Printhead of an inkjet product labelling system

Abstract

The invention relates to a printhead of an inkjet product labelling system, comprising a printhead housing (2), a cartridge space (6) for an ink cartridge (8) formed in the printhead housing (2), and a movable cartridge guide element (22; 22') which is arranged in the printhead housing (2) and has a receptacle (26) which is adapted for the ink cartridge (8) to be received and into which at least one portion (28) of the ink cartridge (8) can be introduced, wherein the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is designed in such a way that, with its movement, it defines a predetermined movement path along which an ink cartridge (8) introduced into the receptacle (26) is moved into a predetermined operating position in the cartridge space (6). The invention also relates to an inkjet printing system comprising a printhead of this type.

Description

Title: Printhead of an inkjet printer Product labeling system Description

[0001] The invention relates to a printhead of an inkjet product marking system and an inkjet printing system with such a printhead.

[0002] Inkjet product marking systems are used in industrial manufacturing and packaging processes to print on products and / or product packaging, for example, with batch numbers, expiration dates, etc. This is achieved using printheads that print on products or packaging as they move past the printhead using inkjet technology. One such printhead is known, for example, from DE 10 2008 026 667 B4. The printheads are each designed for use with a specific type of ink cartridge. These ink cartridges are interchangeable and form a unit consisting of an ink tank and print nozzles, and the ink cartridges can be designed specifically for thermal inkjet printing. The ink cartridges have electrical connection contacts for controlling the integrated print nozzles, which are usually grouped together in a terminal block.The connection panel has numerous adjacent contact points, which may be embedded in a foil structure. When the ink cartridge is inserted into the printhead, this connection panel aligns with a contact panel in the printhead. The contact panel in the printhead has numerous connection contacts, which correspond to the contact points of the ink cartridge's connection panel. The connection... The end contacts in the printhead can, for example, be designed as spring pins. In conventional ink cartridges, the connection area is located on a side wall that extends adjacent to and at a 90-degree angle to the front end wall of the ink cartridge, in which the print nozzles are located.

[0003] To ensure that the print nozzles are positioned as close as possible to the product during printing, they must be placed as close as possible to and directly against the end wall of the printhead facing the product. At the same time, a seal is usually required in this area to protect the inside of the printhead from contamination. Therefore, the ink cartridge, with the area surrounding the print nozzles, is preferably positioned against the inside of an end wall of the printhead. When inserting the ink cartridge into the printhead, it must simultaneously be moved against the end wall and against the contact plate inside the printhead. This requires a complex insertion motion during which the contacts of the contact plate inside the printhead can easily be damaged if handled carelessly.

[0004] Against the background of this problem, the object of the invention is to improve a printhead for use with an ink cartridge in such a way that it is possible to insert the ink cartridge into the printhead more easily without damaging the connection contacts.

[0005] This problem is solved by a printhead of an inkjet product marking system having the features specified in claim 1 and by an inkjet printing system having the features specified in claim 18. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0006] The printhead according to the invention is intended for use in an inkjet product marking system. That is, the invention relates to a printhead of such an inkjet product marking system. This is a product marking system designed to print on products by moving the products relative to the printhead. The printhead has a printhead housing with an internal cartridge chamber into which an ink cartridge can be inserted. This is a specific type of ink cartridge; that is, the printhead is designed for a specific type of ink cartridge. Such ink cartridges, which form a unit consisting of an ink tank and a print nozzle assembly, are available on the market from various manufacturers.The printhead's geometry is adapted to a specific type of ink cartridge, allowing such a cartridge to be accommodated in the print chamber and electrically controlled by the printhead. Preferably, the printhead housing is completely enclosed, so that the cartridge chamber, into which the ink cartridge is inserted, can be tightly sealed after insertion, for example with a lid, thus protecting the interior of the printhead from contamination or moisture.

