WO1999065697A2 - Imprimante a jet d'encre - Google Patents

Imprimante a jet d'encre Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999065697A2
WO1999065697A2 PCT/US1999/013611 US9913611W WO9965697A2 WO 1999065697 A2 WO1999065697 A2 WO 1999065697A2 US 9913611 W US9913611 W US 9913611W WO 9965697 A2 WO9965697 A2 WO 9965697A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
platen
drive roller
paper
printer
paper drive
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/013611
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1999065697A3 (fr
Inventor
Richard A. Murray
Dan J. Dull
Masaru Kazaoka
Original Assignee
Encad, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Encad, Inc. filed Critical Encad, Inc.
Priority to AU48237/99A priority Critical patent/AU4823799A/en
Publication of WO1999065697A2 publication Critical patent/WO1999065697A2/fr
Publication of WO1999065697A3 publication Critical patent/WO1999065697A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0085—Using suction for maintaining printing material flat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/02—Platens
    • B41J11/06—Flat page-size platens or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens

Definitions

  • a high quality ink-jet printer will include a rigid metal support structure which includes a platen defining a printing surface and a separate print carriage support structure. These parts are held together with screws or bolts to define the relative motions of the print carriage and print media to a high tolerance. Other printer components such as printed circuit boards, motors, etc. are then screwed or bolted to the printer frame.
  • the metal frame components are both expensive to manufacture, and labor intensive to assemble into a printer. Thus, there is a need in the art for a high quality ink jet printer which uses inexpensive components and is less expensive to assemble.
  • the present invention includes an ink jet printer which may be manufactured for a much lower cost than has been possible without a significant sacrifice in print quality. Fewer parts are required for assembly, many of the parts that are required are cheaper, and the act of assembly is simpler.
  • the printer of the present invention comprises a one-piece molded plastic body.
  • This body forms the platen of the printer, and includes sufficient structural strength to maintain the relative positioning of the platen and the print heads to the tolerances required for high quality ink jet printing.
  • the molded plastic body disclosed herein can be produced inexpensively and in high quantities.
  • the platen surface may integrally incorporate a drive tube mounting bay which is recessed below the platen surface. This mounting bay provides both mounts for the paper drive tube and forms structural support for the printer body.
  • the invention comprises a four-color dot-matrix ink jet printer comprising a plastic platen forming a stationary approximately horizontal surface and a plastic Y-arm extending upward from and integrally molded with the plastic platen.
  • the integral Y-arm provides additional structural integrity and alignment. Molding such a platen with a Y-arm may be facilitated by situating the Y-arm behind the rearward extent of the platen surface
  • Another aspect of the invention is a printer which is inexpensive to assemble by avoiding the use of assembly hardware such as screws and the like wherever possible.
  • One embodiment of the invention thus comprises an ink jet printer including a paper drive roller retained in a mounting bay by a snap-fit sub-platen secured over the paper drive roller and a carriage guide rod suspended over the sub-platen on at least one support post wherein the guide rod is retained on the support post with at least one press fit pin.
  • Another embodiment of the invention includes an ink jet printer comprising a unitary plastic body having incorporated therein a paper motor mount configured to retain a paper motor without hardware. The body may also comprise a carriage motor mount configured to retain a carriage motor without hardware, and a paper drive roller mount configured to retain a paper drive roller without hardware. Printers in accordance with the invention are thus less expensive to produce, and retain the ability to produce high quality print output.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a printer in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet printer of Figure 1 in an assembled configuration.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of image data processing and motor control hardware which may be used with the printer of Figures 1 and 2.
