# US 9,873,253 B2 · Modular print engine unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,873,253 B2 - Document ID: US9873253B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/316,408 - Filed: 2014-06-05 - Published: 2017-05-25 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-05 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Joaquim Brugue Garvi; Daniel Gonzalez Perello; Rafael Ulacia Portoles; Oscar Moya Rojo; Eduardo Ruiz Martinez; Joan Sanjuan; Alfonso Cameno Salinas; Francesc Roure Pastor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873253B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/145: Arrangement thereof - B41J 2/04505: {aiming at correcting alignment} - B41J 2/04586: {controlling heads of a type not covered by groups B41J2/04575 - B41J2/04585, or of an undefined type} - B41J 2/155: for line printing - B41J 2/16585: {for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads} - B41J 2202/20: Modules - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A modular print engine unit for independently operable use in a media-wide array printer includes multiple printhead modules, each printhead module including multiple printing dies, and each printing die including multiple nozzles. The modular print engine unit further includes a printing fluid supply system to feed, in use, printing fluid to the multiple printhead modules; a print alignment module operable, in use, to align the multiple printhead modules; an error detection module operable, in use, to detect an operating status of the multiple nozzles; and a service sub-system operable, in use, to service the multiple nozzles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular print engine unit for independently operable use in a media-wide array printer, the modular print engine unit comprising: multiple printhead modules, each printhead module comprising multiple printing dies, and each printing die comprising multiple nozzles; a printing fluid supply system to feed, in use, printing fluid to the multiple printhead modules; a print alignment module operable; in use, to align the multiple printhead modules; an error detection module operable, in use, to detect an operating status of the multiple nozzles; and a service sub-system operable, in use, to service the multiple nozzles, wherein the modular print engine unit is independently operable relative to another modular print engine within the media-wide array printer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing dies are arranged to overlap so as to substantially cover the length of a printhead module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple printhead modules are arranged on a common printhead axis, and wherein: a first end of a printhead module comprises a protruding printing die, for overlapping in use with a protruding printing die from a printhead module adjacent to the first end; and a second end of the printhead module comprises a protruding printing die, for overlapping in use with a protruding die from a printhead module adjacent to the second end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protruding printing die of the first end protrudes from a first row of printing dies, and the protruding printing die of the second end protrudes from a second row of the printing dies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printhead bar for mounting the set of printhead modules along a common printhead axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a lifting mechanism coupled to the printhead bar, to move the printhead bar towards or away from the media being printed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a guide rod to guide the movement of the printhead bar, and a lift actuator comprising a rack and pinion arrangement, the rack and pinion arrangement controlled by a drive motor and a gear mechanism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the printhead bar comprises an interface to couple with a respective interface on the set of printhead modules. ### Claim 9 The modular print engine unit as claimed in 8, wherein the interface comprises: a plurality of mechanical interfaces to locate the set of printhead modules accurately; a plurality of fluid interfaces to feed the set of printhead modules with printing fluid; and a plurality of electrical interfaces to feed the set of printhead modules with power and data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the printhead bar comprises a latching mechanism for attaching and detaching a printhead module to the printhead bar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a capping mechanism, wherein the capping mechanism is pivotably coupled to a static part of the modular print engine unit, and pivotable to reside wider the nozzles of the printhead modules when the printer apparatus is not in use, and pivotable to reside in a position beside the printhead modules when the printer is in use. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing fluid supply system comprises mechanical and electrical units to print four or more colors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service sub-system comprises: a service carriage; and a service beam for mounting the service carriage, wherein the axis of the service beam is arranged in parallel to the axis of a printhead bar mounting the set of printhead modules; and wherein the service carriage comprises: a wiper mechanism to mechanically clean the multiple nozzles as the service carriage moves along the service beam; the error detection module; or the print alignment module. ### Claim 14 A modular print engine unit comprising: multiple printhead modules, each printhead module comprising multiple printing dies, and each printing die comprising multiple nozzles; a printing fluid supply system to teed, in use, printing fluid to the printhead modules; and a print alignment module operable, in use, to align the multiple printhead modules relative to a media being printed; and wherein the modular print engine unit comprises: an error detection module operable, in use, to detect proper operation of the multiple nozzles; or a service sub-system operable, in use, to service the multiple nozzles, wherein the modular print engine unit is independently operable relative to another modular print engine within a media-wide array printer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The printer apparatus comprising a modular print engine unit as claimed in claim 14. ### Claim 16 A media wide array printer comprising: a plurality of modular print engine units arranged in series along a media advance direction, wherein each modular print engine comprises: multiple printhead modules, each printhead module comprising multiple printing dies, and each printing die comprising multiple nozzles; a printing fluid supply system to feed, in use, printing fluid to the multiple printhead modules; a print alignment module operable, in use, to align the multiple printhead modules; an error detection module operable, in use, to detect an operating status of the multiple nozzles; and a service sub-system operable, in use, to service the multiple nozzles, wherein the modular print engine unit is independently operable relative to another modular print engine within the media-wide array printer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The media wide array printer of claim 16, wherein the printing dies are arranged to overlap so as to substantially cover the length of a printhead module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The media wide array printer of claim 16, wherein the multiple printhead modules are arranged on a common printhead axis, and wherein: a first end of a printhead module comprises a protruding printing die, for overlapping in use with a protruding priming die from a printhead module adjacent to the first end; and a second end of the printhead module comprises a protruding printing die, for overlapping in use \kith a protruding die from a printhead module adjacent to the second end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The media wide array printer of claim 18, wherein the protruding printing die of the first end protrudes from a first row of printing dies, and the protruding printing die of the second end protrudes from a second row of the printing dies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The media wide array printer of claim 16, further comprising a capping mechanism, wherein the capping mechanism is pivotably coupled to a static part of the modular print engine unit, and pivotable to reside under the nozzles of the printhead modules when the printer apparatus is not in use, and pivotable to reside in a position beside the printhead modules when the printer is in use.