Manually aligned printhead modules

• US 6,789,881 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Meier, Stephen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, An H.
• Application Number:
  US10/713,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/40-43, 347/49, 347/54
• US Class Current: 347/49
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14024 Assembling head parts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14072 Electrical connections, e.g. details on electrodes, connecting the chip to the outside...
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/17 Cleaning arrangements

Abstract

A modular printhead for a digital printer wherein the modules (2) may be mechanically aligned using specifically designed frame (3) supporting the modules (2). The frame (3) having a plurality of mounting sites (19) for mounting respective printhead modules (2) to the frame (3); wherein,

at least one of the mounting sites (19) having mechanical adjustment mechanism (15, 16, 17 and 18) for reducing input movements to effect minute adjustments of the position of the printhead module (2) with respect to the frame (3).

Claims

1. A method of forming a modular printhead for a digital printer, the method including the steps of:

mounting a plurality of printhead modules on a plurality of corresponding mounting sites provided on a support frame, at least one of the mounting sites provided with an adjustment mechanism; and

operating the adjustment mechanism of at least one mounting site to effect minute adjustments of the position of the corresponding printhead module with respect to the support frame;

wherein, the adjustment mechanism includes an input lever fulcrumed against the support frame for acting on a module engagement plate, the module engagement plate connected to the support frame by hinged link arms such that the resilient movement of the plate is substantially linear.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the input lever is substantially normal to the resultant movement of the engagement plate.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein apertures in a module engagement plate receive at least one ink funnel of a corresponding printhead module when mounting a printhead module.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein operating the adjustment mechanism results in abutment of adjacent printhead chips provided in adjacent printhead modules.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate integer is used to apply a force to the input lever to operate the adjustment mechanism.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate integer is an adjuster block associated with the input lever.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a threaded member is threadedly engaged with the support frame and bears against the adjuster block when rotated.