JP4201444B2 - Ink jet head carriage and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a carriage equipped with an ink jet type head and an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet type printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine, and in particular, simplification and stability of electrical connection between the ink jet head that is detachable from the carriage and the carriage. It is related to conversion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, an ink jet printer prints on a recording paper by directly ejecting ink from an ink jet head (hereinafter referred to as a head) having an ejection nozzle provided at a fixed distance of about 1 mm from the upper surface of the recording paper to be conveyed. The head for ejecting ink is mounted on a carriage that is driven to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper. Some ink jet printers have a structure in which a head can be attached to and detached from a carriage. When the head is structured to be detachable from the carriage, the head and the carriage cannot be directly connected. For example, as shown in JP-A-8-318621, the carriage is thin and soft. When a printable printed circuit board (FPC) is provided and the head is mounted on the carriage, the FPC is translated with respect to the electrode provided on the head, and the FPC is pressed against the electrode provided on the head to electrically connect the head and the carriage. Connected. The FPC is pressed against the head electrode through a pad made of an elastic member on the back of the FPC, and the connection state between the FPC and the head electrode is made uniform by the elastic action of the pad.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to electrically connect the head and the carriage as described above, when the FPC provided on the carriage is translated, a complicated advance / retreat mechanism is required to translate the FPC, and the structure of the carriage is complicated. As a result, a large number of parts are required, which increases the cost.
[0004]
The present invention improves such disadvantages, and provides an inkjet head carriage and an image forming apparatus using the same, in which the FPC provided on the carriage and the electrode of the head can be reliably electrically connected with a simple configuration and a small number of parts. It is intended to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A carriage of an ink jet head according to the present invention is a carriage on which an ink jet head for ejecting and printing ink on a recording sheet is detachably mounted. The carriage is held in a slot by pressing the ink jet head from above with a roller. An arm for pressure fixing and an end of each slot corresponding to a side surface on the electrode side of the ink jet head to be inserted into each slot, and a portion located on the insertion side of the ink jet head as a base so as to be rotatable An electrical connection plate provided in each slot, and provided on the opposite side of the electrical connection plate from the ink jet head insertion side, is rotated around the same side as the base point of the electrical connection plate. A pressure plate for applying pressure to the electrical connection plate, and pressurizing the pressure plate to rotate the pressure plate and the electrical connection plate Pressurizing means, and when the ink jet head is inserted, the roller is retracted from the upper part of the slot to the base point side of the electrical connection plate by rotating the arm, and the electrode side of the ink jet head is electrically connected. Inserting the side of the electrode side of the ink jet head into the slot while following the roller on the plate side, and pressing the electrical connection plate to the electrode of the ink jet head through the pressure plate by the pressure means, The arm is rotated to move the roller to the upper part of the slot, and the inkjet head is moved by the roller while the electrical connection plate is pressed against the electrode of the inkjet head via the pressure plate by the pressure unit. It is characterized in that it is fixed in the slot by pressing from above.
The arm is formed of a spring material.
The arm also pressurizes the ink-jet head in a lateral direction when pressurizing and fixing the ink-jet head.
Further, the arm is rotated when the ink jet head is removed, and the ink jet head is lifted from a carriage.
[0007]
An elastic pad is provided between the pressing plate and the electrical connection plate, and the pressing means applies a pressing force to substantially the center of the pressing plate by an elastic force of a spring.
[0008]
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses the carriage .
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A carriage on which an inkjet head (hereinafter referred to as a head) of the inkjet printer of the present invention is mounted has a slot for mounting a plurality of, for example, four heads. The head has an ejection nozzle that forms ink droplets, an ejection drive mechanism, an ink supply mechanism, and the like, and the four heads eject ink of four colors, yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk, as minute ink droplets, respectively. Spray from the nozzle. Each slot in the carriage has an arm and an electrical connection.
