Wide format printer with input media roller and output vacuum belts

Abstract

A wide format printer that has a print zone, a drive roller positioned upstream of the print zone, a vacuum platen assembly positioned under the print zone, a printhead assembly overlaying and spanning the print zone and a vacuum belt assembly configured to receive media from the print zone. The print zone is more than 432 mm (17 inches) wide.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to inkjet printing and in particular, wide format printing systems.CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS[0002]The following applications have been filed by the Applicant simultaneously with the present application:MWP001USMWP002USMWP003USMWP004USMWP005USMWP006USMWP007USMWP008USMWP009USMWP010USMWP011USMWP012USMWP013USMWP014USMWP015USMWP016USMWP017USMWP018USMWP019USMWP020USMWP021USMWP022USMWP023USMWP024USMWP025USMWP027USMWP028USMWP029USMWP030USMWP031USMWP032USMWP033USMWP034USMWP035USMWP036USMWP037USMWP038USMWP039USMWP040USMWP041USMWP042USMWP043USMWP044USMWP045US[0003]The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference. The above applications have been identified by their filing docket number, which will be substituted with the corresponding application number, once assigned.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Inkjet printing is well suited to the SOHO (small office, home office) printer market. Each printed pixel is de...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0303]Using an ink container to feed an accumulator for each ink type provides practical and reliable hydrostatic pressure regulation at the nozzles. The negative ink pressure at each nozzle is created by maintaining a fixed drop in the elevation of the accumulator reservoir fluid level relative to the nozzles. The inflow from the ink container to the accumulator reservoir is feedback controlled with a float valve to keep the fluid level within a narrow control range.

[0304]The ou

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, wide format printers are excessively slow as the printhead prints in a series of transverse swathes across the page.

However, proposals for a pagewidth printhead assembly have not become commercially successful because of the functional limitations imposed by standard printhead technology.

This is impractical for most domestic and commercial environments, as the cooling system for the printer would probably require some type of external venting.

Without external venting, the room housing the printer is likely to over heat.

Each technology may have its own advantages and disadvantages in the areas of cost, speed, quality, reliability, power usage, simplicity of construction operation, durability and consumables.

However, scanning printhead based printing systems are mechanically complex and slow to maintain accurate control of the scanning motion.

Time delays are also due to the incremental stopping and starting of the media with each scan.

Such printers are high performance but the large array of inkjet nozzles is difficult to maintain.

For example wiping, capping and blotting become exceptionally difficult when the array of nozzle is as long as the media is wide.

This adds size to the printer and the complexity of translating the printheads or servicing elements in order to perform printhead maintenance.

These spike wheels can not be incorporated into any drive rollers and so add considerable bulk to the printing mechanism.

Any media buckling or lack of positional control of the leading or trailing edges within the print zone can result in visible artifacts.

Maintaining printheads (i.e. routine wiping, capping and blotting etc) requires maintenance stations that add bulk and complexity to printers.

This adds lateral size to the printer and the complexity of translating the printheads to the service modules in order to perform maintenance.

When each printhead returns to its operative position, its alignment with the other printheads is prone to drift until eventually visible artifacts demand realignment of all the printheads.

Both of these system designs suffer from drawbacks of large printer width dimensions, complicated design and control, and difficult

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