ink onto the printing paper according to the control signal.
[0004]
The structures of such an ink cartridge and a carriage are disclosed in JP-A-7-52377 and JP-A-2000-225693. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-52377 discloses a technique in which a fixing plate is provided on a surface of a carriage facing a signal input portion of an ink cartridge, a flexible flat cable is arranged on the surface of the fixing plate, and the flexible flat cable is fixed to the fixing plate. And a holding plate, a hole is provided in the holding plate at a position corresponding to the pattern of the signal input section of the ink cartridge, and a projection that exposes the end of the flexible flat cable from this hole is provided on the fixed plate. The purpose is to reduce the number of parts and the cost of parts by using them. Further, the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-225693 discloses a technique in which the protrusions are formed on the electrodes of the ink cartridge and the electrodes of the carriage are formed flat, thereby improving the durability of the electrodes of the carriage which are extremely rarely replaced. It aims to improve running cost.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional printing apparatus has the following problems to be solved.
[0006]
That is, the conventional contact portion between the ink cartridge and the carriage utilizes a physically pressing force and a stress opposing the force, and this stress is a reaction (restoring force) of a force applied to the elastic body. However, when the elastic body is constantly pressed, the restoring force gradually decreases, and the stress decreases accordingly. As a result, the force applied to the contact portion becomes weak, and the contact state deteriorates.
[0007]
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-52377 does not disclose any technique for suppressing the deterioration of the state of the contact portion due to such a temporal change. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-22569 also utilizes the stress of the elastic body to maintain the contact state of the contact portion, and has the above-mentioned problem.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printing apparatus in which a contact between an electrode mounted on an ink cartridge and an electrode mounted on a carriage keeps making contact with each other.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, an ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention includes an ink cartridge having a cartridge electrode for receiving an ink discharge control signal, an ink cartridge mounted therein, and an electrical connection between the cartridge electrode of the mounted ink cartridge and the ink cartridge. A permanent magnet is disposed on one of the back side of the carriage electrode and the back side of the cartridge electrode, and a magnetic body is disposed on the other side.
[0010]
Further, in the ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention, permanent magnets are arranged on the back side of the carriage electrode and the cartridge electrode, respectively.
[0011]
In these configurations, the permanent magnet and the magnetic material attached to the carriage and the ink cartridge, respectively, attract each other, so that the contact portion of the carriage electrode and the contact portion of the cartridge electrode are pressed and contact, and the gap between these electrodes is established. Conduct.
[0012]
In the ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention, a projection is provided on one of the cartridge electrode and the carriage electrode. Further, a depression into which the projection is inserted is provided on the electrode on which the projection is not provided.
[0013]
In this configuration, the protrusion of one electrode of the cartridge electrode or the carriage electrode pushes the other electrode, so that the contact portion contacts more reliably. Further, the projections and the dents provided on the cartridge electrode and the carriage electrode, respectively, are fitted to each other, so that the electrical connection is made more reliably.
[0014]
Further, in the ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention, a concave portion for inserting a permanent magnet or a magnetic material is provided in the carriage and the ink cartridge, and the permanent magnet or the magnetic material is inserted in the concave portion.
[0015]
In this configuration, since the permanent magnet and the magnetic body do not protrude from the joint surface between the ink cartridge and the carriage, the ink cartridge and the carriage are reduced in size by the extent that they do not protrude.
[0016]
Further, the permanent magnets of the ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention are arranged corresponding to a range where no electrode pattern is formed.
[0017]
With this configuration, the area of the permanent magnet used is reduced, and the size of the permanent magnet is reduced. Further, since the permanent magnet and the cartridge electrode or the carriage electrode are separated from each other, the influence of the permanent magnet on the control signal transmitted through the electrode is reduced.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A carriage and an ink cartridge of an inkjet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are an external perspective view and an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a carriage and an ink cartridge, respectively, wherein FIG. 1A is an external perspective view, FIG. 1B is a partially exploded perspective view of a carriage, and FIG. It is an exploded perspective view.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, the ink cartridge 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a step from the bottom surface to one side surface. In this ink cartridge 1, a flexible printed wiring board 11 on which a predetermined pattern of cartridge electrodes is formed is mounted from the surface facing the stepped side surface to the bottom surface. The flexible printed wiring board 11 has a structure in which a cartridge electrode is sandwiched between upper and lower insulating layers, and an end of the cartridge electrode is partially exposed from an upper insulating layer, and a plurality of contact portions 14 are provided. I have.