[0007] To enable a defined insertion of the ink cartridge into the cartridge chamber, a movable cartridge guide element is arranged in the printhead housing according to the invention. This cartridge guide element has a receptacle whose geometry is adapted to the ink cartridge to be received, so that the ink cartridge can be inserted into the receptacle of the cartridge guide element and thus held in place within the cartridge guide element. For this purpose, for example, projections on the ink cartridge can engage in the receptacle, or the The receptacle can, for example, be designed to completely enclose the ink cartridge from one side. Furthermore, the cartridge guide element is designed such that, during its intended movement, it defines a predetermined path of motion along which the ink cartridge, previously inserted into the receptacle, is moved into a predetermined operating position within the cartridge chamber. In other words, the sequence of movements for inserting the ink cartridge into the cartridge chamber, i.e., for moving the ink cartridge into its final operating position, is predetermined by the cartridge guide element according to the invention, ensuring that the movement occurs along a defined path and is not at the user's discretion. This, in particular, ensures that the ink cartridge is moved in a defined manner relative to the electrical contacts, thus preventing damage to the contacts during insertion.The precise contour of the defined movement path depends on the geometry of the ink cartridge used and is therefore adapted to the specific ink cartridge for which the printhead is designed. The movement path can, in particular, define movements in at least two different directions, which can occur sequentially or superimposed. For example, the ink cartridge can be moved simultaneously and / or sequentially with the print nozzles leading against an inner wall of the cartridge chamber and in the direction of its connection contacts against a contact field inside the cartridge chamber. These movements can occur sequentially or at least partially superimposed, but according to the invention, they are predetermined by the design and arrangement of the cartridge guide element such that the ink cartridge is moved along the movement path or a predetermined track when inserted.

[0008] Preferably, the cartridge guide element is designed in such a way that it provides a movement path for a cartridge inserted into the holder. The inserted ink cartridge is defined as having a combined pivoting and linear motion. For example, the pivoting motion can be used to bring the electrical connection contacts or a connection field of the ink cartridge into contact with electrical contacts or a contact field in the cartridge chamber, while the linear motion is used to press a wall of the ink cartridge containing the print nozzles against an inner wall and / or seal in the cartridge chamber. Preferably, the linear motion begins after the pivoting motion, and the linear motion can occur after the completion of the pivoting motion or at least partially superimposed on it. If the linear motion is used to press the ink cartridge against a contact surface and / or seal, it is advantageous if the linear motion forms the last section of the motion path, for example, to minimize frictional forces during the pivoting motion.

[0009] As already mentioned, the printhead preferably has a contact field in the cartridge chamber for electrically connecting to a terminal field of the ink cartridge. The electrical connections allow, in particular, the control of the print nozzles formed in the ink cartridge by control electronics integrated into the printhead. The cartridge guide element is preferably designed and the path of movement defined such that, as the ink cartridge moves along the predetermined path, the terminal field of the ink cartridge is brought into contact with the contact field in the cartridge chamber. The ink cartridge is preferably moved towards the contact field in such a way that the contact field and the terminal field preferably make contact in a direction transverse to the plane defined by the terminal field.This makes it possible, for example, to place contact pins directly onto the free contact fields or points in the contact field. to access the connection field of the system without damaging the foil structure of the connection field.

[0010] Preferably, the cartridge guide element is pivotably mounted in the printhead housing so that it pivots for movement. Preferably, the pivoting mounting is designed such that it can pivot from a first to a second position, and in the second position, the connection field of an ink cartridge inserted into the cartridge guide element is in contact with the contact field in the cartridge chamber. That is, preferably, the pivoting of the cartridge guide element is designed such that pivoting from the first to the second position brings the contacts in the connection field of the inserted ink cartridge into contact with the contacts in the contact field of the cartridge chamber. The contacts preferably follow an arc-shaped path around a pivot axis defined by the mounting of the cartridge guide element.

