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US 8,757,746 B2Granted
Printhead positioning for web gap adjustment
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsJoseph M. Wing, Lauren E. Murphy, Ling Ouyang, Matthew D. Savoy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet printer includes a printhead module having a plurality of printheads which eject ink for printing images on the surface of a recording media supported by a backing member. A gap distance between the printheads and the surface of the recording media is adjusted by a positioner coupled to the printhead module where a sensor determines the gap distance between the printhead module and the backing member.
Claims14
A printer comprising:
- a media transport, mounted to a first frame, configured to transport a recording media through the printer in a process direction;
- a printhead module, operatively connected to a second frame and disposed adjacent to the media transport, the printhead module supporting a plurality of printheads configured to print onto the transported recording media;
- at least one positioner operatively connected to the printhead module to adjust a gap distance between the printhead module and the media transport;
- a first sensor mounted at a first end of the printhead module, the first sensor being configured to generate a first signal representative of a first gap distance at the first end;
- a second sensor mounted at a second end of the printhead module, and the second sensor being configured to generate a second signal representative of a second gap distance at the second end;
- a controller operatively connected to the first sensor, the second sensor, and to the at least one positioner, to receive the first signal generated by the first sensor and the second signal generated by the second sensor, and to send an adjust signal to the at least one positioner to move the printhead module with respect to the media transport;
- and
- a first guide and a second guide, the first and the second guides being operatively connected to the first side and the second side of the printhead module, respectively, to enable linear movement of the printhead module along a predetermined path in response to the at least one positioner adjusting the first gap distance and the second gap distance.
5 more elements
A printer comprising:
- a media transport, mounted to a first frame, configured to transport a recording media through the printer in a process direction;
- a printhead module that includes a module frame, the printhead module being operatively connected to a second frame and disposed adjacent to the media transport, the printhead module supporting a plurality of printheads configured to print onto the transported recording media;
- at least one positioner that is operatively connected to and extends from the module frame to contact the first frame to define a gap distance between the printhead module and the media transport, the at least one positioner having a docking sphere operatively connected to a motor to enable the motor to move the docking sphere closer to or away from the module frame to adjust the gap distance;
- at least one sensor, operatively connected to the printhead module, to sense the gap distance and to generate a signal representative of the gap distance;
- a controller operatively connected to the sensor and to the at least one positioner, to receive the signal and to send an adjust signal to the at least one positioner to move the printhead module with respect to the media transport;
- a guide operatively connected to the printhead module, wherein the guide directs movement of the printhead module along a predetermined path in response to the at least one positioner adjusting the gap distance between the printhead module and the media transport.
3 more elements
A printer comprising:
- a media transport configured to transport a recording media through the printer in a process direction;
- a printhead module disposed adjacent the media transport, the printhead module supporting a plurality of printheads configured to print onto the transported recording media;
- a first sensor mounted at a first side of the printhead module, the first sensor being configured to generate a first signal representative of a first gap distance at the first side;
- a second sensor mounted at a second side of the printhead module, the second sensor being configured to generate a second signal representative of a second gap distance at the second side;
- a positioner, operatively connected to the printhead module and adapted to receive the signal, to move the printhead module with respect to the media transport to adjust the first gap distance and the second gap distance;
- a guide operatively connected to the printhead module, the guide being configured to direct movement of the printhead module along a predetermined path in response to the positioner adjusting the first gap distance and the second gap distance between the printhead module and the media transport and the guide is configured to provide pivoting movement of the printhead module about a pivot axis to adjust the first gap distance to be different than the second gap distance.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.