[0020]
A recess 13 having a predetermined area and depth is provided on a side surface of the ink cartridge 1 on which the flexible printed wiring board 11 is mounted, and a plate-shaped magnetic body 12 is inserted into the recess 13. As the magnetic body 12, a metal exhibiting ferromagnetism such as iron is used. The area of the magnetic body 12 is smaller than the area of the flexible printed wiring board 11, but covers almost the entire surface of the flexible printed wiring board 11.
[0021]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the carriage 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body provided with a concave portion in which the ink cartridge 1 is mounted. On the surface of the carriage 2 facing the surface of the ink cartridge 1 on which the flexible printed wiring board 11 is mounted, a flexible printed wiring board 21 having a carriage electrode formed thereon is mounted. The flexible printed wiring board 21 has a structure in which a carriage electrode is sandwiched between two upper and lower insulating layers, and a plurality of contact portions 24 partially exposed from the upper insulating layer corresponding to the contact portions 14 of the cartridge electrode. Is provided. The exposed contact portions 24 of the carriage electrodes of the flexible printed wiring board 21 have a shape protruding from the carriage 2 toward the ink cartridge 1.
[0022]
On the mounting surface of the flexible printed wiring board 21 of the carriage 2, a concave portion 23 having a predetermined area and a predetermined depth is provided, and a permanent magnet 22 is inserted into the concave portion 23. The area of the permanent magnet 22 is smaller than the area of the flexible printed wiring board 21 but covers substantially the entire surface of the flexible printed wiring board 21.
[0023]
When the ink cartridge 1 formed as described above is mounted on the carriage 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the contact portion 14 of the cartridge electrode and the contact portion 24 of the carriage electrode come into contact with each other.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of a contact portion between the ink cartridge 1 and the carriage 2.
When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the carriage 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic material 12 is magnetized by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 22, so that the permanent magnet 22 and the magnetic material 12 attract each other. Here, the magnetic body 12 is fixed to the concave portion 13 of the ink cartridge 1 with an adhesive or the like, and the permanent magnet 22 is simply inserted into the concave portion 23 so that the permanent magnet 22 is attracted by the attractive force. It moves in the direction of the magnetic body 12 (the arrow direction in FIG. 2). Due to this movement, the flexible printed wiring board 21 is pushed and comes into contact with the flexible printed wiring board 11, and the projection of the contact portion 24 of the carriage electrode pushes the flat exposed surface of the contact portion 14 of the cartridge electrode to electrically connect. .
[0025]
The contact portion 14 of the cartridge electrode may be provided with a recess into which the projection provided on the contact portion 24 of the carriage electrode is inserted. With this structure, the projections and the recesses are fitted to each other, so that electrical connection can be made more reliably.
[0026]
As a result, a control signal for ink ejection is transmitted from the main body of the printing apparatus to the ink cartridge 1 via the carriage 2, and in response to the control signal, the ink cartridge 1 ejects ink onto printing paper to form a desired image. Formed on the printing paper surface.
[0027]
With such a structure, the force for maintaining the contact of the contact portion between the carriage electrode and the ink cartridge electrode can be the force for attracting the magnetic material by the magnetic field from the permanent magnet, so that the contact state can be maintained semi-permanently. It is possible to maintain the contact point portion, to have excellent durability, and to reduce the maintenance cost.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, the structure in which the permanent magnet is inserted into the carriage and the magnetic material is inserted into the ink cartridge is shown. However, the magnetic material is inserted into the carriage, and the permanent magnet is inserted into the ink cartridge. It may be. Further, both the carriage and the ink cartridge may have a structure in which a permanent magnet is inserted.
[0029]
Further, in the present embodiment, the permanent magnet having an area substantially equal to the area of the flexible printed wiring board is arranged. However, as shown in FIG. The recesses 23a, 23b, and 23c may be provided so as to correspond to only the permanent magnets 22a, 23b, and 23c, and the permanent magnets 22a, 22b, and 22c may be inserted into the recesses 23a, 23b, and 23c. This structure may be used for an ink cartridge. With this structure, the size of the permanent magnet can be reduced while maintaining the force for pushing the flexible printed wiring board (that is, the force for bringing the contact portions into contact), so that the product cost can be reduced. . Further, since the permanent magnet is separated from the cartridge electrode and the carriage electrode, the control signal transmitted through these electrodes can suppress the influence of the magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet, and the reliability can be further improved. .
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a magnetic body is arranged between an ink cartridge and a flexible printed wiring board on which a cartridge electrode is mounted, and a flexible printed wiring on which a carriage and a carriage electrode mounted on the carriage are formed. By disposing a permanent magnet between the board and the board, the magnetic material is magnetized by the permanent magnet and attracted to push the flexible printed wiring board. Thereby, the contact portion of the cartridge electrode and the contact portion of the carriage electrode, which are opposed to each other, come into contact and conduct. Since the force for maintaining the contact is generated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet, the force is maintained semi-permanently. Therefore, the durability of the contact portion is excellent, and the maintenance cost can be reduced.
