Abstract:
A printer is provided comprising a housing having a stationary portion and a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position. A carrier is movably mounted within the housing. At least one print cartridge is removably mounted within the carrier. A holding mechanism is provided comprising a locking element pivotably coupled to the stationary housing portion. The locking element is adapted to engage the carrier when engaged by an element on the movable housing portion when the movable housing portion is in its second position and the locking element is adapted to disengage the carrier when the movable housing portion is in its first position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a printer having one or more print cartridges installed during manufacture so as to avoid installation of the one or more print cartridges by the user during initial printer setup. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, new ink jet printers are shipped from the manufacturer without a print cartridge installed in the printer. After the printer is purchased by an end user, the user removes it from the shipping package and performs one or more setup steps in accordance with an initial setup procedure. At some point during the setup procedure, one or more print cartridges are installed into the printer. The installation of print cartridges has been found to be problematic for many end users. For example, seals provided over printheads to prevent ink evaporation or leakage during shipment of print cartridges are oftentimes not removed prior to print cartridge installation. If the seal remains over the printhead after the print cartridge is installed, the printer will be unable to eject ink onto a substrate. Other users who do remove the seals manage to damage the print cartridge during seal removal. 
     It would be desirable to provide an arrangement that allows one or more print cartridges to be installed during printer manufacturing without risk of ink evaporation or leakage during shipping so as to eliminate initial assembly problems associated with installation of one or more print cartridges during initial printer setup. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This need is met by the present invention wherein a printer is provided that allows one or more print cartridges to be installed during printer manufacturing with little risk of ink evaporation or leakage during shipping so as to eliminate assembly problems associated with installation of print cartridges during initial printer setup. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a printer is provided comprising a housing having stationary and movable portions. The movable portion can be moved between first and second positions. A carrier is movably mounted within the housing. At least one print cartridge is mounted within the carrier. The printer further comprises a holding mechanism comprising a locking element adapted to engage the carrier and/or the print cartridge when the movable housing portion is in its second position. The locking element disengages the carrier and/or the print cartridge when the movable housing portion is in its first position. The locking element maintains the carrier and the print cartridge in a desired position within the housing when the locking element engages the carrier and/or the print cartridge. 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the holding mechanism comprises a stationary arm fixedly mounted to the stationary housing portion, a cam fixedly mounted to the movable housing portion, and a lever pivotally coupled to the stationary arm. The lever defines the locking element. The cam effects movement of the lever when the movable housing portion moves to its second position such that the lever engages the carrier and/or the print cartridge. The cam allows the lever to disengage the carrier and/or the print cartridge when the movable housing portion is moved to its first position. The holding mechanism preferably further comprises a spring coupled to the stationary housing portion and the lever. The spring biases the lever to its disengaged position and the movable housing portion to its first position. 
     The movable housing portion comprises a first end pivotally coupled to the stationary housing portion, a second end located opposite the first end and a retainer at the second end. The retainer engages a section of the stationary housing portion so as to maintain the second end spaced a desired distance from the stationary housing portion when the movable housing portion is in its first position. In accordance with the first embodiment, the retainer is fixedly coupled to or integral with the second end of the movable housing portion. In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the retainer is pivotally coupled to the second end of the movable housing portion. The pivotable retainer is adapted to releasably engage a latch fixedly coupled to the stationary housing portion so as to maintain the movable housing portion in its second position. 
     In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, a retaining arm is fixedly coupled to the movable housing portion. The retaining arm defines the locking element. It is adapted to engage the carrier when the movable housing portion is moved to its second position. The retaining arm disengages the carrier when the movable housing portion is moved to its first position. 
     The housing further comprises a maintenance station. The carrier and the print cartridge are preferably located over the maintenance station when in the desired position. 
     In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a printer in combination with a packaging element is provided. The printer comprises a housing having stationary and movable portions. The movable portion can be moved between first and second positions. A carrier is movably mounted within the housing. At least one print cartridge is mounted within the carrier. The printer further comprises a holding mechanism comprising a locking element adapted to engage at least one of the carrier and the print cartridge when the movable housing portion is moved to its second position. The locking element disengages the carrier and/or the print cartridge when the movable housing portion is moved to its first position. The locking element maintains the carrier and the print cartridge in a desired position within the housing when the locking element engages the carrier and/or the print cartridge. The packaging element engages the stationary and movable housing portions and maintains the movable housing portion in its second position when the packaging element is mounted to the printer. 
