Patent ID: 6499826
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A carriage structure for a front-loading ink jet printer, which carriage structure is loadable with an ink jet print cartridge by horizontal inserting motion of the ink jet print cartridge along a horizontal action line extending into the printer and carriage structure, said carriage structure comprising:said carriage structure defining a chute opening horizontally for insertion of an ink jet print cartridge along said horizontal action line; said chute including a rear wall, and a pair of horizontally spaced apart and vertically extending side walls extending forwardly from said rear wall and forwardly relative to said printer to receive between them said ink jet cartridge in response to said horizontal inserting motion; each of said pair of side walls defining a respective one of a pair of inwardly extending rails extending generally horizontally along said side walls and into said chute toward said rear wall for establishing therebetween said horizontal action line, and said pair of rails cooperatively defing an upwardly disposed and open rail surface adjacent to an upper extent of said pair of side walls for supporting and guiding said ink jet print cartridge horizontally into said carriage structure during said horizontal inserting motion; and wherein each of said pair of rails extends generally horizontally, and is inclined upward as it extends into said chute toward said rear wall.