JPH02188246A - Integral ink tank-type recording head cartridge, carriage loaded with same cartridge, and ink jet recorder using them - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform an accurate positioning by a method wherein an ink discharge recording part projected forward from an ink tank, a part for positioning the recording part to a recorder are provided, and the positioning part is disposed in a space formed by an interface connecting end parts with each other on the side of the recording part and the outer surface of a cartridge on the side of the recording part. CONSTITUTION:Reference surfaces 10d, 10e, and 10f respectively in the directions of x, y, and z are arranged substantially in a straight line on a base plate 13 serving as a support body of a discharge part 11d of a recording head 10 so as to easily ensure an accuracy in production. In addition, these are disposed below the discharge part 11d to be hardly subject to flaw, deformation, and dust-pollution. The positioning parts 10d-10f are disposed inside the interface of a space formed by an interface connecting end parts (a)-(g) and (j) with each other on the side of the discharge part 11d and the outer surface of the recording head, whereby the positioning can be correctly performed even with the occurrence of fall or smearing due to an operational failure.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording head that performs recording by ejecting recording liquid (ink), a carriage for mounting the recording head, and an inkjet recording apparatus using these, and particularly relates to an inkjet recording head that performs recording by ejecting recording liquid (ink), and an inkjet recording apparatus that uses these. The present invention relates to a configuration for removably mounting an inkjet recording head (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording head) integrally equipped with an ink tank on a carriage.

[Conventional technology]

Some inkjet recording devices are known to use an inkjet recording head that integrates an ink tank that stores ink, which is a recording agent, and a recording head element that has the function of ejecting ink. . When mounting such a recording head on the carriage of the recording device, it is necessary to accurately apply ink to the appropriate position on the recording medium such as paper and perform recording, and to connect the connection terminals for transmitting recording signals appropriately. Since the recording head had to be connected to the recording head, it was necessary to fix the recording head in an appropriate position and install it. The methods of mounting the recording head can be roughly divided into two methods: mounting the recording head parallel or rotating it from above or behind the carriage, and inserting the recording head into the carriage from a predetermined direction and then operating a fixing lever. There was a method of pressing and fixing the recording head in an appropriate position. ? ! An example of simple mounting is the configuration shown in FIG. 8A. Reference numeral 101 denotes a recording head with an integrated ink tank, and a connection terminal 10 having a plurality of electric pads on the bottom surface.
1a and an ink ejection orifice surface 101b of a recording head element 101c are provided on the front surface. Carriage 102
is provided with a connection terminal 102a for transmitting a recording signal to the recording head. Here, 102a is composed of a plurality of electrical pads 112. 104 is a guide shaft that guides the movement of the carriage 102. When mounting the recording head from above the carriage in this way,
Although it is very easy to attach and detach, the connection terminals 101a and 102
Since the terminals A do not rub against each other at all during installation, a connection failure may occur if a film of ink stains or foreign matter is present between the connecting terminals. Furthermore, if an attempt is made to adopt a configuration in which an extremely thin insulating protective film 121 is provided on an unused recording head to protect the connection terminals, in such a mounting method, the protective film must be scraped off to ensure connection. It had no effect, and was by no means the best example of how to connect signal terminals. By the way, when an unused recording head is mounted and used, it is necessary to immediately bring the ink to a state where the ink can be properly ejected using an ejection recovery device or the like. Therefore, the present inventors proposed a method for attaching and detaching the recording head at the home position, which is the recording standby position of the recording head.
