JP2834936B2 - Ink cartridge holding device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge holding device used in an ink jet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet printer in which an ink cartridge having an ink jet head for ejecting ink is mounted on a carriage, for example,
JP-A-3-101949, JP-A-2-17805
0, JP-A-2-17851, JP-A-2-18051
As described in JP-A-188246 and JP-A-1-125238, there are various methods for mounting an ink cartridge including an ink tank on a carriage.

[0003]

A conventional method for mounting an ink cartridge on a carriage is to position and fix an outer shell of an ink jet head on the carriage. However, since the positions of the nozzles in the entire ink jet head vary, the relative positions of the nozzles with respect to the recording medium may vary, which may cause a change in the ink flight and deteriorate the print quality.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head having a plurality of ink discharging means for individually discharging ink from nozzles, and a contact including a contact connected to the ink discharging means. An ink cartridge having the head substrate coupled to an ink tank, a carriage slidably held on a carrier shaft,
The ink cartridge is brought into contact with three places of the head substrate and
Vertical direction of the ink cartridge engaged with three projections on the head substrate for the horizontal positioning of the ridge
Of the support wall provided in the carriage has both a positioning portion for positioning, are held on the carriage for connection including resilient contact connection piece to the contacts of the head substrate a connection piece, Ri Na more and pressurizing pressurizing means the head substrate to the support wall provided in the carriage, the ink cartridge the carriage
When mounting the head substrate by the pressurizing means
By pressing against the support wall side, the head substrate
The connection between the contact and the connection piece is made and the support
The three projections and the positioning part provided on the wall
The horizontal and vertical positioning of the head substrate
At the same time, the contact piece moves the head substrate to the supporting wall.
Resilient to the three protrusions and the positioning portion provided on the
Was pressed .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a support wall is formed on the carriage at right angles to the reciprocating direction of the carriage, and the head substrate in the thickness direction of the head substrate abutted on a projection formed on the support wall. An ink jet head was formed on one of the surfaces by directing the nozzle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by pressing the head substrate against the support wall of the carriage, the connection piece resiliently comes into contact with the contact of the head substrate.
The position in the vertical direction is determined by the positioning portion, and the position of the head substrate with respect to the moving direction of the carriage can be accurately determined by three projections of the support wall. Further, since the ink jet head is formed integrally with the head substrate, the head is a relative position with respect to the substrate can be accurately determined, further
In addition, the contact piece has three protrusions provided on the support wall for the head substrate.
It can be resiliently pressed against the raising and positioning portions, and therefore, by positioning the head substrate, the position of the nozzle of the inkjet head with respect to the recording medium can be determined very accurately.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the support wall having three projections abutting on one surface of the head substrate is orthogonal to the reciprocating operation of the carriage, a large number of ink reservoirs and ink located in these ink reservoirs are provided. By a method of laminating an insulating layer having a discharge means on one surface of a head substrate, it is possible to extremely easily form an ink jet head in which nozzles connected to ink reservoirs are opposed to a print medium.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIGS. 5, 8, and 9 show the structure of the ink cartridge 1. FIG. This ink cartridge 1
Is formed by connecting an ink tank 3 having a cap 2 on one side to store ink, a metal head substrate 4, and a cartridge cover 5. A recess 6 is provided on the surface of the ink tank 3 opposite to the cap 2.
Are formed, and openings 7, 8, and 9 are formed in the bottom surface, the upper surface, and the front surface of the concave portion 6. The wall surface 10 of the recess 6
The head substrate 4 is fixed to a boss 11 protruding from the boss 11. The flat head substrate 4 has flat surfaces 12 and 13 parallel to each other, a circular positioning hole 14, and an oval positioning hole 15. An ink jet head, which will be described later, is formed on the flat surface 13 of the head substrate 4, and the periphery of the nozzle on the front surface of the ink jet head is covered with a face plate 16. Further, the cartridge cover 5 has three openings 17 that open a part of the head substrate 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, an ink jet head 18 is provided on a flat surface 13 on the inner side of the head substrate 4.
A wiring board 20 having a large number of contacts 19 is provided. A connector 24 is provided in which a large number of connection pieces 21 and one connection piece 22 are embedded in an insulating material 23. The connection piece 21 is projected in the shape of a letter "C" and the contact 1
9 has a contact portion 21a which resiliently contacts, and the connecting piece 22 has a contact portion 22a which protrudes in a U-shape and which resiliently contacts the metal surface of the head substrate 4.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ink jet head 18 has a silicon substrate 26 on which a heating element 27 as a large number of ink discharging means is formed in front of the flat surface 13 inside the head substrate 4. The silicon substrate 29 on which the ink reservoir 28 is formed by a large number of grooves in which the heating elements 27 are located is bonded to the silicon substrate 26. The opening surface at the tip of each of the ink reservoirs 28 is a nozzle 25 facing the print medium. Further, a matrix circuit (not shown) for driving the heating element 27 is formed on the silicon substrate 26.