  • FIG.4 is a top view of the integrally molded plastic body of the printer illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the integrally molded plastic body of Figure 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view of the integrally molded plastic body of Figure 4.
  • FIG. 7 is a rear view of the integrally molded plastic body of Figure 4.
  • FIG. 8 is a cross section of the integrally molded plastic body of Figure 4 along lines 8-8.
  • FIG. 9A is a perspective exploded view of a pinch roller of Figure 1.
  • FIG. 9B is a side view of the pinch roller of Figure 9A attached to a carriage guide rod.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective cutaway view of the return pulley bracket of Figure 1. Detailed Descriotion of the Invention
  • Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a low cost, high performance printer built in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 1 an exploded view of the printer is illustrated, and in Figure 2, the printer is illustrated in an assembled configuration.
  • the printer includes a unitary plastic body 12 which comprises a substantial portion of the entire printer assembly. This results in an easily manufactured base upon which the other components of the printer are mounted.
  • This unitary plastic body is described in more detail below in conjunction with Figures 4-8.
  • the printer of Figures 1 and 2 may be assembled in an entirely snap fit manner, requiring no mechanical fasteners or hardware such as screws, bolts or rivets.
  • all components and auxiliary members of the present printer are either snap fit, force fit or drop into place during assembly. It may be appreciated, however, that fasteners may be added to hold one or more of the auxiliary members to the body if desired, although this may result in additional assembly cost.
  • the printer includes several key mechanical components familiar to those of skill in the art and which are illustrated in Figure 1. These components include a movable print carriage 14, a carriage drive motor, 15, and a paper drive motor 13.
  • An interconnect printed circuit assembly 17 mounted to an inner panel of the printer body 12 accepts power and data from external sources and routes them to the motors 13, 15, and to the carriage 14 to control the firing of the ink jet nozzles during print operations.
  • a trailing cable 19 electrically couples the carriage 14 and the interconnect printed circuit assembly 17.
  • the moveable print carriage travels back and forth in the Y-direction, and media is advanced under the carriage in the X-direction.
  • the carriage assembly 14 includes one or more ink jet cartridge mounting bays 10 so as to mount one or more ink jet cartridges 11 which selectively eject ink onto the piece of print media under the carriage 14.
  • the nature of the ink jet cartridges 11 may vary, and several alternative styles are well known to those of skill in the art and would be suitable for use with the printer illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the single cartridge mounting bay 10 illustrated in Figure 1 may utilize a cartridge 11 having four ink reservoirs and associated jet plates in a single housing.
  • the print carriage assembly 14 For movable mounting over the print media, the print carriage assembly 14 includes a split sleeve 84 which partially surrounds and slidably engages a stainless steel carriage guide rod 18 to support the print carriage assembly 14 for linear movement of the print carriage assembly 14 along the guide rod 18.
  • the print carriage is also fixed to a drive belt 20 which is coupled to the shaft of the carriage drive motor 15.
  • the printer carriage assembly 14 when assembled, is supported on the guide rod 18 above a platen surface 16 which is an integral portion of the body 12.
  • a paper drive roller 21 is mounted below the platen surface 16 within a mounting bay 24 of the body 12.
  • the configuration of the mounting bay 24 is described in more detail below.
  • the drive roller 21 may comprise a hollow extruded aluminum tube which is provided with rubber paper contact surfaces 25, a drive gear 26, and two lubricated sealed ball bearings 27a, 27b, one on either end.
  • the bearings 27a, 27b are mounted to a central hub.
  • the right end of the drive roller 21 is provided with a drive gear 31 which is configured to mate with a gear 35 provided on the shaft of the paper drive motor 13.
  • Pinch rollers 22 are also mounted on the carriage guide rod 18 so as to help hold the media against the paper contact surfaces 25 of the paper drive roller 21.
