JP2012134081A - Connector unit and recording device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector unit or the like in which reliability of electrical contact can be improved by optimizing respective dimensional tolerances in a configuration and conduction parts of a connector can be easily mounted on mounting parts of a connector holder respectively.SOLUTION: The connector unit comprises: a connector 52 which connects contact parts 42 of a plurality of respective ink cartridges 33 (contact targets) to a circuit board 51 to be electrically connected to the plurality of contact parts 42 and holds, in a single conduction part holder 55, a plurality of conduction parts 54 arranged so as to correspond to the respective contact parts 42; and a connector holder 53 for holding a conduction state between the ink cartridges 33 and the connector 52.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector unit that connects a contact portion of a contact object and a circuit board that is electrically connected to the contact portion, and a recording apparatus including the connector unit.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a connector unit in which one conduction part having a plurality of terminal pieces is supported by one conduction part holder (housing) (see Patent Document 1).
In this connector unit, the connectors are individually mounted on the plurality of mounting portions formed in the connector holder so that the plurality of contact objects that are detachably mounted on the mounting portions come into contact with the respective contact portions. It has become.

JP 2007-227106 A

  However, in the conventional connector unit, since one conduction part holder holds one conduction part, in order to improve the reliability of electrical contact between each contact object mounted on the connector holder and each connector. In addition to the assembly accuracy of each connector (conduction portion holder and conduction portion), it has been required to maintain a high degree of assembly accuracy between each connector and the corresponding mounting portion. For this reason, there existed problems, such as increase of an assembly man-hour and an increase in manufacturing cost.

  The present invention optimizes each component dimensional tolerance, improves the reliability of electrical contact, and easily attaches to each attachment portion of the connector holder, and a recording apparatus including the same It is an issue to provide.

  The connector unit of the present invention connects a plurality of conductive parts arranged to correspond to each contact part by connecting a contact part included in each of the plurality of contact objects and a circuit board electrically connected to the plurality of contact parts. And a connector holder for holding a conductive state between the contact object and the connector.

  According to this configuration, since a plurality of conducting portions can be mounted on a single conducting portion holder, the connector holder is formed with high accuracy, and only the assembly accuracy of any one conducting portion with respect to the contact object is obtained. Is optimized, the contact object and all the conductive parts can be brought into contact with each other with high accuracy. That is, the reliability of electrical contact between the connector and each contact object does not depend on the assembly accuracy of the connector with respect to the connector holder. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the number of assembling steps and to reduce the manufacturing cost while improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the contact object (contact portion) and the circuit board. The connector is formed with a predetermined dimensional tolerance by disposing another conductive portion at a predetermined interval from any one conductive portion serving as a reference.

  In this case, the connector is preferably mounted on the circuit board.

  According to this configuration, since the connector is connected to the circuit board and integrated, at least the reliability of the electrical connection between the connector and the circuit board can be improved.

  In this case, it is preferable that the conduction part holder has a positioning part that positions the plurality of conduction parts with respect to the plurality of mounting parts formed on the connector holder, and engages the connector holder with each conduction part positioned. .

  According to this configuration, the connector is held by the connector holder by the positioning portion in a state where each conducting portion is accurately positioned by each mounting portion. As a result, the connector can be more easily attached to the connector holder.

  In this case, each conduction part has a connection spring part in which a terminal piece that contacts the contact part is formed at the tip, and a fixing part that supports the base end of the connection spring part and is fixed to the conduction part holder. And it is preferable that the fixing | fixed part serves as the terminal part connected to a circuit board.

  According to this configuration, the terminal piece can be pressed against the contact portion by the connection spring portion. Thereby, the contact failure between a connector unit and a contact target object can be prevented.

  In this case, the contact object is preferably an ink cartridge.

  According to this configuration, unique information such as color information and ink remaining amount can be grasped for the ink cartridge. Thereby, maintenance management of the ink cartridge can be easily performed.

  The recording apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of ink cartridges via an inkjet head that draws on a recording medium by ejecting ink while moving relative to the recording medium, the connector unit, and the connector holder. A cartridge mounting unit to be mounted and a control unit for managing the mounted ink cartridge via the connector unit are provided.

  According to this configuration, the reliability of electrical contact between each ink cartridge and the control unit via the connector unit can be improved. Further, it is possible to reduce the number of assembling steps of the connector unit (connector) and reduce the manufacturing cost regardless of the number of ink cartridges.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the inside of the recording apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of a carriage unit. It is sectional drawing of a carriage unit. It is a front and back perspective view of a connector unit. (A) is a front view of a connector, (b) is AA sectional drawing in (a). It is a perspective view of a connector unit.

  Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This recording apparatus performs drawing on a recording medium by ejecting ink while moving an inkjet head relative to the recording medium. In the following description, the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are defined as shown in each drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a recording apparatus 1 is provided with a transport unit 11 that feeds a sheet recording medium (printing paper or cut sheet) along a transport path, and is disposed above the transport path. 4, a printing unit 12 that performs printing processing, an apparatus frame 13 on which the conveyance unit 11 and the printing unit 12 are mounted, an apparatus housing 14 that covers these, and a control unit 15 that manages and manages the recording apparatus 1 (FIG. Reference).

  The transport unit 11 includes, in order from the upstream side of the transport path of the recording medium, a paper feed roller 21 that feeds the recording medium along the transport path to the printing unit 12, and a medium regulating member 22 (corresponding to a platen) facing the inkjet head 35. )), A saw-tooth guide roller 23, and a paper discharge roller 24 for feeding a recording medium from a discharge port 25.

  The printing unit 12 is supported by the apparatus frame 13 and extends to the full width in the Y-axis direction, a sheet metal guide frame 31, a carriage unit 32 supported by the guide frame 31 so as to reciprocate, and a carriage unit 32. And a carriage moving mechanism (not shown) that reciprocates along the guide frame 31.

  The recording medium is fed one by one from the paper tray 26 onto the conveyance path, and is intermittently fed (sub-scanned) by the paper feed roller 21 on the medium regulating member 22 toward the paper discharge roller 24 in the X-axis direction. In synchronization with this intermittent feed, the carriage unit 32 reciprocally moves in the Y-axis direction (main scanning) to selectively eject ink and perform desired printing. On the other hand, the recording medium that has passed through the medium regulating member 22 (printing is completed) is corrected in its upward warp state by the guide roller 23, is sent out by the paper discharge roller 24, and is discharged from the discharge port 25 to the outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the carriage unit 32 includes a cartridge mounting portion 34 on which a plurality (four) of ink cartridges 33 are mounted, and an ink jet that discharges ink supplied from the ink cartridges 33 to a recording medium. A head 35 and a connector unit 36 that transmits information unique to each ink cartridge 33 to the control unit 15 (see FIG. 4B) are provided. The number of ink cartridges 33 arranged is arbitrary.

  The cartridge mounting portion 34 is formed in a box shape with the top opened so that each ink cartridge 33 can be mounted from above, and four ink cartridges 33 can be mounted side by side in the Y-axis direction. A guide rib 34a for guiding the attachment / detachment of each ink cartridge 33 is formed on the front surface (on the outlet 25 side) in the cartridge mounting portion 34 (see FIG. 2).

  An ink jet head 35 is mounted on the bottom surface of the cartridge mounting portion 34 on the back side (guide frame 31 side), and four connection needles 35 a communicating with a plurality of discharge nozzles formed on the nozzle surface of the ink jet head 35 are provided. Projects upward. Each connection needle 35 a is connected to a connection opening 44 (described later) of the ink cartridge 33, and ink is supplied into the inkjet head 35.

  Also, mounting guides 34b serving as guides for mounting the connector unit 36 are provided on both side surfaces on the back side (guide frame 31 side) in the cartridge mounting portion 34 (see FIG. 2). A contact portion 42 (details will be described later) of each ink cartridge 33 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 34 is electrically connected to the control portion 15 (see FIG. 4B) via the connector unit 36.

  Each ink cartridge 33 is formed with a cartridge substrate 41 on which an IC memory or the like is mounted on the surface facing the connector unit 36. Each cartridge substrate 41 is formed with a plurality of contact portions 42 that respectively contact a plurality of contact terminals 61a (details will be described later) of the connector unit 36. A lock lever 43 for fixing the ink cartridge 33 to the cartridge mounting portion 34 is provided above the cartridge substrate 41. A connection opening 44 to which the connection needle 35a described above is connected is provided on the lower surface of each ink cartridge 33 (see FIG. 3).

