Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-07-10
Nguyen, Thinh (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
C347S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257699
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the printer arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with a modular carriage assembly for a high-speed, high-performance ink jet printer and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention may also find application in conjunction with other types of printing devices and applications where a print carriage traverses across a media.
FIG. 1
illustrates an exemplary printing device
1
, such as an ink jet printer. The device
1
includes a frame
2
housing a media transport assembly
4
. The media transport assembly feeds a media
6
, such as individual sheets or continuous rolls of paper through a printing flat zone, designated generally as
8
, in a first direction along a media feed axis X. A carriage assembly
10
is driven by drive means such as a motor (not shown) transversely across the printing flat zone on one or more guide rails
12
in both directions along a carriage scan axis Y.
A controller
14
controls the operation of the media transport assembly
4
and the carriage assembly
10
to cause ink to be printed or otherwise deposited on the media
6
from one or more arrays of print nozzles or jets that are associated with the carriage assembly
10
, as the media is advanced in a direction along the media feed axis X.
FIG. 2
shows one configuration for the carriage assembly
10
that incorporates multiple print nozzle arrays
16
a
-
16
f
. Each of the nozzle arrays
16
a
-
16
f
are spaced-apart in a side-by side configuration along the carriage scan axis Y. Further, coincident pairs of the nozzle arrays
16
a
and
16
d
,
16
b
and
16
e
, and
16
c
and
16
f
are staggered or offset relative to each other along the media feed axis X. This side-by-side configuration provides a small “printing flat zone”, defined as the distance
18
between the leading edges of nozzle arrays
16
a
and
16
d
and the trailing edges of nozzle arrays
16
c
and
16
f
in a media feed or x-direction. However, this side-by-side configuration disadvantageously provides for a large distance
20
between the leftmost nozzle array
16
a
and the rightmost nozzle array
16
f
, resulting in a greater overscan inefficiency of the printer.
Overscan efficiency is a measure of carriage stroke or excursion relative to media (i.e. paper) width. The greater the distance that the carriage must travel during each excursion across the media, the greater the size or form factor that the printing device must be in order to accommodate a carriage with such an excursion. Further, the configuration of
FIG. 2
results in a larger carriage assembly form factor in order to accommodate the side-by-side nozzle array configuration.
FIG. 3
shows another configuration for the carriage assembly
10
that incorporates multiple print nozzle arrays
16
. In particular, the nozzle arrays
16
are oriented in a stacked configuration along the media scan X-axis. That is, each of the nozzle arrays
16
a
-
16
f
are staggered or offset relative to each other along the media feed axis X. Further, coincident pairs of the nozzle arrays
16
a
and
16
d
,
16
b
and
16
e
, and
16
c
and
16
f
are spaced-apart along the carriage scan axis Y. This stacked configuration advantageously provides a smaller distance
20
between the leftmost nozzle arrays
16
a
and
16
d
and the rightmost nozzle arrays
16
c
and
16
f
when compared to the side-by-side configuration of FIG.
2
.
The reduced distance
20
advantageously provides for reduced overscan inefficiency. However, the stacked configuration disadvantageously provides an increased printing flat zone
18
, when compared to the side-by-side configuration of FIG.
2
. The greater the width of the printing flat zone, the greater the size that the printing device must be in order to accommodate the printing flat zone. Further, the carriage assembly configuration of
FIG. 3
results in a larger carriage form factor in order to accommodate the stacked nozzle assembly configuration.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved carriage assembly for a high-speed, high-performance, printing device that meets the above-stated needs and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a printing device is disclosed. The printing device includes a print carriage assembly having a frame that traverses across a media along a carriage scan axis. The media travels along a media feed axis that is substantially perpendicular to the carriage scan axis. A first print cartridge subassembly includes a first base secured to the frame and a plurality of first print elements secured to the first base. Each of the first print elements includes a first nozzle array for ejecting an ink composition. The plurality of first print elements are spaced apart along the carriage scan axis and are offset along the media feed axis. A second print cartridge subassembly includes a second base secured to the frame and a plurality of second print elements secured to the second base. Each of the second print elements have a second nozzle array for ejecting an ink composition. The plurality of second print elements are spaced apart along the carriage scan axis and are offset along the media feed axis.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a print carriage assembly is disclosed. The print carriage assembly includes a frame, and a first print cartridge subassembly including a first base secured to the frame and a plurality of first print elements secured to the first base. Each of the first print elements includes a first nozzle array adapted to eject an ink composition. The plurality of first print elements are spaced apart along a carriage scan axis and are offset along a media feed axis. A second print cartridge subassembly includes a second base secured to the frame and a plurality of second print elements secured to the second base. Each of the second print elements have a second nozzle array adapted to eject an ink composition. The plurality of second print elements are spaced apart along the carriage scan axis and are offset along the media feed axis.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a printing device having a print carriage assembly that reduces a carriage excursion along a carriage scan axis and/or reduces a width of a printing flat zone along a media feed axis.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a printing device having a carriage assembly with a plurality of modular, substantially identical, print cartridge subassemblies removably mounted to the carriage.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a carriage assembly having a plurality of modular, substantially identical, print cartridge subassemblies removably mounted thereto.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
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Cross Tom
DeLouise Lisa
Drake Donald John
George Clifford Lloyd
Klavsons Uldis
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Nguyen Thinh
Xerox Corporation
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