  • a specific embodiment of pinch rollers which have been found to be suitable for use in the present printer are illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B.
  • a roll of continuous paper may mounted on roll holders integrally formed on the rear of the body 12, or single sheets of paper may be fed from the rear of the body 12 to the platen surface 16 to be printed. Suitable roll holder embodiments for holding media are illustrated below in conjunction with Figures 4-8.
  • the printer of Figures 1 and 2 is configured for desktop mounting, the printer may be provided with legs (not shown) to create a floor-standing printer assembly.
  • a cover (not shown) may also be rotatably coupled to integral openings 23 so as to cover the moving carriage assembly 14 during print operations.
  • the motors 13, 15 are first placed inside respective mounting bays 40, 44 formed in the body 12.
  • the paper drive motor mounting bay 40 is provided with a shaftway 42 which connects the paper drive motor mounting bay 40 with the drive roller mounting bay 24. Through this shaftway 42, the shaft of the paper drive motor 13 extends into the drive roller mounting bay 24. This allows the gear 35 on the end of the paper drive motor shaft to engage with the gear 31 on the drive roller 21.
  • the drive roller mounting bay 24 in the body 12 accommodates both a platen vacuum fan 23 and the paper drive roller 21.
  • the fan 23 is preferably placed within a fan mount 30 ( Figures 4 and 5) on the bottom right portion of the mounting bay 24 before the paper drive roller 21 is dropped into the drive roller mounting bay 24.
  • Twelve volt dc axial impeller fans commonly used in the computer and computer peripheral industry are suitable for use with the illustrated printer.
  • two bearing retaining walls are provided at respective ends of the drive roller mounting bay 24.
  • a first bearing retaining wall 32 is provided with an approximately semicircular recess 32a for resting the outer surface of the bearing 27b provided on the left end of the drive roller bar 21.
  • a right bearing retaining wall 34 is also provided with a semicircular recess 34a which accepts the bearing 27a on the other end of the paper drive roller 21.
  • a subplaten plate 26 may be snap fit into place over the drive roller mounting bay 24.
  • the subplaten 26 is snap fit to the platen using a plurality of snap fingers which engage openings in the side walls of the drive roller mounting bay 24.
  • the subplaten 26 has six snap fingers which extend into the bay and lock into six corresponding openings in the sides of the bay 24.
  • the subplaten 26 also includes openings which are located to correspond to the paper contact surfaces 25 of the drive roller 21. The paper contact surface 25 of the drive roller 21 will thus extend slightly above the surface of the subplaten 26 when the subplaten 26 is assembled over the drive roller 21 which is placed in the bay 24.
  • the central region 16b of the platen includes a set of grooves 29 across the body 12 and subplaten plate 26 which are preferably shallow at their front portions and deepest at their back portions.
  • the subplaten 26 also is provided with small holes at the ends of these grooves 29. These grooves 29 channel air beneath the media receiving print, so that the fan 23 mounted inside the drive roller mounting bay 24 may pull air through the grooves 29 and down through the holes in the subplaten 26 in order to create a slight vacuum beneath the media to hold the media to the platen surface 16 during printing.
  • the subplaten 26 is advantageously manufactured of polycarbonate.
  • the subplaten 26 is about .090 in. thick but the thickness may range from .050 to .150 in.
  • the drive belt 20 is attached to the print carriage 14, the print carriage 14 is slid over the guide rod 18, and the pinch rollers 22 are installed into holes drilled into the bottom of the carriage guide rod 18. These holes are located to correspond to the locations of the paper drive surfaces 25 on the drive roller 21, and are sized to accept a mounting peg of the pinch rollers 22.
  • the guide rod 18 is additionally provided with a through hole on each end in a location which corresponds to guide rod support posts 52 provided as integral parts of the body 12. These through holes are configured to receive pins 58 which project from the top of the support posts 52. When attached to the support posts 52, the guide rod 18 provides additional structural integrity to the printer. Whatever small alignment deviations may be present in the molded plastic body 12 are further reduced when the guide rod 18 is attached.
