Modular printhead assembly with common center rail

摘要

A modular inkjet printhead assembly including a plurality of printhead modules mounted on alternating sides of a central rail assembly. The rail assembly includes a beam and a rod attached to a side of the beam. The printhead modules include a jetting module having an array of nozzles, a first alignment tab having a first alignment datum and a second alignment datum, a second alignment tab having a third alignment datum and a fourth alignment datum, a rotational alignment feature including a fifth alignment datum, and a cross-track alignment feature including a sixth alignment datum. Portions of the alignment tabs of the jetting module are adapted to fit within corresponding notches in the beam. A jetting module clamping mechanism and a jetting module cross-track force mechanism apply forces to the jetting module that causes each alignment datum to engage with corresponding alignment features on the rail assembly.

主权项

1. A modular inkjet printhead assembly including a plurality of jetting modules for printing on a print medium traveling along a media path from upstream to downstream, comprising:
a rail assembly spanning the print medium in the cross-track direction, the rail assembly having an upstream side and a downstream side, the rail assembly including:
a beam; anda rod attached to a side of the beam that faces the print medium; a plurality of printhead modules, each printhead module including a corresponding jetting module, wherein each jetting module includes:
an array of nozzles extending in a cross-track direction;a first alignment tab having a first alignment datum and a second alignment datum;a second alignment tab having a third alignment datum and a fourth alignment datum, the second alignment tab being spaced apart from the first alignment tab in the cross-track direction;a rotational alignment feature including a fifth alignment datum; anda cross-track alignment feature including a sixth alignment datum; a jetting module clamping mechanism for each jetting module for applying a force to the associated jetting module that causes the first alignment datum, the second alignment datum, the third alignment datum and the fourth alignment datum of the associated jetting module to engage with the rod and causes the fifth alignment datum of the associated jetting module to engage with a corresponding rotational alignment feature associated with the beam; and a jetting module cross-track force mechanism for each jetting module for applying a cross-track force to the associated jetting module that causes the sixth alignment datum of the associated jetting module to engage with a corresponding cross-track alignment feature associated with the beam; wherein each jetting module is adapted to engage with the rail assembly at a different cross-track position, with at least one of the jetting modules engaging with the rail assembly on the upstream side of the rail assembly and at least one of the jetting modules engaging with the rail assembly on the downstream side of the rail assembly; and wherein portions of the first and second alignment tabs of each jetting module are adapted to fit within corresponding notches in the beam.