[0031]
Similar effects can be obtained when a permanent magnet is provided in the ink cartridge and a magnetic material is provided in the carriage, or when a permanent magnet is provided in the ink cartridge and the carriage.
[0032]
Further, according to the present invention, the ink cartridge and the carriage can be miniaturized by providing a concave portion in the ink cartridge and the carriage and inserting a permanent magnet or a magnetic material into the concave portion.
[0033]
Further, according to the present invention, by arranging the permanent magnet around the electrode forming portion of the flexible printed wiring board, the size of the permanent magnet can be reduced while maintaining the contact state of each contact portion. Therefore, product cost can be reduced. Further, since the permanent magnet is separated from the cartridge electrode or the carriage electrode to which the control signal is transmitted, the influence of the magnetic field from the permanent magnet on the control signal can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view and an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge and a carriage of an ink jet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of a contact portion between the ink cartridge and the carriage. Exploded perspective view showing another structure of the carriage of the ink jet printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
1-Ink Cartridge 11-Flexible Printed Wiring Board 12 Mounted in Ink Cartridge 1-Magnetic Body 13 Fitted in Ink Cartridge 1-Recess 14 Provided in Ink Cartridge 1-Cartridge Electrode Contact 2-Carriage 21- A flexible printed wiring board 22 mounted on the carriage 2-a permanent magnet 23 fitted on the carriage 2-a recess 24 provided on the carriage 2-a contact portion of the carriage electrode

Claims (9)

Ink jet including: an ink cartridge having a cartridge electrode for receiving an ink discharge control signal; and a carriage having the ink cartridge mounted thereon and having a carriage electrode electrically connected to the cartridge electrode of the mounted ink cartridge. In printing devices,
(1) The carriage has a permanent magnet arranged on the back side of the carriage electrode, and the ink cartridge has a magnetic body arranged on the back side of the cartridge electrode, or
(2) The carriage has a magnetic body disposed on the back side of the carriage electrode, and the ink cartridge has a permanent magnet disposed on the back side of the cartridge electrode, or
(3) The carriage and the ink cartridge are provided with permanent magnets on the back sides of the carriage electrode and the cartridge electrode, respectively.
The carriage and the ink cartridge each include a concave portion into which the permanent magnet or the magnetic material is inserted, and the permanent magnet or the magnetic material is inserted into the concave portion,
The permanent magnet is disposed on the ink cartridge or the carriage so as to correspond to a range where the cartridge electrode or the carriage electrode is formed, or a range where the cartridge electrode or the carriage electrode is not formed. Yes,
An inkjet printing apparatus comprising: a projection provided on one of the cartridge electrode and the carriage electrode; and a depression provided on the other of the cartridge electrode and the carriage electrode. Ink jet including: an ink cartridge having a cartridge electrode for receiving an ink discharge control signal; and a carriage having the ink cartridge mounted thereon and having a carriage electrode electrically connected to the cartridge electrode of the mounted ink cartridge. In printing devices,
An inkjet printing apparatus, wherein the carriage has a permanent magnet disposed on the back side of the carriage electrode, and the ink cartridge has a magnetic substance disposed on the back side of the cartridge electrode. Ink jet including: an ink cartridge having a cartridge electrode for receiving an ink discharge control signal; and a carriage having the ink cartridge mounted thereon and having a carriage electrode electrically connected to the cartridge electrode of the mounted ink cartridge. In printing devices,
An ink jet printing apparatus, wherein the carriage has a magnetic body disposed on the back side of the carriage electrode, and the ink cartridge has a permanent magnet disposed on the back side of the cartridge electrode. Ink jet including: an ink cartridge having a cartridge electrode for receiving an ink discharge control signal; and a carriage having the ink cartridge mounted thereon and having a carriage electrode electrically connected to the cartridge electrode of the mounted ink cartridge. In printing devices,
In the carriage, a first permanent magnet is disposed on the back side of the carriage electrode,
An ink jet printing apparatus, wherein a second permanent magnet is arranged on the back side of the cartridge electrode in the ink cartridge. The inkjet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a projection is provided on one of the cartridge electrode and the carriage electrode. 6. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a recess for inserting the projection is provided in the cartridge electrode or the carriage electrode not provided with the projection. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the carriage includes a recess into which the permanent magnet or the magnetic body is inserted. The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink cartridge includes a recess into which the permanent magnet or the magnetic body is inserted. The inkjet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the permanent magnet is disposed at a position that does not overlap a contact portion where the ink cartridge and the carriage are electrically connected.

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