[0010]
The arm is formed of a spring material having elasticity, and has a first arm and a second arm formed in a U shape in which the left and right portions of the upper surface are bent at right angles. The distance between the first arm and the second arm is formed to be somewhat larger than the thickness of the head. A long hole is provided in the upper part of the first arm and the second arm to move the roller for holding the head up and down and hold it rotatably, and has a pressing part for pressing the shaft of the roller at the tip of the upper surface. Protrusions that form the center of rotation are provided at the distal ends of the first arm and the second arm, and these convex portions are located near both side surfaces of the lower end portion on the side where the electrical connection portions of the slots of the carriage are provided. The arm is rotatably supported by fitting with the provided rotation hole. The first arm has a presser arm that is bent by a small angle toward the second arm and is provided with a pressurizing unit that presses the side surface of the head at the tip.
[0011]
The electrical connection part has a pad made of 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, The pressure plate, the pad, and the FPC are arranged at a position slightly rotated counterclockwise from the vertical direction.
[0012]
When the head is mounted in the slot of the carriage, the arm is rotated around the convex portion provided at the tip of the first arm and the second arm, and the roller is retracted from the upper portion of the slot. Then, the electrode side, which is the electrical connection portion of the head, is set to the FPC side, and the head is inserted into the slot while the side surface of the electrode side of the head is brought into contact with the roller to follow. When the head is inserted into the slot, the face plate provided at the tip of the nozzle surface of the head hits the FPC. When the head is further inserted into the slot, the face plate rotates the FPC, the pad, and the pressure plate to deflect the leaf spring. When the head is completely inserted into the slot, the bending amount of the leaf spring becomes maximum, the elastic force of the leaf spring is applied to the pressure plate, the FPC is pressed through the pad by the force applied to the pressure plate, and the FPC is Press contact with the electrode of the head with uniform contact force. In this state, the arm is rotated, the upper part of the head is pressed by a roller held by the long hole of the arm and the presser, and the slot of the head slot is pressed by the presser provided on the presser arm of the first arm of the arm. Hold the side along the wall and hold the head fixed in the slot.
[0013]
【Example】
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. 1, for example, a carriage 2 on which an inkjet head (hereinafter referred to as a head) 1 of an inkjet printer is mounted has a plurality of slots 3 in which, for example, four heads 1 are mounted. The head 1 has an ejection nozzle that forms ink droplets, an ejection drive mechanism, an ink supply mechanism, and the like, and the four heads 1 are, for example, four inks of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk. It ejects from a spray nozzle as a drop. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the carriage 2 is driven to reciprocate along a guide shaft 5 provided in a direction orthogonal to each slot 3 by a conveying roller 4. Each slot 3 of the carriage 2 has an arm 6 and an electrical connection portion 7.
[0014]
The arm 6 is formed of a spring material having elasticity, and as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, the first arm 62 and the second arm formed in a U-shape formed by bending two right and left portions of the upper surface 61 at right angles. The arm 63 is provided. The distance between the first arm 62 and the second arm 63 is formed to be somewhat larger than the thickness of the head 1. A long hole 64 that moves the roller 9 up and down and holds it rotatably is provided at the top of the first arm 62 and the second arm 63, and a pressing portion that presses the shaft of the roller 9 at the tip of the upper surface 61. 65. A lower arm of the first arm 62 includes a support arm 66 and a presser arm 67, and a lower arm of the second arm 63 includes a support arm 68 having substantially the same shape as the support arm 66 of the first arm 62. Protrusions 69 that form the center of rotation are provided at the distal ends of the support arms 66 and 68 of the first arm 62 and the second arm 63, and the protrusions 69 are electrically connected to the slots 3 of the carriage 2. The arm 6 is rotatably supported by fitting with a rotation hole 10 provided in the vicinity of both side surfaces of the lower end portion on the side provided with 7. The presser arm 67 of the first arm 62 is bent at a minute angle toward the second arm 63 side, and has a pressure unit 70 that presses the side surface of the head 1 at the tip.
