Printhead cartridge latching assembly
AssigneeAddmaster Corporation
InventorJingsong Alan Shen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for holding and securing a printer cartridge to a printer that is easy to use and manipulate. The apparatus utilizes a number of mechanical features including cams and pivoting pins to move the cartridge axially so that the cartridge contacts a contact strip and exert force on the cartridge in a generally downward direction to secure the cartridge from moving. Preferred methods for assembling and using the apparatus are disclosed.
Claims25
A printer carriage comprising a body defining a chute for receiving a printer cartridge, a pivot member on the body for pivot communication with a latching mechanism, wherein the latching mechanism comprises at least one cam, a detent means, and a pivoting receiver for pivot communication with the pivot member on the body, wherein the pivoting receiver rotates about the pivot member to impart motion to the at least one cam, and wherein the at least one cam pushes the printer cartridge axially in a first direction against a first surface and holds the printer cartridge fixedly in a second direction against a second surface to secure the printer cartridge in a ready position, and wherein the detent means engages with a portion of the body to hold the printer cartridge in the ready position.
A printer carriage for,housing a cartridge inside a printer, said carriage comprising a body defining a chute and a latching mechanism for securing said cartridge with said chute;
- said carriage including a tab for locking engagement with said latching mechanism;
- said latching mechanism including at least one cam positioned on a support plate, at least one locking means for locking engagement with said tab, at least one actuating arm for releasing said locking means from said tab to relcase said latching mechanism from said body and at least one pivoting means, for rotating said latching mechanism from a first position lo a second position about a pivoting axis, such that said cam pushes said cartridge into a ready position with said chute.
A printer cartridge holder comprising:
- a housing having a cavity adapted to receive a printer cartridge;
- a latch, pivotally attached to the housing, that is movable relative to the housing, the latch having a first position in which the cartridge is latched in the cavity and a second position in which the cartridge is removable from the cavity;
- a cam movable with the latch such that the cam engages and urges the cartridge into the cavity in the first position and such that the cam disengages and frees the cartridge so the cartridge can move out of the cavity in the second position;
- means for securing the latch in the first position;
- means for releasing the latch from the first position so the latch can be moved to the second position;
- and
- wherein the latch comprises a yoke having opposite arms that fit around the housing and the securing means comprises openings in the opposite arms and detents positioned on the housing to capture the openings in the first position.
A printer cartridge holder comprising:
- a housing having a cavity adapted to receive a printer cartridge having one or more electrical contacts;
- a latch that is movable relative to the housing, the latch having a first position in which the cartridge is latched in the cavity, a second position in which the cartridge is removable from the cavity, and a pair of actuating arms for releasing the latch from the first position;
- one or more electrical contacts mounted on the housing so as to establish an electrical connection with the contacts on the cartridge when the latch is in the first position;
- a cam movable with the latch such that the cam engages and urges the cartridge into the cavity in the first position and such that the cam disengages and frees the cartridge so the cartridge can move out of the cavity in the second position;
- means for securing the latch in the first position;
- and
- means for releasing the latch from the first position so the latch can be moved to the second position, and wherein the means for releasing the latch comprises said pair of actuating arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.