[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment, the printhead has a pivoting cover designed to close the cartridge chamber in a closed position, preferably sealing it tightly. A seal can be provided between the cover and the adjacent printhead housing for this purpose. The pivoting cover is preferably arranged relative to the cartridge guide element such that, when closed, it acts on the cartridge guide element or an ink cartridge inserted therein, thereby moving the cartridge guide element. For this purpose, the cover can directly or indirectly come into contact with the cartridge guide element or the inserted ink cartridge, so that a force is exerted by the cover on the cartridge guide element, which moves the cartridge guide element with an inserted ink cartridge along the predetermined path of movement. The cartridge guide element moves along a path or at least along a section of this path. Closing the lid preferably exerts a pressure force on the cartridge guide element, which moves it from the first position described above to the second position, preferably bringing the connection field and the contact field into contact. A spring element can be provided for returning the guide element to its original position, the spring force of which is overcome by pressure on the lid. Such a spring element preferably acts on the cartridge guide element. Alternatively, the cartridge guide element can also be connected to the lid or be part of the lid, so that it can move together with the lid.

[0012] Preferably, the pivotable lid is arranged relative to the cartridge guide element in such a way that closing the lid pivots the cartridge guide element from its first position to its next position.

[0013] The lid preferably has a first contact element, for example in the form of a roller, which is arranged such that, when the lid is closed, it comes into contact with the inserted ink cartridge in order to move it together with the cartridge guide element, in particular to pivot it along the described pivot axis. Designing the contact element as a roller has the advantage that the contact element can roll on a surface of the ink cartridge during movement. However, instead of a roller, another contact element, for example, a contact element that slides on a surface of the ink cartridge, can also be provided.

[0014] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the intake in the cartridge guide element is such that The ink cartridge to be received is adapted, i.e., in particular, its external geometry is adapted so that the ink cartridge is linearly movable in at least one direction within the receiver. This linear movement preferably forms part of the aforementioned predetermined path of movement when inserting the ink cartridge into the cartridge chamber. Preferably, the path of movement is defined by the described pivoting movement of the cartridge guide element and by the linear movement of the ink cartridge within the receiver. The pivoting and linear movements can occur sequentially or at least partially simultaneously. Preferably, the linear movement occurs when the cartridge guide element is in its second position.If, in the second position, the electrical contacts of the connection field are already in contact with the electrical contacts of the contact field in the pressure chamber, the contacts slide along each other during this linear movement.

[0015] According to a further possible embodiment of the invention, the receptacle is adapted to the ink cartridge to be accommodated such that the ink cartridge is movable within the receptacle in a direction transverse to a pivot axis of the cartridge guide element, and in particular, is movable linearly. The receptacle and the ink cartridge are thus adapted to each other in such a way that they preferably allow linear movement by a predetermined amount. The mobility transverse to the direction of the pivot axis makes it possible to move or shift the ink cartridge linearly, essentially radially, within the cartridge guide element with respect to the pivot axis. This makes it possible, by means of the pivoting movement from the aforementioned first to the second position, to first bring the connection field into contact with the contact field and then preferably to move the ink cartridge linearly within the receptacle by a predetermined amount. move them, for example, to position them on a wall or inner wall of the cartridge compartment.

[0016] According to another possible embodiment, the printhead preferably has a pressure element which is arranged and designed such that it presses the ink cartridge inserted into the cartridge guide element against a stop and / or a wall or inner wall of the cartridge chamber in its operating position. The pressure element can be arranged and designed such that it also effects the described movement of the ink cartridge in the receptacle of the cartridge guide element by pressing against the cartridge guide element and / or against the ink cartridge and preferably displacing it linearly. By pressing the ink cartridge against a stop or a wall of the cartridge chamber in its operating position, the pressure element securely fixes the ink cartridge in the operating position.

[0017] The pressure element can, for example, comprise a spring element that generates a pressure force and / or a pressure lever. Such a pressure lever can, for example, be designed in the form of a toggle lever. Such a pressure lever has a contact surface or contact point that preferably comes into contact with the ink cartridge in order to transmit a force to the ink cartridge. Furthermore, it preferably has a point of force application where an actuating force acts on the lever. This actuating force can, for example, be applied by a spring element or, particularly preferably, by the described lid.