[0015]
The electrical connecting portion 7 includes an FPC 11, a pad 12 made of a rubber-like elastic body, a pressure 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 semi-cylindrical convex portion 15 and a pin 16 provided at the tip of the convex portion 15 at the center of the surface opposite to the contact portion with the pad 12. The leaf spring 14 is formed in an approximately L shape, is fitted to a pin 18 provided on a rib 17 on the upper surface of the carriage 2, is fixed by a stopper 19, and is a pin 16 of the pressure plate 13 in a round hole provided at the tip. Is inserted, and the pressure plate 13 is pressed against the arm 6 by the elastic force of the leaf spring 14, and before the head 1 is mounted in the slot 3, the pressure plate 13, the pad 12 and the FPC 11 are moved counterclockwise from the vertical direction. It is placed in a slightly rotated position. The positions of the pressure plate 13, the pad 12, and the FPC 11 before the head 1 is mounted may be regulated by ribs provided on the carriage 2. One end of the FPC 11 is fitted to a pin 18 provided on the rib 17 and is held down by a leaf spring 14.
[0016]
When the head 1 is mounted in the slot 3 of the carriage 2 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the arm 6 is rotated counterclockwise around the convex portion 69 of the support arms 66 and 68 as the rotation center. The roller 9 is retracted from the upper part of the slot 3. Then, the electrode 1 which is an electrical connection portion of the head 1 is set to the FPC 11 side, and the head 1 is inserted into the slot 3 while the electrode side surface of the head 1 contacts and follows the roller 9. Since the roller 9 rotates when the electrode side surface of the head 1 contacts the roller 9 and is inserted into the slot 3, the frictional load with the side surface of the head 1 can be reduced as much as possible. Further, since the side surface of the head 1 is guided by the roller 9 when the head 1 is inserted into the slot 3, it is possible to prevent the head 1 from accidentally riding on the upper portion 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 pressure plate 13 in the clockwise direction to bend the plate spring 14 into which the pin 16 of the pressure plate 13 is inserted. Then, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, when the head 1 is completely inserted into the slot 3, the amount of bending of the leaf spring 14 is maximized, and the elastic force of the leaf spring 14 is applied to the pressure plate 13, thereby pressing the pressure plate. The force applied to 13 presses the FPC 11 through the pad 12 and presses the FPC 11 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 in the clockwise direction, the roller 9 held by the long hole 64 of the arm 6 and the presser portion 65 gets over the slope provided on the upper end of the head 1 and stops, and the head 1 is moved downward. The side face along the groove wall of the slot 3 of the head 1 is pressed by the pressurizing portion 70 provided on the presser arm 67 of the first arm 62 of the arm 6, and the head 1 is fixed and held in the slot 3. . Since the pressurizing portion 70 of the presser arm 67 rotates clockwise while rubbing the side surface of the head 1 when the arm 6 is rotated, a force for pressing the head 1 inserted into the slot 3 works and is inserted into the slot 3. Therefore, the contact force between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 can be further stabilized.
[0017]
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 in this way, the contact pressure between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 can be obtained with a simple structure. Further, since the force applied to the center of the pressure plate 13 by the leaf spring 14 is transmitted to the FPC 11 via the pad 12 made of a rubber-like elastic body, a uniform force can be applied over the entire surface of the FPC 11 and the rubber-like elastic body. The contact pressure between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 can be uniformly distributed by the elasticity of the pad 12 made of the head 1, and the head 1 can be driven stably. In addition, since one end of the FPC 11 is fitted to a pin 18 provided on the rib 17 and pressed by the leaf spring 14, the thin and soft FPC 11 rubs against the face plate 8 when the head 1 is mounted. Even if pulled, the FPC 11 can be prevented from being damaged or broken around the hole fitted to the pin 18 of the rib 17.
[0018]
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 unit 70 of the arm 6 rotates counterclockwise while rubbing the side surface of the head 1 to apply a force that causes the head 1 to float. Therefore, the head 1 can be easily pulled out from the slot 3. When the head 1 is taken out from the slot 3, the pressure plate 13, the pad 12 and the FPC 11 are rotated counterclockwise by the elastic force of the leaf spring 14, and return to a position slightly rotated counterclockwise from the vertical direction and stopped. .
[0019]
In the above embodiment, the case where the elastic force of the substantially L-shaped leaf spring 14 is applied to the pressure plate 13 to obtain the contact pressure between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1 has been described, but a U-shaped leaf spring or coil spring is used. Then, an elastic force may be applied to the pressure plate 13 to obtain a contact pressure between the FPC 11 and the electrode of the head 1.
