Methods and apparatus for controlling a printhead
AssigneeDover Europe SàRl
InventorMohammed Toudmeri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing apparatus including a printhead and a printhead movement arrangement, the printhead movement arrangement including a belt moveable in a belt path, and a linkage between the printhead and the belt, wherein the linkage is attached to the belt at a first belt position and a second belt position, the printhead movement arrangement being configured such that the printhead is moveable angularly as a result of linear movement of at least one portion of the belt in the belt path and a method of operation of such a printing apparatus.
Claims18
A printing apparatus including a printhead and a printhead movement arrangement, the printhead movement arrangement including a belt moveable in a belt path, and a linkage between the printhead and the belt, wherein the linkage is attached to the belt at a first belt position and a second belt position, the printhead movement arrangement being configured such that linear movement of at least one portion of the belt in the belt path causes angular movement of the printhead.
A method of operation of a printing apparatus including:
- carrying out a calibration step to determine reference data relating to at least one parameter, the calibration step including moving a printhead between a first printhead position and a second printhead position and determining reference data in the first printhead position and the second printhead position;
- storing data indicative of the reference data and/or storing one or more motor control signals required to achieve a printhead position corresponding with stored reference data, in data storage;
- carrying out one or more printing cycles using the printhead, including moving the printhead to the second printhead position by:
- executing stored drive control signals and/or monitoring the or each parameter to obtain a current indication of the or each parameter and comparing the current indication of the or each parameter with corresponding data from the reference data, and continuing movement of the printhead until the current indication of the or each parameter matches the reference data for the second printhead position.
A printing system including a printing apparatus including a printhead and a printhead movement arrangement, the printhead movement arrangement including a belt moveable in a belt path, and a linkage between the printhead and the belt, wherein the linkage is attached to the belt at a first belt position and a second belt position, the printhead movement arrangement being configured such that linear movement of at least one portion of the belt in the belt path causes angular movement of the printhead, the printing system further including a ribbon carrying marking medium that the printhead is configured to transfer to a substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.