Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2003-11-17
2004-09-14
Meier, Stephen D. (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
active
06789881
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to inkjet printers and in particular to pagewidth inkjet printers.
CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
This is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/1 29,433.
Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention on May 24, 2000:
PCT/AU00/00578
PCT/AU00/00579
PCT/AU00/00581
PCT/AU00/
00580
PCT/AU00/00582
PCT/AU00/00587
PCT/AU00/00588
PCT/AU00/
00589
PCT/AU00/00583
PCT/AU00/00593
PCT/AU00/00590
PCT/AU00/
00591
PCT/AU00/00592
PCT/AU00/00584
PCT/AU00/00585
PCT/AU00/
00586
PCT/AU00/00594
PCT/AU00/00595
PCT/AU00/00596
PCT/AU00/
00597
PCT/AU00/00598
PCT/AU00/00516
PCT/AU00/00517
PCT/AU00/
00511
The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by cross-reference. Also incorporated by cross-reference, is the disclosure of a co-filed PCT application, PCT/AU01/00216 (deriving priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PQ5959).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The printheads used by inkjet printers traditionally traverse back and forth within the printer as a page is fed past the printhead. To increase printing speed, pagewidth printheads have been developed so that the printhead does not need to traverse across the page.
For a number of reasons, it is relatively expensive to produce pagewidth printheads in a unitary form. Therefore, to minimize costs it is preferable to produce a modular pagewidth printhead made up of a series of printhead modules.
It is necessary to align each module so that the printing from one module precisely abuts the printing from the adjacent modules. For most types of printing, it is sufficient to electronically align the modules. This is done by configuring the modules such that they slightly overlap with each other, and then digitally adjusting the printing from each module for a smooth transition of the print data.
Unfortunately, this requires complex manipulation of the print data allocated to the respective modules. The digital controller for the printer needs to be relatively powerful to accommodate this and the associated costs can be prohibitive for the SOHO (small office/home office) market.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a modular printhead for a digital printer, the modular printhead including:
a support frame and a plurality of printhead modules, the frame having a plurality of mounting sites for mounting respective printhead modules to the frame; wherein,
at least one of the mounting sites has an adjustment mechanism for reducing input movements to effect minute adjustments of the position of the printhead module with respect to the frame.
Preferably, the adjustment mechanism uses a system of levers and pivots for geared reduction of the input movements to minute adjustments of the printhead module relative to the frame. In a further preferred form, the ratio of input movement to the resultant adjustment is at least 500 to 1.
In a particularly preferred form, the movement of the printhead module relative to the frame is less than 100 &mgr;m.
In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism includes an input lever fulcrumed against the support frame for acting on a module engagement plate, the module engagement plate being connected to the support frame by hinged link arms such that the resultant movement of the plate is substantially linear. Preferably, the movement of the input lever is substantially normal to the resultant movement of the engagement plate. In a further preferred form, the input lever for each of the adjustment mechanisms is actuated by a respective grub screw threadedly engaged with the support frame. Conveniently, the ratio of axial movement of the grub screw to the movement of the plate is about 1000 to 1.
Conveniently, the adjustment mechanism is integrally formed with the frame wherein the fulcrum and hinged connections are formed by localized necks in the frame material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5016023 (1991-05-01), Chan et al.
patent: 5057854 (1991-10-01), Pond et al.
patent: 5148194 (1992-09-01), Asai et al.
patent: 5160945 (1992-11-01), Drake
patent: 5297017 (1994-03-01), Haselby et al.
patent: 5488397 (1996-01-01), Nguyen et al.
patent: 5850240 (1998-12-01), Kubatzki et al.
patent: 6000782 (1999-12-01), Lee
patent: 6068367 (2000-05-01), Fabbri
patent: 6290332 (2001-09-01), Crystal et al.
Do An H.
Meier Stephen D.
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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