Radial lift mechanism for print engine having multiple printheads

• US 10,654,293 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2018
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Inventors: Profaca, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Uhlenhake, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US16/141,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20190092050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0045 Guides for printing material curl smoothing B41J11/0005; platens B41J11/02, B41J11/06; guiding webs B41J15/046
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/165 Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16505 Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16535 using wiping constructions B41J2/16552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/16582 Maintenance means fixed on the print head or its carriage
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/304 Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework

Abstract

A print engine includes: a media support chassis defining a curved media feed path; a maintenance chassis mounted on the media support chassis; a plurality of maintenance modules fixedly mounted between sidewalls of the maintenance chassis; a plurality of guide rails extending radially upwards from the maintenance chassis; a plurality of print module carriers, each print module carrier being slidingly received on respective parallel guide rails; a plurality of print modules releasably engaged with a respective one of the print module carriers; and a lift mechanism for radially raising and lowering the plurality of print module carriers relative to the maintenance chassis between a maintenance position a printing position.

Claims

1. A print engine comprising:

a media support chassis defining a curved media feed path;

a maintenance chassis mounted on the media support chassis, the maintenance chassis having a curvature corresponding to the curved media path and comprising;

a plurality of maintenance modules fixedly mounted between sidewalls of the maintenance chassis, the maintenance modules being aligned along the media feed path; and

a plurality of guide rails extending radially upwards from the maintenance chassis, each maintenance module having respective parallel first and second guide rails associated therewith at opposite ends thereof;

a plurality of print module carriers, each print module carrier being slidingly received on respective parallel first and second guide rails;

a plurality of print modules, each print module being releasably engaged with a respective one of the print module carriers; and

a lift mechanism for radially raising and lowering the plurality of print module carriers relative to the maintenance chassis between a maintenance position a printing position,

wherein each print module carrier comprises a sleeve for receiving a respective print module and a pair of mounting arms extending laterally from the sleeve, and wherein each mounting arm comprises a slider bracket for sliding engagement with a respective guide rail.

2. The print engine of claim 1, wherein a printhead of each print module extends and retracts through a space defined by a corresponding maintenance module in the printing and maintenance positions, respectively.

3. The print engine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of print module carriers are mounted on a print bar chassis.

4. The print engine of claim 3, wherein the lift mechanism is engaged between the maintenance chassis and the print bar chassis.

5. The print engine of claim 4, wherein the lift mechanism comprises a scissor lift.

6. The print engine of claim 3, wherein each print module carrier comprises a roller bearing engaged with an upper surface of the print bar chassis.

7. The print engine of claim 6, wherein the upper surface of the print bar chassis follows a curvature of the media feed path.

8. The print engine of claim 7, wherein the roller bearing bears along the upper surface during lifting of the print bar chassis to allow radial motion of the print module carriers relative to the maintenance chassis.

9. The print engine of claim 1, wherein the print module carrier is asymmetric having one mounting arm extending laterally further from the sleeve than the other.

10. The print engine of claim 9, wherein a longer mounting arm bridges over part of a respective maintenance module in the printing position.

11. The print engine of claim 10, wherein the longer mounting arm bridges over a wiper parked laterally with respect to the print module in the printing position.