EP1647405A1 - Apparatus for hermetically transporting and storing a replaceable ink cartridge for use in ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder (18) consists of a single-piece molded plastic part with a base part (BP) (19) linked to a rear wall (20) bent at a right-angle and left (21) and right (22) cheeks. On the BP there is a seal (45) and an element that prevents movement in an ink cartridge in a direction towards the rear wall if pushed or swiveled in.

Description

The invention relates to a holder for tightly transporting and storing an ink cartridge filled with ink and a printhead with nozzle plate containing replaceable cartridge for an ink jet printer.

Such a holder is known from German Patent DE 43 44 746 of the Applicant. Although the device is sold in large numbers and has received general recognition in the market, there are problems under certain conditions. These problems do not affect the attachment of a cartridge by means of the pawl system in the holder or the subsequent release, but have their cause in lateral tolerances between the holder and cartridge, which may vary depending on the type of production. It has been found that these tolerances can lead to minimal movements between the nozzle plate and seal with vibrations or shock-like accelerations, as they may occur especially during transport. This can lead to a, albeit small, smearing of the ink always tends to be more finely liquid on the nozzle plate with subsequent drying with possibly adverse consequences. Increased risk of malfunctions in color cartridges, which have several ink chambers for different colors and each associated with a nozzle nozzles. In the course of higher print resolutions, the nozzles have become ever finer and more closely adjacent. Escaping ink may therefore lead to blending with me or a different color Capillary effect even get into a wrong nozzle. The obvious solution to this problem, namely an increase in the pressure of the nozzle plate to the seal with the conventional pawl systems only with a deteriorated ease of use (greater force when snapping and loosening) to buy. Excessive contact pressure is also disadvantageous for the increasingly filigree nozzle plates.

The object of the invention is to provide holders of the type in question in such a way that while retaining the otherwise commercially available features that can be prevented by vibrations or shocks possible disadvantages. In other words, a cartridge despite different manufacturing tolerances should be included in the holder so that even small movements are prevented, with the best possible sealing effect to protect the nozzle plates is to be guaranteed.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention with the features listed in claim 1.

By the spring element according to the invention, the cartridge is laterally clamped so that a movement is prevented. Since the spring element can be formed as a plastic tongue in one piece with the holder, there are neither higher material or manufacturing costs, nor the necessary space required by the holder is increased. Since the spring element automatically takes effect when inserted or swung in, the operator notices any difference to previous holders.

In the context of the invention, one or two opposing spring elements may be provided on the cheeks, wherein an arrangement with two opposing spring elements is particularly suitable for wide cartridges.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention relate to preferred forms and the arrangements of the spring elements as part of the cartridge.

Figur 1

einen schmalen Halter mit nur einem Feder element in Seitenansicht;

Figur 2

den gleichen Halter mit eingesetzter Patrone;

Figur 3

den gleichen Halter perspektivisch schräg von vorne;

Figur 4

eine ähnliche Ansicht für einen breiten Halter mit zwei Federelementen mit Darstellung einer Dichtung;

Figur 5

perspektivisch die Rückseite des gleichen Halters, und

Figur 6

eine Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Halters mit installierter Dichtung.

Based on the embodiments shown in the figures, the invention will be explained in more detail. Show it:

FIG. 1

a narrow holder with only one spring element in side view;

FIG. 2

the same holder with inserted cartridge;

FIG. 3

the same holder in perspective obliquely from the front;

FIG. 4

a similar view for a wide holder with two spring elements showing a seal;

FIG. 5

in perspective, the back of the same holder, and

FIG. 6

a representation of another embodiment of a holder according to the invention with installed seal.

