JPH09267485A - Ink jet type printing head and fitting and removing mechanism for ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To replace easily an ink cartridge without removing a printing head and set accurately the position of fitting the printing head on a carriage. SOLUTION: A protruded section 41 is fitted on channel-shaped recesses 43 on a pair of side walls 14 of a carriage 10 from the upper oblique rear side by a head holder 31, and also the protruded section 41 is rocked downwardly from a center by the head holder 31 to engage an engaging protrusion 42 with an engaging section 44. The head holder 31 is positioned in the direction heading for a printing medium and also the up and down direction and the left and right direction by the arrangement. Respective ink cartridges 50 and the like are inserted into the head holder 31 from the rear side, and the rear end is pressed into downward in resistance of elasticity of a leaf spring 45. The head holder 31 is pressed by the elasticity of the leaf spring 45 by the arrangement to set accurately the interval between a printing head 20 and the printing medium. In the case of removing the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge is removed from the leaf spring 45 in a manner of lifting up the rear end of the ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is drawn out of the head holder 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet type printing apparatus for printing by ejecting ink droplets onto a print medium, and more particularly to a mechanism for attaching and detaching a print head and an ink cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet type printer,
The print head and the ink cartridge need to be replaced in order to replace the life or failure of the print head and to replenish the ink to be supplied to the print head, and they are detachably attached to the carriage.

For example, in the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-39945, both of the print head and the ink cartridge are connected by a locking claw so that the print head and the ink cartridge can be integrally attached and detached, and the surface of the print head on the print medium side is fixed. Both are pressed against the positioning wall of the carriage, and both are pressed and mounted on the carriage by a lock lever from above, that is, from a direction perpendicular to the direction of contact with the positioning wall.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-318758, a print head is inserted in a carriage, and an ink cartridge is inserted in a side wall extending to the rear of the print head. The locking claw of the ink cartridge is locked to the stop hole from the inside, and the lock pin of the carriage is inserted to the locking hole from the outside. That is, when the lock pin is fully pushed in by the rotation of the cam lever, the locking claw of the ink cartridge is pushed and released from the locked state, and only the ink cartridge can be removed. When the lock pin is pulled out to the intermediate position, both the lock hole, the lock claw of the ink cartridge, and the lock pin are kept locked, and both the print head and the ink cartridge are mounted on the carriage. When the lock pin is pulled out to the maximum, the locking state of the locking hole and the lock pin is released, the locking state of the locking hole and the locking claw of the ink cartridge is maintained, and the print head and the ink cartridge are integrated into the carriage. Removed from.

[0005]

Among the above-mentioned conventional ones, when replacing the ink cartridge or the print head, the former must remove the both integrally and release the coupling by the locking claws. In other words, there is a drawback that the work is complicated because the other must be removed in order to replace only one. Also, because the print head is pressed against the positioning wall and pressed in the direction perpendicular to it, if the print head is not in close contact with the positioning wall or the position of the print head shifts due to external force, the gap between the print head and the print medium will be accurate. Is not set, the position where the ink ejected from the print head adheres to the print medium is displaced, and accurate printing cannot be performed.

In the latter, the lock pin is moved forward and backward depending on the rotation angle of the cam lever, and only the ink cartridge is attached or detached.
Since the attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge and the print head is selected, only the ink cartridge may be replaced but the print head may be mistakenly removed. Further, since the print head is positioned by inserting the lock pin into the locking hole, it is difficult to fit the two without a gap. Therefore, the position of the print head is not accurately set, and the same problem as the former one is caused. was there.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the ink cartridge can be easily replaced without removing the print head.
Further, the mounting position of the print head on the carriage can be accurately set.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a structure according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a print head for ejecting and printing an ink droplet toward a print medium, and an ink to be supplied to the print head. In an ink jet printing apparatus in which an ink cartridge to be housed is detachably attached to a carriage, a fitting connecting portion that supports a print head and supplies ink to the print head on a side opposite to an ink discharge nozzle opening surface of the print head. A head holder for connecting the ink cartridge to the fitting connection portion and positioning it with respect to the print head; a positioning portion for positioning the head holder with respect to the carriage in a direction toward the print medium and at a right angle thereto; A first locking portion that removably locks the holder to the carriage in the direction away from the print medium, and the carriage is provided. A second method for pressing an end portion of the ink cartridge opposite to the print medium in a direction in which the head holder faces the print medium and connects the ink cartridge to the fitting connection portion, and holds the ink cartridge in a connection state with the print head. It is composed of a locking part.

