Abstract:
A printing apparatus including a separable ink cartridge, a body, and an isolating mechanism is provided. The ink cartridge is formed with a first electronic pad. The body is formed with a circuit board having a second electronic pad. During the installation of the ink cartridge, the isolating mechanism allows the first electronic pad and the second electronic pad to isolate from each other for preventing abrasion. When the ink cartridge reaches to a predetermined position, the function of the isolating mechanism will cease to allow the first electronic pad to contact the second electronic pad.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the right of priority based on Taiwan Patent Application No. 095143946 entitled “PRINTING APPARATUS HAVING INJECT CARTRIDGE,” filed on Nov. 28, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference and assigned to the assignee herein. 
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is generally related to a printing apparatus, especially to a printing apparatus having an ink cartridge. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]      FIGS. 1 ,  2 A- 2 C, and  3 A- 3 B illustrate a conventional inkjet printer  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inkjet printer  100  includes an ink cartridge  110 , an ink supplier  120 , a driving element  130 , and the ink supplier  120  and the driving element  130  are fixed on a body  150 . The ink cartridge  110  includes a first electronic pad  111  contacting with a second electronic pad  131  on the driving element  130 , which allows the ink cartridge  110  to receive electronic signals from the driving element  130  and then drives the ink cartridge  100  to eject ink. Therefore, whether the first electronic pad  111  and the second electronic pad  131  have a good contact is critical to the operation of the inkjet printer  100 . 
         [0004]    The conventional ink cartridge  110  includes a needle  112  configured to insert into a hole  121  of the ink supplier  120 . Therefore, in order to allow the needle  112  to be easily inserted into the hole  121 , the ink cartridge  110  must be vertically installed on the body  150  along the path as shown by the dotted line of  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate the cross section views of the conventional ink cartridge  110  during installation. As shown in  FIGS. 2B-2C , the first electronic pad  111  and the second electronic pad  131  rub with each other. After multiple times of installation, abrasion occurs on the first electronic pad  111  and the second electronic pad  131 , which further results in the undesired contact failure. In addition, during injection operation, as is known to a person skilled in the art, an ink residue  301  may remain on a location near the ejecting head beneath the first electronic pad  111 . Thus, when the ink cartridge  110  is disengaged from the body  150  as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the second electronic pad  131  will be contaminated by the ink residue  301 . 
         [0005]    Therefore, it is necessary to provide an inkjet printing apparatus for solving or alleviating the problems in the prior art as described above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a printing apparatus having a separable ink cartridge, which includes an isolating mechanism. When the ink cartridge is installed into or disengaged from the body of the printing apparatus, the isolating mechanism can allow the electronic pads on the ink cartridge to isolate from the body and prevent abrasion of the electronic pads. In addition, during the installation or the disengagement, the isolating mechanism of the present invention can allow a plane where the electronic pads of the ink cartridge are located to keep a proper distance from the body and therefore prevent an ink residue remaining on the plane or on the body from touching the electronic pads. 
         [0007]    A printing apparatus using a blocking element as the isolating mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a printing apparatus, which includes an ink cartridge having a first electronic pad; a body having a circuit element, the circuit element having a second electronic pad; and a blocking element selectively disposed on the body or the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge approaches the body for installation, the blocking element isolates the first electronic pad from the second electronic pad. When the blocking element or the ink cartridge engages with the body, the first electronic pad contacts with the second electronic pad. 
         [0008]    In the above-described printing apparatus, the blocking element is selectively disposed on the first plane or the second plane. When there is an ink residue on the first plane or the second plane, the blocking element can allow the first plane to keep a proper distance from the second plane and therefore prevent the first electronic pad or the second electronic pad from touching the ink residue. 
         [0009]    A printing apparatus using a magnetic element as the isolating mechanism is provided. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a printing apparatus, which includes an ink cartridge having a first electronic pad; a first magnetic element disposed on the ink cartridge; a body having a circuit element, the circuit element having a second electronic pad; and a second magnetic element disposed on the body. When the ink cartridge approaches the body for installation, a repulsive force generated from the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element isolates the first electronic pad from the second electronic pad. When the repulsive force disappears, the first electronic pad contacts with the second electronic pad. 