     In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a printer is provided comprising a housing, a carrier movably mounted within the housing, at least one print cartridge removably mounted in the carrier, and a removable positioning element provided within the housing. The positioning element engages the housing and the carrier so as to maintain the carrier and the print cartridge in a desired position within the housing. The positioning element is preferably formed from a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard, wood, metal, a polymeric material and combinations thereof. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a printer wherein one or more print cartridges are installed during printer manufacture so as to eliminate the need for an end user to install the one or more print cartridges during initial printer setup. 
     Other objects will be readily perceived from the following description, claims, and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention with a packaging element fitted over a first end of the printer housing; 
     FIG. 2 is a view taken along section line  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1 with the movable housing portion shown in its first position; 
     FIG. 4 is a view taken along section line  4 — 4  in FIG.  2  and with the packaging element removed; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1 with the packaging element removed; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a printer constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a view taken along view line  7 — 7  in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a printer constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention with the movable housing portion shown in its second position; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the printer illustrated in FIG. 8 with the movable housing portion shown in its first position; 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of a portion of a printer constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG  11  is a perspective view of the positioning element shown in FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An ink jet printer  10  constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5. It comprises a housing  12  having stationary and movable portions  14  and  16 . The housing portions  14  and  16  are preferably formed from a polymeric material such as polystyrene. Portion  16  is movable relative to portion  14  between a first position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 and a second position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     A carrier  18  is slidably supported within the housing  12  on first and second guide rails  20   a  and  20   b,  see FIGS. 3 and 4. A drive mechanism (not shown) is provided for effecting reciprocating movement of the carrier  18  back and forth along the guide rails  20   a  and  20   b.  In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of print cartridges  30  and  32  are removably mounted within the carrier  18  so as to move with the carrier  18 . As the print cartridges  30  and  32  reciprocate within the housing  12 , they eject ink droplets onto a substrate (not shown) provided below them. 
     The printer  10  comprises first and second maintenance stations  50  and  52  provided with capping elements  50   a  and  52   a,  see FIG.  4 . When the print cartridges  30  and  32  are located directly over the maintenance stations  50  and  52  and the printer  10  is off, the capping elements  50   a  and  52   a  engage the print cartridges  30  and  32  and sealingly surround nozzle plates (not shown) forming part of the print cartridges  30  and  32 . The capping elements  50   a  and  52   a  seal the nozzle plates from atmosphere so as to prevent evaporation and coagulation of ink at the nozzle plates. In the illustrated embodiment, the print cartridges  30  and  32  are positioned in a desired position directly over the maintenance stations  50  and  52  when the carrier  18  is positioned adjacent a first side wall  14   a  of the stationary portion  14 , see FIG.  4 . 
     The printer  10  further comprises a holding mechanism  40  for maintaining the carrier  18  and, hence, the print cartridges  30  and  32 , in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 when the movable housing portion  16  is in its second position. The holding mechanism  40  comprises a stationary arm  42  fixedly mounted to the stationary housing portion  14 , a cam  44  fixedly mounted to the movable housing portion  16 , a lever  46  (also referred to herein as a locking element) pivotally coupled to the stationary arm  42 , and a spring  48  coupled between an extension  14   b  of the stationary housing portion  14  and the lever  46 . The cam  44  effects movement of the lever  46  such that it engages the carrier  18  when the movable housing portion  16  is moved from its first position to its second position, see FIG.  2 . The lever  46  is considered “engaged” with the carrier  18  when it makes direct contact with the carrier  18  or is positioned a small distance from the carrier  18 . When engaged with the carrier  18 , the lever  46  acts as a stop to prevent movement of the carrier  18  in a direction, represented by arrow  19  in FIG. 4, away from the first side wall  14   a.  The lever  46  disengages the carrier  18  when the movable housing portion  16  is permitted to move to its first position, see FIGS. 3 and 5. 
     A packaging element  100 , formed, for example, from expanded polymeric beads, is fitted over a first end  12   a  of the printer housing  12  to maintain the movable housing portion  16  in its second position, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The packaging element  100  comprises a recess  102  shaped so as to receive the first end  102  of the housing  12  when the movable housing portion  16  is in its second position. Once fitted over the first end  102 , the packaging element  100  applies a compressive force to the movable housing portion  16  overcoming the biasing force of the spring  48 . 