In the above structure, the head holder supporting the print head is positioned by the positioning portion in the direction toward the print medium with respect to the carriage and in the direction perpendicular thereto, and at the same time, the first locking portion is provided in the direction away from the print medium. It is detachably locked with. In addition, the ink cartridge,
The ink cartridge is connected to a fitting connecting portion that supplies ink to the print head, and the end portion on the side opposite to the print medium is pressed by the second locking portion in the direction of connecting the ink cartridge to the fitting connecting portion. The cartridge is held in connection with the print head, which also presses the head holder toward the print medium. That is, the ink cartridge is locked by the second locking portion that is not related to the first locking portion that locks the print head, and only the ink cartridge can be replaced. Not only is the ink cartridge held in a connected state with the print head, but also the head holder is pressed in the direction toward the print medium so that the print head can be positioned accurately.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a print head for ejecting ink droplets onto a print medium for printing and an ink cartridge for containing ink to be supplied to the print head are detachably mounted on a carriage. In an inkjet printing apparatus, a print head is supported, and a fitting connecting portion that supplies ink to the print head is provided on the side opposite to the ink discharge nozzle opening surface of the print head, and the ink cartridge is used as the fitting connecting portion. A head holder that is connected to and positioned with respect to the print head, a positioning portion that positions the head holder with respect to the carriage in a direction toward the print medium and a direction perpendicular thereto, and heads that are positioned on both sides perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction of the head holder. A first locking portion that removably locks the holder to the carriage in a direction away from the print medium and the carriage is provided. Is, engaged detachably end of the printing medium opposite the ink cartridge, it constitutes a second holding portion for holding the ink cartridge to the connecting state between the fitting connection.

In this structure, the head holder supporting the print head is positioned by the positioning portion in the direction toward the print medium with respect to the carriage and in the direction perpendicular thereto, and the head holder is attached and detached in the direction away from the print medium. The first locking portion is detachably locked on both sides. Further, the ink cartridge is connected to a fitting connecting portion that supplies ink to the print head, and the end portion on the side opposite to the print medium is locked to the second locking portion of the carriage to maintain the above-mentioned connected state. . Therefore, regardless of the first locking parts on both sides for locking the print head, by locking the end of the ink cartridge with the second locking part, the first locking part is locked. Not only can the ink cartridge be replaced without accidentally touching it, and the second locking portion not only holds the ink cartridge in a connected state with the print head, but also affects the mounting state of the print head when replacing the ink cartridge. I try not to.

In both of the above constructions, the positioning portion of the head holder is preferably composed of a recess opening at least in the direction away from the print medium and a projection fitting into the recess in the direction toward the print medium. it can. More specifically, the positioning portion has a pair of walls projecting into the carriage on both sides perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction of the head holder, and recesses are formed on the opposite surfaces of both walls, and The head holder has a structure having a pair of protrusions that fit into the respective recesses, and the positioning portion has a wall protruding at the end of the carriage on the print medium side, and the recess is formed in the wall. The print medium side end portion may have a convex portion that fits into the concave portion. This makes it possible to position the head holder relative to the carriage from the side away from the print medium by fitting the convex portion into the concave portion and positioning the head holder on the carriage easily and accurately.

Further, in the structure of claim 1 or 2,
Preferably, the positioning portion supports the head holder swingably around an axis parallel to the print medium around the print medium side end portion in the positioned state, and the first locking portion is within the swing locus. It can be configured to have an elastically deformable claw protruding inward. Accordingly, the head holder can be easily mounted on the carriage by contacting the end portion of the print medium with the positioning portion and rocking the head holder against the elasticity of the claws.