         [0010]    In the above-described printing apparatus, when there is an ink residue on the first plane or the second plane, the repulsive force can allow the first plane to keep a proper distance from the second plane and therefore prevent the first electronic pad or the second electronic pad from touching the ink residue. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURES 
         [0011]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not intended to be limited by the figures of the accompanying drawing, in which like notations indicate similar elements. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an explosive view showing part of a conventional inkjet printer; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of installing an ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of disengaging the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an explosive view showing part of a printing apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of installing an ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the printing apparatus with the ink cartridge engaging with a body in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7A-7C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of disengaging the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-section view of a printing apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 9A-9C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of installing an ink cartridge of a printing apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 10A-10C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of disengaging the ink cartridge of the printing apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 11A-11C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of installing an ink cartridge of a printing apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater details by referring to the drawings that accompany the present application. In these drawings, like notations indicate similar elements. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Descriptions of well-known components, materials, and process techniques are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates an explosive view showing part of a printing apparatus  400  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the printing apparatus  400  includes a body  410  (only illustrating some components), an ink cartridge  420  separably connected to the body  410 , and a blocking element  440 . The ink cartridge  420  includes a plurality of first electronic pads  421  disposed on a first plane  422 ; a nozzle  423  disposed on another plane  424  adjacent to the first plane  422 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the blocking element  440  is disposed on the first plane  422 , and the present invention includes at least one blocking element  440 , preferably including two or more blocking elements  440 . The body  410  includes a circuit element  430  configured to electrically connect to the ink cartridge  420 . The circuit element  430  includes a circuit board  431 , a first resilient element  432 , a circuit board supporter  433 , and a second resilient element  434 . The circuit board  431  includes a second plane  438  with a plurality of second electronic pads  435  (not shown) disposed thereon. When the ink cartridge  420  is installed on the body  410 , the second plane  438  faces the first plane  422 , and the plurality of second electronic pads  435  contact the corresponding first electronic pads  421 , so that the ink cartridge  420  is capable of receiving electronic signals from the circuit board  431  and further driving the nozzle  423  to eject ink. The first resilient element  432  includes a plurality of protrusions  436  corresponding to the second electronic pads  435  respectively, which can facilitate the first electronic pads  421  to tightly contact the second electronic pads  435 . With respect to the number of the first electronic pads  421 , note that the plurality of the first electronic pads  421  shown in the embodiment is for illustration—not limitation. The present invention also includes an embodiment with only one first electronic pad  421 . This likewise applies to the second electronic pads  435  and the protrusion  436 . The circuit board supporter  433  is configured to support the circuit board  431  and the first resilient element  432 . The second resilient element  434  has the function of making the circuit element  430  tightly contact the ink cartridge  420 , and will be described in the following description. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are cross-section views which illustrate the process of installing the ink cartridge  420  on the body  410  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in drawings, the circuit element  433  is connected to a housing  411  of the body  410  through the second resilient element  434 , and the body  410  includes a space  412  for receiving the ink cartridge  410 . 
         [0026]    The arrow shown in  FIG. 5A  represents the installation direction of the ink cartridge  420 , that is, the ink cartridge  420  moves into the space  412  in a direction parallel with the second plane  438 . Note that the blocking element  440  is preferably disposed beneath the first electronic pads  421  (also shown in  FIG. 4 ). Thus, during the illustration, the blocking element  440  moves into the space  412  before the first electronic pads  421  does. 
         [0027]    Next, referring to  FIG. 5B , the ink cartridge  420  continues to be pushed into the space  412 , and hence the second resilient element  434  is compressed. At this time, the blocking element  440  is pressed against the second plane  438  and slides downwards. Since the blocking element  440  is protruded between the first plane  422  and the second plane  438 , it can isolate the first electronic pads  421  from the second electronic pads  435 . Note that, in this embodiment, because the blocking element  440  can slide on the second plane  438 , any electronic pads should be positioned away from the sliding path on the second plane  438 . 
