Title of Invention

HORIZONTALLY LOADABLE CARRIAGE FOR AN INK-JET PRINTER.

Abstract The invention relates to a horizontally loadable carriage for a front loading, stackable, low-height ink jet printer, comprising: a carriage (19) having atleast one thermal ink-jet print cartridge (20), the carriage being translatable into the inkjet printer (14); atleast one chute (31) mounted on the carriage (19) for receiving the atleast one ink-jet print cartridge (20); atleast one generally horizontal guide rail (40) disposed on the atleast one chute (31) for guiding the atleast one thermal ink-jet print cartridge (20) into the carriage (19), the atleast one chute (31) has two side walls (33, 34) including an end wall (35), and in that the atleast one generally horizontal guide rail (40) is configured as a curved, arcuate and upwardly inclined in a reverse direction to the path of a print media through the print zone.
Full Text CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention generally relates to ink-jet printers and,
more particularly, to the components and subsystems therein.
This application is related to the following copending utility patent
applications, each filed concurrently on January 5,2000: Serial No.:___________
by Ram Santhanam et al., entitled "Vent For An Ink-Jet Print Cartridge",
attorney docket number 10992263-1; Serial No.:___________by Ram
Santhanam et al., entitled "Ink-Jet Print Cartridge Having A Low Profile",
attorney docket number 10992259-1; Serial No.:___________ by Junji
Yamamoto et al., entitled "Horizontally Loadable Carriage For An Ink-Jet
Printer", attorney docket number 10992261-1; Serial No.;________by Junji
Yamamoto et al., entitled "Method And Apparatus For Horizontally Loading
And Unloading An Ink-Jet Print Cartridge From A Carriage", attorney docket
number 10992264-1; Serial No.:___________ by Richard A. Becker et al.,
entitled "Techniques For Providing Ink-Jet Cartridges With A Universal Body
Structure", attorney docket number 10992320-1; Serial No.:__________by
Ram Santhanam et al., entitled "Techniques For Adapting A Small Form Factor
Ink-Jet Cartridge For Use In A Carriage Sized For A Large Form Factor
Cartridge", attorney docket number 10992260-1; Serial No.:___________by
James M. Osmus, entitled "Printer With A Two Roller, Two Motor Paper
Delivery System", attorney docket number 10001157-1; Serial No.:___________
by Keng Leong Ng, entitled "Low Height InkJet Service Station", attorney
docket number 10001167-1; Serial No.:___________by Matt Shepherd et al.,
entitled "New Method Of Propelling An InkJet Printer Carriage", attorney docket
number 10001164-1; Serial No.:___________by Ram Santhanam et al., entitled
"Ink Jet Print Cartridge", attorney docket number 10001462-1; and Serial No.:
___________by Ram Santhanam et al., entitled "Multiple Bit Matrix
Configuration For Key-Latched Printheads", attorney docket number 10991277-
1, all of which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The general design and construction of carriages that retain and align ink-
jet print cartridges in printers and scan these print cartridges through print
zones is well known. Examples of the patents that have issued in this field
of technology include:
US Patent 4,755,836 entitled "Printhead Cartridge and Carriage Assembly"
by Ta et al. issued 5 July 1988
US Patent 4,872,026 entitled "Ink-jet Printer with Printhead Carriage
Alignment Mechanism" by Rasmussen et al. issued 3 October 1989
US Patent 4,907, 018 entitled "Printhead-Carriage Alignment and Electrical
Interconnect Lock-in Mechanism" by Pinkerpell issued 6 March 1990
US Patent 5,392,063 entitled "Spring Cartridge Clamp for InkJet Printer
Carriage" by Rhoads issued 21 February 1995.
Prior carriages have been designed to be loaded and unloaded either vertically
or with a steep, inclined, arcuate motion. Such carriages have proven to be
satisfactory as long as vertical access to the printer is provided. This has
meant, however, that nothing could be permanently stacked on top of the
printer.
Further, previous top loading ink-jet printer designs have fostered an
increasing growth in printer height so that with each new printer design, the
profile of the product grew and grew.
Additionally, it is believed that end users want a printer for home use that can
be stacked in an entertainment center or used in living rooms. This is a printer
that has flat top and bottom walls, that is front loading with all controls and
status indicators on the front wall, and that is about the same size as a
conventional stereo amplifier or a video cassette recorder (VCR). In other
words, this is a horizontally loadable ink-jet printer with an overall height of
less than four inches (4").
Such requirements result in numerous design challenges. First, nearly all existing datum
structures on present day ink-jet print cartridges are designed for vertical or near vertical
installation. Front or horizontal loading has heretofore not been contemplated so if an
existing datum structure is to be used, the print cartridge must be positioned in an entirely
new manner. Second, on a front loading printer the field of view available to a user
during cartridge installation is quite restricted. The user sees less of the carriage and less
of the loading process. Third, physical access to the carriage is more limited. Fourth, if
multiple print cartridges are used, they must sit so close together that much of their
gripping surfaces is unavailable for unloading the print cartridge from the printer.
Thus, it is apparent from the foregoing that although there are many different
carriage designs, designing a front loading, staclcable, low height ink-jet printer presents
many challenges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly and in general terms, an apparatus according to the invention includes a a
carriage body translatable within an ink-jet printer, a chute mounted on the carriage body
for receiving an ink-jet print cartridge, and a generally horizontal rail on one of the