  • the carriage drive belt assembly may be coupled to the carriage motor 15.
  • the drive belt assembly is mounted behind the guide rod 18 in a completed printer.
  • the drive belt 20 forms a closed loop which extends around the drive pulley of the carriage motor 15 and a return pulley 72.
  • the return pulley 72 thus defines the end of the belt path opposite the carriage motor.
  • the return pulley 72 is grooved to correspond to the profile of the back side of the belt 20.
  • the return pulley 72 also has a sealed ball bearing which is located between the grooved outer wheel and the axle.
  • the axle of the return pulley 72 rests at the base of triangular recesses 77 provided in the top and bottom panels of a return bracket 74.
  • One side of the return bracket 74 incorporates a notch 75 configured to pivotably engage a mating notched flange 79 (shown in Figures 6 and 10) which extends from the left side of the left guide rod support 52.
  • the other end of the return bracket 74 includes a receptacle to receive a compression spring 76.
  • the compression spring 76 is placed between the return bracket 74 and a recess integrally formed in an adjacent surface of the body 12, and the notch 75 is engaged to the flange 79.
  • the paper drive motor mounting bay 40 may be closed with a service station tray 64.
  • the tray matches the side walls of the motor mount 40 and slides easily down within the motor mount side walls.
  • the tray 64 has a top flange which supports the tray 64 such that the tray 64 covers the remainder of the hole which defines the shaftway 42 and the roller motor mount 40.
  • Control of the ink jet cartridges and the motors which advance the paper and carriage is provided by electronics on a printed circuit assembly (PC A) 26 mounted to the print carriage 14.
  • the carriage PCA is mounted on top of the print carriage assembly 14 and connects to the trailing cable 19 discussed above.
  • the position of the carriage assembly 14 is tracked with an encoder strip 17 positioned on the body 12 and extending along the Y-axis.
  • the print data is processed by logic circuitry on the carriage printed circuit assembly, and is routed to a flex circuit connector (not shown) mounted in the ink jet cartridge mounting bay so as to selectively actuate the nozzles of the ink jet cartridge jet plates.
  • raster print data received from a host computer system is routed directly to the print carriage without pre-processing by the interconnect printed circuit assembly 17. This reduces the processing power required by the printer, further lowering costs associated with printer production.
  • FIG 3 illustrates the electrical hardware of this embodiment of the printer.
  • the interconnect printed circuit 17 receives power from an external power cord and data from a parallel I/O port. Power and data are routed from the interconnect PCA 17 to the print carriage 14 via the trailing cable 19.
  • the print carriage 14 may be characterized as a "smart" print carriage in that it includes an on board microprocessor for print data manipulation.
  • the microprocessor has memory which provides the instructions for the microprocessor.
  • FLASH memory may contain software programming for the microprocessor.
  • a DRAM stores information from both before and after processing by the microprocessor.
  • the microprocessor on the carriage PCA processes the data as it is received from the host computer (not shown).
  • the microprocessor used on the "smart" carriage PCA is typically a 683XX family, although a variety of microprocessors may be used.
  • the standardization of the host data output has reduced the microprocessor processing requirements, thereby increasing the variety of microprocessors which can be used.
  • the microprocessor decompresses the native raster information received from the host computer and shuffles the information before sending the processed information to a support ASIC chip, also located on the carriage PCA.
  • the ASIC and the microprocessor are two different chips, it is possible to incorporate both the functions of the microprocessor and the support ASIC into one chip.
  • the support ASIC monitors information from the linear encoder and coordinates the flow of signals.
  • the ASIC sends data from the microprocessor to the printhead drivers.
  • Printhead drivers control a cartridge.
  • a paper sensor determines the presence and width of paper loaded into the printer.
  • the cover sensor determines whether the cover, if provided, is open.