Next, the carriage 30 is shown in FIGS.
The structure of is shown. First, as shown in FIG.
0 is formed by slidably fitting the first carriage frame 31 and the second carriage frame 32 along a carrier shaft (not shown). That is, the first carriage frame 31 includes a support wall 33 facing the flat surface 12 outside the head substrate 4,
A cylindrical portion 34 is formed continuously from the inner surface of the support wall 33 and slidably fitted to the carrier shaft. The second carriage frame 32 has a column-shaped cartridge holding portion 35 which is a pressing unit that presses the flat surface 13 of the head substrate 4 through the opening 7 of the ink cartridge 1 and the opening 8. A protrusion 36 along the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 34;
And an inverted U-shaped wall 37 formed at the front end of the main body. The cartridge holding section 35 has a pressing body 39 which is held at one end of a leaf spring 38 and presses the head substrate 4 resiliently. On the inner surface of the wall 37, a spiral cam 40 is formed integrally with a straight line passing through the center of the wall 37 along the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 36 as an axis.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support wall 33 of the first carriage frame 31 is formed with a modified hole 41 for projecting the projecting portion 36 and the wall portion 37. On both sides of 41, grooves 43 are formed to slidably hold ribs 42 formed on both sides of the protrusion 36. Further, the second carriage frame 32 has a U-shaped claw 45 slidably holding ribs 44 formed on both sides of the cylindrical portion 34 of the first carriage frame 31, A protruding shaft 46 is formed, and a spring 47 for pressing the support wall 33 is fitted to the shaft 46.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a flat surface 12 of the first carriage frame 31 opposite to the contact 19 of the head substrate 4 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the support wall 33. One projection 48 and two positioning portions 49 fitted into the positioning holes 14 or 15 formed in the head substrate 4 are formed so as to protrude. The distal end face of the projection 48 is located in a predetermined plane substantially orthogonal to the above-described carrier shaft.

Next, the second carriage frame 32
FIG. 11 shows a vertical front view of a part of the cartridge holding portion 35 of FIG. The cartridge holding portion 35 has a large number of grooves 5 for holding the upper portions of the connection pieces 21 and 22 of the connector 24.
0 is formed. The depth of the groove 50 holding the connection piece 21 is set to a dimension deeper than the depth of the groove 50 holding the connection piece 22. As a result, the contact portion 22a of the connection piece 22 for grounding protrudes more toward the head substrate 4 than the contact portion 21a of the other connection piece 21. In addition, the connection piece 22 for grounding
Is the contact portion 22a of the other connecting piece 21
It is bent to a shape located at a higher position than the uppermost position. further,
An interval of approximately twice the arrangement pitch of the connection pieces 21 is provided between the connection piece 22 and the connection piece 21 closest to the connection piece 22, and an empty groove 50 is formed therebetween. . That is, the grooves 50 are formed at equal intervals, and the thickness between the grooves 50 is set to be thin and uniform. This prevents dimensional irregularities due to sink during molding.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a clamp mechanism 51.
The clamp mechanism 51 has a clamp shaft 53 having a flange 52 formed at one end, and a clamp lever 55 having a cylindrical fitting portion 54 rotatably fitted to the clamp shaft 53. A spiral cam 56 is formed at one end of the fitting portion 54 to be in contact with the spiral cam 40 (see FIG. 1) formed on the inner surface of the wall portion 37. At the other end, a helical cam 58 is formed which comes into contact with a helical cam 57 formed on the outer periphery of the clamp shaft 53 on the flange 52 side. The cams 56 and 58 of the clamp lever 55 are formed with their lead directions reversed.
The lead directions of the cams 40, 56 are equal, and the cams 57, 58
Are determined equally. Further, projecting pieces 59 are formed on both sides of the flange 52 of the clamp shaft 53, and receiving surfaces 60 for receiving these projecting pieces 59 are formed on both sides of the modified hole 41 of the first carriage frame 31. .