sidewalls of the chute for guiding an ink-jet print cartridge into the carriage.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, in section and partially cut away, of an ink-jet printer
embodying the principles of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view, in section and partially cut away of the carriage of the ink-jet
printer of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, in section, taken along line 3- 3 of the carriage of Fig. 2,
with the print cartridge removed-
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latch spring of the carriage of Fig. 2.
Figs. 5 and 6 are front perspective views of the carriage of Fig. 2, with the print cartridges
removed.
Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of the carriage of Fig. 2, with the print cartridges
removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings for the purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a
front loading, stackable, low height, ink-jet printer.
The apparatus offers a simple, inexpensive solution, easy self-evident operation, and
leverages the datum structure from a print cartridge currently in production.
Referring to Fig. 1, reference numeral 14 generally indicates an ink-jet printer partially
cut away and with its front loading door removed. The printer includes a case part 15 and
a DC drive motor 16 mounted on a chassis. Mounted on the shaft of the motor 16 is a
pulley 17 that drives a belt 18 back and forth as the drive motor reverses in direction.
The drive belt 18 is attached to a carriage 19 that scans laterally back and forth from left
to right and right to left. The carriage 19 contains two thermal ink-jet print cartridges 20,
20' located side by side. Print cartridge 20 contains black ink, and print cartridge 20'has
three ink chambers containing magenta, yellow and cyan inks. The horizontal scanning
motion of the carriage is guided by a slide rod 21. Located in the rear of the carriage 19
is an encoder, not shown, that reads an encoder strip 22 that enables the electronic circuits
in the printer to locate the carriage 19 along its scanning path. After the printer 14 prints
a sheet of media, the media is ejected into an output tray on which a handle 23 is
mounted.
In Fig. 2, the "X* axis is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slide rod 21, Fig. 1. The
"Y" axis is pointed to the rear and into the printer 14, Fig. 1, and is in the reverse
direction to the path of the paper through the print zone. The "Z" axis is pointing
vertically upward.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 7, the carriage 19 includes a carriage base 26
that supports the structure. The carriage base has two "C" shaped arch supports 28
located at its ends. These arch supports provide bearing support and engage the slide rod
21, Fig. 1.
Referring to Figs. 2, 5, and 6, the carriage 19 also includes two chutes 31 that each
receive, hold, and align an ink-jet print cartridge 20 as illustrated in Fig. 2. Both chutes
are constructed and operate in the same manner; so for brevity only the left chute will be
described. The chute 31 has a left side wall 33, a right side wall 34, and a rear or end
wall 35. Located on the rear wall 35 of the chute is a dimpled contact pad 37. The
contact pad has an elastomeric backing and contains electrical contacts that are urged
against corresponding contacts on the print cartridge 20. In this manner the printer 14
makes electrical contact with the print cartridge and supplies electrical energy to the
firing resistors during printing.
Dimpled contact pads for thermal ink-jet print cartridges and carriages are disclosed in
US Patent 4,706,097 entitled "Near-Linear Spring Connect Structure for Flexible
Interconnect Circuits" by Harmon issued 10 November 1987.
The dimpled contact pads 37, Figs. 3, 5, and 6, are held in place against the rear wall 35
of each chute 31 by six pins 42, 43 located on the carriage base 26. Pin 42 locates the
dimpled contact pad left and right and vertically in the carriage 19. The other five pins
prevent the contact pad from rotating about the center pin 42 and inducing any stress in
the contact pad.
Referring to Figs. 3,5, and 6, located on each side wall 33, 34, of the chute 31 is a guide
rail 40. The guide rails are the guiding feature for installing and removing print
cartridges from the printer 14. Referring to Fig. 3, in particular, each guide rail is
generally horizontal, curved, arcuate, and inclined slightly upward in the positive "Y"
direction as illustrated in Fig. 2. The guide rails 40 engage the bottom of the lips located
on the sidewalls of certain print cartridges.
Further, the guide rails 40 in the chutes 31, Figs. 5 and 6 serve many functions. First, the
rails act as a target for the user when initially installing a print cartridge. They aid in
locating the print cartridge 20 in the carriage 19, Fig. 1 which is only partially visible to
the user. Second, once the print cartridge is resting on the guide rails and the print
cartridge is pushed forward by the user, the rails guide the print cartridge up and over the
primary and secondary carriage datums, described in detail below. Third, when a print
cartridge is being unlatched from the carriage by the user, the guide rails limit the
rotation of the print cartridge so that it does not come tumbling out of the printer.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, located in the right side wall 34 of each chute 31 is a cantilever
spring 46. The spring 46 has a major axis that is horizontal. The cantilever spring biases
or urges the print cartridge horizontally in the negative "X" direction as illustrated in Fig.
2, against the primary datums, as described in detail below.
In Figs. 2,3,4, 5, and 6, reference numeral 48 indicates a latch spring having a horizontal
tab pointing rearward in an ink-jet printer 14, Fig. 1, along the "Y" axis as illustrated in
Fig. 2. The spring is directed in this manner to achieve the low printer height objective.