[0018] In one possible embodiment, the pivoting lid preferably has a second support element which is designed in such a way as to The pressure element is designed and arranged to act on the ink cartridge when the lid is closed, applying force to it. For example, when the lid is closed, a pressure element designed as a lever system simultaneously exerts the necessary force on the ink cartridge to fix it in a defined operating position. The contact element can be designed as an elastic element, such as an elastomer, to generate an elastic contact force.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis about which the cartridge guide element is pivotable extends essentially parallel to a plane defined by the contact field. The pivot axis more preferably extends transversely or perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the ink cartridge, which extends parallel to the exit direction of the ink droplets, i.e., from a front surface having a nozzle arrangement to the opposite rear surface. Thus, the pivot axis more preferably extends parallel to a surface in which the nozzles are formed in the ink cartridge. This arrangement ensures that, by pivoting the cartridge guide element with an inserted ink cartridge, a connection field of the ink cartridge can be brought into contact with the contact field inside the cartridge chamber.The pivot axis can be either a virtual or a mechanical pivot axis. A virtual pivot axis can be achieved, for example, by pivoting the cartridge guide element in recesses in the side surfaces of the printhead housing.

[0020] According to another possible embodiment, the cartridge guide element is designed in such a way that it allows a linear movement of an ink cartridge inserted into the holder parallel to a plane spanned by the contact field, preferably when the cartridge guide element is in its second position as described above. This allows part of the predetermined movement path to occur as a linear movement parallel to the connection field, as described above. During this movement, electrical contacts can slide against each other, thereby simultaneously improving electrical contact.

[0021] Preferably, the cartridge guide element is designed such that, in its second position, it allows a linear movement of an ink cartridge inserted into the receptacle in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the contact field, by a distance that is smaller than the extent of the contacts of the ink cartridge's connection field in this direction. This distance is preferably defined by a predetermined clearance in the receptacle for an inserted ink cartridge, such that the ink cartridge can only move linearly by the distance defined by this clearance.If this dimension is smaller than the extent of the electrical connection contacts, the electrical connection contacts of the contact field and the connection field slide against each other throughout the entire linear movement, and the electrical connection contacts of the contact field do not come into contact with the foil structure of the connection field that surrounds its electrical contacts. That is, preferably the connection contacts come into contact with each other and then shift linearly relative to each other by an amount that is smaller, preferably less than half the extent of the connection contacts of the connection field in this direction. This prevents damage to the foil structure.

[0022] The cartridge chamber is preferably delimited by an end wall which, during operation, faces the product to be printed. The end wall has an opening to which a nozzle assembly is attached. The end wall is designed to be as thin as possible to allow the nozzles of the nozzle assembly to be positioned as close as possible to the product being printed. This end wall is preferably the wall or inner wall of the cartridge chamber against which the ink cartridge, as described above, comes into contact.

[0023] The end wall of the cartridge chamber preferably forms a contact surface around the circumference of the opening for an ink cartridge inserted into the chamber, so that the cartridge comes into contact with this surface. The ink cartridge is preferably pressed against this contact surface by the pressure element described above. A seal is preferably arranged on the contact surface so that the ink cartridge comes into contact with the seal, thus sealing the area between the end wall and the ink cartridge.

[0024] The pivot axis, for example a mechanical or virtual pivot axis of the cartridge guide element, is preferably located between the aforementioned end wall and a contact field arranged in the cartridge chamber. Alternatively, the pivot axis could also be located on a side of the contact field facing away from the end wall. Both arrangements make it possible to pivot an ink cartridge inserted into the cartridge guide element with the cartridge guide element in such a way that a connection field of the ink cartridge is moved in an arc-shaped motion towards the contact field in the cartridge chamber and is brought into contact with the contact field.

[0025] In addition to the printhead of an inkjet product marking system described above, the invention also relates to an inkjet printing system for use in such a product marking system, wherein the inkjet printing system comprises a printhead as described above and at least one replaceable ink cartridge that can be inserted into the printhead. This ink cartridge is adapted to the printhead, or the printhead is adapted to the ink cartridge. Besides this printing system, the invention also relates to a method for inserting an ink cartridge into such a printhead, wherein, according to this method as described above, the ink cartridge is moved into the printing chamber of the printhead along a predefined path of movement.The movement path is fixed by the geometric design of the printhead and is not at the user's discretion. Further preferred configurations of the printing system and the method are described in the preceding description of the printhead, to which reference is made here.

