Multiple print/cartridge ink jet printer having accurate vertical interpositioning

In ink jet printing apparatus of the kind which includes means for advancing a print medium along a feed path so that successive line portions move sequentially past a linear print zone and which is adapted for use with a print/cartridge of the type including an ink reservoir, drop generator elements, electrical leads to such elements and an orifice plate having a linear array of orifices aligned with respective drop generator elements, a print/cartridge interface construction for accurately positioning a plurality of such print/cartridges for cooperative printing and comprising:

• (a) carriage means, including a plurality of integral print/cartridge support means and mounted for movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone;
• (b) a plurality of referencing surfaces, each constructed on said carriage means in alignment with a respective print/cartridge support means, said referencing surfaces comprising knife edge portions precisely parallel to the direction of carriage means traverse;
• and
• (c) indexing means for urging received print/cartridges into a condition wherein an edge surface of their orifice plates are indexed to said knife edge portions.

In ink jet printing apparatus of the kind which includes means for advancing a print medium along a feed path so that successive line portions move sequentially past a linear print zone and which is adapted for use with a print/cartridge of the type including an ink reservoir, drop generator elements, electrical leads to such elements and an orifice plate having a linear array of orifices aligned with respective drop generator elements, a print/cartridge interface construction for accurately positioning a plurality of such print/cartridges for cooperative printing and comprising:

• (a) a plurality of support means, each mounted for movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone, for receiving such print/cartridges;
• (b) a plurality of referencing surfaces, each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print/cartridge support means, said referencing surfaces being precisely colinear and parallel to the direction of support means traverse;
• (c) a plurality of terminal means each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print/cartridge support means;
• and
• (d) indexing means for urging received print/cartridges into a condition wherein a detent portion of its orifice plate is indexed to the referencing surface on its receiving support means and its electrical leads are operatively coupled to respective terminal means.

In ink jet printing apparatus of the kind which includes means for advancing a print medium along a feed path so that successive line portions move sequentially past a linear print zone and which is adapted for use with a print head of the type including drop generator elements, electrical leads to such elements and an orifice plate having a linear orifice array predeterminedly spaced from, and oriented substantially perpendicular to, a linear edge of the orifice plate, a print head interface construction for accurately positioning a plurality of such print heads for cooperative printing and comprising:

• (a) a plurality of support means, each mounted for integral movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone, for receiving such print heads;
• (b) a plurality of linear knife edge surfaces, each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print head support means, said knife edge surfaces being precisely parallel to the direction of support means traverse;
• (c) a plurality of terminal means each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print head support means;
• and
• (d) indexing means for urging received print heads into a condition wherein the linear edge of its orifice plate is indexed to the knife edge of its receiving support means and its electrical leads are operatively coupled to respective terminal means.

In ink jet printing apparatus of the type having feed means for advancing successive line portions of a print medium past a linear print zone, a system for printing with a plurality of removable print/cartridges comprising:

• (a) a plurality of print/cartridge carriages constructed to traverse said print zone in a common direction and removably support such print/cartridges;
• (b) a plurality of referencing surfaces respectively on each of said carriages, said surfaces being parallel to the direction of said carriages' traverse;
• and
• (c) fastening means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective referencing surfaces of said carriages;
• each of said carriages including means for supporting a print/cartridge in a coarsely located position with the detent surface of the print/cartridge spaced from said referencing surface and cam means for moving a print/cartridge into said precise detent relation.