The latch spring engages a latch molded into the lid of the print cartridge as illustrated in
Fig. 2. There is a latch spring for each chute 31, and they are fabricated from a single
sheet metal part as illustrated in Fig. 4. The part is attached to features molded in the
outside walls of the chutes 31. The part is also attached to an arresting ringer SO located
on the center side wall of the carriage 19. The arresting finger has the shape of an "L"
and prevents the mechanical strain from installing a print cartridge in one chute from
affecting the print cartridge in the chute along side.
Referring to Figs. 5, 6, and 7, located on the inside of the left side wall 33 at the bottom
of the chute 31 are the primary datums 52. The corresponding datums on the print .
cartridge are urged against the primary datums 52 in the chute by the cantilever spring
in the right side wall 34 of the chute 31. Located on the inside of the right side wall 34 at
the bottom of the chute 31 and directly opposite the primary datums 52 are the secondary
datums 54. There is a single tertiary datum 56 located in the rear wall 35 of the chute 31
above the dimpled contact pad 37. The tertiary datum locates the rotation of a print
cartridge about the "X" axis to a known point.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts
so described and illustrated. The invention is limited only by the claims.
We Claim
1. A horizontally loadable carriage for a front loading, stackable, low-height
inkjet printer, comprising:
- a carriage (19) having atleast one thermal ink-jet print cartridge
(20), the carriage being translatable into the inkjet printer (14);
- atleast one chute (31} mounted on the carriage (19) for receiving
the atleast one ink-jet print cartridge (20);
- atleast one generally horizontal guide rail (40) disposed on the
atleast one chute (31) for guiding the atleast one thermal ink-jet
print cartridge (20) into the carriage (19), characterized in that the
atleast one chute (31) has two side walls (33, 34) including an end
wall (35), and in that the atleast one generally horizontal guide rail
(40) is configured as a curved, arcuate and upwardly inclined in a
reverse direction to the path of a print media through the print
zone.
2. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the atleast generally
horizontal rail (40) is disposed on the sidewalls (33, 34) of the atieast one
chute (31).
3. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sidewall (34) comprises a
horizontal cantilever spring (46) having a horizontal axis (X) for urging the
atleast one print cartridge (20) along the horizontal axis.
4. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, comprising atleast two cantilever latch
spring (48) having a horizontal tab pointing rearward in the inkjet printer
(14).
5. The carriage as claimed in claim 4, comprising two chutes (31, 311) each
having atleast one latch spring (48), and wherein the two chutes and the
two latch springs constitute a single unitary part.
6. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, comprising a medial arresting finger
(50) that prevents the two latch springs (48) from affecting each other.
7. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall (34) of the
atleast one chute (31) contains a datum(56)for preventing rotation of
atleast one print cartridge (20) into the printer (14).
The invention relates to a horizontally loadable carriage for a front loading,
stackable, low-height ink jet printer, comprising: a carriage (19) having atleast
one thermal ink-jet print cartridge (20), the carriage being translatable into the
inkjet printer (14); atleast one chute (31) mounted on the carriage (19) for
receiving the atleast one ink-jet print cartridge (20); atleast one generally
horizontal guide rail (40) disposed on the atleast one chute (31) for guiding the
atleast one thermal ink-jet print cartridge (20) into the carriage (19), the atleast
one chute (31) has two side walls (33, 34) including an end wall (35), and in that
the atleast one generally horizontal guide rail (40) is configured as a curved,
arcuate and upwardly inclined in a reverse direction to the path of a print media
through the print zone.

Documents:

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-abstract.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-assignment.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-claims.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-correspondence.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-drawings.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-examination report.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-form 1.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-form 13.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-form 18.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-form 2.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-form 3.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-form 5.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-pa.pdf

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-reply to examination report.tif

in-pct-2002-748-kol-granted-specification.pdf


Patent Number 222756
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2002/748/KOL
PG Journal Number 34/2008
Publication Date 22-Aug-2008
Grant Date 21-Aug-2008
Date of Filing 04-Jun-2002
Name of Patentee HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY,
Applicant Address M/S 20 BN. 3000, HANOVER STREET, PALO ALTO, CA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KLINE DANIEL S 732 FOXGLOVE STREET, ENCINITAS, CA 92024
2 YAMAMOTO JUNJI 10624 RANCHO CARMEL DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92128
3 CHEN CHEE MENG BLK 130 SIMEL STREET 1 #10-239, SINGAPORE, 520130
PCT International Classification Number B41J/175,25/304
PCT International Application Number PCT/US2000/32534
PCT International Filing date 2000-11-30
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 09/477,644 2000-01-05 U.S.A.