An inkjet nozzle device includes a main chamber having a floor, a roof and a perimeter wall extending between the floor and the roof. The main chamber includes: a firing chamber having a nozzle aperture defined in the roof and a bar heater for ejection of ink through the nozzle aperture; an antechamber for supplying ink to the firing chamber, the antechamber having a chamber inlet defined in the floor; and a baffle plate extending parallel with the bar heater, which partitions the main chamber to define the firing chamber and the antechamber. The nozzle device has mirror symmetry about a symmetry plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the bar heater and the baffle plate
An ink delivery system for delivering ink to an inkjet printhead includes: an ink tank; the inkjet printhead having a printhead inlet port and a printhead outlet port; an ink supply line connected between the ink tank and the printhead inlet port; an ink return line connected between the ink tank and the printhead outlet port; an ink recirculation pump positioned in the ink return line; an ink filter positioned in the ink return line; a bypass line for bypassing ink around the ink filter; a bypass valves for controlling flow of ink either through the ink filter or through the bypass line; and a controller for coordinating the bypass valve and the pump. The controller is configured to pump ink from the printhead outlet port to the ink tank via the bypass line when the return line contains air.
A printhead nest assembly for facilitating printhead replacement. The printhead nest assembly includes: a nest configured for detachable fastening to a printhead carrier and a replaceable printhead nestably secured within the nest, the nest enveloping all sides of the printhead. The nest is configurable in open and closed positions and allows removal of the printhead only in the open position and only when the printhead nest assembly is detached from the printhead carrier.
An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis having an elongate base plate and a rear wall extending upwards therefrom; an elongate printhead liftably mounted on the chassis; a lift mechanism operatively connected to the printhead for lifting and lowering the printhead relative to the base plate; a capping assembly slidably mounted on the base plate, the capping assembly having a capper extending parallel with the rear wall and the printhead; a capper movement mechanism operatively connected to the capping assembly for linearly slidably moving the capping assembly towards and away from the rear wall; and a cap cover pivotally mounted to the rear wall. During use, engagement of part of the capping assembly with the cap cover pivots the cap cover away from the capper to allow sliding movement of the capper towards the rear wall and into a covered position.
A printing unit includes: a unit chassis and a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted on the unit chassis, each inkjet module having a respective printhead. The inkjet modules are each pivotally mounted on the unit chassis for pivotally moving the inkjet modules towards and away from each other.
An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis; a printhead carrier mounted to the chassis; and a printhead nest assembly having a nest fastened to the printhead carrier and a replaceable printhead nestably secured within the nest. The printhead nest assembly is detachable from the printhead carrier and the printhead is removable from the nest only when the printhead nest assembly is detached from the printhead carrier.
A printing unit includes: a unit chassis having a pair of side bars interconnected by a pair of end bars; first and second print modules mounted on the unit chassis, each print module having a respective printhead and an associated print zones; an aerosol extractor providing an airflow through the print zones; and an interstitial bar positioned in a space between the 5 printheads. The interstitial bar is configured to modulate the airflow through the print zones.
An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis; a printhead carrier mounted to the chassis; and a printhead nest assembly having a nest fastened to the printhead carrier and a replaceable printhead nestably secured within the nest. The printhead nest assembly is detachable from the printhead carrier and the printhead is removable from the nest only when the printhead nest assembly is detached from the printhead carrier.
A method of replacing a printhead in an inkjet module includes the steps of: detaching a printhead nest assembly from a printhead carrier of the inkjet module, the printhead nest assembly having a nest and a printhead nestably secured within the nest; opening the nest and removing the printhead; inserting a replacement printhead into the opened nest and then closing the nest to reform the printhead nest assembly; and fastening the printhead nest assembly to the printhead carrier.
An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis having an elongate base plate defining a longitudinal slot; a pair of posts extending upwards from the base plate at opposite ends of the longitudinal slot; a pair of brackets having sleeve bushings slidably engaged with the posts; an elongate printhead carrier supported between the brackets, the printhead carrier having: front and rear plates defining a cavity therebetween, a brace interconnecting upper parts of the front and rear plates, and a pair of datum blocks interconnecting lower parts of the front and rear plates; a printhead mounted to the datum blocks; and a lift mechanism operatively connected to each bracket for lifting and lowering the printhead carrier relative to the base plate.
An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis having an elongate base plate; a pair of posts extending upwards from the base plate at opposite ends of a longitudinal slot; a pair of brackets slidably engaged with the posts; a printhead liftably mounted to the chassis via the brackets; a lift mechanism operatively connected to each bracket for lifting and lowering the printhead relative to the base plate; and a wiper parked at one end of the longitudinal slot for longitudinally wiping the printhead. The printhead is movable between a print position and a raised position, the chassis has an open front face allowing access to the printhead via the front face, and one of the brackets is configured for shielding the wiper in the print position.
A printing unit includes: a unit chassis and a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted in tandem on the unit chassis in forward and reverse orientations, each inkjet module having one respective printhead and at least one of: a capper and a wiper. Each printhead includes first and second rows of print chips mounted on a unitary surface of a respective ink manifold, the first and second rows of print chips having a plurality of print chips butted end-on-end along a length of the printhead. The printheads are wholly aligned with respect to a media feed direction for printing in four ink colors from the pair of printheads.
A printing unit includes: a unit chassis for positioning over a media feed path; a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted in tandem on the unit chassis in forward and reverse orientations, each inkjet module including a module chassis having a C-shaped base plate defining an open longitudinal slot and a printhead positioned in the open longitudinal slot of a respective base plate; and an aerosol extractor positioned beneath the base plate of a downstream inkjet module relative to a media feed direction. The pair of opposed C-shaped base plates have relatively proximal open longitudinal slots containing the pair of printheads and relatively distal longitudinal base members.