In this structure, preferably, the first locking portion is located closer to the print medium than the second locking portion and is located on both sides of the head holder. It is possible to further reduce accidental contact with the locking portion of 1.

Further, in the structure of claim 1 or 2, preferably, the second locking portion is a leaf spring-like elastic body having an inclined surface for guiding the ink cartridge toward the fitting connection portion, and the ink cartridge is mounted. In doing so, by inserting along the slope, the connection to the fitting connection portion can be facilitated, and the connection state can be maintained by the action of the elastic body.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a carriage 10 and a print head 20.
When viewed from the side, a print medium (not shown) is vertically positioned on the left side of the drawing. In the figure, the left side is front,
The right side is the back.

The carriage 10 is slidably supported along guide bars 11 and 12 extending in parallel with the print medium.
It is moved in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing by a known driving means such as a belt driven by a motor. Along with the movement, the print head 20 ejects ink toward the print medium to perform printing, as in the case of a normal inkjet printing apparatus.

The carriage 10 is mainly composed of a substrate portion 13 extending substantially at right angles to the print medium. A pair of side walls 14 are erected on both sides of the substrate portion near the print medium, and a space between the side walls is formed in the front-rear direction. That is, it is opened in the print medium direction and the opposite direction to form a space for accommodating the head holder 31 and the ink cartridge. That is, the pair of side walls 14 are located parallel to both sides of the head holder 31 at right angles to the attaching / detaching direction. A pair of plan views (FIG. 3) on both sides of the front-rear direction intermediate portion of the substrate portion 13 which is continuous with the pair of side walls 14.
A substantially U-shaped intermediate side wall 15 is formed, and a rear rising wall 16 parallel to the print medium is formed at a rear end of the substrate portion 13 separated from the print medium. The middle side wall 15 and the rear rising wall 16 are sufficiently lower than the side wall 14.

The head holder 31 is formed in a box shape with the side opposite to the print medium open, and supports the print head 20 on the front wall 31f on the print medium side so that the ink ejection nozzle opening surface faces the print medium. ing. In the present embodiment, the printing device is a color printing device, the print heads 20 are provided in the number (for example, four) corresponding to each color to be printed, and the ink cartridges 50, 60, 70, 80 containing ink also correspond to each color. Are provided in plural.

On the surface of the front wall 31f opposite to the ink discharge nozzle opening surface of the print head 20, as shown in FIG.
3, 34, 35 and 36 are provided, and the ink supply holes 50a (FIG. 2) formed on the front surfaces of the ink cartridges 50, 60, 70 and 80 of the respective colors are fitted and connected to the fitting and connecting portions thereof. A rib-shaped wall 32 extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the bottom wall of the head holder 31 in order to position each ink cartridge.

A pair of cylindrical pin-shaped convex portions 41 are provided on both right and left side surfaces of the head holder 31 at the end portions near the print medium and at the lower portion near the substrate portion 13 of the carriage.
Further, a pair of locking protrusions 42 are provided so as to protrude below the substrate portion 13 at a position corresponding to the intermediate side wall 15 of the carriage. The pair of side walls 14 of the carriage are formed with a pair of groove-shaped recesses 43 extending from the rear end toward the print medium on the opposite surfaces thereof, and the front end of each recess 43 on the print medium side is closed and rear side. The ends are open rearward and diagonally upward.
Inside the pair of "U" -shaped intermediate side walls 15, there is formed a locking portion 44 that rises upward from the lower part of the rear end side of the "U" -shaped portion. The locking portion 44 has elasticity that bends in the front-rear direction, and an upper end thereof has a claw 44 a that projects upward from the intermediate side wall 15 and inclines downward toward the side wall 14.

