Reinforced sheet metal frame incorporating print engine chassis
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorRoger S. Kerr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printer frame (12) comprising a sheet metal skeleton structure (14) encasing a filler material (54) of castable polymer. The frame (12) is fabricated by joining sheet metal members using slot-and-slot or slot-and-tab junctions to form a sheet metal skeleton. A filler material (54) substance is then applied strategically to cavities (16) and troughs (18) created when the interlocking members are joined. When the filler material (54) hardens, the resulting printer frame (12) provides structural support with improved vibration damping.
Claims27
A printer frame comprising:
- a skeleton structure formed of a plurality of interlocking sheet metal members so joined as to provide cavities and troughs capable of containing a solid material;
- and
- a filler material applied into said cavities and troughs formed by said interlocking sheet metal members to provide rigidity to said printer frame when said filler material has hardened.
A method for fabricating a frame for a print engine, comprising the steps of:
- coupling a first sheet metal member to a second sheet metal member at a junction;
- and
- pouring a filler material at said junction to rigidly join said first and second sheet metal members.
A sheet metal printer frame for supporting an imaging drum, a printhead translation assembly, and media supply components, said printer frame comprising:
- a base;
- two walls extending from said base, said walls having a plurality of cavities to accept a filler material and a plurality of slots to accept one or more cross struts;
- and
- a filler material filling said cavities and selectively covering said cross struts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.