A holder 1 for receiving a cartridge 2 has a bottom part 3, which merges into a rear wall 4 substantially at right angles. Between bottom part 3 and rear wall 4 side cheeks 5 and 6 are arranged. On the bottom part 3, a receptacle 7 is provided for a seal (not shown in Figure 1). The upper part of the rear wall 4 is provided with a pawl system 8, the od in a counterpart to the cartridge latched fastening edge 9 or the. Like. Furthermore, the pawl system 8 has a handle 10 for releasing the detent. To facilitate the latching or loosening 4 slots may be arranged in the rear wall, which make at least the upper part of the rear wall elastically deformable. The cartridge 2 has an integrally formed print head 11 with a nozzle plate, which is pivoted into the lower part of the holder 1. For this purpose, the print head 11 is hooked behind two ribs 12 and 13. Then, the cartridge 2 is pivoted about the imaginary pivot axis between the two ribs in the direction of the rear wall 4. In the cheek 5, a U-shaped opening 14 is provided in the lower region. The two legs 15 and 16 extend parallel to the bottom part 3. The part between the legs 15 and 16 is angled obliquely inwards and serves as a leaf spring 17. This integrally formed with the cheeks leaf spring 17 is contacted when swung from the print head 11 at its slope, increasingly deformed by the pivoting movement and thereby presses the print head 11 and the cartridge 2 backlash to the opposite cheek. 6

A holder 18 of another embodiment is shown in Figures 4 and 5 and has a bottom part 19, to which a rear wall 20 connects. Lateral cheeks 21 and 22 connect the bottom part 19 and rear wall 20. On the bottom part 19 there is a receptacle 23 for a non-assembled state shown seal 45 for sealing the nozzle plate of a cartridge to be inserted into the holder.

The seal 45 has a substantially cuboid base body made of a rubber-elastic material on which in the embodiment, three transverse to the position of the rear wall arranged sealing webs 46 are formed protruding. The position and extent of these sealing webs 46 is adapted to the position of the rows of nozzles of the male cartridge so that the rows of nozzles are each sealed reliably individually when inserted and locked cartridge. Depending on the cartridge type, the seal 45 is therefore designed differently; For example, in a holder for a monochrome print cartridge with only one row of nozzles even a single sealing bar would be provided (not shown). Depending on the orientation of the nozzle rows, the sealing webs 46 can also be arranged parallel to the position of the rear wall (cf., the seal 45 ', FIG. For cartridge types with the same outer geometry, but different nozzle geometries, the same type of holder can be adapted by using differently shaped seals 45.

The above-described embodiment of the seal 45 has various advantages: In this way, the pressure forces are concentrated on the area of the nozzle rows and their immediate surroundings. As a result, a stronger and thus more reliable contact pressure is achieved at a lower overall total compressive force compared to a full-surface planar design of the seal. Furthermore, no pressing forces are exerted on certain printhead structures outside the rows of nozzles. The arranged in these areas in some print cartridges sensitive components and structures are thereby protected from damage. Furthermore, the formation of separate sealing webs for each row of nozzles in color cartridges, that problematic mixing between the colors due to the capillary effect can be excluded in principle. Since the individual nozzle rows are close to each other in conventional print cartridges, the above-described measure can be the separate sealing webs are particularly advantageous then applied when the cartridge is exactly centered by the action of the spring elements during insertion. However, the seals with sealing webs described above can also be used in principle for holders of other types in which the required centering of the cartridges is ensured.