We considered protecting the ejection ports with a cap once the recording head has been installed. FIG. 8B shows an example based on the above analogy, in which the recording head is mounted from the rear of the carriage. Similarly to FIG. 78, 101 is the recording head and 102 is the carriage. Here, reference numeral 103 denotes an ejection recovery device equipped with a cap that protects the ejection ports of the print head and prevents ink from sticking. By inserting the recording head 101 from the rear of the carriage 102 in the direction of the arrow and performing the recording device 101, the recording head 101 is capped at a fixed position, and the connection terminals 101a and 102a are properly connected. It is the composition. However, in such a method, the connection terminals are rubbed one after another during installation. In particular, the electrode pads of the connection terminals of the recording head 101 on the ejection port side rub against all the electrode pads of the carriage 102. Therefore, it is conceivable that part or all of the terminal may be considerably damaged, making it impossible to transmit electrical signals and causing no need for ejection. Therefore, we also considered a method of rotating the recording head 101 as shown in FIG. )It is necessary to put the Olb forward beyond the normal position value after putting it on. This requires a large space in front of the carriage, but considering good ink ejection, it is desirable that the distance between the print head and the print medium is at most 3.0aa+ or less, and it is difficult to adopt such a configuration. Even if the cap is mounted at the home position, it is inevitable that the cap will interfere with the cap, which may cause some inconvenience. The present invention has been made in view of these technical problems. In other words, when connecting connection terminals, it is possible to make electrical connections without damaging the terminals, and with the optimum force that can scrape off the protective film provided on the terminal surfaces by rubbing the terminals together. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording head, a mounting member for the head, and an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with the same, which enables reliable positioning of the recording head with a simple operation at the same time as the mounting of the recording head is completed. Further, the present invention provides a tank-integrated print head cartridge that can accurately position an ink tank-integrated print head cartridge with respect to a carriage of an ink jet printing apparatus as an ink jet print head, and more reliably holds the print head cartridge. The objective is to provide a head cartridge, a carriage, and a device main body that can accurately hold the recording head of the cartridge in a desired state within the device main body, and the head itself is removable. This makes it possible to extend the life of the positioning part of the main body and the cap inside the main body. [Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in a first embodiment of the present invention, in an ink tank-integrated recording head cartridge that is removably attachable to an inkjet recording apparatus, an ink ejection record that protrudes ahead of the ink tank is provided. and a positioning part for the recording part with respect to the recording device, and the positioning part is a space formed by the boundary connecting the ends on the side where the recording part is located and the outer surface of the cartridge on the recording part side. It is characterized by being located within the boundaries of In the second embodiment of the present invention, an ink tank integrated type recorder 23 that is removably attachable to an inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording section for discharging blue ink, a base plate that is in close contact with the ink tank, and an ink tank integrated recorder 23 that is detachable from the ink jet recording apparatus. The present invention is characterized in that it has a plurality of positioning areas for the element recording section, and the positioning area is used as a positioning section for the ink tank integrated recording head cartridge to the recording apparatus main body. In a third aspect of the present invention, in an ink tank-integrated recording head cartridge that is removably attachable to a carriage of an inkjet recording apparatus, a power supply unit is formed on four sides of the cartridge body and provided on the carriage on which the body is mounted. An electrode section is provided around the recording section which is integrally held in the cartridge, and the electrode section receives the driving signal from the main body of the device by being electrically coupled to the cartridge. A positioning part that positions the recording part of the cartridge inside the cartridge slides with the carriage to prevent electrical coupling of the electrode part to the power supply part and to prevent the positioning amount of the positioning part from relating to the part. and a blocking portion for preventing engagement, and when the blocking portion enters a convex-concave engagement state with the carriage, the electrical connection and the engagement are permitted. In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a carriage of an inkjet recording apparatus for mounting a removable inkjet recording head cartridge, a positioning portion for receiving a positioning portion on the recording unit side provided in the cartridge and a recessed portion of the cartridge are provided. an electrode protrusion that is inserted into the recess and has a power supply part for electrically coupling to the electrode part in the recess; and a positioning part that slides relative to the cartridge when the cartridge is installed. a sliding portion that prevents the positioning portion from engaging with the portion and also prevents electrical connection; The cartridge is characterized in that it has an engagement portion that allows electrical connection, and a holding means for maintaining the mounting position of the cartridge. In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with a cap for closely contacting an inkjet recording head and covering a recording section of the head, an inkjet recording head cartridge is mounted at a position facing the cap. When installing an inkjet recording head cartridge to the carriage in the mounting position, there is a gap between the cap and the recording section to prevent the recording section of the cartridge from coming into contact with the cap. a guide section that guides the cartridge while maintaining the same, and a concave-convex engaging section for the cartridge that is on an extension of the guide section and