  • the firmware operating from the microprocessor prevents firing of the printheads if the sensors determine either (1) that the printhead is not positioned over a paper surface, or (2) if the cover, if provided, is open. If the cover, if provided, is open, the electronics pause the printer and move the carriage to a central position to facilitate changing of the print cartridge.
  • the carriage microprocessor processes this information and determines appropriate carriage assembly 14 position and paper advancement.
  • the processed instructions are then used to control the motors driven by the interconnect PCA 17.
  • the trailing cable 19, or optical interconnects, are used to connect the carriage PCA 26 with the interconnect PCA 17.
  • the interconnect PCA 17 contains the paper motor drive and the carriage motor drive circuitry.
  • the interconnect PCA 17 also contains the power circuitry and the physical interconnect which mates an ethernet connection from the host computer or network to the trailing cable 19.
  • motor drivers buffer and amplify the signals to the paper drive motor 13 to move the paper up and down, and the carriage motor 15 to move the carriage assembly 14 to the left or right, depending on the signal received from the carriage PCA 26.
  • the processing of the signals that move the carriage assembly 14 and the paper are executed on the carriage microprocessor.
  • the trailing cable 19 may be replaced by a high-speed fiber optic cable.
  • the printer body 12 is integrally formed from a single, unitary piece of plastic which includes sufficient structural integrity to provide a foundation for high quality ink jet printing.
  • the body 12 is injection molded ABS/polycarbonate.
  • Prior art problems with forming ink jet printer bodies from single pieces of plastic material have been solved with the present invention, thereby producing a high quality printer which is less expensive to manufacture than has been previously available.
  • the platen surface 16 is reinforced by ribs and other integral structures to ensure the platen remains rigid enough for high quality printing over a long printer lifetime.
  • Figure 4 provides a top view of the plastic printer body 12.
  • the platen surface 16 includes a front region 16a, a central region 16b, and a rear region 16c.
  • the front region 16a tapers downward and provides a degree of support for the paper as it passes over the platen surface 16.
  • the central region 16b of the platen surface 16 supports the media along the print line beneath the ink jet cartridges.
  • the central platen region 16b is provided with an integral recessed drive roller mounting bay 24 described in more detail below.
  • the drive roller mounting bay 24 is covered with a subplaten plate 26 (see also Figure 2).
  • the drive roller mounting bay 24 is a recessed channel located in the central portion 16b of the platen 16.
  • the mounting bay 24 may advantageously be approximately U-shaped in cross section along most of its length, and is sized to accept the paper drive roller 21 in mounts 32, 34 described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
  • the integral approximately U-shape structure of the drive roller mounting bay 24 provides increased rigidity to the platen surface 16.
  • ribs 28 are also provided within the bay 24.
  • the ribs 28 extend downward substantially perpendicular to the platen surface 16; accordingly, the width of the ribs decrease as they progress downward because the bay wall is substantially U-shaped. This feature is illustrated most clearly in the cross sectional view of Figure 8.
  • a fan mount 30 At the bottom of and near the right end of the drive roller mounting bay 24 is a fan mount 30.
  • the fan mount 30 is a recessed region advantageously located within the bottom of the mounting bay 24 which is deep enough to hold the fan 23 below the installed drive roller 21.
  • the fan mount 30 is sized according to the dimensions of the platen vacuum fan
  • the bottom surface of the fan mount 30 is grated to both support the fan and allow air to freely pass downward from the platen surface 16, through the fan 23 and fan mount 30 and out of the bottom of the drive roller mounting bay 24.
  • the paper drive motor bay 40 is provided to the right of the drive roller mounting bay 24.
  • the interconnect printed circuit board 17 is preferably mounted on the inside right wall of the printer body 12 on press locking plastic studs.
  • a carriage motor mounting bay 44 is also provided behind the roller motor mounting bay 40. As with the paper motor mounting bay, the carriage motor mounting bay 44 is desirably sized to accommodate the motor utilized to move the print carriage assembly 14.