The receptacle for the seal 45 may be dovetailed undercut to immovably fix the deformable seal 45 by snapping and by means of ribs 24 and 25. On the bottom part, two more symmetrical ribs 26 and 27 are arranged, the upper aligned edges 28 and 29 serve as a pivot axis for the cartridge to be used. The ribs 26 and 27 also prevent outward movement of the inserted cartridge. The attachment of the cartridge is carried out essentially by a locking device in the manner of a pawl 30, which is arranged on the upper part 31 of the rear wall 20. Incidentally, the upper part 31 is arched inwardly approximately in the shape of a quarter circle in order to at least partially overlap the inserted cartridge. The part 31 terminates in a handle 32 which allows the part 31 elastically deformed towards the rear wall 20, thus facilitating the release of the pawl. The elastic deformation is assisted in particular by two slots 33 and 34 which separate the part 31 from the cheeks 21 and 22. In the cheeks 21 and 22 U-shaped apertures 35 and 36 are arranged, the legs 37 and 38 and 39 and 40 away from the rear wall 20 and are arranged parallel to the bottom part 19. The area lying between the legs 37 and 38 or 39 and 40 is obliquely deformed inwards and thus forms leaf springs 41 and 42. Spacer ribs 43 on the rear wall 20 are used to create the cartridge. Recesses 44 on the spacer ribs 43 correspond to the Pivoting radius of the print head or of the printhead-containing lot of the cartridge, which eventually contacts the leaf springs 41 and 42 during pivoting, wherein the inwardly facing bevel serves as an insertion bevel. With increasing swivel angle the Blattfern 41 and 42 are then increasingly deformed until the cartridge finally engages. The cartridge is then centered on the one hand by the detent and the ribs 26 and 27 and positively fixed and secured in the transverse direction by the tension of the leaf springs 41 and 42 frictionally against displacement by shock or vibration. The positively driven pivotal movement of the cartridge during insertion and removal avoids the nozzle row of the printhead being able to be pulled planar over the seal, which could result in undesirable smudging of ink deposits on the printhead surface.

A further embodiment of the holder according to the invention is shown in Figure 6, wherein the same effect parts are provided with respect to the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 with the same reference numerals.

Compared with the embodiments described so far end in the holder 18 of Figure 6, the side cheeks 21, 22 already at the height at which the rear wall merges into a bending elastic arcuate upper portion 31 with a pawl 30 and a handle 32, the locking unit for Cartridge forms and the top of the cartridge partially surmounted. Thus, in this embodiment, no slots in the rear wall in the upper region of the rear wall are required. Furthermore, the bottom part 19 is not formed flat as in the embodiments described above, but formed of two approximately mirror-symmetrically shaped wings, which at the bottom in each case Form support runners and converge at the top to a receptacle for the seal 45 '. The seal 45 'has three sealing ribs 46' in adaptation to the male ink cartridge.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 are - in addition to the spring elements 41, 42 for centering the cartridge between the cheeks 21, 22 - two further spring elements 47, 48 are provided which cause a biasing force against the locking direction when inserting the cartridge. As a result, on the one hand a play and tolerance-free locking of the cartridge is also achieved in the direction transverse to the rear wall. On the other hand could be achieved with a correspondingly strong dimensioning of the springs (although this is not provided in the illustrated embodiment) that the cartridge when operating the handle 32 and thus effected release of the cartridge by the pawl 30 the user by the spring action quasi quasi jumps. In this case, the force-locking clamping of the cartridge would be overcome by the two integrated in the cheeks 21, 22 spring elements 41, 42 by the action of spring elements 47, 48 in the rear wall. The cartridge would thus upon actuation of the handle 32 - with suitable dimensioning of the spring elements 41, 42 - pivoted automatically by a small angle from the holder, so that the pawl when releasing the handle 32 could no longer engage.

Both located on the cheeks and in the rear wall spring elements are formed closed in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6; ie, that the leaf-spring-like plastic tape is formed respectively at both ends to the holder, so that several, loose - transported, for example, in a box - holder during transport not with each other at the ends of leaf spring tongues can get caught in each other. To form the spring elements 47, 48 closed, they each have lower hinge-like parts 49, 50, which are designed to be more elastic (thinner) than the upper sections forming the actual spring. The first insertion of a cartridge in the holder, the hinge-like parts 49, 50 are bent over to the rear wall. Even after removal of the cartridge, the hinge-like parts 49, 50 do not completely return to their original position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

holder

2

cartridge

3

baseplate

4

rear wall

5.6

Wangen

7

admission

8th

Ratchet system

9

attachment edge

10

handle

11

printhead

12.13

ribs

14

breakthrough

15.16

leg

17

leaf spring

18

holder

19

baseplate

20

rear wall

21.22

Wangen

23

admission

24,25,26,27

ribs

28.29

edge

30

pawl

31

part

32

handle

33.34

slots

35.36

breakthroughs

37,38,39,40

leg

41.42

leaf springs

43

Distance rib

44

recess

45.45 '

seals

46.46 '

sealing bars

47.48

spring elements

49,50

hinge parts

Claims (10)