On the rear rising wall 16 of the carriage, there are provided leaf spring-like elastic bodies such as leaf springs 45 at respective positions corresponding to the rear ends of the ink cartridges. Leaf spring 45
Has an inclined surface that descends toward the head holder 31 side, and projects in a "V" shape toward the same side. Each ink cartridge has a semi-circular protrusion 50b, 60b, 70 at the lower rear end.
b. 80b.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head holder 31 is
The carriage 10 is mounted between the pair of side walls 14 from behind. More specifically, the convex portion 41 of the head holder 31 is fitted into the groove-shaped concave portion 43 of the side wall 14 obliquely from above and rearward, and when the convex portion 41 contacts the front end of the concave portion 43, the head holder 31 is convex. When the portion 41 is pivoted downward, that is, about the axis parallel to the print medium, the locking protrusion 42 of the head holder 31 has the claw 44 protruding into the pivot locus.
It comes into contact with a and goes over the claw 44a against the elasticity of the locking portion 44. As a result, the head holder 31 is positioned in the direction toward the print medium by the abutment of the front ends of the convex portion 41 and the concave portion 43, and the side surface of the head holder 31 and the side wall 14 are abutted in the right and left direction perpendicular thereto. Positioned by contact. Positioning may be performed in the left-right direction by abutting the tip of the convex portion 41 and the recess 43. The vertical direction of the end portion of the head holder 31 on the print medium side is positioned by the fitting of the convex portion 41 and the concave portion 43. The end portion on the opposite side abuts the bottom surface of the head holder on the substrate portion 13 and is positioned in the vertical direction by the engagement of the claw 44a and the engagement protrusion 42. In the direction in which the head holder 31 separates from the print medium, the locking projections 42 are locked by the locking portions 44 and positioned. The locking portion 44 may always press the locking protrusion 42, but there may be a slight gap as described later.

Each ink cartridge 50, 60, 70,
The reference numeral 80 is inserted into the head holder 31 from the rear side, and the ink supply holes 50a on the respective front surfaces are fitted into the fitting connection portions 33, 34, 35, and.
36, and attach the rear end of the ink cartridge to the leaf spring 4
While being guided to the fitting connection portion side along the inclined surface of 5, the spring is pushed downward against the elasticity of the leaf spring. As a result, each ink cartridge is pressed by the elasticity of the leaf spring 45 in the direction in which it is connected to the fitting connection portion, and the connection state with the print head is maintained. Further, the ink cartridge pushes the head holder 31 due to the elasticity of the leaf spring 45,
The convex portion 41 is pushed in the direction of abutting against the front end of the recess 43. That is, as described above, even if there is a slight gap between the locking portion 44 and the locking projection 42, the distance between the print head 20 and the print medium can be set accurately.

When removing the ink cartridge,
The rear end of the ink cartridge is lifted to be removed from the leaf spring 45, and the ink cartridge is pulled out from the head holder 31. At this time, the head holder 31 is attached to the carriage 10, and only the ink cartridge can be removed. Further, since the locking portion 44 that locks the head holder 31 is located in front of the leaf spring 45 and is located on the side of the head holder, the locking portion 44 is fixed to the locking portion 44 when the ink cartridge is attached or detached. Only the ink cartridge can be securely attached and detached without touching accidentally. Of course, each color ink cartridge can be replaced individually.

When removing the head holder 31, the upper end of the locking portion 44 is pushed rearward to disengage the claw 44a from the locking projection 42, and the rear portion of the head holder 31 is swung upward, and then the convex portion 41 is removed. Pull backward from the recess 43. In order to make the head holder 31 easy to remove, as shown in FIG. 4, both locking portions 44 are placed at an interval that can be operated with one hand. For example, the distance L between the two locking portions 44 is about 200 mm along the outside of the head holder 31 or all the ink cartridges.
Less than.