allows the recording section to come into close contact with the cap almost immediately when the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge positioning area of one carriage. , and a cartridge holding means having an elastic portion that applies an elastic force to ensure the engagement of the projections and depressions. [Function] Conventionally, replaceable single-removable type recording head cartridges had a positioning section on the outer surface of the cartridge, including the end, for positioning the cartridge to the main body of the device, so it was not susceptible to damage due to dropping or the attachment of dust, etc. This may cause the original positioning part to go awry. However, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the positioning part is formed inside a space where the positioning part can be actively protected, so even if there is an operational inconvenience such as a fall or the end gets dirty, the positioning part can be prevented. Now I can do it accurately. In addition, in integrating the ink tank and recording head,
The positioning of the cartridge in the main body is performed mainly by the ink tank, and it has been considered that the ink tank also serves as a positioning unit for the print head itself, or that an additional positioning part for the print head is added, but the accuracy is insufficient. In contrast, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge and the recording section of the recording head are positioned with respect to the base plate of the recording head, so that highly accurate positioning can be achieved. Further, according to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention, damage to the positioning section and electrode section of the cartridge during attachment and detachment can be significantly reduced, and damage to the carriage itself relative to the cartridge can also be prevented. As a result, positioning accuracy can be significantly improved. Since the electrode is also located within the recess, it is possible to protect the electrode and prevent deterioration in positioning accuracy due to dirt, grime, etc. adhering to the electrode. In addition, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to quickly secure the cap state when the cartridge is installed and maintain the ejection function of the head while preventing damage to the cap and the head. Those corresponding to the above expressions and the configurations described in the embodiments of the present invention are included in the present invention. It should be noted that the present invention includes the concave-convex engagement (parts) in the above configuration, even if one is a convex part and the other is a concave part, or even if the two are a combination. Further, the present invention includes all combinations of arbitrary configurations based on the above technical ideas. [Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A shows the ink tank integrated recording head cartridge (
FIG. 2B is a schematic perspective view of the recording head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) seen from the bottom side, FIG. 2B is a schematic perspective view of the same from the top side, FIG. 2C is a schematic bottom view of the same, and FIG. This is a schematic cross-sectional view. FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a carriage as a mounting member on which the recording head is mounted, and FIGS. 3B and 3C are a schematic top view and a schematic rear view thereof, respectively. An overview of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained using these figures. First, in FIG. 1, a carriage 20 carrying a recording head IO moves along a paper feed roller 60 while being guided by a guide shaft 70, and discharges ink toward the surface of recording paper P as a recording medium, and ink droplets adhere to the carriage 20. 30 is an ejection recovery device located at, for example, the home position of the carriage 2G, which protects the ejection port surface by covering it, prevents the area near the ejection port from drying, and prevents the ink from drying out. The cap 31 is composed of a suction tube 31 made of an elastic material such as rubber to prevent sticking, and a suction pump 33 that communicates with the cap 31 via an elastic tube 32. Then, by reducing the pressure inside the cap 31 using the pump 33 and sucking ink and/or air from the ejection port, causes of ejection failure such as thickened ink and air bubbles can be removed, and the ink ejection condition can be improved. Carriage 2
0 is at the home position, which is a non-printing position, except when the printing head 10 is performing printing, and the ejection port is protected by a cap 31. and,
In this example, the configuration is such that the recording head 10 is always attached and detached at the home position. Next, a configuration example of the recording head 10 according to this example will be described using FIGS. 2A to 2D. In this example, the print head IO is constructed by integrating a print head element 11, which is a printing section, and an ink tank 12. Here, the recording head element 11 includes an ejection section that uses an electrothermal transducer that applies thermal energy to the ink in response to energization, as an energy generation means that generates energy used to eject the ink. A lid is provided. Electromechanical transducers can also be used as energy generating means, but because the manufacturing process is simple, the manufacturing cost is low, and the discharge port or the liquid path communicating with it can be highly integrated, In this example, an electrothermal converter is used, and a plurality of discharge ports and a liquid path communicating therewith are provided, and an electrothermal converter is disposed in each liquid path. lie is a connection terminal formed with an electrode portion for supplying a drive signal according to a recorded image to the electrothermal transducer, and in this example, the length is, for example, 130 mm in FIG. 2A. It is arranged in the head element accommodating part lea, which has a dimension of Y-10 mm and opens into the ink tank 12, to prevent the connection terminal lie from being contaminated with ink, etc., or coming into contact with the operator's hands during handling. This prevents scratches, abrasion, deformation, dust adhesion, and damage to the electrothermal converter due to static electricity. Reference numeral 10b designates a guide member as a sliding portion that serves as a guide when the recording head IO is mounted on a carriage 20, which will be described later, and in this example, the length of the overhang is L-3 mm (see FIG. 2C). 10c is a fixed lever 40 rotatably provided on the carriage 20, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C.