         [0028]    Now refer to  FIG. 5C , showing a configuration, in which the installation is completed. Specifically, the ink cartridge  420  continues to be pushed, so that the blocking element  440  slides into a gap  510  under the second electronic pads  435 . Therefore, the ink cartridge  420  engages with the body  410  and further makes the first electronic pads  421  contact the second electronic pads  435 . At the moment, note that the compressed second resilient element  434  is released and simultaneously generates an elastic force to push the circuit board  431  and then facilitate the circuit element  430  to be much more tightly in contact with the ink cartridge  420 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the printing apparatus  400 , in which the ink cartridge  420  engages with the circuit element  430  (which is part of the body  410 ). For reasons of clarity, other part of the body  410  is not shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the ink cartridge  420  engages with the circuit element  430 , the blocking element  440  is located in the gap  510  under the circuit element  430 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 7A-7C  are schematic cross-section views of the printing apparatus  400  of the first embodiment, which illustrate the process of disengaging the ink cartridge  420  from the body  410 . Please note that there is an ink residue  710  located on the first plane  422  under the blocking element  440 . The arrow shown in  FIG. 7A  represents the disengagement direction of the ink cartridge  420 , that is, the ink cartridge  420  moves out of the space  412  in a direction parallel with the second plane  438 . The configuration shown in  FIG. 7B  can be formed by compressing the second resilient element  434  first and then pushing the ink cartridge  420  upwards. Therefore, as described above, the blocking element  440  can be moved out of the gap  510  and then protruded between the first plane  422  and the second plane  438 , which can isolate the first electronic pads  421  from the second electronic pads  435  and also can prevent the second electronic pads  435  from contacting with the ink residue  710 . The blocking element  440  can be pressed against the second plane  438  and slide away from the body  410 , as shown in  FIG. 7C . 
         [0031]    A second embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically by a cross-section view in  FIG. 8 . The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is the position of the blocking element. In a printing apparatus  800  of the second embodiment, a blocking element  840  is disposed on a second plane  838  of a circuit board  831 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the blocking element  840  is preferably located above second electronic pads  835 , so that the ink cartridge  820  can press against the blocking element  840  and slide relatively during the installation of the ink cartridge  820 . Since the blocking element  840  is now protruded between the first plane  822  and the second plane  838 , it can isolate first electronic pads  821  from the second electronic pads  835 . As aforementioned, it should be noted that any electronic pads should be away from the sliding path of the blocking element  840  on the first plane  822 . Next, please note that the ink cartridge  820  shown in  FIG. 8  further includes a gap  890  for receiving the blocking element  840 . The ink cartridge  820  can be pushed to make the blocking element  840  slide into the gap  890 , thereby cease the blocking function of the blocking element  840  and allow the first electronic pads  821  to contact the second electronic pads  835 . 
         [0032]    Since the disengagement process of the ink cartridge  820  of the printing apparatus  800  is similar with that of the first embodiment of the present invention, the description thereof is omitted. However, please note that, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the ink residues  801  and  802  remain on the first plane  822  and the second plane  838  respectively. The blocking element  840  can isolate the first electronic pads  821  from the ink residue  802  and also can isolate the second electronic pads  835  from the ink residue  801  during the disengaging process of the ink cartridge  820 , as described above. Please note that for illustration purpose, the blocking element  840  of the second embodiment is disposed on the circuit element  830  while being disposed on any other suitable position of the body  801  is also included in the present invention. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 9A-9C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment differs from the previous embodiments in that a magnetic element, instead of the blocking element, is used to perform the isolating mechanism. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 9A , a printing apparatus  900  includes a body  910  and an ink cartridge  920  separably connected to the body  910 . The body  910  includes a circuit element  930  and a space  912  for receiving the ink cartridge  920 , and the circuit element  930  further includes a circuit board  931  and a first resilient element  932  (not shown) connected to the circuit board  931 , wherein the function of the first resilient element  932  has been described above. In this embodiment, the space  921  is defined by a housing  911  of the body  910 . The ink cartridge  920  includes a plurality of first electronic pads  921  disposed on a first plane  922  and a plurality of second resilient element  923  disposed on another plane  924  facing the first plane  922 . The function of the second resilient element  923  will be described in the following. The circuit board  931  includes a plurality of second electronic pads  935  disposed on a second plane  938 . When the ink cartridge  920  is engaged with the body  910 , the second plane  938  is opposite to the first plane  922  and the plurality of second electronic pads  935  are in contact with the corresponding first electronic pads  921  respectively, thereby the ink cartridge  920  can receive electronic signals from the circuit board  931  and then eject ink. 