When assembling such a clamp mechanism 51, first, the ribs 42 of the second carriage frame 32 are fitted into the grooves 43 of the first carriage frame 31, and the ribs 4 of the first carriage frame 31
The first and second carriage frames 31 and 32 are slidably connected along the carrier shaft by engaging 4 with the claws 45 of the second carriage frame 32. Then
The wall portion 37 of the second carriage frame 32 is made to protrude to the maximum in the deformed hole 41 of the first carriage frame 31,
The clamp shaft 53 in which the fitting portion 54 of the clamp lever 55 is fitted is positioned between the support wall 33 and the wall portion 37 of the first carriage frame 31, and the projecting piece 59 of the flange 52 is received by the support wall 33. It is brought into contact with the surface 60. In this state, the support wall 33 is moved by the urging force of the spring 47 to the wall portion 37.
The distal end of the clamp shaft 53 is fitted to the wall 37 by moving the clamp shaft 53 to the side. Further, the clamp shaft 53 is prevented from rotating since the flange 52 is surrounded by a wall around the irregular hole 41.

Therefore, by rotating the clamp lever 55 in the direction of releasing the clamp, the spiral surfaces of the cams 40, 56 are brought into full contact with each other, and the cams 57, 58
The second carriage frame 32 moves in a direction away from the support wall 33 by the biasing force of the spring 47 while making the spiral surface of the second contact entirely. Conversely, when the clamp lever 55 is rotated in the clamp direction, the cam 40
Presses the protrusion of the cam 56 toward the support wall 33, and the protrusion of the cam 58 presses the protrusion of the cam 57 toward the support wall 33,
The support wall 33 of the first carriage frame 31 is pushed toward the cartridge holding section 35. In other words, the cartridge holding portion 35 is pulled into the support wall 33 side.

In such a configuration, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the carriage 30, as described above, the clamp lever 55 is rotated in the clamp releasing direction, so that the support wall 33 and the cartridge holding portion 35 are rotated.
To increase the interval. In this state, the support wall 33 can be separated from the cartridge holding portion 35 to the maximum by the urging force of the spring 47. Therefore, the openings 7 and 8 can be easily fitted to the cartridge holding portion 35 without causing the ink cartridge 1 to interfere with the protrusion 48 and the positioning portion 49.

In this state, since the contact portion 22a of the ground connection piece 22 is located on the head substrate 4 side and higher than the contact portions 21a of the other connection pieces 21, first, the ground connection piece 22 The contact portion 22a resiliently contacts the metal surface of the head substrate 4, and subsequently, the contact portion 21a of the connection piece 21 of the connector 24 resiliently contacts the contact 19 of the head substrate 4. Therefore, the ink cartridge 1 is held in the cartridge holding portion 35 while the voltage is applied to the connection piece 21.
In this case, the matrix circuit of the silicon substrate 26 can be prevented from being broken.

Subsequently, as described above, when the clamp lever 55 is rotated in the clamping direction, the second carriage frame 32 moves in a direction in which the distance between the cartridge holding portion 35 and the support wall 33 is reduced. As a result, the head substrate 4 is pressed by the cartridge holding portion 35 and comes into contact with the projection 48 of the support wall 33, and the positioning portions 49 are fitted into the positioning holes 14 and 15.

In this state, the position of the head substrate 4 in the plane direction is determined by the positioning portion 49, and the flat surface 12 of the head substrate 4 is brought into contact with the tips of three projections 48 located in the same vertical plane. Thereby, the position and the verticality of the flat surface 12 in the direction along the carrier shaft become constant. Further, since the inkjet head 18 is formed integrally with the head substrate 4, the relative position of the inkjet head 18 with respect to the head substrate 4 can be accurately determined. Therefore, by positioning the head substrate 4, the position of the nozzle of the inkjet head 18 with respect to the recording medium can be determined very accurately.