This is a fixing pin that forms a positioning assisting protrusion that receives a biasing force to engage with and fix the recording head IO. Note that this bin may be provided integrally with the rear of the base plate 13, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the -layer. 10d, lOe and 10f are carriage 2, which will be described later.
In order to fix the recording head lO at a predetermined position on the carriage 20 by contacting the reference surface of FIGS.
In FIG. 2C, this is a positioning portion that forms a reference plane in each of the X direction, y direction, and two directions. Each reference plane 10d, lOe, 10 in these x, y, and z directions
In this example, f is provided on the base plate 13 that serves as a support for the ejection portion lid of the recording head 10, and is arranged in a substantially straight line, making it easy to ensure precision in manufacturing. In addition, these are provided in positions that are difficult for the operator's hands to touch during handling, which will be described later, ie, below the discharge portion lid, so that they are less likely to be scratched, deformed, or dusted. Furthermore, by providing these reference surfaces on the base plate 13 close to the discharge section 11d, the carriage 20
Good positioning accuracy of the discharge part lid is ensured when the discharge part lid is attached to the apparatus. That is, in this example, the boundary of the space formed by the outer surface of the recording head and the boundary obtained by connecting the ends on the side where the ejection part lid is located (a-g, j in FIGS. 2A and 2B) are By providing the positioning portion 10d-1Of on the inside, accurate positioning can be performed even if the device falls or gets dirty due to operational inconvenience. Note that the base plate 13 can be formed of, for example, a metal plate, and also functions as a heat dissipation plate that suppresses the temperature rise of the recording head 1O due to the driving of the electrothermal transducer. Further, the two parts forming the reference plane 1'Od (see FIG. 2B) are for regulating the inclination of the recording head 10, and the span (interval) is "IS" in this example.
It is preferable that it is more than a+■, so in this example, 1
It was set to 6sm. However, an appropriate value can be selected depending on the size of the device. Further, if regulating the inclination is not a problem, the number of reference surface LEDs may be one. Referring to FIG. 2D, a communication pipe 11a protruding from the element 11 in order to introduce ink from the ink tank 12 to the recording head element 11 side is connected to the ink tank 1.
The liquid enters the interior through the supply port 12k of No. 2. Further, a filter lid is provided at the inlet at the tip of the ink tank 110, thereby preventing air bubbles from entering from the ink tank 110. When connecting the head element 11 and the ink tank 12, connect the head element 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2D.
Attach it to the ink tank 12 in the direction shown in . At this time, as the protrusion 11b provided on the head element 11 engages with the tapered surface, the wall portion where the opening 12b of the ink tank 12 is provided is pushed outward and cracked, and the communication pipe 11a is connected to the supply port 12. invade inside. When the protrusion 11b and the opening 12b reach a position where they completely oppose each other, the wall becomes resilient and returns to its original position, and the protrusion 11b fits into the opening 12b, as shown in FIG. 2D. Get the attached state. On the other hand, the inlet at the tip of the communication tube 11a is brought into pressure contact with the ink-impregnated absorber 12a, making it possible to obtain good ink communication. In addition, in FIG. 20, 12s is O as a sealing material to ensure ink sealing in the supply port 12.
It's a ring. According to the above configuration, simply by pushing the head element 11 into the ink tank 12 in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 2D, the two can be connected without requiring a process such as adhesion. Furthermore, since the communication pipe 11a provided on the head element 11 side enters the ink tank 12 and its tip comes into pressure contact with the ink absorber 12a, ink communication is ensured. Note that in the above configuration, the protrusion 11b is provided on the head element side.
An opening 12 is provided in the wall of the ink tank 12.
b is provided so that the protrusion 11b and the opening 12b are engaged with each other by utilizing the deflection or elasticity of the wall portion during mounting, but the configuration of this portion can be determined arbitrarily. , instead of forming the wall part with flexibility, even if the wall part is relatively rigid, the protrusion 11b is supported by a spring or the like and biased in the direction of protruding outward,
With the above-described mounting operation, the protrusion 11b retreats inwardly, and when it faces the opening 12b, the spring forces force the protrusion 11b to close the opening 12.