[0026] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the attached figures. These show: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a partially opened printhead according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 shows a side view of the printhead according to Figure 1. Inserting an ink cartridge, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the printhead according to Figures 1 and 2 in a first step of closing the lid, Fig. 4 shows a view according to Figure 3 in a second step of closing the lid, Fig. 5 shows a side view corresponding to Figure 2 in a third step of closing the lid, Fig. 6 shows a view according to Figure 5 with the lid closed further. Fig. 7 shows a view according to Figures 5 and 6 with the lid fully closed. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a partially opened printhead according to a second embodiment of the invention before the insertion of an ink cartridge. Fig. 9 shows a view according to Figure 8 with the ink cartridge inserted, Fig. 10 shows a view according to Figure 9 with the cartridge guide element partially swung in and Fig. 1 1 shows an open side view of the printhead according to Figures 8 to 10 with the ink cartridge in its operating position.

[0027] A first embodiment of the invention is described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The printhead shown has a printhead housing 2, from which one side wall has been removed in the views shown to allow a view into the interior. In the rear area, the printhead housing has an electronics mounting compartment 4 for control electronics (not shown here). In the front area, facing the object to be printed, the printhead housing 2 has a cartridge compartment 6 in which an ink cartridge 8 is received. The ink cartridge 8 has a nozzle assembly 10 at its front end. In the installed state, i.e., the operating state, the ink cartridge 8 is arranged in the cartridge compartment 6 such that the nozzle assembly 10 is located behind an opening 12 in a front end wall 14.The front end wall 14 with the opening 12 faces a product to be printed, the product to be printed being guided parallel to the end wall 14 past the printhead and being printed by ink droplets emerging from the nozzle arrangement 10 during the movement.

[0028] On a side wall adjacent to the front, shown in the figures as the underside of the ink cartridge 8, a connection field 16 with electrical contacts for controlling the nozzle assembly 10 in the ink cartridge 8 is formed (see also Fig. 8). For contacting this connection field 16, a contact field 18 with electrical contacts in the form of spring-loaded contact pins is arranged in the cartridge chamber 6. The contact field 18 is arranged on a circuit board 20, which carries control electronics adapted to the ink cartridge 8. The circuit board 20 is connected to further electronic components for controlling the printhead in the electronics housing 4. The ink cartridge 8 is a specific type of cartridge, i.e., a standard product, and the entire printhead is adapted to this specific ink cartridge. In the example shown, it is This could, for example, be an ink cartridge 8 from the manufacturer Funai (Lexmark). However, the printhead could also be adapted to other types of ink cartridges. Such adaptations concern the exact geometry and design of the circuit board 20 with the contact field 18.

[0029] Since the ink droplets exiting the nozzle assembly 10 must strike the product to be printed with sufficient speed and energy, the distance between the nozzle assembly and the product must not be too great. Therefore, the nozzle assembly 10 must be positioned very close to the outer surface of the front end wall 14; that is, the front end wall 14 must be sufficiently thin. At the same time, a seal must be achieved in this area, for which a gasket can be arranged on the inside of the front end wall 14. To achieve a sufficient seal, the ink cartridge 8, with its front side on which the nozzle assembly 10 is located, must be pressed against the inside of the front end wall 14, in the circumferential area of ​​the opening 12. Simultaneously, the underside of the ink cartridge 8, with its connection field 16 located there, must be pressed against the contact field 18.This requires a movement in two directions when inserting the ink cartridge 6, namely forwards and downwards.

