Patent ID: 6238039
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink-jet pen carriage assembly for an ink-jet printer having a printing axis constituting a x-axis, a print media transport axis constituting a y-axis, and an ink drop firing axis constituting a z-axis, the assembly comprising:a carriage;a movable pen latch having an open position and a closed position;a positioning mechanism associated with the movable pen latch; anda positioning mechanism retainer associated with the carriage, wherein the carriage and the movable pen latch are each provided with complementary interfit devices such that when the movable pen latch is in a closed position, the carriage and the movable pen latch are held by the interfit devices with zero clearance interfit in at least one axis selected from said x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis such that torsional deflections of the carriage are reduced, and wherein the interfit devices include at least one pen latch retainer on the carriage and each pen latch retainer includes wedge-configured receivers having receiver mating surfaces for providing y-axis constraint, and a protruding arm on the pen latch, the arm including a pivot having a surface wherein the pivot is interfit against the mating surfaces such that the movable pen latch can be rotated between the open position and the closed position and the interfit provides y-axis, z-axis, theta-y and theta-z constraints for each pen.