Systems and methods for positioning printheads of a printing apparatus

A system for printing on a polymeric film web, comprising:

• at least one rail;
• a linear actuator;
• first and second adjacent printhead holders slidably disposed on the at least one rail;
• and
• a projection extending from the first printhead holder toward the second printhead holder;
• wherein operating the linear actuator causes the printhead holders to move between a first position in which the projection contacts the second printhead holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second printhead holder and the first and second printhead holders are separated by predetermined distances;
• wherein the first printhead holder includes a cavity defined by a first sidewall, the second printhead holder includes an extension element disposed in the cavity, and the predetermined amount is determined by a distance between the first and second sidewalls when projection is in contact with the second printhead holder.

A system for printing on a polymeric film web, comprising:

• at least one rail;
• a linear actuator;
• first and second adjacent printhead holders slidably disposed on the at least one rail;
• and
• a projection extending from the first printhead holder toward the second printhead holder;
• wherein operating the linear actuator causes the printhead holders to move between a first position in which the projection contacts the second printhead holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second printhead holder and the first and second printhead holders are separated by predetermined distances;
• wherein the linear actuator comprises a first linear actuator, further including a third printhead holder disposed on the at least one rail and a second linear actuator, and operating the first and the second linear operators to move the first and second printheads from the first position to the second position, wherein the first linear actuator moves the first printhead holders toward the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator moves the third printhead toward the second linear actuator.

A system for printing on a polymeric film web, comprising:

• at least one rail;
• a linear actuator;
• first and second adjacent printhead holders slidably disposed on the at least one rail;
• and
• a projection extending from the first printhead holder toward the second printhead holder;
• wherein operating the linear actuator causes the printhead holders to move between a first position in which the projection contacts the second printhead holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second printhead holder and the first and second printhead holders are separated by predetermined distances;
• wherein the first printhead holder comprises a first plate and a second plate coupled by one or both a compression spring and a leaf spring, further including an adjustment mechanism that determines the space between the first plate and the second plate.

A method for printing on a polymeric film web, comprising:

• disposing first and second adjacent printhead holders slidably on at least one rail;
• and
• operating a linear actuator to move the first and second printhead holders between a first position in which a projection extending from the first printhead holder contacts the second printhead holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second printhead holder and the first and second printhead holders are separated by predetermined distances;
• slidably interconnecting the first and second printhead holders with a link wherein the link has an elongate opening with a length dimension and the predetermined distance is determined by the length dimension of the link opening.

A method for printing on a polymeric film web, comprising:

• disposing first and second adjacent printhead holders slidably on at least one rail;
• and
• operating a linear actuator to move the first and second printhead holders between a first position in which a projection extending from the first printhead holder contacts the second printhead holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second printhead holder and the first and second printhead holders are separated by predetermined distances;
• and
• further including disposing an extension element of the second printhead holder into a cavity of the first printhead holder, wherein the cavity is defined by a first sidewall and the extension member has a second sidewall, and the predetermined amount is determined by a distance between the first and second sidewalls when projection is in contact with the second printhead holder.

A method for printing on a polymeric film web, comprising:

• disposing first and second adjacent printhead holders slidably on at least one rail;
• and
• operating a linear actuator to move the first and second printhead holders between a first position in which a projection extending from the first printhead holder contacts the second printhead holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second printhead holder and the first and second printhead holders are separated by predetermined distances;
• and
• wherein the linear actuator comprises a first linear actuator, further including disposing a third printhead holder, and operating the first linear actuator and a second linear operator to move the first and second printheads from the first position to the second position, wherein the first linear actuator moves the first printhead holders toward the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator moves the third printhead toward the second linear actuator.

A method for printing on a polymeric film web, comprising:

• disposing first and second adjacent printhead holders slidably on at least one rail;
• and
• operating a linear actuator to move the first and second printhead holders between a first position in which a projection extending from the first printhead holder contacts the second printhead holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second printhead holder and the first and second printhead holders are separated by predetermined distances;
• and
• wherein the first printhead holder comprises a first plate and a second plate, further including coupling the first plate and the second plate using one or both of a compression spring and a leaf spring, further including operating an adjustment mechanism to adjust the space between the first plate and the second plate and/or rotating the first plate relative to the second plate.