In the present embodiment, the pair of side walls 14,
The convex portion 41, the concave portion 43, and the side surface of the head holder 31 are
It constitutes the positioning portion of the present invention. This positioning portion can be configured as shown in FIG. In this case, a front wall 17 is formed at the front end of the carriage 10 on the print medium side, and a recess 43a that opens in the front-rear direction is formed in the wall 17. The front wall 31f of the head holder 31 is attached to the wall 17
And the gap between the print head 20 and the print medium is set.
In addition, the convex portion 41a protruding from the front wall 31f is fitted into the concave portion 43a, and is positioned in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Further, in the present embodiment, the locking projection 42
The locking portion 44 is the first locking portion, the leaf spring 45, and the semicircular protrusions 50b, 60b, 70 of the ink cartridge.
b. 80b comprises a 2nd locking part, respectively.

In the positioning portion and the first and second locking portions, the positions where the respective elements are provided can be interchanged with each other, such as providing the convex portion 41 on the side wall 14 and the concave portion 43 on the head holder side. In addition, the second locking portion is the locking portion 4
4, the lock state can be released manually, or the first lock portion can be released from the lock state simply by lifting the head holder 31 like the second lock portion. Good.

In the drawing, ink droplets are ejected from the print head 20 in a substantially horizontal direction, but the print head and the carriage are vertically or inclined so that ink droplets are ejected in a vertical direction or an inclined direction. The present invention can also be applied.

[0032]

As is clear from the above description, according to the structure of claim 1, the head holder supporting the print head is positioned by the positioning portion in the direction toward the print medium with respect to the carriage and the direction perpendicular thereto. At the same time, it is detachably locked by the first locking part in the direction away from the print medium, and the ink cartridge is connected to the fitting connection part that supplies ink to the print head, and is opposite to the print medium. The end portion on the side is pressed by the second locking portion in the direction in which the ink cartridge is coupled to the fitting coupling portion, and the ink cartridge is held in the coupled state with the print head, and thereby the head holder is used to print the print medium. The ink cartridge is also locked by the second locking part that is not related to the first locking part that locks the print head, because the ink cartridge is also pressed in the direction toward And in, it is possible to replace only the ink cartridge. Further, the second locking portion not only holds the ink cartridge in a connected state with the print head, but also presses the head holder toward the print medium,
The print head can be positioned accurately.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the head holder supporting the print head is positioned by the positioning portion in the direction toward the print medium with respect to the carriage and in the direction perpendicular thereto, and in the direction away from the print medium. And the ink cartridge is removably locked on both sides in the mounting / removing direction of the head holder, and the ink cartridge is connected to a fitting connection portion that supplies ink to the print head, and the end on the opposite side of the print medium. Part is locked to the second locking part of the carriage to maintain the above-mentioned connected state. Therefore, regardless of the first locking parts on both sides for locking the print head, the ink By locking the end portion of the cartridge with the second locking portion, it is possible to replace only the ink cartridge without accidentally touching the first locking portion. Also the second
Not only does the retaining portion hold the ink cartridge in a connected state with the print head, but also does not affect the mounting state of the print head when replacing the ink cartridge.

In both of the above configurations, the positioning portion of the head holder is further composed of a recess opening at least in the direction away from the print medium, and a convex portion fitted into the recess from the direction toward the print medium. More specifically, the positioning portion has a pair of walls projecting into the carriage on both sides perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction of the head holder, and recesses are formed on the opposite surfaces of both walls, and A configuration having a pair of convex portions that fit into the respective recesses, and the positioning portion has a wall protruding at the print medium side end portion of the carriage,
A recess is formed in the wall, and the head holder has a protrusion that fits into the recess at the end of the print medium on the print medium side. The convex portion can be fitted into the concave portion and positioned so that the carriage can be positioned easily and accurately.

Further, in the structure of claim 1 or 2,
Further, the positioning portion supports the head holder swingably around an axis parallel to the print medium around the print medium side end portion in the positioned state, and the first locking portion is within the swing locus. By having a projecting elastically deformable claw, the head holder can be rocked against the elasticity of the claw by rocking the print medium side end against the positioning part and mounting it on the carriage. Can be facilitated.

