Cartridge Alignment Slots for Contact Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printer cartridges face challenges in accurate alignment and discrimination, leading to potential incorrect insertion and reduced precision in electrical contact engagement, which affects the performance and cost of the cartridges.
Innovation Solution
A new alignment structure featuring multiple slots in the cartridge housing that aligns the cartridge with the receiver and discriminates between different cartridges by varying the spacing of these slots, allowing for precise alignment and correct insertion, and utilizing a common reference for both chip assembly and printer installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional alignment structures are used for cartridge installation, then the alignment process is simple, but the precision of electrical contact alignment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment slots serve dual functions: they align the cartridge to the receiver during installation and simultaneously align the chip to the cartridge body during manufacturing. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing high precision alignment without requiring separate complex alignment mechanisms for each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment slots act as intermediary reference features that mediate between the cartridge body, the chip, and the receiver. By establishing a common reference system through these slots, precise alignment is achieved across multiple components without direct complex mechanical interfaces.
2Reliability
If larger electrical contacts are used to ensure reliable engagement, then contact reliability improves, but chip size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical alignment tolerance stacking with a unified alignment reference system. The alignment slots provide a common reference that eliminates cumulative mechanical tolerances, enabling smaller contact pads to achieve reliable engagement through precise positional control rather than oversized contacts.
3Manufacturing precision
If cartridge keying features are added to prevent incorrect insertion, then insertion accuracy improves, but cartridge structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment slots serve as both alignment features and keying features. By varying the spacing and configuration of these slots, the system provides precise alignment while simultaneously preventing incorrect cartridge insertion. This eliminates the need for separate keying features, resolving the contradiction between insertion accuracy and structural complexity.
4Measurement precision
If separate alignment references are used for chip assembly and cartridge installation, then each alignment can be optimized independently, but overall alignment precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment reference systems for chip assembly and cartridge installation into a single unified structure. The alignment slots provide a common reference that is used at both manufacturing and installation stages, eliminating the need for separate alignment references and achieving cumulative precision without increased complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a group of printing fluid cartridges in which each cartridge includes: a reservoir; a printing fluid outlet from the reservoir; multiple electrical contacts arranged next to one another across the cartridge with an interface along the cartridge between each pair of adjacent electrical contacts; and multiple guideways next to the electrical contacts lengthwise and configured to align the cartridge to a receiver when the cartridge is installed in the receiver. Each of the guideways spans exactly one of the interfaces widthwise and is configured to simultaneously align the electrical contacts to corresponding electrical contacts on a receiver and to discriminate the cartridge from other printing fluid cartridges to prevent the cartridge from being inserted incorrectly into a receiver.