Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-01
2001-09-11
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286949
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ink-jet printing systems, and more particularly, ink-jet printing systems which make use of ink containers that are replaceable separate from a printhead.
Inkjet printers frequently make use of an inkjet printhead mounted to a carriage which is moved back and fourth across a print media, such as paper. As the printhead is moved across the print media, a control system activates the printhead to deposit ink droplets onto the print media to form images and text.
Previously used printers have made use of an ink container that is separably replaceable from the printhead. When the ink cartridge is exhausted the ink cartridge is removed and replaced with a new ink container. The use of replaceable ink containers that are separate from the printhead allow users to replace the ink container without replacing the printhead. The printhead is then replaced at or near the end of printhead life and not when the ink container is exhausted.
Previously used off-axis ink delivery systems have made use of a memory device located in the ink container for altering the printhead drive conditions based on the information stored in the memory device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,611 to Ujita et al discloses the use of a memory device having electric terminals for providing drive conditions to the printhead. These drive conditions include drive voltage, pulse width, frequency, and the number of preliminary discharges. The memory device is mounted to the outer surface of the ink cartridge so that electrical contacts for the memory device are spaced apart on the outer surface of the ink cartridge. As the ink cartridge is inserted into the ink-jet printer, electric terminals associated with the bubble-jet printer contact the electric terminals associated with the ink cartridge.
It is important that the ink container and printer form proper electrical connection to ensure proper printer operation. Proper electrical connection requires that each electrical contact associated with the ink container be electrically connected to a corresponding electrical contact associated with the printer portion. In addition, each of these electrical connections should be a reliable low resistance electrical connection.
There is an ever present need for printing systems which are capable of providing low operating costs such as printers which make use of off-axis type ink supplies. In addition, these printing systems should be easy to operate, such as, including some form of memory for storing printing parameters so that the user is not required to adjust printer parameters when the ink container is replaced. These ink supplies should be capable of reliable insertion into the printing system to ensure proper fluid interconnection and proper electrical interconnection with the printer is achieved. In addition, these interconnections should be reliable and should not degrade over time and use. For example, the fluid interconnect should not leak during use or over time and the electrical interconnect should be reliable during use and over time. In addition, these ink cartridges should not require special handling by the user and should be reliable and easily connected by the user to form a positive highly reliable mechanical, electrical, and fluid interconnect with the printer.
These ink containment systems should be capable of providing ink at high flow rates to a printhead thereby allowing high throughput printing. This ink supply system should be cost effective to allow relatively low cost per page printing. In addition, the ink supply should be capable of providing ink at high flow rates in a reliable manner to the printhead.
Finally, electrical interconnection between the ink container and printer should be reliable without requiring relatively large contact force. The use of relatively large contact force tends to improve the reliability of the electrical interconnect. Large contact force interconnects tend to require increased latch and insertion forces which tend to result in increased costs due to higher force latch springs and larger latching surfaces. Therefore, the electrical interconnect should be capable of providing high reliability and requiring relatively low interconnect forces.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular ink delivery system is incorporated in an inkjet printer to facilitate manual replacement of individual ink modules in an ink supply station on the printer frame. A rigid interface component on the printer carries an electrical connector, an ink connection needle, and an air connection needle which are sized and shaped to match an electrical contact, an ink septum and an air septum on the ink module. The interface component is spring loaded in order to rest in either a forward parking position against a backplate or a rearward floating position that allows the interface component to move and rotate some distance in all directions in order to achieve proper alignment position when engaged by the ink module. In an exemplary embodiment wherein four separate ink modules are mounted on the ink supply station, each interface component is capable of independent movement in order to accommodate large tolerances between the ink module and the interface component.
Additional alignment features for achieving satisfactory mounting of the ink supply module in the ink supply station include providing some limited lateral movement of the electrical connector relative to the interface component. In this regard an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a separate electrical adaptor holding conductive wires and mounted in a lateral slot between flexible arms on the interface component.
Ink leakage is minimized by providing a resilient humidor surrounding the ink connection needle adjacent a needle hole. A biasing spring assures sealing contact between a face of the humidor and the ink septum during ink flow from the ink module through the ink connection needle.
Since operation of the printer is dependent upon satisfactory engagement between each ink module and its respective interface component, the electrical interconnect does not make conductive contact with the electrical contacts until after the ink and air connections have occurred. Thus signal transmission with the ink module provides confirmation of successful installation while non-transmission is indicative of incomplete installation or removal of an ink module.
The present invention is a replaceable ink container for providing ink to an off axis printing system. The printing system responsive to electrical signals from the replaceable ink container for controlling printer parameters. The ink container has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a direction of insertion of the ink container into the printing system. The replaceable ink container includes a fluid outlet disposed toward the leading edge. The fluid outlet is configured for fluid connection to a hollow needle associated with the printing system. The hollow needle extends in a direction opposite the insertion direction. Included in the ink container is a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the ink container. The plurality of electrical contacts are configured for engagement with complementary electrical contacts associated with the printing system. Also included in the ink container is a guide member extending from the ink container along the insertion direction. The guide member is configured for engaging a tapered guide member receiving slot associated with the printing system. This engaging repositions the complementary electrical contacts relative to the hollow needle to ensure proper alignment of complementary electrical contacts with the plurality of electrical contacts during insertion of the ink container into the printing system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4568954 (1986-02-01), Rosback
patent: 5917526 (1999-06-01), Wilson et al.
Gasvoda Eric L
Lewis Richard H
Puchal Xavier Gasso
Torgerson Curtis N.
Wilson Rhonda L
Hewlett--Packard Company
Le N.
Vo Anh T. N.
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