In this structure, the first locking portion is located closer to the print medium than the second locking portion is on both sides of the head holder, so that the first cartridge can be replaced when the ink cartridge is replaced. It is possible to further reduce the chance of accidentally touching the locking portion of.

Further, in the structure of claim 1 or 2, further, the second locking portion is a leaf spring-like elastic body having a sloped surface for guiding the ink cartridge toward the fitting connection portion, and the ink cartridge is mounted. At this time, by inserting along the slope, the connection to the fitting connection portion can be facilitated, and the connection state can be maintained by the action of the elastic body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a carriage, a print head, an ink cartridge and the like are assembled.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the exploded state of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a disassembled state of the head holder and the ink cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Carriage 20 Print Head 31 Head Holder 41 Convex Section 42 Locking Protrusion 43 Recess 44 Locking Section 45 Leaf Spring 50 Ink Cartridge 60 Ink Cartridge 70 Ink Cartridge 80 Ink Cartridge

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet printing apparatus in which a print head that ejects ink droplets toward a print medium for printing and an ink cartridge that contains ink to be supplied to the print head are removably attached to a carriage. And a fitting connecting portion for supplying ink to the print head on the side opposite to the ink discharge nozzle opening surface of the print head, and connecting the ink cartridge to the fitting connecting portion to the print head. A head holder for positioning, a positioning portion for positioning the head holder in a direction toward the print medium with respect to the carriage and a direction perpendicular thereto, and a first holder for detachably locking the head holder in the carriage in a direction away from the print medium. The head holder is attached to the locking part and the end of the carriage that is opposite to the print medium on the carriage. A print head and an ink cartridge having a second locking portion that presses the ink cartridge in a direction in which the ink cartridge is connected to the fitting connection portion and that holds the ink cartridge in a connected state with the print head. Detachable mechanism. 2. An inkjet printing apparatus in which a carriage is detachably mounted with a print head for ejecting ink droplets onto a print medium for printing and an ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to the print head. It has a fitting connection part that supports and supplies ink to the print head on the side opposite to the ink discharge nozzle opening surface of the print head. The ink cartridge is connected to the fitting connection part and positioned with respect to the print head. The head holder, the positioning parts that position the head holder toward the print medium with respect to the carriage and the direction perpendicular to it, and the positioning parts that are located on both sides perpendicular to the direction in which the head holder is attached and detached. A first locking portion that is detachably locked with respect to the ink cartridge; A print head and an ink cartridge attaching / detaching mechanism, characterized in that the print head and the ink cartridge attaching / detaching mechanism have a second engaging portion that detachably engages an end portion on the side opposite to the print medium and holds the ink cartridge in a connected state with the fitting connecting portion. . 3. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit has a recess opening at least in a direction away from the print medium, and a protrusion that fits in the recess in the direction toward the print medium. The print head and ink cartridge attachment / detachment mechanism. 4. The positioning unit according to claim 3,
It has a pair of walls protruding from the carriage on both sides perpendicular to the mounting / removing direction of the head holder, and recesses are formed on the opposite surfaces of the two walls. A pair of fitting on each side of the head holder. A print head and an ink cartridge attachment / detachment mechanism characterized by having a convex portion. 5. The positioning section according to claim 3,
The carriage has a wall protruding at the end on the print medium side, and a recess is formed in the wall, and the end on the print medium side of the head holder has a protrusion that fits into the recess. Print head and ink cartridge attachment / detachment mechanism. 6. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit supports the head holder so as to be swingable about an axis parallel to the printing medium, centering on the printing medium side end in the positioning state, The print head and the ink cartridge attachment / detachment mechanism, wherein the locking portion of the print head has an elastically deformable claw protruding in the swing locus. 7. The print head and ink cartridge attachment / detachment according to claim 6, wherein the first locking portion is located on both sides of the head holder, closer to the print medium than the second locking portion. mechanism. 8. The print according to claim 1, wherein the second locking portion is a leaf spring-like elastic body having a sloped surface that guides the ink cartridge toward the fitting connection portion. Head and ink cartridge attachment / detachment mechanism.