Adjustable Printhead Eccentric Pin Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
As printhead assemblies span wider media, the increased number of printheads leads to errors in spacing, resulting in print quality defects such as visible strikes and line artifacts, and an increase in defective printheads manufactured outside acceptable tolerances.
Innovation Solution
The use of eccentric pins to adjust the position of printheads relative to the printbar beam member, allowing for precise spacing and reducing the number of defective printheads by enabling linear and rotational movement along specific axes, thereby minimizing print quality defects and manufacturing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the number of printheads is increased to accommodate wider media, then the print width capability is improved, but the spacing accuracy between printheads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The printhead assembly incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the printheads to be dynamically repositioned along the printbar beam member. This enables the system to adapt spacing configurations to maintain accuracy across different print widths, resolving the contradiction between increased print width capability and maintained spacing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changing the positional parameters of printheads relative to each other and to the media. By adjusting these parameters, the system can accommodate wider media while maintaining the required spacing accuracy through reconfigurable positioning rather than fixed spacing.
2Area of stationary object
If the span of printhead assembly is increased to accommodate wider media, then the print width capability is improved, but the alignment accuracy of printheads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable positioning mechanisms enable dynamic alignment adjustments of printheads along the extended printbar beam member. This allows the system to maintain measurement precision and alignment accuracy even as the overall span increases to accommodate wider media formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary positioning elements between the printheads and the fixed frame structure. These intermediaries provide adjustable connection points that facilitate precise alignment of printheads relative to each other and to the media, regardless of the overall assembly span.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed spacing between printheads is used to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the print quality deteriorates due to spacing errors
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than relying on fixed spacing that compromises print quality, the system implements adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow precise spacing configuration. This dynamic approach maintains high print quality while keeping manufacturing reasonably simple through standardized adjustment components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables changeable spacing parameters between printheads through adjustable mounting mechanisms. This allows the spacing to be optimized for print quality while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular, reconfigurable positioning systems rather than custom-fitted fixed spacing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A printhead assembly includes a printbar beam member, a printhead, and a first eccentric pin. The printbar beam member includes a beam surface and a first cavity disposed through the beam surface. The printhead includes a printhead surface and a second cavity disposed through the printhead surface. The first eccentric pin may be inserted into the first cavity and the second cavity to couple the printhead to the printbar beam member. The first eccentric pin may rotate to adjust a position of the printhead relative to the printbar beam member along a first axis along the beam surface.