Ink jet printer having temperature sensor for replaceable printheads

• US 5,585,825 A
• Filed: 11/25/1994
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wyble, Thomas J., Kneezel, Gary A., Courtney, Thomas P., LaDonna, Richard V., Becerra, Juan J., Watrobski, Thomas E., Wysocki, Joseph J., Lorenze, Robert V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, Jr., John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, LYNNE D
• Application Number:
  US08/345,046
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 347/14, 347/17, 347/23, 347/31, 347/49, 347/56, 347/59, 347/63, 347/87, 347/108, 347/65, 400/56, 400/124.03, 361/719, 361/720, 374/141
• US Class Current: 347/14
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1753 Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts

Abstract

An ink jet printer has a temperature sensor as a permanent part thereof. The temperature sensor is mounted on the translatable carriage of the printer. A replaceable printhead cartridge having a printhead bonded to a heat sink is installed on the translatable carriage. Once the printhead cartridge is installed on the translatable carriage, the temperature sensor is placed into intimate contact with printhead'"'"'heat sink, so that the temperature sensor moves with the printhead and provides continual temperature measurement.

Claims

1. An ink jet printer having a reciprocating carriage movable across a printing zone, the printer including:

a cartridge holder mounted on the reciprocating carriage,

at least one ink supply cartridge with an integrally mounted thermal printhead bonded to at least one heat sink substrate forming an integral part thereof,

at least one temperature sensor mounted on said cartridge holder and

latching means for latching said at least one ink supply cartridge into an operative printing location in said cartridge holder, said latching means including means for biasing said at least one temperature sensor into intimate contact with said at least one heat sink substrate.

2. The printer of claim 1 wherein said cartridge holder has a fixed datum member with datum features thereon, a movable connector plate and a latch mechanism on the datum member for moving the connector plate towards said datum member when a printhead cartridge is locked into said printing location and wherein said temperature sensor is fixedly mounted on the datum member of the cartridge holder, so that locking of the ink supply cartridge in the cartridge holder causes the temperature sensor to be brought into said intimate contact with said at least one heat sink substrate.

3. The printer of claim 2 wherein said at least one heat sink substrate has a recess in one surface and wherein the temperature sensor has a distal end which is seated into said recess when said cartridge is locked into said printing location.

4. The printer of claim 1, wherein said at least one ink supply cartridge is replaceable.

5. A temperature control system for an ink jet printer which includes an ink jet printhead bonded to a heat sink substrate, said ink jet printhead and said heat sink substrate being mounted to a printhead mounting assembly, the control system including, in combination, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the printhead, said temperature sensor being mounted on said printhead mounting assembly, electrical control means responsive to outputs from said temperature sensor to adjust electrical pulses to the printhead and biasing means for selectively urging the temperature sensor into intimate contact with said heat sink substrate said biasing means being mounted on said printhead mounting assembly.