  • the carriage motor mounting bay 44 may also be provided with a retaining clip 46 to hold the motor inside the bay in place during torques which may be placed on the motor during operation.
  • the clip 46 is advantageously configured as a resilient L-shaped tab (similar in shape to the guide rod retaining clip 54 described below) which extends upward along the side of the motor mounting bay 44. The upper end of the clip 46 may thus releasably engage a top edge of the motor 15 to ensure that the motor does not rise out of the motor mount 44 during operation.
  • the carriage motor mounting bay 44 may also be provided with a center hole 48 which allows the motor to properly seat within the motor mount 44 and allows motor wiring to pass through the bottom of the motor mount 44.
  • the body 12 may also be provided with integral paper roll holders 64, 66. On one side of the body 12, located on the right end in Figure 4, is a mounting location 64 for a press-fit pin on which a roll of print media may be supported. The second end, or left end in Figure 4, is provided with a slot 66 with which the second end of the paper roll is supported. The ends of a roller (not shown), which carries the paper roll, are thereby rotatably journaled to provide rolled paper to the printer 10 as needed.
  • Figure 5 which is a bottom view of the printer body 12, illustrates a plurality of intersecting support ribs 50 provided between the front portion of the platen surface 16 and the drive roller mounting bay 24. Also, the motor mounts 40, 44 and fan mount 30 described above are illustrated. The intersecting ribs provide structural support for the platen 16, and tie the platen surface to the integral recessed paper drive roller mounting bay 24.
  • the two guide rod supports 52 and two guide rod retaining members 54, 56 are also advantageously integrally molded as portions of the printer body 12.
  • the right end guide rod support 52 is located between the two motor mounts 40, 44.
  • the left end guide rod support 52 is similarly oriented to the left of the platen 16 as illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the tops of the guide rod supports 52 are contoured with a concave radius to match that of the guide rod 18 such that the guide rod 18 is cradled on the guide rod supports 52.
  • a guide rod retaining clip 54 To the right of the right end guide rod support, as shown in Figure 4, is a guide rod retaining clip 54. Like the carriage motor clip 46, the guide rod retaining clip 54 is flexible and, together with the guide rod supports 52, vertically secures the guide rod 18 to the tops of the guide rod supports 52. To the left of the left end guide rod support 52 is a retaining jacket 56. The retaining jacket 56 partially surrounds the upper portion of the left end of the guide rod 18 to vertically and horizontally restrain the guide rod 18. As mentioned above, the guide rod 18 is secured to the guide rod supports 52 using the integral pins 58. As may be seen from Figure 7 as well as Figure 6, located rearward of the guide rod 18, is an integrally molded
  • the Y-arm 60 comprises a horizontally extending structural member positioned above and behind the rear of the platen 16.
  • the integral Y-arm 60 provides structural support to the one piece construction of the body 12.
  • the Y-arm 60 provides a mounting location for the encoder strip 17 and a support channel for the trailing cable 19 which extends between the interconnect circuit board 17 mounted to the body 12 and the print carriage assembly 14.
  • the encoder strip 17 can, for example, be placed on the top of the back portion of the Y-arm 60 as illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the back side of the Y-arm 60, as shown in Figure 5, is provided with several reinforcing ribs 62.
  • the reinforcing ribs 62 help to stabilize the Y-arm 60 and provide additional stability to the printer body 12 as a whole.
  • the Y-arm also includes a forwardly extending flange 63 (see also Figure 8) for supporting the rear portion of the print carriage.
  • a forwardly extending flange 63 for supporting the rear portion of the print carriage.
  • the top of a tab on the rear of the carriage slides along the bottom surface of the flange 63 which extends from the front of the Y-arm. This engagement of the Y-arm and the print carriage prevents forward rotation of the print carriage, and retains the ink jet nozzles on the bottom of the ink jet cartridge a substantially fixed distance above the media.
