Printing mechanism for a wide format pagewidth inkjet printer

• US 6,916,082 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LAMSON D
• Application Number:
  US10/743,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 347/13, 347/42, 347/50, 347/64, 347/65, 347/58, 216/2, 216/27
• US Class Current: 347/42
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1629 wet etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 : Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A printing mechanism includes an elongate support structure. A pair of busbars is mounted on the support structure. A plurality of printed circuit boards is mounted on the support structure to be electrically connected to the busbars. Each printed circuit board includes print engine control circuitry that is configured to control operation of a number of printhead chips. A plurality of ink distribution structures is mounted on the support structure and connectable to a supply of ink. A plurality of printhead modules is mounted on respective ink distribution structures. Each printhead module has a carrier and a printhead chip positioned on the carrier. Each printhead chip has a plurality of nozzle arrangements that are positioned on a wafer substrate. Each nozzle arrangement incorporates a micro-electromechanical actuator for ejecting ink from a nozzle chamber and is mounted on a respective ink distribution assembly. A number of the printhead chips are connected to the print engine control circuitry such that each nozzle arrangement can receive data signals from the print engine control circuitry.

Claims

1. A printing mechanism that comprises

an elongate support structure;

a pair of busbars that are mounted on the support structure;

a plurality of printed circuit boards that are mounted on the support structure to be electrically connected to the busbars, each printed circuit board including print engine control circuitry that is configured to control operation of a number of printhead chips;

a plurality of ink distribution structures that are mounted on the support structure and connectable to a supply of ink; and

a plurality of printhead modules that are mounted on respective ink distribution structures, each printhead module having a carrier and a printhead chip positioned on the carrier, each printhead chip having a plurality of nozzle arrangements that are positioned on a wafer substrate, each nozzle arrangement incorporating a micro-electromechanical actuator for ejecting ink from a nozzle chamber, and being mounted on a respective ink distribution assembly, a number of the printhead chips being connected to the print engine control circuitry such that each nozzle arrangement can receive data signals from the print engine control circuitry.

2. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the support structure includes an elongate chassis that is interposed between a pair of end supports, the chassis being shaped to support the printed circuit boards on one side of the chassis and the ink distribution structures on another side of the chassis, with the busbars interposed between the printed circuit boards and said one side of the chassis.

3. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which each printhead module includes a flexible printed circuit board that interconnects the printhead chip to the control circuitry.

4. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the print engine control circuitry of each printed circuit board is defined by an integrated circuit.

5. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 2, in which the support structure includes a channel member that is mounted on the chassis, the ink distribution structures being positioned in a channel defined by the channel member.

6. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, in which each ink distribution structure defines a plurality of ink reservoirs that extend through the ink distribution structure such that ink reservoirs extend a length of the channel member when the ink distribution structures are positioned in the channel, the printing mechanism including a connecting assembly that is mounted on an endmost ink distribution structure to permit a plurality of ink conduits to be connected to the endmost ink distribution structure with each conduit being in fluid communication with a respective ink reservoir.