CA1295509C - Multiple print/cartridge ink jet printer having accurate vertical interpositioning - Google Patents
Multiple print/cartridge ink jet printer having accurate vertical interpositioningInfo
- Publication number
- CA1295509C CA1295509C CA000545216A CA545216A CA1295509C CA 1295509 C CA1295509 C CA 1295509C CA 000545216 A CA000545216 A CA 000545216A CA 545216 A CA545216 A CA 545216A CA 1295509 C CA1295509 C CA 1295509C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cartridge
- cartridges
- referencing
- linear
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J25/34—Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
Abstract
MULTIPLE PRINT/CARTRIDGE INK JET PRINTER
HAVING ACCURATE VERTICAL INTERPOSITIONING
ABSTRACT
Ink jet printing apparatus of the type having feed means for advancing successive line portions of a print medium past a linear print zone includes a plurality of carriages constructed to traverse the print zone in a predetermined direction and removably support a plurality of print/cartridges. Each of the carriages includes referencing edges that are substantially parallel to the direction of the carriages traverse and indexing means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective referencing surfaces of their carriage unit.
HAVING ACCURATE VERTICAL INTERPOSITIONING
ABSTRACT
Ink jet printing apparatus of the type having feed means for advancing successive line portions of a print medium past a linear print zone includes a plurality of carriages constructed to traverse the print zone in a predetermined direction and removably support a plurality of print/cartridges. Each of the carriages includes referencing edges that are substantially parallel to the direction of the carriages traverse and indexing means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective referencing surfaces of their carriage unit.
Description
lZ95509 MULTIPLE PRINT/CARTRIDGE INK JET PRINTER
HAVING ACCURATE VERTICAL INTERPOSITIONING
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Field of Invention The present invention relates to ink ~et printing apparatus wherein a plurality of discretely insertable print/cartridges cooperate in producing a print and more particularly to printer constructions for accurately interpositioning such print/csrtridges.
DescriPtion of Prior Art There are known drop-on-demand ink ~et printer systems in which a print head carriage assembly which supports a print head trsverses the print head across the width of a print medium in line printing operation. Between line printing sequences, the print medium is advanced to prepare for the next sequence. One useful approach is to construct the print head element as part of a disposable print/cartridge which contains an ink supply, drop-generating structures and electrical connections adapted for coupling to printer systems, which provides drop-generating energy to such inserted print/cartridge in accordance with information signals.
Heretofore, such disposable print/cartridge units have been employed one unit at a time in the printing operation and precise positioning and control of the print/cartridge's printing line locus, relative to the print medium is not required. That is, a particular print/cartridge, once inserted, will establish its particular line locus vis-a-vis the printer's print zone. Thus, variation of line locus between different print/cartridges (e.g. because of low tolerances within the print/cartridge and in the print/cartridge-printer interface) has not presented problems.
However, there exist applications where it would be desirable to use a plurality of such readily 12~55c~9 insertable print/cartridge, cooperatively, in page-printing. For example, it may be desired to print more than one color of ink on a printed page.
Or, it may be desired to use a plurality of cooperative print/cartridges to increase the page-printing speed of the printer. In using more than one print/cartridge for cooperative printing on a single page, it is desirable to precisely interrelate the printing loci of those print/cartridges. Otherwise printing artifacts can occur, e.g. due to horizontal and/or vertical misregistration of the component line portions contributed by the respective print/cartridges.
The problem of providing precise interrelation for a plurality of discrete orifice arrays is difficult, even in apparatus where the orifice arrays form relatively permanent parts of a printer. When the orifice arrays comprise portions of insertable print/cartridges the problem is even more difficult, for the print/cartridges should be inexpensive, dictating a minimum of high tolerance construction features and low tolerance assembly.
U.S. Patent No. 4,709,245 discloses a unique and advantageous approach for precisely interrelating a plurality of insertable print/cartridges for cooperative printing in an ink jet printer. The approach described in that patent combines: (i) a precise physical positioning of orifices arrays of such print/cartridges in regard to their vertical relation with the print zone and (ii) information printing adjustments to compensate for different horizontal interrelations of the orifice arrays with respect to A
lZ~5C~9 the print zone. By utilizing partial physical and partial electrical inter-referencing of the print/cartridges, the approach described by that patent greatly simplifies system positioning structures. The approach allows multi-array printing, via insertable print/cartridges, to be both economical and visually attractive.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
One significant object of the present invention is to provide printer systems having simple and reliable constructions for positioning the orifice arrays of a plurality of cooperative print/cartridges in precise interrelation, e.g. as shown in accordance with the approach of the above-noted U.S. Patent 4,709,245.
Another object is to provide such accurate interpositioning while imposing minimal high tolerance constructions in the print/cartridge fabrication.
A further object is to provide printer apparatus wherein a plurality of print/cartridges can be easily inserted and positioned to cooperate in the printing of line print portions without causing detractive misalignment artifacts of the vertical page direction.
In accord with one aspect of the invention, these objects are accomplished in ink jet printing apparatus of the type having means for advancing successive line portions of a print medium past a linear print zone, a system for cooperatively interpositioning a plurality of insertable print/cartridges which comprises: (a) a plurality of carriage units constructed to traverse the print zone in a predetermined direction and to removably support such print/cartridges; (b) a plurality of referencing surfaces respectively on each of the carriage units, such surfaces being substantially parallel to the B
direction of carriage traverse; and (c) indexing means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective csrriage unit referencing surfaces.
