Ink tube connection to printhead carriage cover

U.S. Patent Number: 6481838

Abstract: A pen carriage for use in an inkjet printer of the type which includes a moveable scanning carriage, the carriage having at least one stall for reception of an inkjet pen having an upwardly directed fluid inlet which can be slidably connected to establish fluid communication of an inkjet pen on the carriage with an offboard fluid supply remote from the pen and a fluid delivery tube for connecting the supply to the pen. The carriage includes a base and a pen cover pivotally attached to the base, the tube having a length extending between pivotal connections of the cover to said base generally parallel to and radially spaced from the axis of pivotal connection of the cover to the base to permit and confine all twisting of the tube to the length between the connections. The cover also includes a fluid delivery passageway having a downwardly directed fluid delivery outlet opening toward and connected in fluid delivery relationship with the upwardly directed pen inlet when the cover is latched in closed position.

Inventors: Brugue; Joaquim (Barcelona, ES), Hierro; Lluis (Barcelona, ES), Sole; Macia (Barcelona, ES), Sanchez; Alvaro (Santiago, ES)

Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (Palo Alto, CA)

Application Number: 09/947,269

Issued: 2002-11-19

Expired: 2006-11-19

Classes: 347/85

Field of search: 347/84,85,86,87,37

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