  • the unitary body 12 which incorporates integral drive roller mounting, guide rod mounting, Y-arm structures, and platen printing surface. As all of these integral portions of the plastic body 12 serve to reinforce the stability and rigidity of the other portions, high quality printing is obtainable with a low cost assembly.
  • the printer body 12 When producing a mold for a complex unitary plastic part such as the printer body 12 herein described, several factors must be considered, as certain forms are difficult or impossible to mold as a single piece.
  • One example of this in the present context is the relation between the Y-arm 60 assembly and the rear portion 16c of the platen surface 16.
  • the platen surface extended rearward underneath and sometimes even beyond the Y-arm structure.
  • one advantageous printer embodiment limits the extent of the platen surface 16 such that it does not extend beneath the Y-arm 60.
  • the printer body 12 may be conveniently molded as a single unitary structure while retaining the required lower platen surface 16, upper Y-arm 60, and opening for paper feeding in between the two.
  • the pinch rollers 22 are also designed for hardware free installation and inexpensive manufacture.
  • the pinch rollers advantageously comprise a mounting body 82, a coupler 84, and a roller wheel 86.
  • the coupler 84 comprises an oval body having the center of both ends removed to define a channel at each end.
  • the first channel 88 receives an extension arm 90 of the mounting body 82.
  • the second channel 92 receives the roller wheel 86.
  • a first press fit axle 94 pivotably attaches an extension arm 92 of the mounting body 82 in the first channel 88 of the coupler 84.
  • a second press fit axle 96 rotatably mounts the roller wheel 86 in the second channel 92 of the coupler 84.
  • a mounting peg 98 is integral to the mounting body, and rests in a recess in the bottom side of the guide rod 18 in operation.
  • a spring 100 is also advantageously provided extending downward from an integral recess on the mounting body. This spring 100 helps to press the roller wheel 86 downward, as is illustrated in Figure 9B.
  • the pinch roller components are preferably manufactured from glass filled polycarbonate.
  • the roller wheel 86 of the pinch roller 22 preferably pinches the media 102 between the media contact surfaces 25 of the paper drive roller and the roller wheel 86 of the pinch roller 22.
  • the spring 100 presses down on an upper surface of the coupler 84, forcing the roller wheel downward against the surface of the media 102.
  • the mounting body 82 is retained in alignment with the guide rod 18 by the guide rod mating curved upper surface 104 of the mounting body.
  • the roller wheels 86 will roll in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide rod 18 at all times.
  • the return pulley bracket 74 and its mounting to the printer body 12 is illustrated in additional detail.
  • the return pulley bracket comprises a top wall and a bottom wall which are joined by two side walls and a central wall to form two chambers.
  • One chamber 106 is open on both ends and holds the return pulley 72.
  • This chamber 106 includes the triangular recesses 77 in the top and bottom walls which seat the axle of the return pulley 72.
  • the other chamber 108 is closed with a rear panel and holds the bias spring 76.
  • the bias spring 76 may be held in place by a rod 110 which may be integral to and extends outward from the rear wall of the spring chamber 108.
  • the belt 20 is first threaded through the pulley chamber 106 and placed around the return pulley 72.
  • the belt 20 and pulley 72 are then pulled back into the pulley chamber 106 until the pulley 72 axle is resting at the bottom of the triangular recesses 77.
  • one end of the biasing spring 76 is placed over the rod 110 in the spring chamber 108, and the other end is inserted into an integral recess 112 on the body 12 as described above.
  • the notch 75 on the return pulley bracket 74 is engaged with the tab 79 on the side of the left guide rod support 52.
  • the above described printer therefore incorporates several desirable features.
  • One is a unitary, molded plastic body which is inexpensive to manufacture and which incorporates integral re inforcing structures. Additionally, mechanical fasteners are avoided during assembly due to the snap and friction fit components provided. The fewer parts needed for the completed assembly, the lower the cost of manufacture will be.
  • the foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways.