It may be configured such that it fits into b. By the way, in this example, since the head element 11 has a structure in which the base plate 13 which extends relatively long is integrated, it is possible to use this part to further facilitate the mounting operation including positioning. The attached state can be made more secure. Referring again to FIG. 2C, in this example, the surface of the abutting member 12c disposed in the element accommodating portion lea of the ink tank 12, against which the rear end fi13c of the base plate 13 abuts, is formed into a tapered surface. Then, the protrusion 11b and the opening 12b are aligned, or the communication pipe 11a and the opening 12 are aligned in the abutted state as shown in the figure. That is, when attaching the head element 11 to the ink tank 12, first the rear end edge 13c of the base plate 13 is abutted against the tapered surface of the abutting member 12c, and in this state, the operation as described above with reference to FIG. 20 is performed. This allows connection between the head element 11 and the ink tank 12. Moreover, the opening 12b of the protrusion 11b
Not only are they connected by fitting into the ink tank 12, but also the rear end side 13c of the base plate 13 is pressed against the ink tank 12 by the tapered surface of the abutting member 12c.
The mounting condition becomes even more reliable. Further, adopting such a configuration of the abutting portion is advantageous in terms of processing accuracy and the fact that position holes are less likely to occur due to paring, compared to, for example, forming the abutting portion in the shape of a right-angled key. Next, the configuration of the carriage 20 according to this example will be explained using FIGS. 3A to 3C. In these figures, 20a is a connection terminal that is a power supply unit that connects to the connection terminal lie of the recording head 10, and 20b is a connecting terminal that guides the guide member 10b when the recording head 10 is attached to guide the recording head 10 to a predetermined position. This is a guide rail that forms the sliding part for Reference numeral 20c is an elastic member that provides an appropriate pressure contact force (for example, 20 to 50 g per terminal) when connecting the connecting terminals lie and 20a, and chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, maltbrene, etc. are preferable because they have an appropriate elastic modulus. used. A fixing lever 40 is operated to fix the recording head 10 to the carriage 20, and is rotatably supported on the carriage 20 by a shaft 41. When the fixing lever 40 is in the fixing position of the recording head 10 (the position [A] shown by the solid line in FIG. 3C), the fixing lever 40 pushes the fixing bottle 10c provided on the recording head 10 by the pressing surface 40a of the portion 402 as shown in FIG. 36. The recording head 10 is pressed in the C direction and in the D direction by the pressing surface 40b of the portion 402 to urge the recording head 10 to the fixed position. Further, during installation, the recording head IO is pressed in the direction E in FIG. 3B by the lower edge 4Qc of the fixed lever 40. Further, 401 is a part for fixing the lever 40 to the carriage when the head is attached. 20d, 20e, and 20f are positioning supports that form a reference surface on the carriage 20 side for positioning the recording head IO at a predetermined position on the carriage 20, and are positioning references in the X direction, the X direction, and two directions, respectively. becomes. In other words, positioning in the X direction is performed between the X direction reference plane 20d of the carriage 20 and the base brake of the recording head lO)-1
This is done by contacting the X-direction reference surface LED provided at 3. Similarly, for positioning in the X direction, carriage 2
The X-direction reference surface 20e of the recording head 10 is in contact with the X-direction reference surface 10e of the recording head 10, and for positioning in two directions, the Z-direction reference surface 20f of the carriage 20 and the two-direction reference surface of the recording head 10 are in contact with each other. carried out by. Reference numeral 20g is a suppressing portion that presses the recording head 10 to bring the X-direction reference planes 10e and 20e into contact with each other. Reference numeral 20h denotes a suppressing portion that presses the recording head 10 to bring the two-direction reference planes 10f and 2Of into contact, and the amount of engagement is determined by the amount of engagement. Further, in FIG. 3Δ, 50 is a flexible cable used for transmitting a drive signal from the control circuit of the main body of the apparatus to the recording head 10, etc. The mounting operation of the recording head 1O on the carriage 20 will be explained mainly with respect to the X direction and the two directions using FIGS. 4 and 5. First, the recording head 10 is set at a predetermined position on the carriage lO where the guide member 10b is guided by the guide rail 20b, and mounting is started from this position ([a] in Fig. 4).
l position). In this example, the mounting operation is performed at the home position where the ejection orifice surface faces the cap 31, but at this time, the ejection orifice surface 10i of the recording head 1O and A predetermined distance mfl (2 m5 in this example) is secured between the cap 31 and the cap 31.