A printing unit including: a unit chassis; and first and second inkjet modules mounted on the unit chassis, each inkjet module having a respective printhead nest assembly, each printhead nest assembly including a replaceable printhead nestably secured within a respective nest with each nest enveloping its respective printhead about all sides. The nest includes: a cantilever spring engaged with its respective printhead, the cantilever spring being biased away from the printhead; and a screw adjuster in butting engagement with the cantilever spring for urging the cantilever spring towards and away from the printhead. In use, a skew of one printhead is mechanically adjustable relative to the other printhead via rotational movement of the screw adjuster.
B41J 25/316 - Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with tilting motion mechanisms relative to paper surface
B41J 25/34 - Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
B41J 25/312 - Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with print pressure adjustment mechanisms, e.g. pressure-on-the-paper mechanisms
15.
METHOD OF PRINTING REDUNDANTLY AND HIDING PRINT ARTEFACTS
A method of printing redundantly in four colors from first and second printheads aligned along a media feed direction. Each of the first and second printheads has respective first and second rows of print chips butted end-on-end, the first and second rows of print chips having 180-degree rotational symmetry. Each row of print chips in one printhead is supplied with the same two inks which are printed from both rows of print chips in that printhead. Compensatory sets of nozzles in the first and second rows of print chips are offset along the media feed direction, by virtue of the 180-degree rotational symmetry, so as to hide print artefacts arising from the compensatory sets of nozzles.
A printing unit includes: a height-adjustable print module including a printhead for printing onto a media surface; and a resilient flap positioned for engagement with part of the print module. In use, movement of the print module towards the media surface into a printing position forms a seal between the print module and the flap for printing.
A printing unit includes: a unit chassis and a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted in tandem on the unit chassis in forward and reverse orientations, each inkjet module having one respective printhead and at least one of: a capper and a wiper. Each printhead includes first and second rows of print chips mounted on a unitary surface of a respective ink manifold, the first and second rows of print chips having a plurality of print chips butted end-on-end along a length of the printhead. The printheads are wholly aligned with respect to a media feed direction for printing in four ink colors from the pair of printheads.
A printing unit includes: a unit chassis and a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted on the unit chassis, each inkjet module having a respective printhead. The inkjet modules are each pivotally mounted on the unit chassis for pivotally moving the inkjet modules towards and away from each other.
A printhead module includes a monolithic substrate having longitudinal ink supply channels defined through a thickness of the substrate and extending parallel with each other along a length of the substrate; rows of print chips mounted on a front face of the substrate, each row of print chips receiving ink only from a respective one of the ink supply channels; and first PCBs mounted on the front face, each PCB extending alongside a respective one of the rows of print chips and supply power thereto. The rows of print chips and the first PCBs are mounted alternately across the front face of the substrate.
A method of printing an image from a print chip having plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. The method includes the steps of allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles in a first row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles in a second row portion; sending the first and second dot data to the print chip and firing respective droplets. Some bits of the first dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the second row portion, and some bits of the second dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the first row portion.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
An inkjet print module includes: a printhead having first and second rows of print chips, the printhead having 180 degree rotational symmetry about a print axis parallel to a direction of droplet ejection; a cradle for removably receiving the printhead; and control circuitry for distributing data signals to the printhead via first and second data paths of the inkjet print module. The cradle is configurable for receiving the printhead in first and second printhead orientations relative to the print module, the second printhead orientation being rotated 180 degrees about the print axis relative to the first printhead orientation. The control circuitry is configurable to invert distribution of the data signals between the first and second data paths.
An inkjet print module includes: a printhead having first and second rows of print chips, the printhead having 180 degree rotational symmetry about a print axis parallel to a direction of droplet ejection; a cradle for removably receiving the printhead; and control circuitry for distributing data signals to the printhead via first and second data paths of the inkjet print module. The cradle is configurable for receiving the printhead in first and second printhead orientations relative to the print module, the second printhead orientation being rotated 180 degrees about the print axis relative to the first printhead orientation. The control circuitry is configurable to invert distribution of the data signals between the first and second data paths.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
B41J 2/165 - Prevention of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
An inkjet print module includes: a printhead having first and second rows of print chips, the printhead having 180 degree rotational symmetry about a print axis parallel to a direction of droplet ejection; a fixed printhead keying feature which is rotationally asymmetric about the print axis notwithstanding the rotational symmetry of the printhead; a cradle for removably receiving the printhead, the cradle having a key assembly for complementary engagement with the fixed printhead keying feature. The key assembly is selectively configurable in either one of first and second cradle configurations so as to receive the printhead either in a first printhead orientation or a second printhead orientation, the second printhead orientation being rotated 180 degrees about the print axis relative to the first printhead orientation.
A method of configuring an orientation-agnostic inkjet print module for use in either one of first or second module orientations relative to a media path, the second module orientation being rotated 180 degrees relative to the first module orientation. The method includes the steps of: configuring a key assembly to correspond with either one of the first or second module orientations, the key assembly determining a printhead orientation of a respective printhead relative to the inkjet print module; and configuring a switch to correspond with either one of the first or second module orientations, the switch being operably connected to controller circuitry distributing data signals to the printhead via first and second data paths. The switch inverts distribution of the data signals between the first and second data paths.
A method of printing an image using a printing system having first and second printheads supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: allocating first lines of the image to the first printhead; allocating second lines of the image to the second printhead; dithering the first lines of the image using a selected first dither mask; dithering the second lines of the image using a selected second dither mask; printing the dithered first lines of the image using the first printhead; and printing the dithered second lines of the image using the second printhead. The first and second dither masks are selected based on a relative alignment of the first and second printheads.
