Attachment device for an electronic assembly

An attachment device for attaching an electronic assembly to a base module (e.g. print head) of a printing device can include a carrier plate of the assembly and a support body of the base module that has a groove into which the carrier plate may be inserted and arrested by means of a latch that engages in a recess of the carrier plate. The attachment device advantageously enables an efficient and reliable attachment of the assembly to the base module.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102019131972.2, filed Nov. 26, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

The disclosure relates to the efficient and reliable attachment of an electronic assembly to a base module. In particular, the disclosure relates to the attachment of a control assembly to a print head of a printing device.

Related Art

A printing device, in particular an inkjet printing device, for printing to a recording medium may comprise one or more print heads respectively having one or more nozzles. The nozzles are respectively configured to eject ink droplets in order to print dots of a print image onto the recording medium. The one or more print heads and the recording medium are thereby moved relative to one another in order to ink dots onto the recording medium at different positions, in particular in different lines, and in order to thus print a print image onto the recording medium.

The individual print heads are typically controlled via one or more control assemblies of the printing device and supplied with electrical power in order to print a print image onto a recording medium. Given the installation of the one or more control assemblies, and/or for maintenance purposes, it may possibly be necessary to install the individual control assemblies at the print heads and/or to uninstall them from the print heads. This may be linked with a relatively high time cost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An object of the present disclosure is to enable an efficient and reliable attachment of an electronic assembly, in particular a control assembly, to a base module, in particular to a print head.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, an attachment device is described for attaching an electronic assembly to a base module. The attachment device comprises a carrier plate of the electronic assembly or for the assembly, wherein the carrier plate has at least one recess between an attachment region and a retention region of the carrier plate. Furthermore, the attachment device has a support body of the base module or for the base module, wherein the support body has at least one groove that is designed to accommodate the attachment region of the carrier plate and comprises at least one latch attached to the support body so as to be movable, which latch is designed to be moved into the recess for attachment of the carrier plate if the attachment region of said carrier plate is located in the groove of the support body.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to the attachment of an electronic assembly to a base module, if applicable an electrical and/or electronic base module. The electronic assembly may thereby be designed to interact with the base module and/or to provide a function for the base module. Examples of interactions and/or functions are:supplying the base module with electrical power for the operation of said base module;transmitting data to the base module and/or from the base module; and/orcontrolling the base module and/or the transmission of control signals to the base module, in particular in order to have the effect that the base module performs a defined task.

In an exemplary embodiment, the base module is a print head of a printing device. In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic assembly is a control assembly for a print head. In the following, aspects of the disclosure are described by way of example for a control assembly and for a print head. It is noted that the described aspects are applicable in general to an electrical assembly and to a base module. In particular, in the following embodiments, the term “print head” may be replaced by the general term “base module”, and the term “control assembly” may be replaced by the term “assembly”.

The printing device100depicted inFIG. 1ais designed for printing to a recording medium120in the form of a sheet or page or plate or belt. The recording medium120may be produced from paper, paperboard, cardboard, metal, plastic, textiles, a combination thereof, and/or other materials that are suitable and can be printed to. The recording medium120is directed through the print head140of the printing device100along the transport direction1, which is represented by an arrow.

For clarification of the views shown in this document,FIG. 1ashows a Cartesian coordinate system with the three axes or directions: transport direction or longitudinal axis1, transverse direction or transverse axis2, and height direction or height axis3.

In the depicted example, the print group140of the printing device100comprises two print bars102, wherein each print bar102may be used for printing with ink of a defined color, for example black, cyan, magenta, and/or yellow, and if applicable MICR ink. Different print bars102may be used for printing with respective different inks. Furthermore, the printing device100comprises at least one fixer or dryer150that is configured to fix and/or to dry a print image printed onto the recording medium120.

A print bar102may comprise one or more print heads103that are arranged side by side in a plurality of rows in order to print the dots of different columns31,32of a print image onto the recording medium120. In the example depicted inFIG. 1a, a print bar102comprises five print heads103, wherein each print head103prints the dots of a group of columns31,32of a print image onto the recording medium120. The number of print heads103of a print bar102may be 5 or more or 10 or more, for example.

