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US 6,305,786 B1Granted
Unit print head assembly for an ink-jet printer
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorsLawrence R. Plotkin, Bruce Cowger, Donald B. Ouchida, Robert R. Beeson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A print head assembly that is removably mounted to a carriage. The print head assembly fits within a socket defined by the carriage. Exposed electrical leads in the socket and the print head assembly body are brought into contact when the assembly is inserted into the carriage socket.
Claims20
A pen assembly for an ink-jet printer, comprising:
- a carriage member defining a socket therein and having a first set of conductive leads attached thereto, the first set of leads having ends that are exposed to protrude into the socket;
- a print head assembly removably mounted to the carriage and carrying an ink-jet print head and a second set of conductive leads connected to the print head, the second set of leads being shaped to define exposed ends, part of the print head assembly fitting into the socket so that the ends of the first set of leads contact the ends of the second set of leads thereby providing conductive paths between the first set of leads and the second set of leads, the ends of the second set of leads protruding outwardly from the print head toward an end wall of the socket assembly so that the ends of the first set of leads obstruct movement of the ends of the second set of leads when the print head assembly is removed from the carriage member, thereby to resist removal of the print head assembly from the carriage member;
- and
- an ink supply coupled to the carriage member for supplying ink to the print head.
1 more element
A pen assembly for an ink-jet printer, comprising:
- a carriage member defining a socket therein and having a first set of conductive leads attached thereto, the first set of leads having ends that are exposed to protrude into the socket at opposing outer walls of the socket;
- a print head assembly removably mounted to the carriage member and carrying an ink-jet print head and a second set of conductive leads connected to the print head, the second set of leads having ends that are exposed to protrude outwardly toward the opposing outer walls of the socket, part of the print head assembly fitting into the socket so that the ends of the first set of leads contact the ends of the second set of leads thereby providing conductive paths between the first set of leads and the second set of leads;
- and
- the ends of the first set of leads and the second set of leads, snapping together so that the ends of the second set of leads fit beneath the ends of the first set of leads whenever the print head assembly is mounted to the carriage member, thereby securing the print head assembly to the carriage member.
1 more element
A method of mounting a print head to a carriage member so that the print head and carriage member are electrically connected, comprising the steps of:
- providing in the carriage member a socket having a first set of conductive leads attached thereto, the first set of leads having ends that are exposed to protrude into the socket;
- attaching to the print head a body member that carries a second set of leads that are connected to the print head;
- arranging the second set of leads so that ends of the second set of leads are exposed to protrude outwardly from the body member toward an end wall of the socket;
- and
- moving the body member into the socket so that the exposed ends of the second set of leads snap-fit beneath the exposed ends of the first set of leads.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.