H04N 1/52 - Circuits or arrangements for halftone screening
B41M 5/50 - Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
An inkjet nozzle device includes: a bubble chamber having a heating element for generating a vapour bubble and an orifice positioned for communicating an impulse from the vapour bubble; a first inlet for supplying a first fluid to the bubble chamber; an ejection chamber having a roof defining a nozzle and an adjoining wall between the ejection chamber and the bubble chamber, the adjoining wall defining the orifice; and a second inlet for supplying a second fluid to the ejection chamber. In use, the first and second fluids form a fluidic interface at the orifice and the vapour bubble provides the impulse to the second fluid in the ejection chamber via the orifice, such that the impulse ejects the second fluid from the nozzle.
A method of printing onto a planar box substrate used for assembling a box having predetermined box dimensions. The method includes the steps of: determining box dimensions based on the planar box substrate; retrieving generic instructions for image content to be printed on the box substrate; preparing box-specific transformations using the generic instructions and the box dimensions; applying the box-specific transformations on design components to generate image content portions commensurate with image content regions; generating image data based on the image content portions; and printing onto the box substrate using the image data.
A thread-coating module includes: a coating chamber having a thread entrance at one end and a thread exit at an opposite end thereof; and an inkjet printhead positioned in a printhead opening of the coating chamber for ejecting ink onto thread fed through the coating chamber. The coating chamber has an ink management system positioned opposite the printhead for managing excess ink. The ink management system includes: an inner ink-collection slot in fluid communication with a drain port for recycling excess ink and an outer aerosol-collection chamber fluidically connected to a vacuum port.
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
D06B 11/00 - Treatment of selected parts of textile materials, e.g. partial dyeing
A thread-coating module includes: a base plate having a printhead opening; an inkjet printhead received in the printhead opening; and a chamber unit having a mouth for engagement with the base plate and an ink-collection slot opposing the printhead. The chamber unit and the base plate are movable relative to each other for opening and closing a coating chamber comprising the base plate and the chamber unit, with the ink-collection slot being positioned opposite the printhead in the coating chamber.
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
D06B 11/00 - Treatment of selected parts of textile materials, e.g. partial dyeing
B05C 5/02 - Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is projected, poured or allowed to flow on to the surface of the work from an outlet device in contact, or almost in contact, with the work
B05C 11/10 - Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material
B41J 3/60 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for printing on both faces of the printing material
D06B 23/30 - Means for cleaning apparatus or machines, or parts thereof
B05C 13/02 - Means for manipulating or holding work, e.g. for separate articles for particular articles
B41J 2/15 - Arrangement thereof for serial printing
A thread-coating module includes: a base plate having a printhead opening; an inkjet printhead received in the printhead opening; and a chamber unit having a mouth for engagement with the base plate and an ink-collection slot opposing the printhead. The chamber unit and the base plate are movable relative to each other for opening and closing a coating chamber comprising the base plate and the chamber unit, with the ink-collection slot being positioned opposite the printhead in the coating chamber.
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
D06B 11/00 - Treatment of selected parts of textile materials, e.g. partial dyeing
B41J 2/165 - Prevention of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
B41J 25/00 - Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
D06P 1/00 - General processes of dyeing or printing textiles or general processes of dyeing leather, furs or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments or auxiliary substances employed
A pagewide printhead for redundant printing has first and second rows of printhead chips mounted on a common ink manifold. The ink manifold has four ink supply channels for supplying ink to the first and second rows of printhead chips. Dedicated ink outlets interconnect one ink supply channel of the ink manifold with two color channels in each printhead chip.
An inkjet printing system includes: (a) an inkjet printhead having a rigid elongate manifold with first and second parallel ink supply channels extending along a length of the manifold between respective ink ports positioned at opposite ends thereof; and a plurality of printhead chips mounted to a lower surface of the manifold, the ink supply channels supplying ink to the printhead chips via ink outlets defined in the lower surface. One end of the manifold has a first ink inlet port for the first ink supply channel and an ink outlet port for the second ink supply channel. The other end of the manifold has a first ink outlet port for the first ink supply channel and a second ink inlet port for the second ink supply channel. An ink delivery system is configured to flow ink along the first and second channels in opposite directions.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
An inkjet printing system includes: (a) an inkjet printhead having a rigid elongate manifold with first and second parallel ink supply channels extending along a length of the manifold between respective ink ports positioned at opposite ends thereof; and a plurality of printhead chips mounted to a lower surface of the manifold, the ink supply channels supplying ink to the printhead chips via ink outlets defined in the lower surface. One end of the manifold has a first ink inlet port for the first ink supply channel and an ink outlet port for the second ink supply channel. The other end of the manifold has a first ink outlet port for the first ink supply channel and a second ink inlet port for the second ink supply channel. An ink delivery system is configured to flow ink along the first and second channels in opposite directions.
A printing unit includes: three elongate printheads positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement for spanning across a media feed path, wherein a first printhead and a second printhead are longitudinally spaced apart and positioned in a row across the media feed path and a third printhead is offset from and overlaps with both the first and second printheads; three wipers for longitudinally wiping respective printheads in a direction perpendicular to a media feed direction, each wiper being parked at one longitudinal end of its respective printhead. One of the wipers, in its parked position, is positioned in a space between the first and second printheads.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
B41J 25/34 - Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
B41J 2/155 - Arrangement thereof for line printing
B41J 25/00 - Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
A printing device (1) includes: an inkjet printhead (5) having a row of ink ejection devices; a lift mechanism configured for raising and lowering the printhead between a maintenance position and a printing position; a conveyor tape (12) positioned below the printhead (5) in the printing position, the conveyor tape (12) defining a slot (19) aligned with the row of ink ejection devices; and a tape movement mechanism (16) for moving the tape longitudinally along the length of the printhead (5). The tape movement mechanism (16) is configured to move the tape (12) along the printhead during printing, thereby conveying condensate accumulated on an underside of the tape (12) away from the printhead (5).
A printing device includes: an inkjet printhead having a row of ink ejection devices; a lift mechanism configured for raising and lowering the printhead between a maintenance position and a printing position; a conveyor tape positioned below the printhead in the printing position, the conveyor tape defining a slot aligned with the row of ink ejection devices; and a tape movement mechanism for moving the tape longitudinally along the length of the printhead. The tape movement mechanism is configured to move the tape along the printhead during printing, thereby conveying condensate accumulated on an underside of the tape away from the printhead.
A printing device includes: an inkjet printhead; a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the printhead through a lift path; and a pivotally movable spit flap positioned in the lift path. The spit flap is configured to swing away from the lift path when the printhead contacts the spit flap during lowering of the printhead.
A printhead module for a modular pagewide inkjet printhead. The printhead module has only four rows of print chips configured for printing four different inks, each print chip having multiple nozzle rows for redundant monochrome printing of one respective ink. A print zone of the printhead module has a width of less than 100 mm across the four rows of print chips.
A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a valve inlet connect to a valve outlet; via a flow path; a first orifice positioned in the flow path having a sealable first seat; a movable first valve member configured for sealing engagement with the first seat; a second orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable second valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the second orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and comprising a diaphragm operatively connected to the second valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the second valve member relative to the second orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the second orifice.
G05D 16/06 - Control of fluid pressure without auxiliary power the sensing element being a flexible member yielding to pressure, e.g. diaphragm, bellows, capsule
G05D 16/06 - Control of fluid pressure without auxiliary power the sensing element being a flexible member yielding to pressure, e.g. diaphragm, bellows, capsule
A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a fluid flow path defined between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; an orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and including a diaphragm operatively connected to the valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the valve member relative to the orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the orifice. An outer surface of the valve member is non-linearly flared away from the diaphragm.
G05D 16/06 - Control of fluid pressure without auxiliary power the sensing element being a flexible member yielding to pressure, e.g. diaphragm, bellows, capsule
An additive manufacturing method using an inkjet printhead supplied with a binder fluid, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a layer of powdered build material including a monomer; (b) selectively jetting the binder fluid onto predetermined regions of the layer of powdered build material, the binder fluid comprising a catalyst; (c) optionally exposing the layer of powdered build material to an energy source to initiate polymerization of the monomer; and (d) optionally repeating steps (a) to (c).
B33Y 30/00 - ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Details thereof or accessories therefor
B33Y 70/00 - Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a valve inlet connect to a valve outlet; via a flow path; a first orifice positioned in the flow path having a sealable first seat; a movable first valve member configured for sealing engagement with the first seat; a second orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable second valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the second orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and comprising a diaphragm operatively connected to the second valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the second valve member relative to the second orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the second orifice.
An integrated inkjet module includes: a support chassis configured for fixedly mounting over a media feed path; a maintenance chassis mounted on the support chassis; a print bar chassis liftably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis having a plurality of print modules mounted thereon, each print module comprising a respective printhead; and an aerosol collector fixed to the support chassis and positioned for collecting ink mist generated during printing.
Ink cartridges, filled, for photocopiers and printers; Ink for printers; Ink for printers and photocopiers; Ink jet cartridges, filled; Inks for printing; Filled ink cartridges for printers
An inkjet ink includes: an ink vehicle; a polymer; a surfactant package containing an ethoxylated acetylenic nonionic surfactant having an HLB value in the range of 5 to 10; and an ABA-type bis-alkoxylated silicone compound. The ink has a surface tension in the range of 26 to 31 mN/m.
C09D 11/106 - Printing inks based on artificial resins containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C09D 11/38 - Inkjet printing inks characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
An inkjet ink includes: an ink vehicle; a polymer; a surfactant package containing an ethoxylated acetylenic nonionic surfactant having an HLB value in the range of 5 to 10; and an ABA-type bis-alkoxylated silicone compound. The ink has a surface tension in the range of 26 to 31 mN/m.
C09D 11/107 - Printing inks based on artificial resins containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds from unsaturated acids or derivatives thereof
C09D 11/38 - Inkjet printing inks characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
C09D 11/102 - Printing inks based on artificial resins containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions other than those only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
A wafer assembly for use in a MEMS fabrication process. The wafer package includes: a MEMS wafer having a first side and an opposite second side; a silicone-free peel tape releasably attached to the first side of the wafer; a wafer bonding tape attached to the peel tape; and a carrier substrate releasably attached to the first wafer bonding tape.
H01L 21/683 - Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components for supporting or gripping
50.
Printhead module having alternate longitudinal ink supply channels and slots
A printhead module includes: a monolithic substrate having alternate longitudinal slots and longitudinal ink supply channels defined through a thickness of the substrate and extending parallel with each other along a length of the substrate; and a plurality of rows of print chips mounted on a front face of the substrate, each row of print chips receiving ink only from a respective one of the ink supply channels. Each one of the longitudinal slots is configured to supply power and data only to a respective one of the rows of print chips.
A thermal bend actuator includes: a thermoelastic beam for connection to drive circuitry; and a passive beam mechanically cooperating with the thermoelastic beam, such that when a current is passed through the thermoelastic beam, the thermoelastic beam expands relative to the passive beam resulting in bending of the actuator. The thermoelastic beam wherein the thermoelastic beam is comprised of an aluminium alloy. The aluminium alloy comprises a first metal which is aluminium, a second metal, and at least 0.1 at.% of a third metal selected from the group consisting of: copper, scandium, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, titanium, silicon and magnesium.