In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1a, each print head103of the print group140comprises a plurality of nozzles21,22, wherein each nozzle21,22is configured to fire or eject ink droplets onto the recording medium120. A print head103of the print group140may comprise multiple thousands of effectively utilized nozzles21,22, for example, that are arranged along a plurality of rows transverse to the transport direction1, i.e. along the width or the transverse axis2of the recording medium120.

The printing device100also comprises a controller101, for example a control hardware and/or a controller, that is configured to activate the actuators of the individual nozzles21,22of the individual print heads103of the print group140in order to apply the print image onto the recording medium120depending on print data. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller101includes processor circuitry that is configured to perform one or more functions and/or operations of the controller101. The controller101can include a memory that stores executable instructions and/or other data, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform the functions and/or operations of the controller101. The controller101may be additionally or alternatively configured to access an external memory storing instructions (or otherwise receive instructions from an external source), where these instructions are then executed by the controller101to perform the functions/operations of the controller101.

The print group140of the printing device100thus comprises at least one print bar102having K nozzles21,22, wherein the nozzles21,22may be arranged in one or more print heads103, and wherein the nozzles21,22may be activated with a defined line timing or with a defined activation frequency in order to print a line traveling transverse to the transport direction1of the recording medium120onto the recording medium120with K pixels or K columns31,32of a print image, for example with K>1000. In the depicted example, the nozzles21,22are installed immobile or fixed in the printing device100, and the recording medium120is directed past the stationary nozzles21,22with a defined transport velocity.

FIG. 1bshows an example of a print bar102having three print heads103in a section orthogonal to the transport direction1. The individual print heads103are connected with a central control assembly131via electrical lines (electrical conductors)134. The one or more electrical lines134are thereby connected to a print head103via one or more plugs133with accordingly one or more sockets of said print head103(not shown). The one or more electrical lines134may be designed in order to transfer the print data to a print head103and/or to supply the print head103with electrical power. A parallel data transmission may thereby take place via a plurality of wires of an electrical line134. The print data may be provided to the central control assembly131from the controller101of the printing device100via an optical line132.

The use of a central control assembly131for a plurality of print heads103leads to relatively long and thus relatively interference-prone electrical lines134for the data transmission. Furthermore, the use of a central control assembly131does not enable a flexible adaptation of the number of print heads103and/or of the print width of a print bar102.

The aforementioned disadvantages may be avoided in that a respective, dedicated control assembly is provided for every single print head103of a print bar102, which dedicated control assembly is attached directly to the respective print head103. The length of the electrical lines134may thus be reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the number of print heads in a print bar102may thus be flexibly adapted. On the other hand, the installation of individual control assemblies at the individual print heads103of a print bar102or of a printing device100may be linked with a relatively high time cost. In the following, an attachment device is therefore described that enables an efficient and reliable attachment of a control assembly to a print head.

FIGS. 2aand 2bshow an example of an attachment device200for a control assembly221at a print head103, in particular at the heat sink201of a print head103. The heat sink201of the print head201has a groove205into which the attachment region215of a carrier plate211of the control assembly221may be introduced. In an exemplary embodiment, the groove205has a depth (along the height axis3) that is sufficient in order to ensure that the carrier plate211is held in a stable position, in particular in a stable vertical position, if the attachment region215of the carrier plate211is located in the groove205, as is shown by way of example inFIG. 2b. For this purpose, in an exemplary embodiment, the dimensions are matched to one another or identical, in particular along the transverse axis2and/or along the longitudinal axis1of the groove205and of the attachment region215of the carrier plate211.

In the example depicted inFIGS. 2aand 2b, the groove205has a chamfer206at least at an outer edge or insertion edge303. Alternatively or additionally, the carrier plate211may have a chamfer216at a foot (bottom) edge313that faces toward the groove205upon insertion of the attachment region215of the carrier plate211into said groove205. The introduction of the carrier plate211into the groove205may thus be facilitated.

The control assembly221may have a circuit board222that is attached to the carrier plate211, in particular to the retention region212of the carrier plate211, as depicted inFIGS. 2aand 2b. Alternatively, the retention region212of the carrier plate211may be possibly be designed directly as a circuit board. One or more electronic components may be arranged on the circuit board222in order to provide a defined function of the control assembly221.

