System for aligning a charge tunnel of an ink jet printer
AssigneeVideojet Technologies Inc.
InventorDilip Shrivastava
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method of aligning a charge tunnel of a continuous inkjet printer with a drop generator and a catcher, wherein the charge tunnel passes through an outer wall of a charge tunnel unit, including adjusting a linear position of the charge tunnel unit, and adjusting a rotary position of the charge tunnel unit. The adjusting steps are performed to ensure that the charge tunnel is aligned with the drop generator and the catcher.
Claims25
A charge tunnel alignment system comprising:
- a charge tunnel main body defined by lower and upper surfaces, first and second sides, a drop entrance surface and a drop exit surface, wherein a charge tunnel unit channel extends from the upper surface to the lower surface;
- a charge tunnel unit positioned within said charge tunnel unit channel, said charge tunnel unit comprising an outer wall, a tab extending from said outer wall, and a charge tunnel passing through said outer wall;
- a first fastener passing through said main body and operatively connected to said tab, wherein said charge tunnel unit is adjusted in a rotary fashion through an engagement of said first fastener;
- a second fastener passing through one of said first and second sides of said main body, said second fastener operatively engaging said charge tunnel unit to adjust said charge tunnel unit in one of lateral and radial directions;
- a bracket defining a housing slot, wherein said charge tunnel housing is slidably retained within said housing slot;
- and
- at least one bracket fastener passing through said bracket and operatively connecting to said upper surface of said charge tunnel housing.
A charge tunnel alignment system configured for use with a continuous ink jet printer, the system comprising:
- a charge tunnel housing comprising:
- a main body defined by lower and upper surfaces, first and second sides, a drop entrance surface and a drop exit surface, wherein a charge tunnel unit channel extends from the upper surface to the lower surface;
- a charge tunnel unit positioned within said charge tunnel unit channel, said charge tunnel unit comprising an outer wall, a tab extending from said outer wall, and a charge tunnel passing through said outer wall;
- and
- a first fastener passing through said main body and operatively connected to said tab,
- wherein said charge tunnel unit is adjusted in a rotary fashion through an engagement of said first fastener.
A method of aligning a charge tunnel of a continuous inkjet printer with a drop generator and a catcher, wherein the charge tunnel passes through an outer wall of a charge tunnel unit, the method comprising:
- adjusting a linear position of the charge tunnel unit;
- and
- adjusting a rotary position of the charge tunnel unit, wherein said adjusting a linear position and adjusting a rotary position are performed to ensure that the charge tunnel is aligned with the drop generator and the catcher.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.