[0020]
In addition, by using the carriage 2 configured as described above in an ink jet ejection type printer, facsimile, or copying machine , the head 1 can be driven stably and ink droplets can be ejected with stable ink ejection characteristics. And good quality images can be stably formed.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when an ink jet head is inserted into each slot of the carriage, the electrical connection plate is moved from the upper portion of the slot by rotating the arm that presses and fixes the upper portion of the head with a roller. With the roller retracted to the base side of the head, the electrode side of the head is the electrical connection plate side, the side of the electrode side of the head is inserted into the slot while following the roller, and electrical connection is made via the pressure plate by the pressure means After pressing the plate to the head electrode and inserting the head into the slot, the arm is rotated to move the roller to the upper part of the slot, and the electrical connection plate is moved to the head electrode via the pressure plate by the pressure means. By pressing the head from above with a roller while being in pressure contact, and fixing it in the slot, the electrical connection plate can be stably pressed against the electrode of the head.
[0022]
Further, the arm can fix and hold the head by pressurizing the head also in the lateral direction when pressurizing and fixing the head. Further, the arm can be easily pulled out by rotating when the head is removed and floating the head off the carriage.
[0024]
Further, by providing an elastic pad between the pressure plate and the electrical connection plate, a uniform force can be applied over the entire surface of the electrical connection plate of the carriage, and the elasticity of the pad made of the elastic body allows the electrical connection plate and The contact pressure of the electrode of the head can be uniformly distributed.
Furthermore, the pressurizing means applies a pressing force almost to the center of the pressurizing plate so that the pressurizing plate can be stably rotated and a uniform force can be applied to the entire pressurizing plate. The electrode contact pressure can be stabilized.
Further, the pressing means applies pressure to the pressure plate with the elastic force of the spring, so that the electrical connection plate of the carriage can be pressed against the head electrode with a large contact pressure with a simple structure.
[0025]
Furthermore, by using this carriage in an ink jet type printer, facsimile, copying machine, etc. , the head can be driven stably and ink droplets can be ejected with stable ink ejection characteristics, and a high quality image can be obtained. It 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 cross-sectional view of the above embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an arm of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 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, 11; FPC, 12; Pad, 13; Pressure plate 14;

Claims (8)

A carriage that detachably mounts an ink jet head that ejects ink onto a recording sheet for printing,
The carriage includes an arm that presses and fixes the inkjet head in a slot by pressing it from above .
An end portion of each slot corresponding to the electrode side surface of the ink jet head to be inserted into each slot and provided in each slot so as to be rotatable with a portion located on the ink jet head insertion side as a base point An electrical connection plate;
A pressure plate that is provided on the opposite side of the electrical connection plate from the ink jet head insertion side and that rotates around the same side as the base point of the electrical connection plate to apply pressure to the electrical connection plate; ,
Pressurizing means for pressurizing the pressurizing plate and rotating the pressurizing plate and the electrical connection plate;
When the inkjet head is inserted, the rollers are retracted from the upper part of the slot toward the base point side of the electrical connection plate by rotating the arm, and the electrode side of the inkjet head is set to the electrical connection plate side so that the electrode of the inkjet head The side surface of the ink jet is inserted into the slot while following the roller, and the electrical connection plate is pressed against the electrode of the inkjet head via the pressure plate by the pressure means,
The ink jet head is moved by the roller while the arm is rotated to move the roller to the upper portion of the slot, and the electric connecting plate is pressed against the electrode of the ink jet head via the pressure plate by the pressure means. A carriage that is fixed in a slot by pressing from above.   2. The carriage of an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the arm is formed of a spring material.   3. The carriage of an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the arm pressurizes the ink jet head also in a side surface direction when the pressure is fixed.   4. The carriage of an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the arm rotates when the ink jet head is removed to float the ink jet head from the carriage. 5. 5. The carriage of an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein an elastic pad is provided between the pressure plate and the electrical connection plate. 6. The carriage of an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means applies a pressing force to substantially the center of the pressing plate. 7. The carriage of an ink jet head according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means applies a pressing force to the pressing plate by an elastic force of a spring. An image forming apparatus using the carriage according to claim 1.

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