A holder for tightly transporting and storing an ink cartridge filled with ink and containing a printhead with nozzle plate for an ink jet printer, which is held within an ink jet printer by means of a resilient deformation acting latching system in working position and for this purpose a latch-like undercut mounting edge, a latch or has corresponding elevations or depressions, wherein a) the holder (1, 18) has a bottom part (3, 19) with an adjoining, substantially rectangular angled rear wall (4, 20) and with two lateral cheeks (5, 6, 21, 22), b) a receptacle (7; 23) for a seal (45, 45 ') is provided in the bottom part (3; 19), c) on the bottom part (19) and / or on the side cheeks (5,6) at least one wall, a web, a rib (26,27; 12,13) od. Like. Is arranged, which movement of the inserted or pivoted cartridge in a direction away from the rear wall (20; 4) direction prevents d) the rear wall (4; 20) has a fastening part corresponding to the fastening edge, the latching lug or the like and acts on the cartridge with pretension in the direction of the nozzle plate and a handle (10, 32) for releasing the fastening,
characterized in that
At least one spring element (17, 41, 42) is arranged on one or both cheeks (5, 21, 22), which upon insertion and / or pivoting of the cartridge (2) into the holder (1, 18) via a Insertion bevel or the like is increasingly stretched directly or via an intermediate piece while the cartridge (2) for the purpose of play-free attachment toward the other cheek applied. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that in the region of the rear wall (20) at least one further spring element (47, 48) is provided, which is tensioned upon insertion of the cartridge and then a biasing force on the cartridge in one of the rear wall (20). direction. Holder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a part of said spring elements (5; 21,22; 47,48) has a closed contour, by means of which interlocking of individual loose holders is avoided. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the seal (45,45 ') has a base body and a matched to the shape and position of a row of nozzles sealing ridge or more adapted to the shape and position of several rows of nozzles sealing webs (46,46 '), wherein with inserted cartridge only the sealing web or the sealing webs (46, 46 ') bear against the respective nozzle row (s), but the basic body does not. Holder according to claim 4, characterized in that the shape of the at least one sealing web (46) is selected so that the at least one row of nozzles of the print head is just reliably sealed, wherein in the presence of several rows of nozzles each row of nozzles a separate, remote from the remaining sealing webs sealing web (46) is assigned. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one or more of said spring elements (5; 21,22; 47,48) - Are formed as a leaf spring and / or - Are formed of plastic and / or - Are integrally formed with the respective spring element surrounding, also formed of plastic molded part. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that arranged in at least one cheek (5, 21, 22) in the form of a U, a V, a trapezoidal or the like, with the legs (15, 16, 37 , 38 bzw.39,40) of the rear wall (4; 20) and / or the bottom part substantially opposite to the insertion or Einschwenkrichtung the cartridge at the relevant point forward breakthrough (14; 35, 36) is arranged and between the Legs (15, 16, 37, 38 and 39, 40) lying over the inner surface of the cheek (5; 21, 22) out in the direction of the opposite cheek in the sense of a leaf spring (17; 41, 42) is deformed with insertion bevel. Holder according to claim 7, characterized in that the deformation has substantially the thickness of the associated cheek and is substantially planar. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one spring element for biasing in the direction of the cheeks (7; 41, 42) is arranged approximately at the level of the sealing plane between the seal and the nozzle plate. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that - apart from the seal (45,45 ') as a one-piece plastic part - is formed.

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