Cartridge Slider Mechanism for Stable Electrical Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

As circuit boards become highly integrated and smaller in size, ensuring accurate positioning of electrodes on these boards relative to cartridges in printers is crucial to maintain reliable electrical contact, as vibrations can cause electrodes to separate over time if not properly aligned.

Innovation Solution

A system with a cartridge attachment section that includes a slider with offset electrical contacts and a biasing member, which applies force to ensure consistent contact with the cartridge's electrical interface, maintaining contact during insertion and removal, and accommodating the cartridge's board supporting portion to prevent misalignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the circuit board is made smaller due to high integration, then the size of the circuit board is reduced, but the positioning accuracy of electrodes relative to the cartridge becomes more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit board sizeVSAvoidelectrode positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A slider mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the cartridge and the cartridge holder. The slider includes a positioning portion that contacts the board supporting portion, and an electrical contact that moves to maintain reliable contact with the electrode on the cartridge, compensating for positioning tolerances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical contact is designed to be movable relative to the slider body, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during cartridge insertion and removal to maintain consistent contact with the electrode, accommodating variations in cartridge positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the cartridge is mounted in the printer, then the cartridge can be used, but vibrations may cause the electrodes and electrical contacts to separate over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge installationVSAvoidelectrical contact stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A biasing member is pre-installed in the cartridge holder to apply a biasing force to the slider in the cartridge insertion direction. This preemptive mechanical pressure ensures the electrical contact maintains firm contact with the electrode, compensating for future vibrations and positional drift

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning portion of the slider is designed to contact the board supporting portion during insertion, preliminarily establishing accurate positioning of the circuit board relative to the cartridge body before the cartridge is fully installed and subjected to operational vibrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If a pivot member is used to move the electrical contact, then the electrical contact can reach the electrode, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact engagementVSAvoidcartridge holder structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the electrical contact move toward the electrode during insertion (as in the pivot member design), the invention inverts the approach by having the cartridge move relative to a stationary electrical contact, with the slider positioning the contact after insertion to ensure engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration ensures stable and reliable electrical contact between the cartridge and printer contacts, preventing separation due to vibrations and ensuring consistent operation.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to the slider in the second direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10479099B2System for consuming consumable material stored in cartridge

Publication Date: 2019.11.19 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A system includes a cartridge attachment section and a cartridge attachable to the cartridge attachment section. The cartridge includes a board supporting portion supporting a board provided with an electrical interface. The cartridge attachment section includes a slider having a first wall, a second wall and an electrical contact. During insertion of the cartridge, the slider is moved from a second posture where the electrical contact separates from the electrical interface into a first posture where the electrical contact contacts the electrical interface. Upon completion of attachment of the cartridge, the first wall and the second wall are received respectively in a first space and a second space defined between the cartridge and the cartridge attachment section.