Fluid ejection module mounting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9248677-B2
Application number	US-201313793748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2013
Priority date	May 1, 2012
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A bracket includes a support strut configured to carry the fluid ejection module and an alignment strut coupled to the support strut. The alignment strut is configured to affix to the frame so as to orient the support strut with respect to the frame in each of three orthogonal linear directions and three orthogonal angular directions. The alignment strut includes three alignment mechanisms. Each of the first and second alignment features is held mechanically fixed on the alignment strut in a respective aligned position, and the third alignment mechanism is movable on the alignment strut.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bracket for mounting a fluid ejection module to a frame, the bracket comprising:
a support strut configured to carry the fluid ejection module; and
an alignment strut coupled to the support strut and configured to affix to the frame so as to orient the support strut with respect to the frame in each of three orthogonal linear directions and three orthogonal angular directions, the alignment strut comprising:
a first alignment mechanism comprising a first adjustable alignment feature configured to bear against the frame so as to orient the support strut in a first angular direction when the alignment strut is affixed to the frame;
a second alignment mechanism comprising a second adjustable alignment feature configured to bear against the frame so as to orient the support strut in a second angular direction and in a third linear direction when the alignment strut is affixed to the frame; and
a third alignment mechanism comprising a third adjustable alignment feature configured to bear against the frame so as to orient the support strut in a first linear direction when the alignment strut is affixed to the frame,

wherein each of the first and second alignment features is held mechanically fixed on the alignment strut in a respective aligned position, and the third alignment mechanism is movable on the alignment strut.

2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the aligned position of the first alignment feature comprises a position that causes the support strut to be level with respect to the frame in the first angular direction, and wherein the aligned position of the second alignment feature comprises a position that causes the support strut to be level with respect to the frame in the second angular direction.

3. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the support strut is substantially perpendicular to the alignment strut.

4. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first alignment mechanism comprises a cam device positioned at a distal end of the alignment strut, relative to the support strut.

5. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the second alignment mechanism comprises a pair of cam devices positioned on opposing lateral sides of the alignment strut.

6. The bracket of claim 5 , wherein each of the cam devices is adjustable independently of the other cam device.

7. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the third alignment mechanism comprises a cam device positioned at a proximal end of the alignment strut relative to the support strut.

8. The bracket of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth alignment feature configured to orient the support strut in a second linear direction when the alignment strut is affixed to the frame; and
wherein the fourth alignment feature comprises a pair of bumpers fixedly positioned on opposing lateral sides of the alignment strut, the bumpers being configured to bear against a portion of the frame when the alignment strut is affixed to the frame.

9. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the alignment strut defines a guide slot configured to receive a mechanical locking component for affixing the alignment strut to the frame.

10. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the support strut and the alignment strut are connected to one another in a perpendicular alignment so as to form the bracket in an L-shape.

11. A method for pre-aligning the bracket of claim 1 by means of an alignment apparatus comprising a base frame, the method comprising:
coupling the bracket to the base frame of the alignment apparatus;
determining, using the alignment apparatus, an orientation of the bracket with respect to the base frame;
comparing the orientation of the bracket to reference calibration data;
adjusting at least one of the first and second alignment mechanisms based on the comparison; and
mechanically fixing at least one of the first and second alignment mechanisms in place.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the orientation of the bracket comprises measuring a coordinate value at each of a plurality of positions on a surface of the fluid ejection module.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the first and second alignment mechanisms comprises adjusting the first and second alignment mechanisms such that each of the measured coordinate values matches, within a predetermined threshold, a corresponding target coordinate value of the calibration data.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first alignment mechanism comprises a movable cam comprising the first alignment feature, and wherein adjusting at least one of the first and second alignment mechanisms comprises moving the cam in the second linear direction relative to the base frame.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second alignment mechanism comprises a pair of independently movable cams comprising the second alignment feature, and wherein adjusting at least one of the first and second alignment mechanisms comprises independently moving the cams in the third linear direction relative to the base frame.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising securing the fluid ejection module to the support strut in an aligned position.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein securing the fluid ejection module to the support strut comprises:
before determining the orientation of the bracket, implementing a rough fiducial alignment of the fluid ejection module with respect to the support strut; and
after adjusting at least one of the first and second alignment mechanisms, implementing a fine fiducial alignment of the fluid ejection module with respect to the support strut.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising obtaining the reference calibration data by:
coupling a reference gauge component to the base frame of the alignment apparatus; and
determining, using the alignment apparatus, an orientation of the reference gauge with respect to the base frame.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the alignment strut further comprises a third alignment mechanism comprising a third alignment feature bearing against the base frame so as to orient the fluid ejection module in a first linear direction, and wherein mechanically fixing at least one of the first and second alignment mechanisms in place comprises leaving the third alignment feature adjustable.

20. A bracket for mounting a fluid ejection module to a frame, the bracket comprising:
a support strut configured to carry the fluid ejection module; and
an alignment strut coupled to the support strut and configured to affix to the frame so as to orient the support strut with respect to the frame in each of three orthogonal linear directions and three orthogonal angular directions, the alignment strut comprising:
a first alignment mechanism comprising a first cam movable in a second linear direction, the first cam being positioned at a distal end of the alignment strut relative to the support strut, the first cam being configured to bear against the frame so as to orient the support strut in a first angular direction when the alignment strut is affixed to the frame;
a second alignment mechanism comprising a pair of second cams movable in a third linear direction, the pair of second cams being positioned on opposing lateral side flanges of the alignment strut, the pair of second cams being configured to bear against the frame so as to orient the support strut in a second angular direction and in a third linear direction when the alignment strut is affixed to the frame; and
a third alignment mechanism comprising a third cam movable in a second angular direction, the third

Assignees

• Fujifilm Corp

Inventors

• Takada Norihisa
• Deming Steve
• Essen Kevin Von
• ROCCHIO Michael
• Higginson John A

Classifications

• Y10T29/49895

  Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"] · CPC title

• B41J25/34

  Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages · CPC title

• B41J25/3086 Primary

  with print gap adjustment means between the print head and its carriage · CPC title

• B41J29/00 Primary

  Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for · CPC title