Patent ID: 6378985
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B41J,H05K

Abstract:
Apparatus for controllably movably aligning a shape-retaining flexible circuit relative to an ink jet printer carriage, said apparatus comprising:a planar elongate shape-retaining flexible circuit, said flexible circuit having a shape-retaining planar termination portion with an array of connector pads; a printer carriage having a chute for receiving an ink jet printer cartridge, said chute leading said ink jet printer cartridge into juxtaposition with a planar wall portion of said printer carriage, said termination portion and said wall portion being in substantially parallel and controlled translationally movable, but non-rotational, juxtaposition to one another so as to present said array of connector pads at said chute in congruence to a matching array of contact pads on said ink jet printer cartridge; each of said wall portion and said termination portion defining respective parts of plural slidably-associated connecting features for slidably connecting said termination portion and said wall portion, and said slidably associated connecting features being arrayed so as to: allow relative movement of said termination portion and wall portion perpendicular to the substantially parallel planes of each, and so as to allow controlled relative translational movement of said termination portion and wall portion parallel to the planes of each, while cooperatively constraining said termination portion against rotation in its plane relative to said wall portion; and said plural slidably associated connecting features cooperatively defining an instant center at which both said wall portion and said termination portion are substantially fixed against relative translational movement parallel to the plane of each, whereby, said array of connector pads of said flexible circuit is controllably movable in translation relative to said chute and wall portion both perpendicular to and parallel to said plane of said termination portion, and is constrained against rotation in said plane relative to said wall portion, but said array of connector pads is also positioned certainly relative to said wall portion and chute by said instant center.