[0030] To execute this movement in a controlled manner and to prevent damage to the electrical connection contacts of the contact field 18 and the connection field 16 due to improper insertion, a cartridge guide element 22 is arranged in the printhead according to the invention. The cartridge guide element 22 serves to move the ink cartridge 8 into the operating position in the cartridge chamber 6 in a defined manner. The cartridge guide element 22 is fork-shaped with two spaced-apart plates 24. The plates 24 are formed, between which the ink cartridge 8 is arranged. The plates 24 each have a groove 26 on their facing inner surfaces, into which a laterally projecting projection 28 at the rear end of the ink cartridge 8 engages. The groove 26 has a width that is slightly greater than the width of the projection 28, so that the projection 28 has a certain amount of play in the groove 26 in the transverse direction. The cartridge guide element 22 is shaped like a circular arc at its lower end and is pivotably mounted in a correspondingly shaped recess 30 in the respective side wall of the printhead housing 2. The recess 30 is also shaped like a circular arc at its base, so that the cartridge guide element 22 can rotate in the recess 30.The recess 30, like the plates 24, is essentially shaped like a slice of cake, but the recess 30 has a larger opening angle than the plates 24, allowing the plates 24 to pivot within the recess 30 around a pivot axis X through a certain angular range. This pivoting movement is initiated by closing the cover 32 as described below.

[0031] To insert the ink cartridge 8, the cartridge guide element 22 with the plates 24 is in a first position, in which it is pivoted away from the front end wall 14 of the printhead housing 2. Springs hold the cartridge guide element in this rest position. In this position, shown in Figure 2, the ink cartridge 8 is inserted into the groove 26 with the projection 28. Figure 3 shows the state in which the ink cartridge 8 is fully inserted into the cartridge guide element 22. The cartridge guide element 22 is still in the first position.

[0032] On the inside of the lid 32, which is near the front The front wall 14 can be pivoted about a pivot axis 34, which is a first The first contact element 36 and the second contact element 38 are arranged. The first contact element 36 is roller-shaped and designed to contact the top of the ink cartridge 8. The second contact element 38 is designed as an elastic pressure element. When the lid 32 is closed, for which purpose the lid 32 is pivoted about the pivot axis 34, the first contact element 36, as shown in Figure 4, comes into contact with the upper side surface of the inserted ink cartridge 8. The further the lid 32 is closed, the further the first contact element 36 presses the ink cartridge 8 downwards, so that the connection field 16 pivots towards the contact field 18. In doing so, the cartridge guide element 22 pivots in the recess 30 about the pivot axis X. The roller-shaped first contact element 36 slides along the top of the ink cartridge 8 or rolls on it.

[0033] To achieve a displacement or linear movement of the ink cartridge 8 towards the front end wall 14 during its movement, a pressure element 40 is arranged on the cartridge guide element 22 according to the invention. The pressure element 40 is roller-shaped and bears against a projection 41, which is formed on the rear of the ink cartridge 8, i.e., on the rear end face 14 facing away from the nozzle assembly. The pressure element 40 is arranged on a pivotable pressure lever 42, which is pivotable about a pivot axis 43. An actuating lever 44 is provided for moving the pressure element 40, which is pivotable about a pivot axis 46. The actuating lever 44 is pivotally connected at its end facing away from the pivot axis 46 to a connecting lever 48, which is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the pressure lever 42.The connecting lever 48 is connected to the pressure lever 42 at its end opposite the pivot axis 43, at which point it is also The pressure element 40 is located. Preferably, the pressure element 40 rotates about the same axis about which the connecting lever 48 can pivot relative to the pressure lever 42.

[0034] The three levers, i.e., the actuating lever 44, the connecting lever 48, and the pressure lever 42, together form a type of toggle lever mechanism. When the lid 32 is closed, the second contact element 38 comes into contact with the actuating lever 44, causing it to pivot about the pivot axis 46 as the lid 32 continues to close. Simultaneously, the connecting lever 28 also pivots the pressure lever 42 about its pivot axis 43, pressing the pressure element 40 against the projection 41. This exerts a forward-directed pressure force, i.e., a pressure force directed towards the front end wall 14, on the ink cartridge 8. This shifts the ink cartridge 8 forward, i.e., towards the end wall 14, by the clearance between the groove 26 and the projection 28. This linear movement or displacement only occurs when the connection field 16 comes into contact with the contact field 18.Only towards the end of the insertion movement of the ink cartridge 8. The linear displacement achieved is so small that it is less than the diameter, preferably less than half the diameter, of the contact fields in the terminal field 16, so that such a displacement can occur while the electrical contacts of the contact field 18 and the terminal field 16 are already in contact with each other. During this movement, a seal arranged on the inside of the front end wall 14 can simultaneously be compressed to achieve a good sealing effect.