Further, the support wall 33 of the first carriage frame 31 and the wall 37 of the second carriage frame 32
The head substrate 4 can be reliably pressed against the projection 48 of the support wall 33 and the positioning holes 14 and 15 can be reliably engaged with the positioning portions 49 simply by widening the distance between the head substrate 4 and the projections 48 of the support wall 33 by the cams 40, 56, 57 and 58. . In this case, the clamp lever 5
5, cams 56 having different lead directions are provided at both ends of the fitting portion 54.
58 is formed, the cam 40 abutting on the cam 56 is formed on the wall 37, and the cam 57 abutting on the cam 58 is formed on the clamp shaft 53, so that the stroke of the clamp shaft 53 is increased. be able to. Accordingly, the distance between the support wall 33 and the cartridge holding portion 35 can be greatly increased, and therefore, the operation of attaching and detaching the ink cartridge 1 to and from the carriage 30 can be further facilitated. Of course, a pair of cams 40, 56 or cam 5
Even if one of 7 and 58 is omitted, the distance between the support wall 33 and the cartridge holding portion 35 can be changed by operating the clamp lever 55.

Further, even if the relative position between the support wall 33 of the first carriage frame 31 and the cartridge holding portion 35 of the second carriage frame 32 slightly varies, the head substrate 4 is supported by the pressing body 39. 33 can be securely pressed.

Further, the support wall 33 having three projections 48 abutting on the flat surface 12 of the head substrate 4 is provided on the carriage 3.
0, a silicon substrate 26 on which a heating element 27 as an ink discharge means is formed, and a silicon substrate 29 on which a large number of ink reservoirs 28 are formed, are laminated on the flat surface 13 of the head substrate 4. By this method, it is possible to extremely easily form the ink jet head 18 in which the nozzles 25 connected to the respective ink reservoirs 28 face the print medium.

The connector 24 is provided on the inner surface of the support wall 33, the contacts 19 and the ink jet head 18 are formed on the flat surface 12 on the support wall 33 side of the head substrate 4, and the head substrate 4 is supported by the cartridge holder 35. It is also possible to connect the contact 19 and the connector 24 by pressing against the wall 33.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted (the same applies hereinafter). As shown in FIG. 14, the support wall 33 of the first carriage frame 31
On the inner surface, two projections 48 located below and one projection 48 located above are formed, but the projection 48 located above is more protruded from the support wall 33 than the projection 48 located below. The protruding length is long. That is, the head substrate 4 and the inkjet head 18 are inclined at an angle of θ with respect to a vertical line perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage 30. Therefore, the straight line passing through the center of the large number of nozzles 25 formed on the inkjet head 18 is also θ
It is inclined at an angle.

Further, the ink jet head 18 in this embodiment has 128 nozzles 25. Therefore, the number of the ink reservoirs 28 and the number of the heating elements 27 provided therein as the ink discharging means are also 128. Here, since independently driving the 128 heating elements 27 complicates wiring, the heating elements 27 are divided into groups of four, and the voltage is applied to the heating elements 27 in a time-division manner for each group. The method of applying is adopted. That is, each heating element 2
7 form a group of four from {1 (first) to $ 4 (fourth), and from here on, {5 to $ 8, $ 9 to $ 12, ...}
A group is formed in units of four, such as 125 to $ 128. The nozzles 25 corresponding to the respective heating elements 27 also form a group with four adjacent nozzles.

Here, N: the number of all nozzles 25 (128) n: the number of heating elements 27 that can be driven simultaneously (4) m: the number of time divisions (32 times) T: the heating elements 27 in group units Driving cycle (sec) P: Array pitch of nozzles 25 (inch) v: Moving speed of carriage 30 (inch / sec) θ: Arrangement inclination angle of nozzles 25 in the above-described group unit: N = mn In the relationship, θ = cos ~ ¹ (vmT / NP) = cos ~ ¹ (vT / nP).

In such a configuration, the carriage 30
In the process of moving from the left home position to the right, a case is considered in which the heating elements 27 of the inkjet head 18 are driven with a period of T in order from the group located above to the group located below.

Forming the first group # 1 (first)
There is a time difference of T between the timing of driving the # 4 (fourth) heating elements 27 and the timing of driving the # 5 to # 8 heating elements 27 forming the next group. During this time, the carriage 30 moves to the right, but since the array angle of the nozzles 25 is inclined at an angle of θ according to the above equation with respect to the moving direction X of the carriage 30, the ink ejection position in the X direction for each group is determined. Can be made equal. FIG. 15A shows a state in which the nozzles 25 of each group correspond to the recording medium for each period T.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 15B, the arrangement angle of the ink ejected from each nozzle 25 is inclined in one group unit, but is vertical in all group units. In this case, there is no problem with the inclination because the ink droplets formed in one group are very small. Therefore, even when a straight line perpendicular to the moving direction X of the carriage 30 is printed, a line that is slightly thicker but perpendicular to the line can be printed.

