Printing Fluid Cartridge Locking Surface and Electrical Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet recording apparatuses face complexity in maintaining stable contact pressure between the IC board and contacts of the ink cartridge and the ink consuming apparatus, requiring separate formation of the bracket and main body for movable configurations.
Innovation Solution
A printing-fluid cartridge design that ensures stable contact pressure through a simple structure, where the ink cartridge is mounted with a locking surface engaging a lock shaft, and the electrical interface is connected via resilient contacts, allowing for secure attachment and easy insertion without the need for separate movable parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable bracket configuration is used to ensure stable contact pressure between the IC board and contacts, then the contact stability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to separate formation of bracket and main body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bracket and main body into a single integrated cartridge body, eliminating the need for separate movable bracket components. The IC board is directly mounted on the cartridge body with positioning protrusions that engage with recesses in the ink supplying device, achieving stable contact pressure without the complexity of separate movable parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge body serves multiple functions: it contains the ink supply portion, supports the IC board, provides positioning features through protrusions and recesses, and enables both electrical connection and mechanical positioning through a unified structure, eliminating the need for dedicated separate components.
2Reliability
If separate bracket and main body are formed to enable movable configuration, then the contact pressure stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bracket and main body into a single molded cartridge body, reducing the number of manufacturing steps from separate component fabrication and assembly to a single integrated manufacturing process, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining contact pressure stability.
3Reliability
If movable bracket configuration is implemented, then the contact stability is improved, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the bracket function directly into the cartridge body, reducing the total part count by eliminating separate bracket components. The IC board positioning is achieved through integrated protrusions and recesses formed as part of the cartridge body structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a printing-fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached thereto in a first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes a front surface, a rear surface, a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply port, an upper surface, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and a locking surface. The printing-fluid cartridge inserted in the printing-fluid consuming apparatus is pivotable between the first posture and a second posture about a pivot center. The electrical interface is positioned closer to the supply port than the locking surface is to the supply port in the insertion direction. The electrical interface is positioned rearward relative to the pivot center in the insertion direction. The locking surface is positioned upward relative to the storage chamber and closer to a rearmost point of the printing-fluid cartridge than to the electrical interface in the insertion direction.