Cartridge Terminal Wall Alignment for Liquid Ejecting Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In pressurization-type liquid ejecting systems, misalignment of positioning grooves and circuit substrates can occur due to deformation of the cartridge's pressurization chamber, leading to contact failures between apparatus and cartridge terminals.
Innovation Solution
The cartridge design includes a terminal disposition wall portion with protruding and extending portions that guide and align the cartridge side terminals with apparatus side terminals, forming an inclined contact surface to maintain alignment despite pressurization chamber deformation, ensuring stable electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pressurization chamber is pressurized to supply liquid, then liquid supply capability is improved, but the case deforms causing misalignment between positioning grooves and circuit substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The case is divided into a pressurization chamber portion and a terminal disposition wall portion. The terminal disposition wall portion is structured with protruding portions and extending portions that are independent of the pressurization chamber deformation, allowing the terminal alignment function to be segmented from the pressurization function.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact points are arranged to form an inclined surface that faces a direction including a component in the −Y direction and a component in the +Z direction. This three-dimensional inclined surface configuration allows the terminals to maintain alignment contact despite deformation in the pressurization chamber, utilizing spatial dimensionality to compensate for deformation.
2Volume of moving object
If the circuit substrate is housed in a recessed portion at the corner, then space utilization is improved, but contact failure occurs due to misalignment when pressurization chamber deforms
Solution Approach 1:
The case structure is segmented into functional zones: the recessed portion for housing the circuit substrate, the terminal disposition wall portion with protruding portions for alignment, and extending portions for contact. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, maintaining contact reliability while utilizing space efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The extending portions act as intermediary elements between the terminal disposition wall portion and the holder. These extending portions provide a stable reference structure that mediates the connection, ensuring reliable electrical contact even when the pressurization chamber deforms.
3Ease of operation
If positioning grooves are used to align cartridge, then ease of mounting is improved, but contact failure occurs due to relative position misalignment under pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal disposition wall portion with protruding portions and extending portions provides a dynamic alignment mechanism that adapts to deformation. Unlike fixed positioning grooves, this structure maintains alignment capability through its three-dimensional geometry and inclined contact surface, accommodating changes in the pressurization chamber shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface formed by contact points arranged in a direction including −Y and +Z components adds a third dimension to the alignment mechanism. This multi-dimensional contact configuration compensates for deformation in the pressurization chamber, maintaining reliable contact while preserving ease of mounting.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge has a terminal disposition wall portion where a plurality of cartridge side terminals are disposed so as to form an inclined surface facing a direction including a components in −Y and +Z directions. The terminal disposition wall portion includes a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion provided further in the −Y direction than a second wall constituting a pressurization chamber, a first extending portion extending in the −Y direction from the first protruding portion, and a second extending portion extending in the −Y direction from the second protruding portion. A first cartridge side contact portion configured to come into contact with a first apparatus side contact portion is provided in the first extending portion. A second cartridge side contact portion configured to come into contact with a second apparatus side contact portion is provided in the second extending portion.