This can prevent the inconvenience of the recording head IO coming into contact with the cap 31. When the recording head 10 is slid downward with its guide member 10b being guided by the guide rail 20b, the recording head 10 is mounted to the position shown by [bl in FIG. 4]. At this time, the rear end side of the recording head 10 is
It is locked at the upper end of 0g, and further mounting is temporarily blocked. In this state, the recording head 10 is moved in the E direction (X direction) in FIG. 4 by moving the fixing lever 40 (see the broken line in FIG. 3C).
At the same time, it is pushed down in the direction of FIG. 3C by the pressing force of the pressing surface 40b. As a result, the rear end of the recording head IO overcomes the pressing portion 20g, and in FIG.
] and the mounting operation of the recording head 10 is completed. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a force PI is applied to the recording head lO from the suppressing portion 20h via the guide member 10b, and the leading end of the recording head is elastically pressed toward the bottom surface of the carriage. be done. In addition, a force P11 acts from the front surface of the head toward the rear end (see Figure 3B), and
A force P2 is applied from the pressing portion 20g via the rear end side of the recording head, and the recording head 1G is elastically pressed toward the cap 31 side. As a result, the X-direction reference surface 10e and 2-direction reference surface 10f of the base plate 13 of the recording head 10 come into contact with the X-direction reference surface 20e and 2-direction reference surface 20f of the carriage 20, respectively, and the and positioning in the z direction. Next, the mounting operation of the recording head 10 on the carriage 20 will be explained mainly in the X direction using FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7. As shown in FIG. 6A, as the fixing lever 4o is operated, its pressing surface 40a engages with the fixing bottle 10c, exerting an urging force in the C direction. On the other hand, a force in the D direction (see FIG. 3c) is applied to the fixed bottle 10c by the pressing surface 40b, and a force in the E direction is applied from the rear end of the recording head 1o. Due to the action of this force in the E direction, the recording head 10 moves in the X direction, and as shown in FIG. 6B, the portion of the base plate 13 provided with the positioning reference surface LED in the X direction moves toward the carriage 20, providing a positioning reference surface 20d. It rides on the taber surface 20d of the part, and when the installation is completed, both reference surfaces lod. 20d comes into contact with the recording head 10 to position the recording head 1O in the X direction. At this time, the recording head IO has fixed bins Inc and X.
Since force is applied from the carriage 2G side via the direction reference surface 10d, the connection terminals tte and 26a come into contact in a pressed state. Here, the process leading to the connection between the connection terminals lie and 20a will be explained using FIG. 7. Note that the states [al~[C] in the figure are the states [al~[C] of the recording head 1' (1) in FIG.
Each corresponds to the state of cl. First, in the process from the state [al in FIG. 4 to the state [bl], the terminals 11e and 20a are in the positional relationship shown by [al in FIG. 7, and are not in contact with each other. In the process from the state [bl] in FIG. 4 to the state [C], that is, as the fixed lever 40 is operated, [bl
The state shown in is reached, and the terminals 11e and 20a begin to contact each other. At the same time, the terminal 11'e slides over the terminal 20a in the same direction as the recording head 10 moves in the E direction. Even if there are foreign substances or a protective film provided, these will be scraped off and the contact surface will be refreshed. Moreover, since the sliding movement is performed only in the vicinity of the connection position between the corresponding terminals, the risk of damaging the terminals can be significantly reduced. However, when the installation is completed as shown in the 4th tooth [C],
The terminals 11e and 20a are in the state shown in C1 in FIG. 7, and a good connection state is obtained at the predetermined position. Further, at this time, the ejection surface of the ejection portion 11d is joined to the cap 31 for the first time, making it possible to prevent damage to both during the installation process, and to protect the ejection surface immediately after installation. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when connecting connection terminals, it is possible to perform electrical connection with an optimal force that does not damage the terminals and also refreshes the surface of the terminals. Not only is this possible, but also the mounting of the print head including the connection can be done with a simple operation, and upon completion, the print head can be reliably positioned and the ejection portion protected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 28, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, and FIG. 2D are views of a recording head installed in the printer shown in FIG. 1, respectively. A perspective view seen from the bottom side, a perspective view seen from the top side, a bottom view, a sectional view, FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C each show an example of the structure of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted. The perspective view, top view, rear view, FIGS. 4, 5, 6A, 6B, and 7 are explanations for explaining the operation when mounting the recording head according to the embodiment on the carriage. 