Landscapes

  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une imprimante à jet d'encre comprenant un corps en plastique (12) qui renferme, sous la forme d'une structure moulée unitaire, une platine (16), un bras en forme de Y (60), et un compartiment (24) pour rouleau de commande de papier. D'autres composants, par exemple des supports (64, 66) pour rouleau de papier et des supports (40, 44) pour moteur peuvent également être intégrés à cette structure moulée unitaire. Dans certains modes de réalisation, de nombreux composants de cette imprimante sont insérés par pression ou par encliquetage, ce qui permet de réduire les coûts d'assemblage.
PCT/US1999/013611 1998-06-17 1999-06-16 Imprimante a jet d'encre WO1999065697A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU48237/99A AU4823799A (en) 1998-06-17 1999-06-16 Ink jet printer

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9894398A 1998-06-17 1998-06-17
US09/098,943 1998-06-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999065697A2 true WO1999065697A2 (fr) 1999-12-23
WO1999065697A3 WO1999065697A3 (fr) 2000-04-06

Family

ID=22271671

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/013611 WO1999065697A2 (fr) 1998-06-17 1999-06-16 Imprimante a jet d'encre

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4823799A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999065697A2 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6736501B2 (en) * 2001-02-23 2004-05-18 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Platen and printer using the same
WO2019194792A1 (fr) * 2018-04-03 2019-10-10 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Détection de largeur

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5676475A (en) 1995-12-15 1997-10-14 Encad, Inc. Smart print carriage incorporating circuitry for processing data

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4360399A (en) * 1981-06-11 1982-11-23 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Hand-held labeler and labeling method
US5173596A (en) * 1991-03-07 1992-12-22 General Instrument Corporation Paper card reader/validator
JP3437319B2 (ja) * 1994-04-05 2003-08-18 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置およびインクジェット画像形成方法

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5676475A (en) 1995-12-15 1997-10-14 Encad, Inc. Smart print carriage incorporating circuitry for processing data

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6736501B2 (en) * 2001-02-23 2004-05-18 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Platen and printer using the same
WO2019194792A1 (fr) * 2018-04-03 2019-10-10 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Détection de largeur

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4823799A (en) 2000-01-05
WO1999065697A3 (fr) 2000-04-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6890056B2 (en) Print cartridge servicing for an inkjet printing system using stationary print cartridges
US6789966B2 (en) Printer, carriage supporting structure and head assembly incorporated in the printer
US20040232611A1 (en) Recording apparatus
EP2633675B1 (fr) Chemin de support d'impression dans une imprimante multifonction
US6421133B2 (en) Hybrid printer, printer mounting base and printer that is mountable on printer mounting base
JP2007181934A (ja) プーリホルダ支持構造、プーリホルダ
JP3856864B2 (ja) デュアルインクジェットペンキャリッジ装置
KR20020065636A (ko) 잉크젯 프린트 카트리지용의 수평방향으로 탑재 가능한캐리지
US6935796B2 (en) Multiple orientation image forming device and carriage for use with same
WO1999065697A2 (fr) Imprimante a jet d'encre
US8123210B1 (en) Paper feeding assembly for printers
US8591022B2 (en) Printing apparatus with pivotable duplexing unit
US7824119B2 (en) Transaction printer
US20040183858A1 (en) Recording apparatus
EP0953456A1 (fr) Architecture integrée d'une cartouche d'encre animé d'un mouvement de va-et-vient à paliers intégrés
JP4365577B2 (ja) プリンタペンキャリッジ支持体
US20230271436A1 (en) Table mover and ink jet printer including the same
US20120105542A1 (en) Inclined motor in an inkjet printer
JP3901479B2 (ja) 記録装置
JP2018108743A (ja) 印刷装置
US20040202500A1 (en) Carriage rod and media support
JP3952537B2 (ja) 複合プリンタ及びプリンタ取付台及びプリンタ取付台に取付可能なプリンタ
JP3501602B2 (ja) 画像読取装置及び画像読み取り機能を有する情報処理装置
JPH09150562A (ja) プリンタの軸部材支持構造
KR19980057163U (ko) 잉크젯 프린터의 가이드 레일 장치

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AE AL AM AT AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ CZ DE DE DK DK EE EE ES FI FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AE AL AM AT AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ CZ DE DE DK DK EE EE ES FI FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase