Inkjet printhead having removable printhead carriers

• US 7,357,484 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lamson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seo; Justin
• Application Number:
  US11/072,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 347/42, 347/49
• US Class Current: 347/49
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/145 Arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/21 for multi-colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14459 Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 Electrical connection
• 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: Y10T 29/49401 Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

An inkjet printhead assembly is provided comprising an elongate support structure having a base and sidewalls extending from the base, ink supply channels defined between the base and sidewalls, and carrier units removably mounted to the elongate support structure. The base and sidewalls have a substantially constant cross-section along the length of the elongate support structure. Each carrier unit has ink delivery apertures in fluid communication with an inkjet printhead segment which is mounted to the carrier unit. Each carrier unit is configured to place its respective inkjet printhead segment in fluid communication with the ink supply channels of the elongate support structure via the ink delivery apertures when it is mounted to the elongate support structure.

Claims

1. An inkjet printhead assembly comprising:

an elongate support structure having a base and sidewalls extending from the base, the base and sidewalls having a substantially constant cross-section along the length of the elongate support structure;

a plurality of ink supply channels defined between the base and sidewalls of the elongate support structure, each supply channel for supplying a differently colored ink;

a cap secured to one terminal end of the elongate support structure and having an ink inlet port in fluid communication with at least one of the ink supply channels for communicating the respective colored ink to respective ink supply channel; and

a plurality of carrier units removably mounted to the elongate support structure, each carrier unit having a plurality of ink delivery apertures in fluid communication with an inkjet printhead segment which is mounted to the carrier unit,

wherein each carrier unit is configured to place its respective inkjet printhead segment in fluid communication with the plurality of ink supply channels of the elongate support structure via the plurality of ink delivery apertures when it is mounted to the elongate support structure.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carrier units are removably mounted to the elongate support structure so as to extend longitudinally along the elongate support structure such that the respective inkjet printhead segments define a continuous printing zone of the inkjet printhead assembly.