8A to 8C are schematic diagrams showing three examples of conventional methods of attaching a recording head to a carriage. lO... Recording head, 10a... Head element housing portion, 10b... Guide member, 10c... Fixed bin, 10d-1Of... Positioning reference surface, 11... Recording head element, 11a. ...Communication pipe, 11b...Protrusion, lid...Discharge portion, lie...Connection terminal, 12...Ink tank, 12a...Ink absorber, 12b...Opening, 12c... Abutment member, 13... Base plate, 20... Carriage, 20a... Connection terminal, 20b... Guide rail, 20c... Elastic member, 20d to 20f... Positioning reference surface, 208.20h
...Press portion, 31...Cap, 40...Fixed levers 40a, 40b...Press surface, 40c...Fixed lever side surface, 41...Shaft, 50...Flexible cable, 70... ...Guide shaft. Figure 2C Figure 3A Figure 2D Figure 3B Figure 5 Figure 111'' Figure 4 Figure 7 Figure 8B Figure 8C Procedural amendment (method) % formula % 1. Indication of the case Patent application Hei 1- 8076 No. 2, Name of the invention 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant (100) Cadge Co., Ltd. 4 Agent address Publication 07 5-1-31 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Shipping mill Heisei 1) (April 25, 2016) 6. All drawings subject to amendment 7. Details of amendment All drawings shall be corrected as shown in the attached sheet.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An ink tank-integrated recording head cartridge that is removably attachable to an inkjet recording device, comprising: an ink ejection recording section that protrudes ahead of the ink tank; and the recording section that is connected to the recording device. and a positioning part, the positioning part being located inside the boundary of the space formed by the boundary connecting the ends on the side where the recording part is located and the outer surface of the cartridge on the recording part side. A recording head cartridge with an integrated ink tank. 2) The ink tank integrated type according to claim 1, wherein the recording head has a base plate that holds the recording section and comes into close contact with the ink tank, and the positioning section is provided only on the base plate. recording head cartridge. 3) An ink tank-integrated recording head cartridge that is removably attachable to an inkjet recording apparatus, comprising an ink tank and a recording section attached to the ink tank, and the recording section includes an ink ejection recording section and an ink tank. It has a base plate that comes into close contact with the tank, and a plurality of positioning areas for the element recording section provided on the base plate itself, and the positioning areas are used as positioning areas for the ink tank-integrated recording head cartridge in the recording apparatus main body. This is an ink tank integrated recording head cartridge. 4) A main body of the cartridge is molded, the recording section has an electrothermal converter as an ejection energy generating element, and the base plate is made of metal and also functions as a heat dissipation section. 3. The ink tank integrated recording head cartridge as described in 3. 5) The ink tank integrated recording head cartridge according to claim 3, further comprising a protrusion for assisting positioning to the recording apparatus main body on an extension of the base plate. 6) In an ink tank-integrated recording head cartridge that is removably attachable to the carriage of an inkjet recording apparatus, a recording head cartridge is formed on the side surface of a recessed portion of the cartridge body, is provided on the carriage on which the body is mounted, and is electrically coupled to a power supply unit. An electrode part that receives a drive signal from the main body of the apparatus and a recording part that is integrally held in the cartridge are provided around the recording part, and are engaged with a positioning receiving part on the carriage so as to record the cartridge in the carriage. and a positioning part that slides with the carriage to prevent electrical coupling of the electrode part to the power supply part and to prevent the positioning part from engaging the positioning receiving part. an ink comprising: a blocking portion that prevents mating, and when the blocking portion enters a convex-concave engagement state with the carriage, the electrical connection and the engagement are permitted. Tank-integrated recording head cartridge. 7) The recording head has a base plate that holds the recording head, and the positioning portion has first and second positioning portions located at different positions with respect to the mounting direction of the cartridge main body.
