Method for mutual spatial registration of inkjet cartridges

A method for building a spatially registered inkjet nozzle array from a plurality of individual inkjet cartridges each having a plurality of individual inkjet nozzles to print on media capable of having relative movement with respect to the array, the individual inkjet nozzles having a substantially constant spacing along a direction perpendicular to the relative movement of the media, the method comprising:

• providing a first plurality of individual inkjet cartridges and a second plurality of individual intermediate fixture members,
• permanently spatially registering the inkjet nozzles of individual inkjet cartridges to the individual intermediate fixture members, and
• removably registering the intermediate fixture members to one another on a common fixture member
• wherein spatially registering the inkjet nozzles is performed optically.

A method for building a spatially registered inkjet nozzle array from a first plurality of individual inkjet cartridges, each individual inkjet cartridge comprising a second plurality of inkjet nozzles, the second plurality of inkjet nozzles on an individual inkjet cartridge having a substantially regular inter-nozzle spacing in at least one dimension, the method comprising:

• providing a first plurality of inkjet cartridges and a third plurality of intermediate fixture members,
• fabricating a fourth plurality of pre-registered inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies by permanently spatially pre-registering to an intermediate fixture member the inkjet nozzles of individual inkjet cartridges, the individual inkjet cartridges being members of the first plurality of inkjet cartridges, and
• removably registering to one another the members of the fourth plurality of pre-registered inkjet cartridge subassemblies by mutually spatially registering the intermediate fixture member of each of the fourth plurality of pre-registered inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies on a common fixture member
• wherein spatially registering the intermediate fixture members is performed optically.

A method for aligning the inkjet nozzles of a plurality of inkjet cartridges when the inkjet cartridges are installed on the carriage of an inkjet printer, the method comprising:

• providing a first plurality of inkjet cartridges, each member of the first plurality of inkjet cartridges comprising a second plurality of inkjet nozzles, the members of the second plurality of inkjet nozzles being substantially regularly spaced in at least one dimension,
• providing a third plurality of intermediate fixture members,
• spatially registering at least one inkjet nozzle of a first member selected from the first plurality of inkjet cartridge members to a second member taken from the third plurality of intermediate fixture members
• creating a spatially registered inkjet cartridge sub-assembly by permanently affixing the first member to the second member while the spatial registration between the at least one inkjet nozzle and the second member is maintain and
• removably attaching to the carriage a fourth plurality of spatially registered inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies with their inkjet nozzles aligned to address tracks with a regular spacing
• wherein spatially registering at least one inkjet nozzle is performed optically.

A method for aligning the inkjet nozzles of a plurality of inkjet cartridges when the inkjet cartridges are installed on the carriage of an inkjet printer, the method comprising:

• providing a first plurality of inkjet cartridges, each member of the first plurality of inkjet cartridges comprising a second plurality of inkjet nozzles, the members of the second plurality of inkjet nozzles being substantially regularly spaced in at least one dimension,
• providing a third plurality of intermediate fixture members,
• spatially registering at least one inkjet nozzle of a first member selected from the first plurality of inkjet cartridge members to a second member taken from the third plurality of intermediate fixture members
• creating a spatially registered inkjet cartridge sub-assembly by permanently affixing the first member to the second member while the spatial registration between the at least one inkjet nozzle and the second member is maintained and
• removably attaching to the cartridge a fourth plurality of spatially registered inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies with their inkjet nozzles aligned to address tracks with a regular spacing
• wherein the removable attaching is performed by providing at least on member of the fourth plurality of spatially registered inkjet cartridge subassemblies with a means for expansion and contraction with respect to the carriage in at least one dimension.

A method for aligning the inkjet nozzles of a plurality of inkjet cartridges when the inkjet cartridges are installed on the carriage of an inkjet printer, the method comprising:

• providing a first plurality of inkjet cartridges, each member of the first plurality of inkjet cartridges comprising a second plurality of inkjet nozzles, the members of the second plurality of inkjet nozzles being substantially regularly spaced in at least one dimension,
• providing a third plurality of intermediate fixture members,
• spatially registering at least one inkjet nozzle of a first member selected from the first plurality of inkjet cartridge members to a second member taken from the third plurality of intermediate fixture members
• creating a spatially registered inkjet cartridge sub-assembly by permanently affixing the first member to the second member while the spatial registration between the at least one inkjet nozzle and the second member is maintained and
• removably attaching to the carriage a fourth plurality of spatially registered inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies with their inkjet nozzles aligned to address tracks with a regular spacing
• wherein the carriage and the intermediate fixture members comprise materials with substantially equal thermal expansion coefficients.

A spatially registered array of inkjet cartridges for printing on a media, the array comprising

• a plurality of inkjet cartridge subassemblies, each of the inkjet cartridge subassemblies comprising
• a plurality of inkjet cartridges, each of the inkjet cartridges comprising a nozzle array with substantially regular inter-nozzle spacing in at least one dimension, and
• a plurality of intermediate fixture members wherein each individual inkjet cartridge of the plurality of inkjet cartridges is permanently affixed to an individual intermediate fixture member of the plurality of intermediate fixture members, the nozzle array of the individual inkjet cartridge being in a spatially registered relationship with the individual intermediate fixture member and
• a common fixture member to which the plurality of inkjet cartridge subassemblies are removably affixed in a mutually spatially registered arrangement wherein the spatial registration is performed optically.

A spatially registered array of inkjet cartridges for printing on a media, the array comprising

• a plurality of inkjet cartridge subassemblies, each of the inkjet cartridge subassemblies comprising
• a plurality of inkjet cartridges, each of the inkjet cartridges comprising a nozzle array with substantially regular inter-nozzle spacing in at least one dimension, and
• a plurality of intermediate fixture members wherein each individual inkjet cartridge of the plurality of inkjet cartridges is permanently affixed to an individual intermediate fixture member of the plurality of intermediate fixture members, the nozzle array of the individual inkjet cartridge being in a spatially registered relationship with the individual intermediate fixture member and
• a common fixture member to which the plurality of inkjet cartridge subassemblies are removably affixed in a mutually spatially registered arrangement
• wherein at least one member of the fourth plurality of spatially registered inkjet cartridge subassemblies is provided with a means for expansion and contraction with respect to the carriage in at least one dimension.

A spatially registered array of inkjet cartridges for printing on a media, the array comprising

• a plurality of wet cartridge subassemblies, each of the inkjet cartridge subassemblies comprising
• a plurality of inkjet cartridges, each of the inkjet cartridges comprising a nozzle array with substantially regular inter-nozzle spacing in at least one dimension, and
• a plurality of intermediate fixture members wherein each individual inkjet cartridge of the plurality of inkjet cartridges is permanently affixed to an individual intermediate fixture member of the plurality of intermediate fixture members, the nozzle array of the individual inkjet cartridge being in a spatially registered relationship with the individual intermediate fixture member and
• a common fixture member to which the plurality of inkjet cartridge subassemblies are removably affixed in a mutually spatially registered arrangement
• wherein the common fixture member and the intermediate fixture members comprise materials with substantially equal thermal expansion coefficients.