Patent ID: 7815288
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink jet printing apparatus capable of printing an image on a printing medium with a movement of a carriage on which a head cartridge is mounted to be detachable, the head cartridge being mounted with an ink tank to be replaceable and being equipped with a printing head capable of ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank, comprising: a carriage side connecting portion, which is provided in the carriage, forming a transmission route for a control signal of the printing head, and being connected by pressure contact with a head cartridge side connecting portion provided in the head cartridge; pressure contact means for connecting the head cartridge side connecting portion and the carriage side connecting portion by pressure contact when the head cartridge is mounted on the carriage; locking means for fixing the head cartridge to the carriage when the head cartridge is mounted on the carriage, and releasing a fixation of the head cartridge by receiving a releasing operation; and obstructing means for obstructing the releasing operation of the locking means while maintaining a connection between the head cartridge side connecting portion and the carriage side connecting portion by the pressure contact means when the ink tank is mounted on the head cartridge, and for enabling the releasing operation of the locking means when the ink tank is not mounted on the head cartridge, wherein the locking means is equipped with a set lever attached to be rotatable with the carriage, wherein the locking means fixes the head cartridge to the carriage in such a manner that the set lever is locked at a specific rotating position, and releases a fixation of the head cartridge in such a manner that a lock of the set lever is released, wherein the locking means is equipped with a hook releasing the lock of the set lever in such a manner that the hook is operated in a lock releasing direction, and wherein the obstructing means obstructs the hook to be operated in the lock releasing direction when the ink tank is mounted on the head cartridge, and enables to operate the hook in the lock releasing direction when the ink tank is not mounted on the head cartridge.