  Each ink cartridge 33 is pushed into the cartridge mounting portion 34 along the guide rib 34a, whereby the lock lever 43 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Each ink cartridge 33 is fixed by engaging the locking portion 43a of the lock lever 43 with the lower side of the locking projection 34c provided in the cartridge mounting portion 34 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, the connector unit 36 will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector unit 36 is mounted with an IC such as a memory, and is electrically connected to a main substrate (not shown) on the recording apparatus 1 side, and each contact portion 42 of the cartridge substrate 41 included in each ink cartridge 33. A connector 52 for electrically connecting the circuit board 51 and a connector holder 53 for holding the conductive state between each ink cartridge 33 and the connector 52 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the connector 52 is electrically connected (soldered) to the front surface (the discharge port 25 side) of the circuit board 51. Thus, since the connector 52 is mounted on the circuit board 51 and the connector 52 and the circuit board 51 are integrated, the certainty and reliability of the electrical connection between them can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, a flat cable (not shown) for electrically connecting the circuit board 51 and the main board is provided on the back surface of the circuit board 51 (on the guide frame 31 side) and at one end in the Y-axis direction. A cable connector 51a to be connected is provided. The control unit 15 included in the main substrate on the recording apparatus 1 side can recognize unique information relating to the ink cartridge 33 such as color information and ink remaining amount via the connector unit 36 and the flat cable. Yes. Thereby, maintenance management of the ink cartridge 33 can be easily performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connector 52 includes a conduction portion 54 corresponding to each of the four ink cartridges 33 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 34 and a single conduction that holds all the conduction portions 54 together. Part holder 55.

  The conducting portion 54 is disposed in four regions provided at substantially equal intervals in the Y-axis direction of the conducting portion holder 55. The conduction portion 54 in each region has a plurality (seven) of conductive members 60. In each conductive member 60, a contact terminal 61 a (terminal piece) that contacts each contact portion 42 supports the connection spring portion 61 formed at the tip and the base end of each connection spring portion 61, and a conduction portion holder. And a fixing portion 62 fixed to 55. In addition, the arrangement | positioning number of the conduction | electrical_connection part 54 and the conduction member 60 is arbitrary.

  The connection spring part 61 and the fixed part 62 are arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction and in a mutually insulated state. Specifically, of the seven contact terminals 61a of each conducting portion 54, two are arranged at the same height near the center in the Y-axis direction, and the remaining five are positions lower than the previous two. Are arranged at equal intervals at the same height. That is, the contact terminals 61a are arranged in two rows.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, each connection spring portion 61 is formed in an “S” shape in the contact direction (X-axis direction) so as to have a spring property. Each connection spring portion 61 urges the contact terminal 61 a at the distal end against each contact portion 42 of each ink cartridge 33 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 34. In this way, each contact spring 61 can press each contact terminal 61a against each contact 42, and the electrical connection between the connector 52 (each contact terminal 61a) and the ink cartridge 33 (each contact 42). Contact failure can be prevented.

  On the other hand, each fixing portion 62 has a press-fit portion 62a that is press-fitted into a press-fit portion 64 (described later) of the conduction portion holder 55, and a terminal portion 62b that is soldered and connected to the circuit board 51. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the conduction part holder 55 is configured to penetrate in the X-axis direction for each region where the conduction part 54 is disposed, and a plurality (seven) of the connection spring parts 61 face each other. And a plurality of (seven) press-fit portions 64 that are press-fitted into the press-fit portions 62a of the respective fixed portions 62. When the press-fit portion 62a is fitted to the press-fit portion 64, each conductive member 60 is fixed in a state where the connection spring portion 61 extends into the through-hole 63 (see FIG. 5B).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the conduction portion holder 55 has a positioning portion 65 for positioning each conduction portion 54 when being attached to the connector holder 53. The positioning portion 65 engages with a pair of groove portions 65 a formed in the front surface (on the discharge port 25 side) of the conduction portion holder 55 and one mounting portion 73 (described later) formed on the connector holder 53. A plurality of (four) hooking convex portions 65b.

  The pair of groove portions 65a divide the pair of conductive portions 54 disposed in the region of both ends in the Y-axis direction of the conductive portion holder 55 and the two conductive portions 54 disposed in the region of the central portion. Is provided. That is, on the front surface portion of the conduction portion holder 55, three partial holders 66 are formed by the pair of groove portions 65a. 4A and 5A, the left and right partial holders 66 are provided with one conductive portion 54, and the central partial holder 66 is provided with two conductive portions 54. . Each groove portion 65 a engages with each pillar portion 72 formed at both ends of pillar portions 72 (details will be described later) that partition the four mounting portions 73 formed in the connector holder 53. As a result, the connector 52 is roughly positioned with respect to the connector holder 53. Each partial holder 66 is chamfered on all sides so that it can be easily attached to the connector holder 53 (each mounting portion 73).