A printhead assembly includes: an ink manifold comprised of a first metal; printhead chips mounted on the ink manifold and receiving ink therefrom, each printhead chip having a plurality of bond pads; a PCB mounted on the ink manifold, the PCB having a plurality of contact pads; a plurality of wirebonds interconnecting the bond pads and the contact pads, the wirebonds being comprised of a second metal; an encapsulant material encapsulating the wirebonds, the bond pads and the contact pads; and a voltage source. The ink manifold and the wirebonds are electrically connectable to the voltage source to provide cathodic protection of the wirebonds.
A printhead maintenance system (1) includes: an elongate inkjet printhead (3) having a nozzle face (8) containing a plurality of inkjet nozzles; a carriage (5) movable longitudinally along the printhead in a cleaning direction, the carriage including a maintenance member (7) having: a fluid bath (20) having a mouth opposing the nozzle face (8) of the printhead, a primary fluid inlet (24) at an upstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction and a fluid outlet (26) at a downstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction; and a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage (5) longitudinally along the printhead (3) in the cleaning direction. The maintenance member (7) does not contact inkjet nozzles (8) of the printhead (3), and the fluid bath (20) is configured to provide a greater fluid velocity at the downstream end relative to the upstream end.
A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. Each nozzle row has a main row portion and a corresponding dropped row portion vertically offset from the main row portion. The method includes the steps of: determining a predetermined delay for the dropped row portions based on the offset, a print speed and a print resolution; allocating dot data for image lines to respective nozzle rows based on the print speed and print resolution, sending first dot data for each main row portion and second dot data for each dropped row portion to the printhead module; and firing nozzles from the main row portions and dropped row portion in a predetermined sequence. Each dropped row portion is fired independently of its corresponding main row portion and delayed relative to its corresponding main row portion by the predetermined delay.
A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. The method includes the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles in a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles in a dropped row portion of the first nozzle row; sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Some bits of the first dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the dropped row portion, and some bits of the second dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the main row portion.
A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal ink planes M supplied with a same ink. Each ink plane has a nozzle row and the nozzles rows of all ink planes have vertically aligned nozzles. The method includes the steps of: defining contiguous span groups along each nozzle row, each span group containing N nozzles; allocating dot data for each image line of the image to a predetermined number of nozzles P in each span group of each nozzle row; sending the dot data to the printhead module and firing nozzles sequentially from the ink planes to print the image line. Only one nozzle from each span group in a same nozzle row is fired simultaneously, N is an integer multiple of M, and P is N divided by M.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
57.
Method for single-pass monochrome printing at high speeds
A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. Each nozzle row has a main row portion and a corresponding dropped row portion vertically offset from the main row portion. The method includes the steps of: determining a predetermined delay for the dropped row portions based on the offset, a print speed and a print resolution; allocating dot data for image lines to respective nozzle rows based on the print speed and print resolution, sending first dot data for each main row portion and second dot data for each dropped row portion to the printhead module; and firing nozzles from the main row portions and dropped row portion in a predetermined sequence. Each dropped row portion is fired independently of its corresponding main row portion and delayed relative to its corresponding main row portion by the predetermined delay.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
58.
Print chip configured for single-pass monochrome printing at high speeds
A print chip includes: an elongate silicon substrate defining nominal leading and trailing longitudinal sides of the print chip; circuitry layers positioned on the silicon substrate; and a MEMS layer positioned on the circuitry layers. The MEMS layer includes a plurality of parallel nozzle rows, each nozzle row having a plurality of inkjet nozzle devices arranged in a main row portion and a dropped row portion offset from the main row portion. The circuitry layers include data latches configured to provide dot data for the inkjet nozzle devices. A first row of data latches is positioned adjacent a leading row of the main row portion, and a second row of data latches is positioned adjacent a trailing row of the dropped row portion.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
59.
Ramping dot data for single-pass monochrome printing at high speeds
A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. The method includes the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles in a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles in a dropped row portion of the first nozzle row; sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Some bits of the first dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the dropped row portion, and some bits of the second dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the main row portion.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
60.
Mismatched nozzle rows for single-pass monochrome printing at high speeds
A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows, the method including the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles of a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles of a dropped row portion of a second nozzle row; and sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Each nozzle row of the printhead module has a same number of nozzles N; and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are non-corresponding nozzle rows, such that a number of nozzles contained in the main portion of the first nozzle row and a number of nozzles contained in the dropped row portion of the second nozzle row is greater or fewer than N nozzles.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
An electronic assembly includes a substrate having a die and PCB mounted thereon. Wirebonds interconnect bond pads of the die with contact pads of the PCB, each wirebond having a first end portion bonded to a respective bond pad, an opposite second end portion bonded to a respective contact pad and an intermediate section extending between the first and second end portions. A dam encapsulant encapsulates each of the first and second end portions, a first fill encapsulant contacts the substrate and the dam encapsulant; and a second fill encapsulant overlies the first fill encapsulant. The first fill encapsulant has a lower modulus of elasticity than the second fill encapsulant and the dam encapsulant.
An electronic assembly includes a substrate having a die and PCB mounted thereon. Wirebonds interconnect bond pads of the die with contact pads of the PCB, each wirebond having a first end portion bonded to a respective bond pad, an opposite second end portion bonded to a respective contact pad and an intermediate section extending between the first and second end portions. A dam encapsulant encapsulates each of the first and second end portions, a first fill encapsulant contacts the substrate and the dam encapsulant; and a second fill encapsulant overlies the first fill encapsulant. The first fill encapsulant has a lower modulus of elasticity than the second fill encapsulant and the dam encapsulant.
A method of determining a condition of a printhead (1). The method includes the steps of: (i) printing a test image (10) using the printhead, (ii) optically imaging the test image and determining optical densities along a length of the test image; (iii) converting the optical densities into a single-dimensional signal (18); (iv) analyzing one or more portions of the signal using a convolutional neural network to provide a classification for corresponding portions of the signal; and (v) using each classification to determine the condition of corresponding portions of the printhead..
An ink tank for an ink delivery system includes: a housing having an ink inlet port and an ink outlet port; an air vent communicating with a headspace of the ink tank; a filter positioned in the housing for filtering ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink outlet port; and a baffle plate positioned in the housing between the ink inlet port and the filter. The baffle plate is configured for directing air bubbles entering the ink tank via the ink inlet port towards the headspace of the ink tank. A baffle opening is positioned towards a base of the ink tank, thereby allowing ink to flow from the ink inlet port towards the ink outlet port via the baffle opening.
A method of single-pass printing uses a printing system having first and second aligned printheads (2, 4) supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: receiving first and second halftone images at the first and second printheads, respectively; printing the first halftone image from the first printhead (2); and printing the second halftone image from the second printhead (4). The first halftone image is based on a first dither pattern and the second halftone image is based on a second dither pattern, the first dither pattern being different than the second dither pattern.
B41J 2/505 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by the process of building-up characters applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes from an assembly of identical printing elements
B41J 2/515 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by the process of building-up characters applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes from an assembly of identical printing elements line printer type
G06K 15/02 - Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data using printers
G06K 15/10 - Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data using printers by matrix printers
66.
LOW-COST INK DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING INK PRESSURE
An ink delivery system for delivering ink to an inkjet printhead. The system includes a first ink tank, a second ink tank, a main air line having an air inlet and an air outlet; a first air line interconnecting the first ink tank and the main air line; a second air line interconnecting the second ink tank and the main air line; an air pump positioned in the main air line; first and second airflow restrictor positioned in the main air line; an ink circulation line interconnecting the first and second ink tanks; and an ink pump positioned in the ink circulation line for pumping ink from the first ink tank to the second ink tank.
A method of coating threads using a printhead having rows of nozzles extending along a length of the printhead. The method includes the steps of: feeding the thread along a length of the printhead; and ejecting ink from the rows of nozzles towards the thread. Thread-coating modules and thread-coating systems make use of the method described.
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
A system for priming a dry inkjet printhead (4). The system includes: the inkjet printhead (4) having an inlet port (8) connected to an upstream ink line and an outlet port (14) connected to a downstream ink line; a pump (40) operably connected to the downstream ink line; a capper (200) engaged with printhead; a vacuum source for applying suction to a capping chamber (202) of the capper (200); and a control system for coordinating actuation of the pump and the vacuum source. In use, the pump (40) is actuated simultaneously with the vacuum source, thereby drawing ink through the printhead (4) from the inlet port to the outlet port and priming the printhead.
A printhead module includes a monolithic substrate having a plurality of rows of print chips mounted thereon. Each row of print chips receives power and data through a respective longitudinal slot defined through a thickness of the substrate, each longitudinal slot extending parallel with and offset from the rows of print chips.
A modular inkjet printhead includes a plurality of printhead modules arranged end on end in a row. Each printhead module includes: a substrate having a plurality of parallel ink supply channels extending longitudinally along a length thereof and a plurality of parallel printhead segments. Each printhead segment extends longitudinally along a length of the substrate and has a plurality of print chips arranged end on end in a row. A plurality of fingers extend longitudinally from opposite ends of each printhead module, each finger including a portion of a respective one of the printhead segments. The fingers of neighboring printhead modules are interdigitated such that printhead segments of neighboring printhead modules overlap.
A MEMS chip assembly includes: a support structure having a chip mounting surface; a MEMS chip mounted on the chip mounting surface, the MEMS chip having an active surface including one or more rows of MEMS devices and a row of bond pads disposed alongside a connection edge of the MEMS chip and parallel with the rows of MEMS devices; electrical connectors connected to the bond pads; and an encapsulant material covering the electrical connectors. The MEMS chip has a plurality of trenches defined in the active surface, the trenches extending parallel with the rows of MEMS devices and disposed between the bond pads and the MEMS devices. The encapsulant material does not encroach past the trenches towards the MEMS devices.
A MEMS printhead including: a plurality of nozzle chambers arranged in a plurality of nozzle rows, each nozzle chamber having: a nozzle opening for ejection of ink, an inlet channel extending parallel with a direction of droplet ejection and an outlet channel extending perpendicular to the inlet channel; an ink delivery channel extending parallel with the nozzle rows, the ink delivery channel supplying ink to a plurality of inlet channels; a plurality of ink collection channels extending across the nozzle rows, each ink collection channel collecting ink from a set of outlet channels; and an ink receiving channel extending parallel with the nozzle rows, the ink receiving channel receiving ink from the ink collection channels.
A process for handling MEMS wafers includes the steps of: (i) attaching a first carrier substrate to a first side of a MEMS wafer, the first carrier substrate being attached via a first wafer bonding tape and a silicone-free peel tape, the peel tape contacting the first side of the MEMS wafer; (ii) performing wafer processing steps on an opposite second side of the MEMS wafer; (iii) releasing the first carrier substrate from the first side of the MEMS wafer via exposure to an energy source, the energy source selectively releasing the wafer bonding tape from the first side of the MEMS wafer; and (iv) peeling the peel tape away from the first side of the MEMS wafer.
A method of generating alignment data for a printhead. The method includes the steps of: printing a calibration pattern using the printhead, the calibration pattern including rows of spaced apart fiducials, each fiducial having a plurality of concentric shapes representing a code sequence; imaging the fiducials at a first resolution to generate imaged fiducials; cross-correlating a template fiducial with the imaged fiducials at a plurality of different displacement s relative to each imaged fiducial, the template fiducial having a configuration matching the imaged fiducials; determining a two-dimensional set of cross-correlation values for each imaged fiducial, each set of cross-correlation values indicating a center of a respective fiducial; and generating alignment data for the printhead using the sets of cross-correlation values.
A process for forming inkjet nozzle devices on a frontside surface of a wafer substrate. The process includes the steps of: (i) providing the wafer substrate having a plurality of etched holes defined in the frontside surface, each etched hole being filled with first and second polymers such that the second polymer is coplanar with the frontside surface; (ii) forming the inkjet nozzle devices on the frontside surface using MEMS fabrication steps; and (iii) removing the first and second polymers via oxidative ashing, wherein first and second polymers are different.
A print module includes: a cradle defining a longitudinal cavity and an access opening at a first end of the longitudinal cavity; an elongate printhead carrier positioned in the longitudinal cavity, the printhead carrier being pivotable about a pivot axis at a second end of the cradle opposite the first end; and an elongate printhead longitudinally slidably engaged with the printhead carrier. The printhead is removable from the cradle via pivoting of the printhead carrier and longitudinally sliding the printhead relative to the printhead carrier through the access opening.
A print module includes: a cradle defining a longitudinal cavity; an elongate printhead received in the longitudinal cavity, the printhead having a row of printhead contacts; a PCB slidably movable relative to the cradle along a first axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the printhead; and an actuator handle. The actuator handle is configured for reciprocally lowering and raising the PCB and urging the PCB contacts into engagement with the printhead contacts, thereby forming electrical connections between the PCB and the printhead. The PCB electrical contacts are urged along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and the longitudinal axis of the printhead.
An integrated inkjet module includes: a support chassis configured for fixedly mounting on a media feed chassis; a maintenance chassis slidably mounted on the support chassis; and a print bar chassis liftably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis having one or more inkjet printheads mounted thereon.
A print module including: a cradle having a longitudinal cavity; an elongate printhead carrier positioned in the longitudinal cavity, the printhead carrier having a first end and a second end, the printhead carrier being pivotable relative to the cradle about a pivot axis the second end; a supply assembly slidably movable relative to the cradle along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the printhead carrier, the supply assembly having ink couplings for fluidic connection to a printhead received in the printhead carrier; and a mechanical linkage interconnecting the first end of the printhead carrier and the supply assembly. Reciprocal movement of the supply assembly moves the printhead carrier between a tilted position and a non-tilted position.
A print module includes: a cradle defining a longitudinal cavity and an access opening at a first end of the longitudinal cavity; a printhead carrier positioned in the longitudinal cavity, the printhead carrier having a longitudinal rail; and an elongate printhead having a longitudinal overhead hanger for complementary longitudinal sliding engagement with the rail. The printhead is removable from the cradle via longitudinal sliding movement of the printhead relative to the printhead carrier through the access opening.
An aqueous-based inkjet ink for a thermal inkjet printhead includes: a pigment; 2 to 90 ppm ammonium ions; and an ink vehicle. The ink has a pH in the range of 8 to 9.5 and exhibits improved lifetime in thermal inkjet printheads with minimal loss of print quality.
An inkjet ink includes: an ink vehicle; a colorant; a diethylene glycol C3-8 alkyl ether; a first surfactant of formula (I); and a second surfactant different than the first surfactant, the first surfactant being present in a greater amount than the second surfactant.
A MEMS chip assembly including: a support structure having a chip mounting surface; a MEMS chip mounted on the chip mounting surface, each MEMS chip having an active surface including one or more MEMS devices and a plurality of bond pads disposed alongside a connection edge of the MEMS chip; electrical connectors connected to the bond pads; and an encapsulant material covering the electrical connectors. The MEMS chip has encapsulant-retaining trenches defined in the active surface extending alongside the connection edge, each encapsulant-retaining trench being disposed between the bond pads and the MEMS devices.
A printing system includes: an ink supply; a feed line coupled to the ink supply; a return line coupled to the ink supply; and a plurality of printhead modules each having an inlet port fluidically coupled to the feed line and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the return line. Each print module has a bypass line fluidically coupling the feed line to the return line. The bypass line is open for both priming and printing operations.
B41J 3/54 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
B41J 2/165 - Prevention of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
A method of forming an inkjet printhead. The method includes the steps of: providing a metal alloy shim having a plurality of shim apertures; nitriding a surface of the shim; bonding the shim to a rigid elongate manifold having ink supply channels, such that each shim aperture is in fluid communication with a respective ink supply channel; and bonding printhead chips to the shim, thereby forming the inkjet printhead.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
B41J 2/19 - Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles
B41J 2/155 - Arrangement thereof for line printing
An inkjet printhead including: an elongate fluid manifold having a base defining a plurality of fluid outlets; and printhead chips attached to the base, each printhead chip receiving printing fluid from a plurality of the fluid outlets. All fluid outlets are laterally flared towards a side of a respective printhead chip.
B41J 2/19 - Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles
B41J 2/515 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by the process of building-up characters applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes from an assembly of identical printing elements line printer type
B41J 2/155 - Arrangement thereof for line printing
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
87.
Process for filling etched holes using first and second polymers
A process for filling one or more etched holes defined in a frontside surface of a wafer substrate. The process includes the steps of: depositing a layer of a thermoplastic first polymer onto the frontside surface and into each hole until the holes are overfilled with the first polymer; depositing a layer of a photoimageable second polymer different than the first polymer; selectively removing the second polymer from regions outside a periphery of the holes; exposing the wafer substrate to a controlled oxidative plasma so as to reveal the frontside surface of the wafer substrate; and planarizing the frontside surface to provide holes filled with a plug of the first polymer only, each plug having a respective upper surface coplanar with the frontside surface.
An inkjet printhead includes: a manifold having first, second, third and fourth ink supply channels extending along the manifold and corresponding first, second, third and fourth rows of outlets defined in the manifold, wherein a first ink delivery group contains the first and second rows of outlets and a second ink delivery group contains the third and fourth rows of outlets. A first row of printhead chips is mounted to a lower surface of the manifold and a second row of printhead chips is mounted to the lower surface of the manifold. Each row of printhead chips prints two ink colors to provide a four-color printhead.
A method of printing an image using a printing system having first and second overlapping printhead segments. The method includes the steps of: (i) identifying a strip of the image to be printed in an overlap region of the first and second printhead segments; (ii) determining a stitching technique for the first and second printhead segments; and (iii) printing the image using the first and second printhead segments, the printing including stitching the first and second printhead segments in the overlap region using the determined stitching technique. The stitching technique may be a butt stitch or a feathered stitch, dependent on image content in the strip.
B41J 3/54 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
H04N 1/58 - Edge or detail enhancement; Noise or error suppression, e.g. colour misregistration correction
G06T 3/00 - Geometric image transformation in the plane of the image
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
B41J 13/00 - Devices or arrangements specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
B41J 3/54 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
B65H 5/06 - Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by rollers
B65H 29/12 - Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands
B41J 11/20 - Platen adjustments for varying the strength of impression, for a varying number of papers, for wear or for alignment
A process for forming an inkjet chamber over a hole defined in a frontside surface of a wafer substrate. The process includes the steps of: (i) laminating a layer of dry film photoresist onto the frontside surface; (ii) defining wall openings corresponding to chamber walls in the dry film photoresist; (iii) depositing chamber material into the wall openings and over the dry film photoresist so as to form chamber walls and a chamber roof; (iv) defining a nozzle opening in the chamber roof; and (v) removing the dry film photoresist to form the inkjet chamber over the hole.
A compliance for use in an inkjet printer. The compliance includes flexible bellows configured for dampening pressure fluctuations in a fluid, wherein the bellows comprise a plurality of concentric portions joined via concertinaed sidewalls.
An inkjet printhead includes: an elongate fluid manifold including a longitudinally extending channel having a pair of opposite longitudinal sidewalls and a base defining a floor of the channel; a plurality of printhead chips bonded to the base of the fluid manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from fluid outlets defined in the floor of the channel; and a plurality of transverse ribs extending across the channel between the sidewalls, each transverse rib extending upwardly from the floor of the channel.
B41J 2/045 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
B41J 2/515 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by the process of building-up characters applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes from an assembly of identical printing elements line printer type
95.
MAINTENANCE MODULE ARRANGEMENT FOR MODULAR PRINTER HAVING CURVED MEDIA PATH
A printer includes: a convexly curved media path for feeding print media along a media feed direction, the curved media path having an apex, a first section upstream of the apex and a second section downstream of the apex; a plurality of printheads radially arranged around the curved media path, the plurality of printheads including a first printhead positioned for printing onto the first section and a second printhead positioned for printing onto the second section; a plurality of cappers for capping the plurality of printheads, each capper being positioned at one longitudinal side of a respective printhead and each capper being laterally moveable between capped and uncapped positions; and a lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the printheads. A first capper is positioned downstream of the first printhead and a second capper is positioned upstream of the second printhead in respective uncapped positions.
An integrated inkjet module includes: first and second opposite end brackets; a single print module asymmetrically positioned between the end brackets, the print module having an elongate printhead; a wiper carriage positioned between a first end of the print module and the first end bracket, the wiper carriage being configured for longitudinally wiping the printhead; and a print module carrier mounted between the first and second end brackets. The print module includes a mounting arm bridging over the wiper carriage and the print module carrier is slidably liftable relative to the first and second end brackets.
An inkjet module includes: first and second opposite end brackets; a print module slidably mounted between the end brackets for raising and lowering the print module relative to the end brackets, the print module having a front face, a rear face and an elongate printhead positioned at a lower surface of the print module; and a cable array including a plurality of laterally arranged cables connected to the print module. The cables of the cable array extend in a common plane parallel to the rear face of the print module and follow a curved path such that an outer cable is longer than an inner cable.
An integrated inkjet module includes: first and second opposite end brackets; a single print module asymmetrically positioned between the end brackets, the print module having an elongate printhead; a wiper carriage positioned between a first end of the print module and the first end bracket, the wiper carriage being configured for longitudinally wiping the printhead; and a print module carrier mounted between the first and second end brackets. The print module includes a mounting arm bridging over the wiper carriage and the print module carrier is slidably liftable relative to the first and second end brackets.
An integrated inkjet module for a scalable inkjet printer includes: first and second opposite end brackets; a print module asymmetrically positioned between the end brackets; and a maintenance module for maintaining an inkjet printhead of the print module. The maintenance module includes a frame fixedly mounted between the end brackets having a longer leg extending along one side of the print module and a shorter leg positioned between a first end of the print module and the first end bracket. The print module is slidably liftable relative to the end brackets, the longer leg includes a laterally extendible capper for capping the printhead and the shorter leg includes a longitudinally movable wiper carriage for wiping the printhead.
A print module configured for interconnection between a positive ink line and a negative ink line via respective inlet and outlet lines. The print module includes: an inlet port; an outlet port; a printhead interconnected between the inlet port and the outlet port; a control valve positioned at the inlet port for controlling an ink pressure in the printhead; an ink pressure sensor for sensing an ink pressure in the print module; and a controller for receiving feedback from the pressure sensor and controlling the control valve. During printing, the ink pressure sensor, the controller and the control valve cooperate to control a backpressure in the printhead within a predetermined backpressure range.
