Print module having guide for protecting printhead during longitudinal side-loading

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10994545-B2
Application number	US-201916591519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2019
Priority date	Oct 3, 2018
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A print module includes: a cradle defining a longitudinal cavity and an access opening at a first end of the longitudinal cavity; an elongate printhead positioned in the longitudinal cavity; and a guide positioned at the access opening, the guide having an upper surface configured for guiding the printhead into the longitudinal cavity without contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead. The printhead is removable from the cradle via longitudinal sliding movement of the printhead through the access opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A print module comprising:
a cradle defining a longitudinal cavity and an access opening at a first end of the longitudinal cavity;
an elongate printhead positioned in the longitudinal cavity; and
a fixed guide plate at one end of the longitudinal cavity, the guide plate having an upper guide surface configured for guiding the printhead into the longitudinal cavity without contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead, wherein:
the printhead is removable from the cradle via longitudinal sliding movement of the printhead through the access opening; and
the upper guide surface comprises: a pair of support shoulders positioned for supporting longitudinal edge regions flanking the ink ejection face of the printhead; and a recessed portion interconnecting the support shoulders, the recessed portion being aligned with the ink ejection face of the printhead.

2. The print module of claim 1 , wherein an elongate printhead carrier is positioned in the longitudinal cavity, the printhead carrier being pivotable about a pivot axis at a second end of the cradle opposite the first end.

3. The print module of claim 2 , wherein the printhead carrier comprises a rail and the printhead comprises an overhead hanger slidably engaged with the rail.

4. The print module of claim 3 , wherein a first end of the printhead carrier comprises a slidable latch for latching engagement with the first end of the cradle.

5. The print module of claim 2 , wherein the pivot axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis.

6. The print module of claim 3 , wherein the access opening has one or more retaining features for retaining a first end of the printhead carrier in a raised position.

7. The print module of claim 1 further comprising a supply assembly slidably received in the cradle.

8. The print module of claim 7 , wherein the supply assembly comprises one or more of:
an ink coupling for connecting an ink supply to the printhead; and
a PCB for supplying data and/or power to the printhead.

9. The print module of claim 7 , wherein the supply assembly comprises a thrust pin configured for urging a central portion of the printhead towards a lower nest portion of the cradle.

10. The print module of claim 1 , wherein the printhead has a length of at least 200 mm.

Assignees

• Memjet Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Burke David
• Berry Norman
• Anothonysamy Harrick Selvan
• Anciano Reynovel Pacinio
• Fah Soon Keat
• Say Poh Lai

Classifications

• B41J29/377

  Cooling or ventilating arrangements · CPC title

• B41J29/13

  Cases or covers · CPC title

• B41J2/175 Primary

  Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} · CPC title

• B41J25/304

  Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface · CPC title

• B41J29/02

  Framework · CPC title