  Each hooking convex portion 65b is formed to project from the left and right side surfaces of the partial holder 66 positioned on the right side in FIGS. 4 (a) and 5 (a). The hooking protrusions 65b are formed at two locations on each side surface, and hooked on hooked portions (not shown) formed on one mounting portion 73. The connector 52 is formed with a predetermined dimensional tolerance by disposing other conductive portions 54 at a predetermined interval on the basis of the conductive portions 54 on which the respective engaging projections 65b are formed. . Thereby, the connector 52 is fixed in a state where the connector 52 is accurately positioned with respect to the connector holder 53.

  In this embodiment, since the four conduction portions 54 can be attached to the single conduction portion holder 55, the plurality of attachment portions 73 are formed with high accuracy, and the right conduction portion 54 with respect to the ink cartridge 33. By optimizing only the assembly accuracy of the partial holder 66, the ink cartridge 33 and all the conducting portions 54 can be brought into contact with each other with high accuracy. That is, the reliability of the electrical contact between the connector 52 and each ink cartridge 33 does not depend on the assembly accuracy of the connector 52 with respect to the connector holder 53. Thereby, while improving the reliability of the electrical connection between each ink cartridge 33 (contact part 42) and the circuit board 51, it is possible to reduce the number of assembling steps and the manufacturing cost.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the connector holder 53 includes a frame body portion 71 that forms the outer appearance thereof, and three pillar portions 72 that partition the region surrounded by the frame body portion 71. The three pillar portions 72 are arranged at equal intervals in the Y-axis direction, and the connector holder 53 has four mounting portions 73 by an area surrounded by the pillar portions 72 and the frame body portion 71. Is formed.

  The pair of pillar portions 72 disposed at both ends of the connector holder 53 are provided on the side where the connector 52 is disposed, and the engagement portions 72a with which the respective groove portions 65a are engaged and the ink cartridge 33 are arranged. And a guide portion 72b for guiding attachment / detachment of each ink cartridge 33. Further, the pillar portion 72 disposed in the center in the Y-axis direction is configured by only the guide portion 72b without the engagement portion 72a. Thereby, when the connector 52 is mounted on the connector holder 53, the central partial holder 66 where the groove 65a is not formed does not get in the way. To be precise, the guide portions 72b are also provided in the frame portions 71 located at the left and right ends, respectively. That is, each guide portion 72b is provided at a position corresponding to the guide rib 34a formed in the cartridge mounting portion 34 described above. As a result, the ink cartridge 33 is guided by the guide portions 72b and the guide ribs 34a, and is mounted (or removed) from the cartridge mounting portion 34.

  In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the to-be-engaged part which the above-mentioned engagement convex part 65b engages is provided in the pillar part 72 and the frame part 71 which form the mounting part 73 located in the right side in FIG.

  According to the above configuration, the ink cartridge 33 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 34 (fixed by the action of the lock lever 43) and is connected to the control unit 15 via the connector unit 36 mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 34. And is securely connected electrically. The reliability of electrical contact between each ink cartridge 33 and the control unit 15 via the connector unit 36 can be improved. Further, since the connector 52 can be easily attached to the connector holder 53, the number of assembling steps of the connector unit 36 (connector 52) can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced regardless of the number of ink cartridges 33.

  1: recording device, 15: control unit, 32: carriage unit, 33: ink cartridge, 34: cartridge mounting unit, 36: connector unit, 42: contact unit, 51: circuit board, 52: connector, 53: connector holder, 54: conduction part, 55: conduction part holder, 61: connection spring part, 62: fixing part, 65: positioning part, 73: mounting part

Claims (6)

A plurality of contact parts each having a plurality of contact objects are connected to a circuit board electrically connected to the plurality of contact parts, and a plurality of conduction parts arranged to correspond to the contact parts A connector held in the conduction part holder of
A connector unit comprising: a connector holder for maintaining a conductive state between the contact object and the connector.   The connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector is mounted on the circuit board.   The conduction part holder has a positioning part for positioning the plurality of conduction parts with respect to a plurality of mounting parts formed on the connector holder, and engages the connector holder in a state where the conduction parts are positioned. The connector unit according to claim 1 or 2. Each of the conductive parts is
A connection spring part formed at the tip of a terminal piece that contacts the contact part;
And supporting a base end of the connection spring part, and having a fixing part fixed to the conduction part holder,
The connector unit according to claim 2, wherein the fixing portion also serves as a terminal portion connected to the circuit board.   The connector unit according to claim 2, wherein the contact object is an ink cartridge. An inkjet head that draws on the recording medium by ejecting ink while moving relative to the recording medium;
A connector unit according to claim 5;
A cartridge mounting portion for mounting a plurality of the ink cartridges via the connector holder;
And a control unit that manages the mounted ink cartridge via the connector unit.

Images