[0035] Figure 7 finally shows the final position of the ink cartridge 8 in the cartridge chamber 6, i.e., the operating position of the ink cartridge 8, in which it can then be used for printing. In this operating position, the electrical contacts between the connection- The ink cartridge 8 is in contact with the contact field 16 and the contact field 18, and simultaneously pressed against the inside of the front end wall 14. To generate a preload force in this direction, the second contact element 38 is preferably elastically designed so that it exerts an elastic pressure force on the actuating lever 44 when the cover 32 is closed. In the position shown in Figure 7, the printhead housing 2 is completely closed, thus protecting the interior from contamination and moisture ingress. An additional seal can be arranged below the cover 32 for this purpose. As described, the cartridge guide element 22, together with the pressure element 40 and the described lever mechanism, creates a defined path of movement for guiding or inserting the ink cartridge 8 into the cartridge chamber 6.This movement path is achieved by the described initial pivoting movement of the ink cartridge 8 together with the cartridge guide element 22 and the subsequent superimposed linear movement by moving the ink cartridge 8 in the groove 26.

[0036] Figures 8 to 11 show a second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the printhead housing 2 is essentially identical to the printhead housing 2 according to the first embodiment. The ink cartridge 8 is identical, and the circuit board 20 with the contact field 18 is also identical and arranged identically in the printhead housing 2. In the second embodiment, the cartridge guide element 22' is formed as a unit with the front end wall 14' and is pivotable about a pivot axis 50, which is located in the region of the front end wall 14'. That is, in the second embodiment, the cartridge guide element 22' pivots forward to insert the ink cartridge 8, and not backward as in the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, in the In the forward-pivoted state, i.e., in the first position of the cartridge guide element 22', the ink cartridge 8 is inserted into the cartridge guide element so that the ink cartridge 8 is received in the cartridge guide element 22' as shown in Figure 9. The cartridge guide element can then be pivoted about the pivot axis 50 as shown in Figure 10, so that the ink cartridge 8 with its connection field 16 is moved towards the contact field 18 on the circuit board 20. During further movement, the projection 41 with a pressure element 40' comes into contact with a pivotable pressure lever 42'. The pressure lever 42' is pivotable about a pivot axis 43'. The pivot axis 43' is located in the central region of the pressure lever 42'. The pressure element 40' is located at one end of the pressure lever 42'.At the opposite end, a spring element 52 engages, which is designed as a tension spring and, by pivoting the pressure lever 42', generates a pressure force between the pressure element 40' and the projection 41, which presses the ink cartridge 8 against the inner surface of the front end wall 14. Thus, in this second embodiment as well, a defined insertion movement for the ink cartridge 8 is created along a predefined path of movement, which is achieved by the pivoting movement of the cartridge guide element 22' about the pivot axis 50 and the linear displacement due to the pressure force exerted on the projection 41. Reference symbol list 2 printhead housings 4 Electronics Recording Room 6 cartridge compartment 8 ink cartridges 10 nozzle arrangement 12 Opening 14 front front wall 16 connection field 18 Contact field 20 circuit boards 22, 22' Cartridge guide element 24 plates 26 Nut 28 lead 30 Exclusion 32 lids 34. Swivel axis of the lid 36 first plant element 38 second plant element 40, 40' pressure element 41 lead 42, 42' Pressure lever 43, 43' Swivel axis 44 operating levers 46 Swivel axis 48 connecting levers 50 swivel axis 52 spring element X swivel axis

