Printhead assembly having printhead modules in a channel
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorsKia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printhead assembly for an A4 pagewidth drop on demand printer includes a number of printhead modules situated along a metal channel. The metal channel is typically of a special alloy called “Invar 36”. Preferably the channel is nickel plated to help match it to the coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon, being the major component of each individual printhead module. The channel captures the printhead modules in a precise alignment relative to each other and the similar coefficient of thermal expansion of the “Invar” channel to the silicon chips allows similar relative movement during temperature changes.
Claims12
A printhead assembly for a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer, comprising:
- a channel extending substantially across said pagewidth;
- an array of printhead modules secured to the channel so as to extend substantially across said pagewidth;
- and
- wherein the channel is a metallic channel having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to that of a material from which the printhead modules are primarily formed.
A printhead assembly for a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer, comprising:
- a channel extending substantially across said pagewidth;
- an array of printhead modules secured to the channel so as to extend substantially across said pagewidth;
- and
- wherein the channel has walls of a predetermined thickness that are nickel-plated to 0.056% of said wall thickness, such that said channel has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to that of a material from which the printhead modules are primarily formed.
A printhead assembly for a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer, comprising:
- a channel extending substantially across said pagewidth;
- an array of printhead modules secured to the channel so as to extend substantially across said pagewidth;
- and
- an elastomeric ink delivery extrusion extending along the channel, between a floor of the channel and the printhead modules;
- wherein the channel is a metallic channel having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to that of a material from which the printhead modules are primarily formed.
A printhead assembly for a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer, comprising:
- a channel extending substantially across said pagewidth;
- and
- an array of printhead modules secured to the channel so as to extend substantially across said pagewidth, each printhead module including an elastomeric pad on one side thereof, each pad serving to lubricate the printhead module within the channel to take up thermal expansion tolerances without loss of alignment of the modules;
- wherein the channel is a metallic channel having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to that of a material from which the printhead modules are primarily formed.
A printhead assembly for a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer, comprising:
- a channel extending substantially across said pagewidth;
- an array of printhead modules secured to the channel so as to extend substantially across said pagewidth;
- and
- wherein the channel is a metallic channel having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to that of a material from which the printhead modules are primarily formed, the assembly including cut-outs at either end of the channel to mate with corresponding snap-fittings on printhead location moldings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.