On the other hand, when the head substrate 4 is fixed in a vertical state together with the ink jet 18 and the nozzles 25 are orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 30, the first group is formed. ) To # 4 (fourth) heating element 27 is driven, and there is a time difference of T between the driving of the # 5 to # 8 heating elements 27 forming the next group. As shown in FIG. 21 (a), when viewed in group units, the lower the group,
The nozzle 25 advances in the moving direction of the carriage 30, and as a result, as shown in FIG.
Although one dot can be arranged vertically, there is a problem that the straight line formed by the nozzles 25 of all the groups is inclined, and it is understood that the advantage obtained by the configuration in this embodiment is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 16, two lower projections 61 are formed on the support wall 33 of the first carriage frame 31, and the screws 6 are formed as upper projections.
2 may be used. That is, by adopting a structure in which the screw 62 is screwed into the screw hole 63 formed in the support wall 33, the inclination angle of the head substrate 4 can be adjusted.
Further, by making the tips of the projection 61 and the screw 62 spherical, all the tips of the projection 61 and the screw 62 can be brought into point contact with the flat surface 13 of the head substrate 4 under the same conditions.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is an embodiment for mounting ink cartridges having different shapes on the carriage 30. For example, the shape of the ink cartridge may be changed in order to distinguish the ink cartridge from the others when the color of the ink stored in the ink tank 3 or the number of nozzles 25 is changed. Alternatively, the shape may be different depending on the manufacturer of the ink cartridge. Here, as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG.
4 shows a case where the ink cartridge 1a is different only in that the ink cartridge 1 is formed. In order to mount such an ink cartridge 1a, the cartridge support portion 35 of the second carriage frame 32 has a concave portion 65, guide grooves 66 located on both sides thereof, and locking holes located on both sides. 67 are formed. A rib 68 slidably fitted in the guide groove 66 with some play, a pressing portion 69 in contact with the head substrate 4, and a relief portion fitted in the ridge 64 of the ink cartridge 1a. 70 and the locking hole 67
72 having a locking claw 71 which is resiliently locked on the chip
Is provided. Reference numeral 73 denotes a leaf spring that urges the chip 72 toward the head substrate 4.

In such a configuration, the rib 68 of the chip 72 is inserted into the guide groove 66 of the cartridge support portion 35 and the locking claw 71 is locked in the locking hole 67,
The chip 72 is attached to the cartridge support 35. The leaf spring 73 is inserted between the inner surface of the concave portion 65 of the cartridge supporting portion 35 and the chip 72. As described above, since the escape portion 70 is formed on the chip 72 in order to prevent interference with the ridge 64 of the ink cartridge 1a,
The opening 8 of the ink cartridge 1a can be mounted on the cartridge support 35. Further, the ink cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 9 can be mounted on the cartridge supporting portion 35 to which the chip 72 is mounted.

In any of the ink cartridges, the chip 72 is resiliently pressed toward the head substrate 4 by the leaf spring 73 by the play between the guide groove 66 and the rib 68. As shown, when the first and second carriage frames 31 and 32 are connected by the clamp mechanism 51, the head substrate 4 is resiliently pushed onto the support wall 33 of the first carriage frame 31 by the pressing portion 69 of the chip 72. Can be imposed.

