Printhead-carriage alignment and electrical interconnect lock-in mechanism
USRE37671E1 · kind E1 · reissue
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) is provided comprising: a carriage (12); a snap-spring (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in postion on the carriage; and an interconnect strip (16) for supplying electrical signals to the cartridge, including a force loading spring pad (24) for urging a portion of the interconnect strip against a portion of the cartridge. The cartridge has top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and includes a printhead (44) on the bottom surface, an electrical contact strip (46) on the back surface connected to the printhead, referencing pads (56) on the side surface, and a lip (64) on the back surface for accepting the snap-spring. Referencing surface (60) are provided for receiving the referencing pads on the cartridge. The spring pad urges the interconnect strip against the electrical contact of the cartridge. The printhead cartridge/carriage assembly of the invention requires only one hand of the operator to both insert and lock the cartridge in position. Further, the cartridge/carriage assembly provides simultaneous alignment of the printhead in the X, Y, and Z directions. Finally, contact between the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.