Method of propelling an inkjet printer carriage

A print carriage assembly for a printer comprising:

• a print carriage slidably mounted on a slider rod;
• wherein said carriage includes a first bearing support and a second bearing support slidably mounted on the slider rod and spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the slider rod;
• a sub-carriage separate from and not fixedly attached to said carriage and slidably mounted on the slider rod, said sub-carriage attached to a drive belt for movement along a carriage axis;
• wherein said sub-carriage is located between said first bearing support and said second bearing support;
• a coupling structure disposed on said print carriage and said sub-carriage by which said sub-carriage contactively moves said carriage to drive said carriage along the slider rod;
• wherein said coupling structure comprises said first bearing support and said second bearing support, and first and second ends of said sub-carriage spaced apart along said longitudinal axis for contactively engaging said first bearing support and second bearing support;
• and
• a lubricating pad disposed between said first bearing support of said print carriage and said first end of said sub-carriage.

A print carriage assembly for a printer comprising:

• a print carriage slidably mounted on a slider rod;
• wherein said carriage includes a first bearing support and a second bearing support slidably mounted on the slider rod and spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the slider rod;
• a sub-carriage separate from and not fixedly attached to said carriage and slidably mounted on the slider rod, said sub-carriage attached to a drive belt for movement along a carriage axis;
• wherein said sub-carriage is located between said first bearing support and said second bearing support;
• a coupling structure disposed on said print carriage and said sub-carriage by which said sub-carriage contactively moves said carriage to drive said carriage along the slider rod;
• and
• wherein said coupling structure includes a blade and gap.

A printing system comprising:

• a print carriage slidably mounted on a slider rod;
• an image forming element supported by said print carriage;
• and
• a sub-carriage separate from and not integral with said carriage and slidably mounted on the slider rod, said sub-carriage attached to a drive belt for movement along a carriage axis and engaging said carriage to drive said carriage along the slider rod;
• wherein said print carriage and said sub-carriage include a coupling interface by which said sub-carriage moves said print carriage;
• and
• wherein said coupling interface includes a point contact interface.

A method of operating a printer comprising the steps of:

• moving along a slider rod a sub-carriage that is slidably mounted on the slider rod;
• engaging a print carriage with the sub-carriage to move the print carriage along the slider rod;
• and
• wherein the step of engaging the sub-carriage to move the print carriage includes the step of causing the sub-carriage to contact the print carriage via a point contact interface.

A method of operating a printer comprising:

• slidably mounting a print carriage on a slider rod;
• slidably mounting a sub-carriage on the slider rod without fixed attachment to the print carriage;
• moving the sub-carriage along the slider rod;
• engaging the print carriage with the sub-carriage to move the print carriage along the slider rod;
• and
• wherein engaging the sub-carriage to move the print carriage includes causing the sub-carriage to contact the print carriage via a point contact interface.

A method of operating a printer comprising:

• moving along a slider rod a sub-carriage that is slidably mounted on the slider rod;
• engaging a print carriage with the sub-carriage to move the print carriage along the slider rod;
• and
• wherein engaging the sub-carriage to move the print carriage includes causing the sub-carriage to contact the print carriage via a point contact interface.