Claims

Claims Printhead of an inkjet product marking system with a printhead housing (2) and a cartridge chamber (6) formed in the printhead housing (2) for an ink cartridge (8), characterized by a movable cartridge guide element (22; 22') arranged in the printhead housing (2), which has a receptacle (26) adapted to the ink cartridge (8) to be received, into which at least a section (28) of the ink cartridge (8) can be inserted, wherein the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is designed such that, when moving, it defines a predetermined path of movement along which an ink cartridge (8) inserted into the receptacle (26) is moved into a predetermined operating position in the cartridge chamber (6).Printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that the cartridge guide element (22; 22') defines a movement path for an ink cartridge (8) inserted into the receptacle (26), which consists of a combined pivoting and linear movement, wherein the linear movement preferably begins after the pivoting movement. Printhead according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a contact field (18) for electrically contacting a terminal field (16) of the ink cartridge (8) is located in the cartridge chamber (6), and that the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is designed and the movement path is defined such that the terminal field (16) of the ink cartridge (8) is made accessible by movement of the ink cartridge (8) along the predetermined movement path. ink cartridge (8) is brought into contact with the contact field (18) in the cartridge compartment (6).

4. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is pivotably mounted in the printhead housing (2) such that it is preferably pivotable from a first to a second position and in the second position the connection field (16) of an inserted ink cartridge (8) is in contact with the contact field (18) in the cartridge chamber (6).

5. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a pivotable cover (32) which, in a closed position, closes the cartridge chamber (6) and which is preferably arranged relative to the cartridge guide element (22; 22') such that, when closing, it acts on the cartridge guide element (22; 22') or an ink cartridge (8) inserted therein to move the cartridge guide element (22; 22').

6. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivotable cover (32) is arranged relative to the cartridge guide element (22) such that closing the cover (32) pivots the cartridge guide element (22) from its first to its second position.

7. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (32) has a first contact element (36), preferably in the form of a roller, which is arranged such that when the cover (32) is closed it comes into contact with the inserted ink cartridge (8) in order to move it together with the cartridge guide element (22). A printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (26) is adapted to the ink cartridge (8) to be received such that the ink cartridge (8) is linearly movable in the receptacle (26) in at least one direction, preferably when the cartridge guide element (22) is in its second position. A printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (26) is adapted to the ink cartridge (8) to be received such that the ink cartridge (8) is movable in the receptacle (26) in a direction transverse to a pivot axis (X; 50) of the cartridge guide element (22; 22').Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a pressure element (40; 40') arranged such that it presses the ink cartridge (8) inserted into the cartridge guide element (22; 22') in its operating position against a stop and / or a wall (14) of the cartridge chamber (6).

1. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure element (40; 40') comprises a spring element (52) which generates a pressure force, and / or a pressure lever (42; 42'), preferably of the type of a toggle lever.

2. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivotable cover (32) comprises a second contact element (38) arranged such that, when the cover (32) is closed, it acts on the pressure element (40) to apply force to the ink cartridge (8).

13. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axis (X; 50) about which the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is pivotable extends parallel to a plane spanned by the contact field (18).

14. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is designed such that it allows a linear movement of an ink cartridge (8) inserted into the receptacle (26) parallel to a plane spanned by the contact field (18), preferably when the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is in its second position.

15. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is designed such that in the second position of the cartridge guide element (22; 22') it allows a linear movement of an ink cartridge (8) inserted into the receptacle (26) in a direction parallel to a plane spanned by the contact field (18) by a measure which is smaller than the extent of the contacts of the connection field (16) of the ink cartridge (8) in this direction.

16. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge chamber (6) is limited by an end wall (14) which has an opening (12) at which a nozzle arrangement (10) of an ink cartridge (8) inserted into the cartridge chamber (6) is located.

17. Printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end wall (14) of the cartridge chamber (6) has a contact surface for a cartridge in the circumferential area of ​​the opening (12). A printhead according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axis (X; 50) of the cartridge guide element (22; 22') is located between the end wall (14) and the contact field (18) or on a side of the contact field (18) facing away from the end wall. An inkjet printing system characterized by a printhead according to one of the preceding claims and with at least one replaceable ink cartridge (8) that can be inserted into the printhead.

Images