In another aspect of the invention, each of the indexing means includes means for supporting a print/cartridge in a coarsely located position and cam means for moving a print/cartridge into the precise detent relation with the referencing surface of its carriage unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The subsequent description of preferred embodiments refers to the attached drawings wherein:
Figure l is a perspective view, with cover portions removed, of one preferred printer embodiment in accord with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of disposable print/cartridge which is useful in accord with the present invention;
Figure 3 is a view of the print/cartridge carriage assemblies of the Figure l printer embodiment, as viewed from the print zone side of the apparatus;
Figures 4A and 4B are respectively a perspective and a side view, partially in cross section, of the print/cartridge carriage shown in Figures l and 3;
Figures 5-8 are views shQwing various stages of the print/cartridge positioning sequence; snd Figures 9-12 are illustrations of alternative embodiments of print/cartridge positioning means in accord with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The ink ~et printing apparatus shown in Figure l in general comprises a print medium advancing platen 2 which is adapted to receive sheet or 12~55C~i9 continuous print material, e.g. paper, from an ingress st the lower rear, and under the drive from motor 3, advance successive line portions of the medium past a print 70ne P, and out of the printer through a printer egress in the top of the printer. During the passage of successive line portions through the print zone, multi print/cartridge carriage 4 is traversed across the print zone so that print/cartridges placed in the four individual carriage nests 5, 6, 7 and 8 can effect printing operations, as subsequently described. The carriage 4 is slidingly mounted on a guide rail means 35 (see Figures 3, 4A and 4B) located beneath the print/cartridge support nests 5-8 and a carriage drive motor 9 effects traversing movement of the carriage 4, past the platen face, via an endless cable 10 attached to carriage 4. The printer is electrically energized, e.g. from a battery transformer located at 11, via a control circuit means 12. Electrical energy is supplied to individual print/cartridges by means of ribbon cables 13 which have terminals 14 in the front inner portion of each of support nests 5-8.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown one useful print/cartridge embodiment 20, which is adapted to be removably inserted into an operative relation with the printer via carriage 4. The print/cartridge 20 is adspted to be disposable when empty of ink and in general comprises an ink supply reservoir 21 and cover member 22, which covers the ink reservoir snd coarsely positions the print head assembly 23 in nests 5-8. The print head assembly 23 is mounted on the cover member and comprises a driver plate 24 having a plurality of electrical leads 25 formed thereon. The leads 25 extend from connector pads 26 to resistive heuter elements (not shown) located beneath e~ch orifice 29 of a linear orifice array formed in orifice 12~50~
plate 27. Ink from reservoir 21 is supplied through cover member 22 to a location beneath each orifice 29 of plate 27 (and above the heater element for that orifice). Upon application of an electrical print pulse to a terminal pad by the printer control, the corresponding resistive heater element causes an ink condition which e~ects a printing ink droplet from its corresponding orifice 29. The orifice plate 27 can be electroformed using photofabrication techniques to provide precisely located orifices and is attached to driver plate 24, which is in turn affixed to the cover member 22. Thus it will be appreciated that even though the linear array of orifices 29 is precisely located within the orifice plate 27, its position vis-a-vis the locating portions of cover member 22 is not necessarily consistent for different disposable print/cartridges. Print/cartridges of the type ~ust described are known in the art for use in single print/cartridge printers, and, as explained above, the coarse locating structure of cover member is adequate for those applications.
Referring now to Figures 3, 4A and 4B, the print/cartridge carriage 4 comprises a bottom wall portion 31, a front wall portion 32 and side wall portions 33 which together form the plurality of print/cartridge nests 5-8 that are adapted to receive and coarsely position print/cartridges with respect to the printing zone P of the printer. The bottom of carriage 4 is mounted on the guide rail means 35 for traversing the carriage across the print zone P in a precisely uniform spacial relation to the platen 2 and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of that platen's axis of rotation. Thus, the direction of the carriage traverse is substantially orthogonal to the direction of print medium advance.
1~550~
The top of the front wall 32 of each print/cartridge nest 5-8, has, as an upper extension, knife portions 37, which form reference edges that are precisely colinear, parallel to the direction of carriage translation and equidistantly spaced from the linear print zone P.- Mounted on the outer side w8115 of the nests of the carriage 4 are fastening means 40 for contacting print/cartridges, which have been inserted into nests 5-8, and moving such print/cartridges so that their orifice plates are in precise interrelationship in the printer apparatus.
Thus fastening means 40 comprises lever arm portions 41, hinge portions 42, camming portions 43 and seating arm portions 44. The bottom wall 31 of each nest 5-8 also comprises a resilient portion 39 and the fastening means is adapted to move the bottom of an inserted print/cartridge into a forced engagement that downwardly compresses resilient portion 39, when the lever arm portion 41 is moved to the position shown in Figures 3, 4A and 4B. When lever arm portion 41 is moved clockwise as viewed in Figures 4A and 4B, the fastening means 40 is disengaged and the print/cartridge 20 can be removed from its nest in the carriage 4.
Referring now to Figure 2, as well as Figures 3-8, the system for vertically positioning print/cartridge orifice plates is designed to provide a predetermined sequence of engagements between the printlcartridges 20 and the carriage 4. First, each print/cartridge is inserted into a coarsely positioned alignment resting loosely in its nest on top of cantilever spring 39 (see Figure 5). As shown in Figure 3, positioning lugs 51 of the print/cartridge are locsted in vertical slots 53. As the fastening means 40 is rotated clockwise (as viewed in Figures 5, 6, 7A and 8), the cam portion 43 first urges the driver plate 26 into forced contact with knife edge 37 lZ955(~3 (see Figure 6). At this stage the cam dimples on seating arm portions 44 have not yet contacted the print/cartridge sidewalls. During continued rotation the cam dimples 49 of seating arm portions 44 contact shoulder portions 54 of an inserted print/cartridge 20 and move the print/cartridge downwardly against the bias of resilient means 39, while cam portion 43 maintains the forward force urging the driver plate into contact with knife edge 37. During this downward movement, knife edge 37 will slide along the face of the driver plate 26 until a detent surface D of the printtcartridge engages the knife edge (see Figure 7A). In the embodiment shown in F~gures 2-8> the detent D comprises a lower edge portion of the orifice plate 27. As the engagement between the knife edge 37 and the detent edge D evolves, the print/cartridge is oriented within the nest so that the detent edge D is precisely parallel to the knife edge.
Because the orifice array 29 and the detent edge D of the orifice plate 27 are portions of a commonly photofabricated unit, they can be precisely located relative to one another in an economical fashion. In particular, each linear orifice array is photofabricated to be precisely perpendicular to the lower detent edge D and so that each orifice of the linear array is at its own precise nominal distance from the detent edge. Thus precise indexing of the orifice plate's detent edge D relative to the knife edge 37 of a carriage nest preci~ely interrelates the printing orifices relative to the the traversing direction of the printer carriage 4. That is, each orifice of each linear array is precisely located at its respective nominal vertical distance from the knife edge and each linear array is precisely perpendicular to the knife edge as well as at a predetermined spacial distance from the print zone P
on platen 2.
12gS5Q~
After indexing of the detent edges D on the edge of indexing means 37, continued movement of the lever arm 41 causes cam surface 43 to move connector pads 26 of the print/cartridge into contact with the terminals 14 in the lower portion of nest front wsll (~ee Figure 8). To sllow continued movement of the fasten means 40, after full detenting of the orifice plate, the seating arms 44 are slightly flexible in an outward direction (see Figure 7B) to allow dimples 49 to slip down the sides of shoulders 54. As shown best in Figure 7B, the thickness of cantilever seating arm 44 behind dimple 49 is less than the other portions of the fastening means 40 to allow this outward movement. The knife edge 37 can yield slightly to the right (as viewed in Figure 8) to allow firm contact between the cartridge pads 26 and the nest terminals 14. In this regard, we have found that construction of the knife edge member of a glass-filled nylon material ia highly preferred for allowing such flexure, while maintaining an accurste snd reliable reference edge over repeated usages.
Reviewing the foregoing, it can be seen that the print/cartridge positioning structure ~ust described precisely positions the orifices of sn inserted cartridge relative to the knife edge 37 of its nest. The knife edges 37 of the cartridge nests 5-8 are carefully aligned to be mutually colinear with a uniform spacing from the print zone P. The line definéd by the referencing surfaces of knife edges 37 is precisely parallel to the traversing direction of the carriage, which in turn is approximately orthogonal to the direction of print media advance.
Because of the photofabrication techniques employed in fabricating orifice plate 27, the location of orifices 29, relative to the detent edge D, is accurately the same for each print/cartridge orifice plate. Thus the 1~55~g plurality of print/cartridges inserted into nests 5-8 will print cooperatively without any offset artifacts due to verticsl non-alignments, relative to the print zone P, between the different print/cartridges.
It will be appreciated that various other structural configurations can be utilized to accomplish physical positioning in accord with the general concepts of the present invention. For example, Figure 9 illustrates a preferred alternative embodiment wherein a protrusion 90 is provided on the forward portion of fastening means 40' (instead of utilizing a spring means~ to assure that the orifice plate 27 of print/cartridge 20 is above knife edge 37 upon initial insertion. When the end of the fastening means 40' is rotated upwardly, the protrusion moves downward to allow the cam surfaces of the fastening means to index the orifice plate on the knife edge.
Figures lOA and lOB show an alternative cam surface for fastening means 40" wherein a friction surface 101 moves the print/cartridge 20 downw~rdly until knife edge 37 indexes the lower edge of the orifice plate 27. Continued rotation of the cam surface 101 effects electrical connection between contacts 14 and the print/cartridge connector pads.
In the construction shown in Figures llA and llB, the print/cartridge 20' is provided with a notch 110 adapted to cooperate with a nub 111 formed on the cam surface of fastening means 40'''. During the initial enga8ement shown in Figure llA, the downward movement of nub 111 moves the orifice plate 27 into aligning contact with knife edge 37. Upon further rotation, the nub 111 disengages as shown in Figure llB and the surface of the cam effects electrical coupling between the terminals 14 and the print/cartridge connector pads.
lZ~?~5(~
In Figure 12 the fastening mean~ 120 comprises a pivotal bracket assembly having spring arms 121 adapted to urge an inserted print/cartridge 20 against an opposing bracket wall 122. The entire bracket assembly is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis 123 which is forward and above knife edge 37.
As the bracket assembly is rotated downwardly, the knife edge 37 engages and secures the lower orifice plate edge. Further downward rotation of bracket assembly effects electrical engagements of the print/cartridge while spring arms 121 maintain the precise engagement of the orifice plate 27.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the positioning structures of the present invention can be used with advantage also with a plurality of insertable print head assemblies, not integral with an ink reservoir but having appropriate detent structure to locate the orifice array with respect to a common reference edge means on the carriage.
HAVING ACCURATE VERTICAL INTERPOSITIONING
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Field of Invention The present invention relates to ink ~et printing apparatus wherein a plurality of discretely insertable print/cartridges cooperate in producing a print and more particularly to printer constructions for accurately interpositioning such print/csrtridges.
DescriPtion of Prior Art There are known drop-on-demand ink ~et printer systems in which a print head carriage assembly which supports a print head trsverses the print head across the width of a print medium in line printing operation. Between line printing sequences, the print medium is advanced to prepare for the next sequence. One useful approach is to construct the print head element as part of a disposable print/cartridge which contains an ink supply, drop-generating structures and electrical connections adapted for coupling to printer systems, which provides drop-generating energy to such inserted print/cartridge in accordance with information signals.
Heretofore, such disposable print/cartridge units have been employed one unit at a time in the printing operation and precise positioning and control of the print/cartridge's printing line locus, relative to the print medium is not required. That is, a particular print/cartridge, once inserted, will establish its particular line locus vis-a-vis the printer's print zone. Thus, variation of line locus between different print/cartridges (e.g. because of low tolerances within the print/cartridge and in the print/cartridge-printer interface) has not presented problems.
However, there exist applications where it would be desirable to use a plurality of such readily 12~55c~9 insertable print/cartridge, cooperatively, in page-printing. For example, it may be desired to print more than one color of ink on a printed page.
Or, it may be desired to use a plurality of cooperative print/cartridges to increase the page-printing speed of the printer. In using more than one print/cartridge for cooperative printing on a single page, it is desirable to precisely interrelate the printing loci of those print/cartridges. Otherwise printing artifacts can occur, e.g. due to horizontal and/or vertical misregistration of the component line portions contributed by the respective print/cartridges.
The problem of providing precise interrelation for a plurality of discrete orifice arrays is difficult, even in apparatus where the orifice arrays form relatively permanent parts of a printer. When the orifice arrays comprise portions of insertable print/cartridges the problem is even more difficult, for the print/cartridges should be inexpensive, dictating a minimum of high tolerance construction features and low tolerance assembly.
U.S. Patent No. 4,709,245 discloses a unique and advantageous approach for precisely interrelating a plurality of insertable print/cartridges for cooperative printing in an ink jet printer. The approach described in that patent combines: (i) a precise physical positioning of orifices arrays of such print/cartridges in regard to their vertical relation with the print zone and (ii) information printing adjustments to compensate for different horizontal interrelations of the orifice arrays with respect to A
lZ~5C~9 the print zone. By utilizing partial physical and partial electrical inter-referencing of the print/cartridges, the approach described by that patent greatly simplifies system positioning structures. The approach allows multi-array printing, via insertable print/cartridges, to be both economical and visually attractive.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
One significant object of the present invention is to provide printer systems having simple and reliable constructions for positioning the orifice arrays of a plurality of cooperative print/cartridges in precise interrelation, e.g. as shown in accordance with the approach of the above-noted U.S. Patent 4,709,245.
Another object is to provide such accurate interpositioning while imposing minimal high tolerance constructions in the print/cartridge fabrication.
A further object is to provide printer apparatus wherein a plurality of print/cartridges can be easily inserted and positioned to cooperate in the printing of line print portions without causing detractive misalignment artifacts of the vertical page direction.
In accord with one aspect of the invention, these objects are accomplished in ink jet printing apparatus of the type having means for advancing successive line portions of a print medium past a linear print zone, a system for cooperatively interpositioning a plurality of insertable print/cartridges which comprises: (a) a plurality of carriage units constructed to traverse the print zone in a predetermined direction and to removably support such print/cartridges; (b) a plurality of referencing surfaces respectively on each of the carriage units, such surfaces being substantially parallel to the B
direction of carriage traverse; and (c) indexing means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective csrriage unit referencing surfaces.
In another aspect of the invention, each of the indexing means includes means for supporting a print/cartridge in a coarsely located position and cam means for moving a print/cartridge into the precise detent relation with the referencing surface of its carriage unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The subsequent description of preferred embodiments refers to the attached drawings wherein:
Figure l is a perspective view, with cover portions removed, of one preferred printer embodiment in accord with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of disposable print/cartridge which is useful in accord with the present invention;
Figure 3 is a view of the print/cartridge carriage assemblies of the Figure l printer embodiment, as viewed from the print zone side of the apparatus;
Figures 4A and 4B are respectively a perspective and a side view, partially in cross section, of the print/cartridge carriage shown in Figures l and 3;
Figures 5-8 are views shQwing various stages of the print/cartridge positioning sequence; snd Figures 9-12 are illustrations of alternative embodiments of print/cartridge positioning means in accord with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The ink ~et printing apparatus shown in Figure l in general comprises a print medium advancing platen 2 which is adapted to receive sheet or 12~55C~i9 continuous print material, e.g. paper, from an ingress st the lower rear, and under the drive from motor 3, advance successive line portions of the medium past a print 70ne P, and out of the printer through a printer egress in the top of the printer. During the passage of successive line portions through the print zone, multi print/cartridge carriage 4 is traversed across the print zone so that print/cartridges placed in the four individual carriage nests 5, 6, 7 and 8 can effect printing operations, as subsequently described. The carriage 4 is slidingly mounted on a guide rail means 35 (see Figures 3, 4A and 4B) located beneath the print/cartridge support nests 5-8 and a carriage drive motor 9 effects traversing movement of the carriage 4, past the platen face, via an endless cable 10 attached to carriage 4. The printer is electrically energized, e.g. from a battery transformer located at 11, via a control circuit means 12. Electrical energy is supplied to individual print/cartridges by means of ribbon cables 13 which have terminals 14 in the front inner portion of each of support nests 5-8.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown one useful print/cartridge embodiment 20, which is adapted to be removably inserted into an operative relation with the printer via carriage 4. The print/cartridge 20 is adspted to be disposable when empty of ink and in general comprises an ink supply reservoir 21 and cover member 22, which covers the ink reservoir snd coarsely positions the print head assembly 23 in nests 5-8. The print head assembly 23 is mounted on the cover member and comprises a driver plate 24 having a plurality of electrical leads 25 formed thereon. The leads 25 extend from connector pads 26 to resistive heuter elements (not shown) located beneath e~ch orifice 29 of a linear orifice array formed in orifice 12~50~
plate 27. Ink from reservoir 21 is supplied through cover member 22 to a location beneath each orifice 29 of plate 27 (and above the heater element for that orifice). Upon application of an electrical print pulse to a terminal pad by the printer control, the corresponding resistive heater element causes an ink condition which e~ects a printing ink droplet from its corresponding orifice 29. The orifice plate 27 can be electroformed using photofabrication techniques to provide precisely located orifices and is attached to driver plate 24, which is in turn affixed to the cover member 22. Thus it will be appreciated that even though the linear array of orifices 29 is precisely located within the orifice plate 27, its position vis-a-vis the locating portions of cover member 22 is not necessarily consistent for different disposable print/cartridges. Print/cartridges of the type ~ust described are known in the art for use in single print/cartridge printers, and, as explained above, the coarse locating structure of cover member is adequate for those applications.
Referring now to Figures 3, 4A and 4B, the print/cartridge carriage 4 comprises a bottom wall portion 31, a front wall portion 32 and side wall portions 33 which together form the plurality of print/cartridge nests 5-8 that are adapted to receive and coarsely position print/cartridges with respect to the printing zone P of the printer. The bottom of carriage 4 is mounted on the guide rail means 35 for traversing the carriage across the print zone P in a precisely uniform spacial relation to the platen 2 and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of that platen's axis of rotation. Thus, the direction of the carriage traverse is substantially orthogonal to the direction of print medium advance.
1~550~
The top of the front wall 32 of each print/cartridge nest 5-8, has, as an upper extension, knife portions 37, which form reference edges that are precisely colinear, parallel to the direction of carriage translation and equidistantly spaced from the linear print zone P.- Mounted on the outer side w8115 of the nests of the carriage 4 are fastening means 40 for contacting print/cartridges, which have been inserted into nests 5-8, and moving such print/cartridges so that their orifice plates are in precise interrelationship in the printer apparatus.
Thus fastening means 40 comprises lever arm portions 41, hinge portions 42, camming portions 43 and seating arm portions 44. The bottom wall 31 of each nest 5-8 also comprises a resilient portion 39 and the fastening means is adapted to move the bottom of an inserted print/cartridge into a forced engagement that downwardly compresses resilient portion 39, when the lever arm portion 41 is moved to the position shown in Figures 3, 4A and 4B. When lever arm portion 41 is moved clockwise as viewed in Figures 4A and 4B, the fastening means 40 is disengaged and the print/cartridge 20 can be removed from its nest in the carriage 4.
Referring now to Figure 2, as well as Figures 3-8, the system for vertically positioning print/cartridge orifice plates is designed to provide a predetermined sequence of engagements between the printlcartridges 20 and the carriage 4. First, each print/cartridge is inserted into a coarsely positioned alignment resting loosely in its nest on top of cantilever spring 39 (see Figure 5). As shown in Figure 3, positioning lugs 51 of the print/cartridge are locsted in vertical slots 53. As the fastening means 40 is rotated clockwise (as viewed in Figures 5, 6, 7A and 8), the cam portion 43 first urges the driver plate 26 into forced contact with knife edge 37 lZ955(~3 (see Figure 6). At this stage the cam dimples on seating arm portions 44 have not yet contacted the print/cartridge sidewalls. During continued rotation the cam dimples 49 of seating arm portions 44 contact shoulder portions 54 of an inserted print/cartridge 20 and move the print/cartridge downwardly against the bias of resilient means 39, while cam portion 43 maintains the forward force urging the driver plate into contact with knife edge 37. During this downward movement, knife edge 37 will slide along the face of the driver plate 26 until a detent surface D of the printtcartridge engages the knife edge (see Figure 7A). In the embodiment shown in F~gures 2-8> the detent D comprises a lower edge portion of the orifice plate 27. As the engagement between the knife edge 37 and the detent edge D evolves, the print/cartridge is oriented within the nest so that the detent edge D is precisely parallel to the knife edge.
Because the orifice array 29 and the detent edge D of the orifice plate 27 are portions of a commonly photofabricated unit, they can be precisely located relative to one another in an economical fashion. In particular, each linear orifice array is photofabricated to be precisely perpendicular to the lower detent edge D and so that each orifice of the linear array is at its own precise nominal distance from the detent edge. Thus precise indexing of the orifice plate's detent edge D relative to the knife edge 37 of a carriage nest preci~ely interrelates the printing orifices relative to the the traversing direction of the printer carriage 4. That is, each orifice of each linear array is precisely located at its respective nominal vertical distance from the knife edge and each linear array is precisely perpendicular to the knife edge as well as at a predetermined spacial distance from the print zone P
on platen 2.
12gS5Q~
After indexing of the detent edges D on the edge of indexing means 37, continued movement of the lever arm 41 causes cam surface 43 to move connector pads 26 of the print/cartridge into contact with the terminals 14 in the lower portion of nest front wsll (~ee Figure 8). To sllow continued movement of the fasten means 40, after full detenting of the orifice plate, the seating arms 44 are slightly flexible in an outward direction (see Figure 7B) to allow dimples 49 to slip down the sides of shoulders 54. As shown best in Figure 7B, the thickness of cantilever seating arm 44 behind dimple 49 is less than the other portions of the fastening means 40 to allow this outward movement. The knife edge 37 can yield slightly to the right (as viewed in Figure 8) to allow firm contact between the cartridge pads 26 and the nest terminals 14. In this regard, we have found that construction of the knife edge member of a glass-filled nylon material ia highly preferred for allowing such flexure, while maintaining an accurste snd reliable reference edge over repeated usages.
Reviewing the foregoing, it can be seen that the print/cartridge positioning structure ~ust described precisely positions the orifices of sn inserted cartridge relative to the knife edge 37 of its nest. The knife edges 37 of the cartridge nests 5-8 are carefully aligned to be mutually colinear with a uniform spacing from the print zone P. The line definéd by the referencing surfaces of knife edges 37 is precisely parallel to the traversing direction of the carriage, which in turn is approximately orthogonal to the direction of print media advance.
Because of the photofabrication techniques employed in fabricating orifice plate 27, the location of orifices 29, relative to the detent edge D, is accurately the same for each print/cartridge orifice plate. Thus the 1~55~g plurality of print/cartridges inserted into nests 5-8 will print cooperatively without any offset artifacts due to verticsl non-alignments, relative to the print zone P, between the different print/cartridges.
It will be appreciated that various other structural configurations can be utilized to accomplish physical positioning in accord with the general concepts of the present invention. For example, Figure 9 illustrates a preferred alternative embodiment wherein a protrusion 90 is provided on the forward portion of fastening means 40' (instead of utilizing a spring means~ to assure that the orifice plate 27 of print/cartridge 20 is above knife edge 37 upon initial insertion. When the end of the fastening means 40' is rotated upwardly, the protrusion moves downward to allow the cam surfaces of the fastening means to index the orifice plate on the knife edge.
Figures lOA and lOB show an alternative cam surface for fastening means 40" wherein a friction surface 101 moves the print/cartridge 20 downw~rdly until knife edge 37 indexes the lower edge of the orifice plate 27. Continued rotation of the cam surface 101 effects electrical connection between contacts 14 and the print/cartridge connector pads.
In the construction shown in Figures llA and llB, the print/cartridge 20' is provided with a notch 110 adapted to cooperate with a nub 111 formed on the cam surface of fastening means 40'''. During the initial enga8ement shown in Figure llA, the downward movement of nub 111 moves the orifice plate 27 into aligning contact with knife edge 37. Upon further rotation, the nub 111 disengages as shown in Figure llB and the surface of the cam effects electrical coupling between the terminals 14 and the print/cartridge connector pads.
lZ~?~5(~
In Figure 12 the fastening mean~ 120 comprises a pivotal bracket assembly having spring arms 121 adapted to urge an inserted print/cartridge 20 against an opposing bracket wall 122. The entire bracket assembly is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis 123 which is forward and above knife edge 37.
As the bracket assembly is rotated downwardly, the knife edge 37 engages and secures the lower orifice plate edge. Further downward rotation of bracket assembly effects electrical engagements of the print/cartridge while spring arms 121 maintain the precise engagement of the orifice plate 27.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the positioning structures of the present invention can be used with advantage also with a plurality of insertable print head assemblies, not integral with an ink reservoir but having appropriate detent structure to locate the orifice array with respect to a common reference edge means on the carriage.
Claims (14)
1. In ink jet printing apparatus of the type having feed means for advancing successive line portions of a print medium past a linear print zone, a system for printing with a plurality of removable print/cartridges of the kind having an orifice plate, said system comprising:
(a) a plurality of print/cartridge carriages constructed to traverse said print zone in a common direction and removably support such print/cartridges;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces respectively on each of said carriages, said surfaces being parallel to the direction of said carriages' traverse; and (c) fastening means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective referencing surfaces of said carriages;
said referencing surfaces comprising knife edge portions respectively adapted to engage an edge surface of the orifice plates of print/cartridges moved into said detent relation.
(a) a plurality of print/cartridge carriages constructed to traverse said print zone in a common direction and removably support such print/cartridges;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces respectively on each of said carriages, said surfaces being parallel to the direction of said carriages' traverse; and (c) fastening means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective referencing surfaces of said carriages;
said referencing surfaces comprising knife edge portions respectively adapted to engage an edge surface of the orifice plates of print/cartridges moved into said detent relation.
2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said referencing surfaces are substantially colinear.
3. In ink jet printing apparatus of the kind which includes means for advancing a print medium along a feed path so that successive line portions move sequentially past a linear print zone and which is adapted for use with a print/cartridge of the type including an ink reservoir, drop generator elements, electrical leads to such elements and an orifice plate having a linear array of orifices aligned with respective drop generator elements, a print/cartridge interface construction for accurately positioning a plurality of such print/cartridges for cooperative printing and comprising:
(a) carriage means, including a plurality of integral print/cartridge support means and mounted for movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces, each constructed on said carriage means in alignment with a respective print/cartridge support means, said referencing surfaces comprising knife edge portions precisely parallel to the direction of carriage means traverse; and (c) indexing means for urging received print/cartridges into a condition wherein an edge surface of their orifice plates are indexed to said knife edge portions.
(a) carriage means, including a plurality of integral print/cartridge support means and mounted for movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces, each constructed on said carriage means in alignment with a respective print/cartridge support means, said referencing surfaces comprising knife edge portions precisely parallel to the direction of carriage means traverse; and (c) indexing means for urging received print/cartridges into a condition wherein an edge surface of their orifice plates are indexed to said knife edge portions.
4. In ink jet printing apparatus of the kind which includes means for advancing a print medium along a feed path so that successive line portions move sequentially past a linear print zone and which is adapted for use with a print/cartridge of the type including an ink reservoir, drop generator elements, electrical leads to such elements and an orifice plate having a linear array of orifices aligned with respective drop generator elements, a print/cartridge interface construction for accurately positioning a plurality of such print/cartridges for cooperative printing and comprising:
(a) a plurality of support means, each mounted for movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone, for receiving such print/cartridges;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces, each constructed for traversing movements with a respective print/cartridge support means, said referencing surfaces being precisely colinear and parallel to the direction of support means traverse;
(c) a plurality of terminal means each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print/cartridge support means; and (d) indexing means for urging received print/cartridges into a condition wherein a detent portion of its orifice plate is indexed to the referencing surface on its receiving support means and its electrical leads are operatively coupled to respective terminal means.
(a) a plurality of support means, each mounted for movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone, for receiving such print/cartridges;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces, each constructed for traversing movements with a respective print/cartridge support means, said referencing surfaces being precisely colinear and parallel to the direction of support means traverse;
(c) a plurality of terminal means each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print/cartridge support means; and (d) indexing means for urging received print/cartridges into a condition wherein a detent portion of its orifice plate is indexed to the referencing surface on its receiving support means and its electrical leads are operatively coupled to respective terminal means.
5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said referencing surfaces comprise knife edges and said support means each include movable means for (i) holding a received print/cartridge with its orifice plate above said edges and (ii) moving to allow engagement between the edge of the print/cartridge orifice plate and said knife edges.
6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said support means each include means for guiding a received print/cartridge to maintain proper alignment of its detent portion with said referencing surface during print/cartridge urging by said indexing means.
7. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said support means include moveable means for initially support received print/cartridges with their detent portions in a location above said referencing surface and said indexing means include cam means movable into contact with received print/cartridges in a manner;
(i) initially forcing a lower print/cartridge portion into firm contact with said referencing surface;
(ii) next moving such print/cartridge downward while maintaining said initial forcing so that the print/cartridge detent portion and said referencing surface are engaged; and (iii) next moving the print/cartridge leads into operative contact with said terminals while maintaining said referencing surface and detent engagement.
(i) initially forcing a lower print/cartridge portion into firm contact with said referencing surface;
(ii) next moving such print/cartridge downward while maintaining said initial forcing so that the print/cartridge detent portion and said referencing surface are engaged; and (iii) next moving the print/cartridge leads into operative contact with said terminals while maintaining said referencing surface and detent engagement.
8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said referencing surfaces are constructed to flex during such terminal contacting.
9. In ink jet printing apparatus of the kind which includes means for advancing a print medium along a feed path so that successive line portions move sequentially past a linear print zone and which is adapted for use with a print head of the type including drop generator elements, electrical leads to such elements and an orifice plate having a linear orifice array predeterminedly spaced from, and oriented substantially perpendicular to, a linear edge of the orifice plate, a print head interface construction for accurately positioning a plurality of such print heads for cooperative printing and comprising:
(a) a plurality of support means, each mounted for integral movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone, for receiving such print heads;
(b) a plurality of linear knife edge surfaces, each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print head support means, said knife edge surfaces being precisely parallel to the direction of support means traverse;
(c) a plurality of terminal means each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print head support means; and (d) indexing means for urging received print heads into a condition wherein the linear edge of its orifice plate is indexed to the knife edge of its receiving support means and its electrical leads are operatively coupled to respective terminal means.
(a) a plurality of support means, each mounted for integral movement in a traversing direction adjacent said linear print zone, for receiving such print heads;
(b) a plurality of linear knife edge surfaces, each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print head support means, said knife edge surfaces being precisely parallel to the direction of support means traverse;
(c) a plurality of terminal means each constructed for traversing movement with a respective print head support means; and (d) indexing means for urging received print heads into a condition wherein the linear edge of its orifice plate is indexed to the knife edge of its receiving support means and its electrical leads are operatively coupled to respective terminal means.
10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said support means each include movable means for (i) holding a received print head with its linear orifice plate edge above its respective knife edge and (ii) moving to allow indexing of the orifice plae edge.
11. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said support means each include means for guiding a received print head to maintain proper alignment of its respective orifice plate edge with said knife edge during print head urging by said indexing means.
12. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said support means include movable means for initially supporting received print heads with their linear orifice plate edges in a location above said knife edges and said indexing means include cam means movable into contact with received print heads in a manner:
(i) initially forcing a smooth print head portion into firm contact with said referencing surface;
(ii) next moving the print head downward while maintaining said initial forcing so that the print head's orifice plae edge and said knife edge are engaged; and (iii) next moving the print head leads into operative contact with said terminals while maintaining said knife edge engagement.
(i) initially forcing a smooth print head portion into firm contact with said referencing surface;
(ii) next moving the print head downward while maintaining said initial forcing so that the print head's orifice plae edge and said knife edge are engaged; and (iii) next moving the print head leads into operative contact with said terminals while maintaining said knife edge engagement.
13. The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said knife edges are constructed to flex during such terminal contacting.
14. In ink jet printing apparatus of the type having feed means for advancing successive line portions of a print medium past a linear print zone, a system for printing with a plurality of removable print/cartridges comprising:
(a) a plurality of print/cartridge carriages constructed to traverse said print zone in a common direction and removably support such print/cartridges;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces respectively on each of said carriages, said surfaces being parallel to the direction of said carriages' traverse; and (c) fastening means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective referencing surfaces of said carriages;
each of said carriages including means for supporting a print/cartridge in a coarsely located position with the detent surface of the print/cartridge spaced from said referencing surface and cam means for moving a print/cartridge into said precise detent relation.
(a) a plurality of print/cartridge carriages constructed to traverse said print zone in a common direction and removably support such print/cartridges;
(b) a plurality of referencing surfaces respectively on each of said carriages, said surfaces being parallel to the direction of said carriages' traverse; and (c) fastening means for moving supported print/cartridges into a precise detent relation with respective referencing surfaces of said carriages;
each of said carriages including means for supporting a print/cartridge in a coarsely located position with the detent surface of the print/cartridge spaced from said referencing surface and cam means for moving a print/cartridge into said precise detent relation.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US945,134 | 1986-12-22 | ||
| US06/945,134 US4736213A (en) | 1986-12-22 | 1986-12-22 | Multiple print/cartridge ink jet printer having accurate vertical interpositioning |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1295509C true CA1295509C (en) | 1992-02-11 |
Family
ID=25482675
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000545216A Expired - Fee Related CA1295509C (en) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-08-24 | Multiple print/cartridge ink jet printer having accurate vertical interpositioning |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4736213A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0294471B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH01501693A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1295509C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3776692D1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1988004609A1 (en) |
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| US4907018A (en) * | 1988-11-21 | 1990-03-06 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Printhead-carriage alignment and electrical interconnect lock-in mechanism |
| USRE37671E1 (en) | 1987-10-23 | 2002-04-30 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Printhead-carriage alignment and electrical interconnect lock-in mechanism |
| US4881839A (en) * | 1988-06-14 | 1989-11-21 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Portable electronic data handling/data entry system |
| EP0602020B1 (en) * | 1988-12-29 | 1998-06-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording head and ink jet recording apparatus |
| JP2622178B2 (en) * | 1989-01-17 | 1997-06-18 | キヤノン株式会社 | Ink jet cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus using the cartridge |
| JPH02198881A (en) * | 1989-01-27 | 1990-08-07 | Shimadzu Corp | Printer |
| US4940998A (en) * | 1989-04-04 | 1990-07-10 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Carriage for ink jet printer |
| JP2801283B2 (en) * | 1989-09-18 | 1998-09-21 | キヤノン株式会社 | Ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording head attached to the apparatus |
| US5461405A (en) * | 1989-10-30 | 1995-10-24 | Eastman Kodak Company | Ink jet printer device with exchangeable printheads |
| US4990938A (en) * | 1989-12-04 | 1991-02-05 | Eastman Kodak Company | Printer nest for positioning ink jet print/cartridge |
| JP2801409B2 (en) * | 1989-12-26 | 1998-09-21 | キヤノン株式会社 | Inkjet device and recording unit cartridge |
| CA2048034C (en) * | 1990-07-31 | 1997-10-07 | Mitsuru Kurata | Ink jet recording apparatus |
| US5579039A (en) * | 1990-07-31 | 1996-11-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording apparatus |
| US5208610A (en) * | 1991-07-31 | 1993-05-04 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Pen carriage for an ink-jet printer |
| US5212502A (en) * | 1992-03-04 | 1993-05-18 | Eastman Kodak Company | Ink jet print head mounting mechanism |
| US5648807A (en) * | 1992-09-10 | 1997-07-15 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink jet recording apparatus having an antismear sheet deformation discharge system |
| US5408746A (en) * | 1993-04-30 | 1995-04-25 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Datum formation for improved alignment of multiple nozzle members in a printer |
| US5392063A (en) * | 1993-04-30 | 1995-02-21 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Spring cartridge clamp for inkjet printer carriage |
| US5646665A (en) * | 1993-04-30 | 1997-07-08 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Side biased datum scheme for inkjet cartridge and carriage |
| SG75088A1 (en) * | 1993-04-30 | 2000-09-19 | Hewlett Packard Co | Common ink-jet cartridge platform for different printheads |
| JP3217610B2 (en) * | 1993-09-03 | 2001-10-09 | キヤノン株式会社 | Ink jet recording device and information processing system |
| US5619239A (en) * | 1993-11-29 | 1997-04-08 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Replaceable ink tank |
| US5844580A (en) * | 1995-12-04 | 1998-12-01 | Hewlett Packard Co | Ink container configured for use with a printing device having an out-of-ink sensing system |
| US5844579A (en) * | 1995-12-04 | 1998-12-01 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Out-of-ink sensing system for an ink-jet printer |
| US6189995B1 (en) * | 1997-03-04 | 2001-02-20 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Manually replaceable printhead servicing module for each different inkjet printhead |
| DE69820636T2 (en) | 1997-08-22 | 2004-11-11 | Xaar Technology Ltd. | PRINTER PRODUCTION METHOD |
| JPH11198407A (en) * | 1998-01-07 | 1999-07-27 | Brother Ind Ltd | Ink-jet recording apparatus |
| US6293662B1 (en) | 1998-01-19 | 2001-09-25 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink tank coupling method, ink jet recording apparatus, and ink tank |
| ATE446844T1 (en) * | 2004-12-29 | 2009-11-15 | Oce Tech Bv | PRINTER WITH DETACHABLE PRINT HEAD |
| JP4640612B2 (en) * | 2006-01-23 | 2011-03-02 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Ink cartridge attaching / detaching apparatus, recording apparatus, and liquid ejecting apparatus |
| US7967407B2 (en) * | 2006-02-03 | 2011-06-28 | R.R. Donnelley | Use of a sense mark to control a printing system |
| US8753026B2 (en) | 2007-06-29 | 2014-06-17 | R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company | Use of a sense mark to control a printing system |
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| SU745505A1 (en) * | 1977-09-28 | 1980-07-05 | Научно-Исследовательский Институт Экспериментальной Медицины Амн Ссср | Method of guiding stereotaxic tool on target point |
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| GB2061829B (en) * | 1979-10-29 | 1983-11-09 | Suwa Seikosha Kk | Ink jet head |
| US4477823A (en) * | 1980-12-27 | 1984-10-16 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording apparatus |
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| US4500895A (en) * | 1983-05-02 | 1985-02-19 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Disposable ink jet head |
| US4539570A (en) * | 1983-12-09 | 1985-09-03 | Willett International Limited | Stackable fluid dispensing apparatus |
| IT1179973B (en) * | 1984-02-15 | 1987-09-23 | Olivetti & Co Spa | SELECTIVE JET INK PRINT HEAD AND INK CARTRIDGE FOR SUCH HEAD |
| JPS60192674A (en) * | 1984-03-14 | 1985-10-01 | Canon Inc | Recorder |
| US4571599A (en) * | 1984-12-03 | 1986-02-18 | Xerox Corporation | Ink cartridge for an ink jet printer |
| US4612554A (en) * | 1985-07-29 | 1986-09-16 | Xerox Corporation | High density thermal ink jet printhead |
| IT1182682B (en) * | 1985-11-14 | 1987-10-05 | Olivetti & Co Spa | ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE INK JET PRINT AND RELATED PRINTING DEVICE |
-
1986
- 1986-12-22 US US06/945,134 patent/US4736213A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1987
- 1987-08-24 CA CA000545216A patent/CA1295509C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-12-10 WO PCT/US1987/003267 patent/WO1988004609A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1987-12-10 EP EP88901191A patent/EP0294471B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-12-10 JP JP62506319A patent/JPH01501693A/en active Pending
- 1987-12-10 DE DE8888901191T patent/DE3776692D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH01501693A (en) | 1989-06-15 |
| EP0294471A1 (en) | 1988-12-14 |
| US4736213A (en) | 1988-04-05 |
| EP0294471B1 (en) | 1992-02-12 |
| DE3776692D1 (en) | 1992-03-26 |
| WO1988004609A1 (en) | 1988-06-30 |
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