     When the movable housing portion  16  is in its second position, the lever  46  engages the carrier  18  to maintain the print cartridges  30  and  32  positioned directly over the maintenance stations  50  and  52 . Hence, the printer  10  can be shipped with the print cartridges  30  and  32  installed in the printer  10 , i.e., with the cartridges  30  and  32  mounted within the carrier  18 , without risk that ink will evaporate or coagulate at the nozzle plates. While not shown in the illustrated embodiment, a second packaging element may be fitted over a second end  12   b  of the printer housing  12 . Other packaging elements not explicitly set out herein may be used in place of packaging element  100  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, a band may be provided about the first end  12   a  so as to maintain the movable housing portion  16  in its second position. 
     The movable housing portion  16  comprises a first end  16   a  pivotally coupled to the stationary housing portion  14 , a second end  16   b  located opposite the first end  16   a  and a retainer  16   c  at the second end  16   b.  The retainer  16   c  is integral with the second end  16   b  in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and extends through an opening  15  in the stationary housing portion  14 , see FIG.  5 . When a packaging element  100  is not fitted over the first end  12   a,  the retainer  16   c  engages a lower section  14   c  of the stationary housing portion  14  so as to maintain the second end  16   b  of the movable housing portion  16  spaced a desired distance from the stationary housing portion  14 . 
     After the printer  10  is purchased by an end user, the user must remove the packaging element  100  and any other packaging material from the printer  10  prior to operating the printer  10 . When the packaging element  100  is removed from the first end  12   a,  the spring  48  biases the lever  46  to its disengaged position and the movable housing portion  16  to its first position. The end user does not have to install print cartridges into the printer prior to first use of the printer  10 . 
     A printer  110 , constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements. In this embodiment, the retainer  116   c  is pivotally coupled to the movable housing portion  116  via a pin  116   d.  A spring  118  extends from a pin  116   e  on the retainer  116   c  to an extension  116   f  of the movable housing portion  116  so as to bias the retainer  116   c  in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.  6 . The retainer  116   c  releasably engages a latch  114   a  coupled to the stationary housing portion  114  when the movable housing portion  116  is moved to its second position. The engagement of the retainer  116   c  with the latch  114   a  maintains the movable housing portion  116  in its second position. The retainer  116   c  is released from the latch  114   a  when a force is applied to the retainer  116   c  in the direction of arrow  120  in FIG.  6 . The force causes the retainer  116   c  to pivot away from the latch  114   a.  Once the retainer  116   c  is released from the latch  114   a  and as the movable housing portion  116  moves to its first position, the pivoting force is removed. The spring  118  then causes the retainer  116   c  to move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, such that the retainer  116   c  is capable of engaging a lower section  114   c  of the stationary housing portion  114 . Engagement of the retainer  116   c  with the lower section  114   c  maintains the movable housing portion  116  in its first position, see FIG.  6 . In this embodiment, a packaging element is not required to maintain the movable housing portion  116  in its second position as engagement of the retainer  116   c  with the latch  114   a  performs this function. 
     A printer  200 , constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements. In this embodiment, the holding mechanism  240  comprises a retaining arm  242  fixedly coupled to the movable housing portion  216 . When the movable housing portion  216  is in its second position, shown in FIG. 8, the retaining arm  242  engages a recess  218   a  provided in the carrier  218  so as to maintain the carrier  218  and the print cartridges  30  and  32  positioned over the maintenance stations  50  and  52 . A packaging element  100  fitted over the first end  12   a  of the printer housing  12  maintains the movable housing portion  216  in its second position. 
     A stop  214   a  is coupled to the stationary housing portion  214 . A compression spring  250  extends between the stop  214   a  and the retainer  216   c  at the second end  216   b  of the movable housing portion  216  for biasing the movable housing portion  216  to its first position when the packaging element  100  is removed, see FIG.  9 . 
     A printer  300 , constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements. In this embodiment, both of first and second housing portions  314  and  316  are stationary. In order to maintain the carrier  18  and the print cartridges  30  and  32  positioned over the maintenance stations  50  and  52  during shipping, a removable positioning element  310  is inserted into the printer housing  312  so as to be positioned between a second side wall  312   b  of the first housing portion  314  and a side wall  18   a  of the carrier  18 , see FIG.  10 . The positioning element  310  is preferably formed from a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard, wood, metal, a polymeric material and combinations thereof. The shape of the positioning element  310  may be varied from that of the illustrated embodiment. For example, it may be circular or rectangular in cross section. It may have another shape so long as it has sufficient strength to maintain the carrier  18  and print cartridges  30  and  32  positioned over the maintenance stations  50  and  52  during shipping. 
     It is also contemplated that the holding mechanism may engage a print cartridge, both print cartridges or both a print cartridge and the carrier so as to maintain the print cartridges positioned over the maintenance stations during shipping. 
     For purposes of exemplification, particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.