The control assembly221may also comprise a contact part223at which are arranged one or more connecting elements133, in particular plugs, that enable it to form one or more plug connections with one or more complementary connecting elements203of the print head103, in particular sockets. In particular, one or more electrically conductive plug connections may thereby be formed, for example for data transmission and/or to supply power to the print head103. The contact part223may be arranged at an angle of 90° relative to the circuit board222. An arrangement of the control assembly221above the print head103that is efficient in terms of installation space may thus be enabled.

The contact part223may be connected with the circuit board222in an electrically conductive manner via an intermediate part224. In an exemplary embodiment, the circuit board222, the intermediate part224, and the contact part223may be designed as a continuous, flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board is curved, in particular by 90°, in the region of the intermediate part224. The control assembly221may thus be provided in a particularly efficient manner. Furthermore, the attachment of the control assembly221to the print head103may be stabilized via the use of a flexible circuit board, since the control assembly211may be supported on the print head103via the contact part223.

FIG. 2ashows the position of the nozzle plate202of the print head103, said nozzle plate202being arranged downward along the height axis3, on which nozzle plate202are arranged one or more nozzles21,22of the print head103. The one or more connecting elements203and/or the groove205of the print head103are typically arranged on the side of the print head103opposite the nozzle plate202. The heat sink201may be arranged on a contact side204of the print head103, said contact side traveling along the height axis3, and be connected with said print head103.

The insertion of a carrier plate211into a groove204of the (heat) sink201of the print head103enables an installer to efficiently attach the control assembly221to the print head103. Via an additional latching mechanism, it may be produced that the control assembly221remains firmly connected to the print head103even given operation of the printing device100and the vibrations that are thereby created.

FIGS. 3aand 3bshow, on the left side and right side, respective different embodiments of the carrier plate211, in particular of the attachment region215of the carrier plate211. Marked on the right side inFIG. 3ais a section I-I that corresponds to the section of the attachment device200that is depicted inFIG. 2b.

The carrier plate211may have a recess301that extends parallel to the curve of the groove205and/or parallel to the insertion edge303of the groove205. The recess301may form a dividing line between the attachment region215of the carrier plate211, which is arranged in the groove205in the inserted state, and the retention region212of the carrier plate211, which in the inserted state is arranged outside of the groove205. The recess301may be arranged at a height310(along the height axis3), measured from the foot edge313of the carrier plate211, which height310corresponds to the depth310of the groove205as measured from the insertion edge303.

In the example depicted on the left side ofFIGS. 3aand 3b, the carrier plate211has two recesses301that, starting from a respective side edge311of the carrier plate211, extend parallel to the foot edge313and/or to the head (top) edge312of the carrier plate211and/or parallel to the insertion edge303of the groove205. In the example depicted on the right side ofFIGS. 3aand 3b, the carrier plate211has an inner recess301that does not start at a side edge311of the carrier plate211.

As depicted inFIGS. 3cand 3d, the print head103may have a latch320at the insertion edge303of the groove205, which latch320may be introduced into the recess301of the carrier plate211in order to clamp the carrier plate211inserted into the groove205. The latch320, in conjunction with the recess301, may be designed to prevent the carrier plate211from being able to move out of the groove205, in particular from being pulled out. The latch320may thus be designed to prevent a movement of the carrier plate211along the height axis3.

On the left side,FIGS. 3cand 3dshow a heat sink having two latches320, respectively a latch320for both recesses301of the carrier plate211depicted on the left side ofFIGS. 3aand 3b. Shown on the right side is the use of a central latch320that engages in the central recess301of the carrier plate211depicted on the right side ofFIGS. 3aand 3b. The latch320is thereby depicted as a hook322, for example, that encompasses a leg of the carrier plate211, which leg is formed via the central recess301, in order to fix said carrier plate211.

In the examples depicted inFIGS. 3cand 3d, the latches320are respectively borne so as to be able to pivot about a rotation axis321. Alternatively or additionally, a displaceable latch may be provided.

FIG. 3cshows a view from above of the top side of the print head103, in particular of the top side of the heat sink201of the print head103.FIG. 3dshows the section II-II through the heat sink201of the print head103that is identified inFIG. 3c.FIG. 3dthereby also shows a cooling channel323of the heat sink201through which a cooling medium, in particular water, may be directed in order to cool the heat sink201or the print head103. The cooling medium may be conveyed into or out of the heat sink201via the connectors302.