The ink tank according to claim 6, further comprising a protrusion, and the recording unit is held at a predetermined angle by positioning the first and second protrusions on the carriage. Body shape recording head cartridge. 8) The recording section has an electrothermal converter as an ejection energy generating element, the base plate is made of metal and also functions as a heat radiation function section, and the positioning section is provided only on the base plate. The ink tank integrated recording head cartridge according to claim 6. 9) A carriage of an inkjet recording apparatus for mounting a removable inkjet recording head cartridge, comprising: a positioning receiving part for receiving a positioning part on the recording unit side provided in the cartridge; , an electrode protrusion provided with a power supply part for electrically coupling to the electrode part in the recess; and the positioning part slides relative to the cartridge when the cartridge is installed. a sliding portion that prevents the positioning portion from engaging with the positioning receiving portion and preventing the electrical connection; A carriage comprising: an engagement receiving portion that allows the electrical connection; and a holding means for maintaining the mounting position of the cartridge. 10) The positioning receiving part and the power supply part are
10. The carriage according to claim 9, wherein biasing forces in different directions are applied to the positioning section and the electrode section, respectively, when the cartridge is installed. 11) The holding means temporarily prevents movement of the cartridge in a direction in which the recess of the cartridge that receives the electrode protrusion is installed, and also prevents the cartridge from being urged in a direction different from the direction. 10. The carriage according to claim 9, further comprising an elastic portion that applies an elastic force in a direction in which the positioning portion engages with the positioning receiving portion when the positioning portion is engaged with the positioning receiving portion. 12) The holding means has an attachment assisting operation lever for applying the bias, and the operation lever has an engaging portion that engages with an end of the cartridge to cause the cartridge to move in the different direction. 12. The carriage according to claim 11, characterized in that it has a. 13) The operating lever is a protrusion that is located at an extension of the positioning portion and the electrode portion of the cartridge to be mounted in the arrangement direction, and that protrudes on the opposite side of the portion of the cartridge where the positioning portion is present. 13. The carriage according to claim 12, further comprising an engaging portion that holds the cartridge in a predetermined position by engaging with the portion. 14) The elastic portion has a function of causing the relative sliding portion on the cartridge side to engage with the carriage in a concave-convex manner by its elastic force, and the holding means applies elastic force to the relative sliding portion. 12. The carriage according to claim 11, further comprising a second elastic portion that maintains the concave-convex engagement. 15) In an inkjet recording device equipped with a cap that comes into close contact with an inkjet recording head and covers a recording section of the head, a carriage having a mounting position for mounting an inkjet recording head cartridge at a position facing the cap; When the inkjet recording head cartridge is mounted on the carriage in the position, a gap is maintained between the cap and the recording section in order to prevent the recording section of the cartridge from coming into contact with the cap. a guide portion that guides the cartridge; a concave-convex engagement portion for the cartridge that is on an extension of the guide portion and allows the recording portion to come into close contact with the cap almost simultaneously when the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge positioning area of the carriage; 1. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a cartridge holding means having an elastic portion that applies an elastic force to ensure the engagement of the projections and depressions. 16) The cartridge holding means has an operating lever for assisting in mounting the cartridge, the elastic portion is provided at a portion that prevents the cartridge from moving to the positioning area, and the operating lever moves the cartridge in the direction of the cap. 16. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a biasing force is applied to cause the cartridge to move, and the elastic portion elastically deforms in response to the movement of the cartridge due to the biasing force, thereby allowing the cartridge to move. 17) The carriage has a protruding power supply part that enters a recess provided in the cartridge and is coupled to an electrode part provided in the recess, and the guide part has a power supply part protruding from the recess provided in the cartridge. The electrode portion is guided to an electrically separated state, and the concave-convex engaging portion engages the cartridge in concave-convex manner, thereby attaching the cartridge to the positioning area and attaching the recording unit to the cap. 16. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein close contact and electrical connection of the electrode section with the power supply section are permitted almost simultaneously. 18) The holding means temporarily prevents movement of the cartridge in the direction in which the recess of the cartridge that receives the electrode protrusion is mounted, and urges the cartridge in a direction of the cap that is different from the direction. 16. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising an elastic section that applies an elastic force in a direction in which the positioning section engages with the positioning receiving section when the positioning section is moved. 19) The holding means has an attachment assisting operating lever for applying the bias, and the operating lever has an engaging portion that engages with an end of the cartridge to move the cartridge in the different direction of the cap. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it has: 20) The operation lever is a protrusion that is located at an extension of the positioning section and the electrode section of the cartridge to be mounted in the arrangement direction, and that protrudes on the opposite side of the part of the cartridge where the positioning section is present. 20. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising an engaging part that holds the cartridge in a predetermined position by engaging with the engaging part.