         [0035]    In addition, as shown in  FIG. 9A , the printing apparatus  900  further includes a first magnetic element  950  disposed in the ink cartridge  920  and a second magnetic element  960  disposed in the body  910 . Specifically, the arrow shown in  FIG. 9A  represents the installation direction of the ink cartridge  920 , that is, the ink cartridge  920  moves into the space  912  in a direction parallel with the second plane  938 . The first magnetic element  950  has a first surface  951  configured to be opposite to a second surface  961  of the second magnetic element  960 . In this embodiment, the circuit element  930  (or the plurality of second electronic pads  935 ) covers the second surface  961 , but the plurality of first electronic pads  921  don&#39;t cover the first surface  951 . During the installation of the ink cartridge  920 , the first magnetic element  950  moves into the space  912  before the first electronic pads  921  moves into the space  912 . Next, referring to  FIG. 9B , when the ink cartridge  920  continues to be pushed and then moves into the space  912 , a repulsive force is generated as the first magnetic element  950  approaches the second magnetic element  960 . The repulsive force can isolate the first electronic pads  921  from the second electronic pads  935  and compress the second resilient element  923  simultaneously. 
         [0036]    Now refer to  FIG. 9C , which shows a configuration in which the installation is completed. Specifically, the ink cartridge  920  continues to be pushed, so that the first magnetic element  950  does not confront the second magnetic element  960  and therefore the repulsive force disappears. At this moment, the compressed second resilient element  923  will be released and simultaneously generate an elastic force to push the ink cartridge  920  to engage with the body  910  and then allow the first electronic pads  921  in contact with the second electronic pads  935 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 10A-10C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating the process of disengaging the ink cartridge  920  of the printing apparatus  900  from the body  910  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The arrow shown in  FIG. 10A  represents the disengagement direction of the ink cartridge  920 . It should be appreciated to a person skilled in the art that the disengagement process is similar to the installation process, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. Note that there is an ink residue  1001  on a first plane  922 . When the ink cartridge  920  is pulled upwards, a repulsive force is generated as the first magnetic element  950  approaches to the second magnetic element  960 . The repulsive force can isolate the first electronic pads  921  from the second electronic pads  935  and also isolate the second electronic pads  935  from the ink residue  1001 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 11A-11C  are schematic cross-section views illustrating a printing apparatus  1100  of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the fourth embodiment and the third embodiment is the position of the magnetic element, which will be described below. The arrow shown in  FIG. 11A  represents the installation direction of the ink cartridge  1120 . A first magnetic element  1150  of a printing apparatus  1100  is disposed in an ink cartridge  1120 , and a second magnetic element  1160  is disposed in a body  1110 . The first magnetic element  1150  includes a first surface  1151  configured to be opposite to a second surface  1161  of the second magnetic element  1160 . In this embodiment, a plurality of first electronic pads  1121  cover the first surface  1151  while a plurality of second electronic pads  1135  don&#39;t cover the second surface  1161 . During the installation of the ink cartridge  1120 , the first magnetic element  1150  will sequentially pass the second magnetic element  1160  and the second electronic pads  1135 . As shown in  FIG. 11B , a repulsive force is generated as the first magnetic element  1150  approaches the second magnetic element  1160 . The repulsive force can isolate the first electronic pads  1121  from the second electronic pads  1135  and simultaneously compress the second resilient element  1123 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 11C , the ink cartridge  1120  continues to be pushed into a space  1112 , so that the first magnetic element  1150  does not confront the second magnetic element  1160  and therefore the repulsive force disappears. At this moment, the compressed resilient element  1123  will be released to generate an elastic force and then push the ink cartridge  1120  to engage with the body  1110  as well as allowing the first electronic pads  1121  in contact with the second electronic pads  1135 . 
         [0039]    Note that in the fourth embodiment, the disengagement process of the ink cartridge  1120  and the isolation of the ink residue are similar to the other embodiments as aforementioned, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. 
         [0040]    While this invention has been described with reference to the illustrative embodiments, these descriptions should not be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent upon reference to these descriptions. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as falling within the true scope of the invention and its legal equivalents.