An arrangement200is thus described that enables an efficient and/or toolless installation of a control assembly221at a print head103. A carrier plate211, in particular a retention plate, may be directed into a groove or into a slot205of the cooling cheek201of the print head103. The carrier plate211with the control assembly221may then be arrested at the print head103with a lever or with a latch320.

In this document, an attachment device200for attaching an electronic assembly221to a base module103is described in particular. The electronic assembly221may be designed to supply the base module103with electrical power and/or to control the base module103and/or to transfer data to the base module103. The base module103may be a print head of a printing device100.

The attachment device200comprises a carrier plate211, for example a carrier sheet, of the electronic assembly221or for the electronic assembly221. The carrier plate211has at least one recess301between an attachment region215and a retention region212of the carrier plate211. The attachment region215may thereby be provided for attaching the carrier plate211to the base module103. The retention region212may be provided to bear components of the assembly221, in particular a circuit board222. In particular, in the retention region212the carrier plate211may be designed as a circuit board and/or be mechanically connected with a circuit board222of the electronic assembly221.

Furthermore, the attachment device200comprises a support body201of the base module201. The support body201may thereby be designed as a heat sink of the base module103.

The support body201may have at least one groove205that is designed to accommodate the attachment region215of the carrier plate211. In an exemplary embodiment, the groove205is thereby formed complementary to the attachment region215of the carrier plate211. In particular, the groove205may have a depth310, along the insertion direction or along the height direction3of the carrier plate211, which corresponds to the length310of the attachment region215of the carrier plate211along the insertion direction or along the height direction3. Alternatively or additionally, the groove205may exhibit a spreading orthogonal to the surface of the carrier plate211that corresponds to the thickness of the attachment region215of the carrier plate211. Alternatively or additionally, the groove205may form a cavity with a volume that corresponds to the volume of the attachment region215of the carrier plate211.

By providing a carrier plate211with an attachment region215whose shape is adapted to the shape of the groove205of the support body201, it may be produced that the carrier plate211may be reliably held on or by the support body201if the attachment region215of the carrier plate211is arranged in the groove205of said support body201.

The support body201may also comprise at least one latch320, in particular a mechanical latch or bolt, that is attached to the support body201so as to be movable and is designed to by moved to attach the carrier plate211in the recess301of the carrier plate211if the attachment region215of the carrier plate211is located in the groove205of the support body201. The recess301and the latch320may thereby be designed such that the carrier plate211is fixed or arrested in the groove205of the support body201via insertion of the latch320into the recess301, in order to prevent a movement of the carrier plate211counter to the insertion direction.

An attachment device200is thus described for attaching an electronic assembly221to a base module103, in particular to a print head of a printing device100. The attachment device200comprises a carrier plate211of the assembly221and a support body201of the base module103, wherein the support body201has a groove205into which the carrier plate211may be inserted and arrested by means of a latch320that engages in a recess301of the carrier plate211. An efficient and reliable attachment of the assembly221to the base module103may thus be enabled.

The latch320, also referred to as a lever in this document, may be designed to be moved into the recess301to arrest the carrier plate211such that said latch320at least partially covers the groove205. The groove205may have a defined clearance orthogonal to the surface of the carrier plate211. The latch320may be designed such that the latch320for arresting the carrier plate211extends over the entire clearance of the groove205. A particularly reliable attachment of the assembly221to the base module103may thus be produced.

The latch320may be borne on the insertion edge303of the groove205so as to be pivotable, which groove205faces toward the carrier plate211upon insertion of said carrier plate211. Alternatively, the latch320may be borne at the insertion edge303of the groove205so as to be displaceable. A particularly efficient and comfortable attachment of the assembly221to the base module103may thus be enabled.

In an exemplary embodiment, the recess301extends parallel to the insertion edge303of the groove205, whereby a reliable closing and/or opening of the latch320is enabled.