[0036]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head substrate on which an ink-jet head having a large number of ink discharging means for individually discharging ink from nozzles and a contact including a contact connected to the ink discharging means are formed. An ink cartridge coupled to an ink tank; a carriage slidably held on a carrier shaft; and a horizontal direction of the ink cartridge abutting on three positions of the head substrate.
Engaging with the three protrusions and the head substrate
And a support wall provided on the carriage having both a positioning portion for positioning the ink cartridge in the vertical direction, and an elastic contact between the contact point of the head substrate held by the carriage. a connection piece for connection including a contact connection piece voluntarily, Ri Na more and pressurizing means for pressurizing the head substrate to the support wall provided in the carriage, before
When attaching the ink cartridge to the carriage
The head substrate is moved toward the support wall by the pressing means.
By pressing, the contact of the head substrate and the connection
Connected to the piece and provided on the support wall
The three protrusions and the positioning portion define the head substrate.
Horizontal and vertical positioning is possible, at the same time
Three contact pieces are provided on the support wall for the head substrate.
So as to resiliently press the protrusion and the positioning portion.
Since the, by pressing the head substrate to the support wall of the carriage, the connection piece to the contacts of the head substrate is elastically contacted, at this time, along with determining the vertical position of the head substrate by the positioning unit, the carriage The position of the head substrate with respect to the direction of movement can be accurately determined by the three projections of the support wall, and since the inkjet head is integrally formed with the head substrate, the relative position with respect to the head substrate can be accurately determined, In addition, the contact piece is
Press the plate against the three projections and positioning parts provided on the support wall.
Can be pressed against the voluntarily, therefore, has the effect of such a position of the nozzle of the inkjet head can be determined very accurately with respect to the recording medium by positioning the head substrate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a support wall is formed on the carriage at right angles to the reciprocating direction of the carriage, and the head substrate in the thickness direction of the head substrate abutted on a projection formed on the support wall. Since the ink jet head is formed on one of the surfaces with the nozzles directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage, the support wall having three protrusions abutting on one surface of the head substrate is perpendicular to the reciprocating operation of the carriage. Therefore, the nozzles connected to the respective ink reservoirs were opposed to the print medium by a method of laminating an insulating layer having a large number of ink reservoirs and ink ejection means located in these ink reservoirs on one surface of the head substrate. This has the effect that the inkjet head can be formed very easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a relationship between a head substrate and first and second carriage frames, omitting an ink tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing first and second carriage frames and a clamp mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first carriage frame.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a head substrate and a connector.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a relationship between a contact point of a head substrate and a connection piece of a connector.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view showing the tip of the inkjet head.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the inside of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a head substrate is fixed to a carriage without an ink tank.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a connector support structure in a second carriage frame.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a state in which the entire ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage as viewed from the front.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a state in which the entire ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state in which a head substrate is attached to a support wall of a first carriage according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15A is an explanatory diagram showing timing for discharging ink droplets from nozzles, and FIG. 15B is an explanatory diagram showing a printing result.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a first carriage frame showing a modification.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a relationship between a head substrate and first and second carriage frames, omitting an ink tank.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a chip attached to the cartridge support.

FIGS. 21A and 21B show an example of the related art, in which FIG. 21A is an explanatory diagram showing the timing of discharging ink droplets from nozzles;
(B) is an explanatory view showing the printing result.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a Ink cartridge 3 Ink tank 4 Head substrate 18 Ink jet head 19 Contact 21 Connection piece 25 Nozzle 27 Ink ejection means 30 Carriage 33 Support wall 35 Pressing means 48 Projection 49 Positioning part 61, 62 Projection

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Stephen Jay. Dettle USA New York 14580, Webster 311-01c Philips Roadville 800 Xerox In-house (72) Inventor Donald M. Stevens USA New York 14580, Webster 311-01c Philips Roadville 800 Xerox In-house (56) References JP-A-3-193451 (JP, A) JP-A-3-55253 (JP, A) JP-A-3-246039 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 25/34

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink tank comprising: a head substrate on which an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging means for individually discharging ink from nozzles and a contact including a contact connected to the ink discharging means are formed. An ink cartridge, a carriage slidably held on a carrier shaft, and three contact portions of the head substrate.
The ink vehicle to engage the head substrate <br/> and three protrusions for the horizontal positioning of the ink cartridge Te
Both the positioning portion for positioning the vertical cartridge
A support wall provided on said carriage has a party, and a connection piece for connection including a connecting piece which is elastically in contact with the contact of the head substrate being held in the carriage, provided on the carriage is Ri Na more and pressurizing means for pressurizing the head substrate to the support wall side, said Inkukatori'
When the cartridge is attached to the carriage,
By pressing the head substrate toward the support wall.
The connection between the contact of the head substrate and the connection piece is made.
And three projections provided on the support wall.
Horizontal and vertical of the head substrate with the positioning part
Direction, and at the same time, the contact piece is
Board with three protrusions provided on the support wall and the
An ink cartridge holding device characterized by being resiliently pressed against a positioning portion . 2. A carriage having a support wall orthogonal to a reciprocating direction of the carriage, and a surface of the head substrate abutting on a projection formed on the support wall being provided on one surface in a thickness direction of the head substrate. 2. The ink cartridge holding device according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet head is formed with the nozzles directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction.