IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,935,796
Granted Patent B2
US 6,935,796 · App. 10/603,435 · Granted Aug 30, 2005

Multiple orientation image forming device and carriage for use with same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,935,796
App. No.
10/603,435
Granted
Aug 30, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A carriage including a printing component support and a pair of bushings having an inner region with at least three spaced rail contact regions separated by respective non-contact regions.

Claims (26)

1. An image forming device, comprising:

a printing component support;

a guide rail;

a pair of bushings through which the guide rail extends, each bushing including an inner region with at least three spaced rail contact regions separated by respective non-contact regions;

a substanially c-shaped guide; and

an anti-rotation pin, in spaced relation to the bushings, within the c-shaped guide.

2. A carriage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the printing component support is adapted to support at least one printhead cartridge.

3. A carriage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least three spaced rail contact regions comprise at least four spaced rail contact regions.

4. A carriage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least three spaced rail contact regions comprise substantially planar surfaces.

5. A carriage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least three spaced rail contact regions are equally spaced.

6. A carriage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the printing component support and bushings together define a unitary structure formed from the same material.

7. A carriage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guide rail defines a perimeter and the bushings comprised closed bushings which extend completely around the perimeter of the guide rail.

8. A carriage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least three spaced rail contact regions comprise at least three substantially identical spaced rail contact regions.

9. An image forming device, comprising:

a printing component support;

a guide rail;

a pair of bushings through which the guide rail extends, each bushing including an inner region with at least three spaced bearing surfaces separated by respective non-contact regions;

a substanially c-shaped guide; and

an anti-rotation pin, in spaced relation to the bushings, within the c-shaped guide.

10. A carriage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the printing component support is adapted to support at least one printhead cartridge.

11. A carriage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least three spaced bearing surfaces comprise at least four spaced bearing surfaces.

12. A carriage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least three spaced bearing surfaces comprise substantially planar surfaces.

13. A carriage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least three spaced bearing surfaces are equally spaced.

14. A carriage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the printing component support and bushings together define a unitary structure formed from the same material.

15. A carriage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the guide rail defines a perimeter and the bushings comprised closed bushings which extend completely around the perimeter of the guide rail.

16. A carriage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least three spaced bearing surfaces comprise at least three substantially identical spaced bearing surfaces.