The recess301may be arranged at the carrier plate211such that an edge of the attachment region215of the carrier plate211that adjoins the recess301travels flush with the insertion edge303of the groove205and/or flush with the side of the latch320facing toward the support body201if the attachment region215of the carrier plate211is arranged in the groove205. Alternatively or additionally, the recess301may be arranged at the carrier plate211such that the edge of the retention region212of the carrier plate211that adjoins the recess301travels flush with the side of the latch320facing away from the support body201if the attachment region215of the carrier plate211is arranged in the groove205. A recess301of such a design enables a particularly reliable fixing of the assembly221to the base module103.

The carrier plate211may have side edges311that extend away from the support body201if the attachment region215of the carrier plate211is arranged in the groove205. The recess301may be arranged on a side edge311of the carrier plate211and/or extend away from a side edge311of the carrier plate211. Alternatively, the recess301may be arranged between the two side edges311of the carrier plate211, in particular such that the recess301does not extend up to the side edges311. A recess301of such a design enables a particularly reliable fixing of the assembly221to the base module103.

The recess301may be designed such that the carrier plate212forms a leg in a region adjoining said recess301. The latch320may then be designed as a pivotable hook322that, to attach the carrier plate211, may be pivoted around a rotation axis321in order to at least partially enclose the leg. A particularly reliable attachment of the assembly221to the base module103may thus be produced.

The carrier plate211may have a chamfer216at a foot edge313that faces toward the groove205upon insertion into said groove205. Alternatively or additionally, the groove205may have a chamfer206at the insertion edge303that faces toward the carrier plate211upon insertion of said carrier plate211. A user may thus be enabled to introduce the carrier plate211particularly reliably and comfortably into the groove205of the support body201.

The base module103may comprise at least one connecting element203, in particular a socket, on a side303at which the groove205is arranged. The attachment device200may comprise a contact part223having at least one complementary connecting element133, in particular a plug, which is designed to form an electrically conductive and/or optical connection with the connecting element203of the base module301.

The contact part223may be mechanically connected with the carrier plate211, for example via an intermediate part224. In particular, the assembly221may comprise a flexible circuit board that is connected with the carrier plate211and the contact part223, or that forms the contact part223. The contact part223may be attached to the carrier plate211such that said contact part223forms a support for the carrier plate211if the carrier plate211inserts into the groove205of the support body201and if the connecting elements203,133are connected with one another. For this purpose, the contact part223may be arranged at an angle of 30° or more, or 45° or more, in particular orthogonal, relative to the carrier plate211. A particularly stable attachment of the assembly221to the base module103may be produced via these measures, in particular via the involvement of the connecting elements133,203as a supporting function for the assembly221.

Furthermore, in this document a print bar102is described having one or more print heads103that respectively comprise one of the attachment devices200described in this document.

Moreover, in this document a printing device100is described that comprises the attachment device200described in this document.

CONCLUSION

For the purposes of this discussion, the term “processor circuitry” shall be understood to be circuit(s), processor(s), logic, or a combination thereof. A circuit includes an analog circuit, a digital circuit, state machine logic, data processing circuit, other structural electronic hardware, or a combination thereof. A processor includes a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), central processor (CPU), application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), graphics and/or image processor, multi-core processor, or other hardware processor. The processor may be “hard-coded” with instructions to perform corresponding function(s) according to aspects described herein. Alternatively, the processor may access an internal and/or external memory to retrieve instructions stored in the memory, which when executed by the processor, perform the corresponding function(s) associated with the processor, and/or one or more functions and/or operations related to the operation of a component having the processor included therein.

REFERENCE LIST

1transport direction or longitudinal axis2transverse direction or transverse axis3height direction or height axis21,22nozzle31,32column (of the print image)100printing device101controller102print bar103base module (print head)120recording medium131control assembly132optical line133connecting element (plug)134electrical line200attachment device201support body (heat sink)202nozzle plate203connecting element (socket)204contact side between print head and heat sink205groove or slit206chamfer of the insertion edge of the groove211carrier plate212retention region215attachment region216chamfer of the foot edge of the carrier plate221assembly222circuit board223contact part224intermediate part301recess302heat sink connector303insertion edge of the groove310length of the attachment region of the carrier plate311side edge of the carrier plate312head or upper edge of the carrier plate313foot or lower edge of the carrier plate320latch321rotation axis of the latch322hook323cooling channel