Inkjet printer cradle with cartridge stabilizing mechanism
View Patent ↗An inkjet printer cradle including a body defining a recess dimensioned to locate a removable inkjet cartridge, a retainer arranged to retain said cartridge within the recess, and one or more resilient members arranged to hold the cartridge fast with the retainer and the body in use.
1. An inkjet printer cradle comprising:
a body defining an elongate recess dimensioned to locate a removable inkjet cartridge, the body having an elongate opening sized to allow the inkjet cartridge to be placed in the elongate recess, the inkjet cartridge having a pagewidth printhead, an ink storage volume and a fluid connection between the printhead and the ink storage volume, the elongate recess having a shelf facing the elongate opening, the shelf being inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the inkjet cartridge during insertion into the elongate recess, such that sliding engagement with the shelf guides the inkjet cartridge during insertion;
a retainer arranged to retain the inkjet cartridge within the elongate recess; and
a plurality of resilient members for biasing the inkjet cartridge against the retainer; wherein,
at least one of the resilient members is positioned proximate one end of the elongate recess and at least one other of the resilient members is positioned proximate the other end of the elongate recess.
2. An inkjet printer cradle according to claim 1 wherein the shelf provides mounting points for the resilient members, the inkjet cartridge having a complementary face for engaging the resilient members; wherein,
if the inkjet cartridge is held slightly skew to the elongate recess as it is placed in the cradle, the complementary face will bear against one of the resilient members proximate one of the ends of the shelf until the inkjet cartridge is fully inserted into the elongate recess.
3. An inkjet printer cradle according to claim 2 wherein the retainer is a latch hinged to one side of the elongate opening for rotating into engagement with a catch on the other side of the elongate opening in order to form a barrier across the elongate opening.
4. An inkjet printer cradle according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of resilient members are two coil springs located in circular recesses in the shelf in the elongate recess, one spring proximate each end of the elongate recess, and both springs being equidistant from the latch.