Head Unit Position Adjustment Using Reference Pin and Clamp Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for adjusting the position of head units in a printing apparatus are limited by low precision and susceptibility to misalignment due to external forces during head cleaning, leading to uneven discharge performance and inadequate printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A head unit position adjustment method that involves temporarily attaching a second head unit adjacent to a first head unit fixed to a base member, using a reference pin and adjustment jigs to precisely adjust the position of the second head unit in both the width direction and rotation direction relative to the first head unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spring-based clamp assemblies are used for head unit adjustment, then the adjustment process is simple, but the adjustment precision is limited and misalignment occurs due to external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a clamp assembly that acts as an intermediary between the head unit and the frame. This clamp assembly includes a clamp body with a clamp surface that directly contacts the head unit, and a clamp adjusting mechanism that precisely controls the clamp's position and orientation. The intermediary clamp assembly transfers and maintains the precise positional relationship from the frame to the head unit, eliminating direct spring-based adjustment while enabling high-precision alignment through the clamp adjusting mechanism.
2Strength
If spring force is used for head unit positioning, then the attachment is secure, but external forces during head cleaning cause misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic clamp adjusting mechanism that can actively respond to external forces. The clamp assembly is designed with adjustable parameters including clamp position, orientation, and clamping force. When external forces act on the head unit during cleaning operations, the clamp adjusting mechanism can be repositioned or re-clamped to maintain the head unit's precise alignment, transforming a static spring-based system into a dynamically adjustable one that adapts to changing force conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If module mount assemblies are aligned using alignment jig and clamp assemblies, then the attachment process is straightforward, but discharge performance becomes uneven due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional alignment jig-based mechanical alignment system with a clamp assembly system that incorporates precise positioning features directly into the clamp body. The clamp surface is designed with specific geometric features that ensure accurate alignment when clamped to the frame. This substitution eliminates the need for separate alignment jigs and maintains straightforward assembly while achieving uniform nozzle alignment across all head units through the standardized clamp interface.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a position adjustment method for head units arrayed in a predetermined width direction attachably to and detachably from a base member. A position of a second head unit in the width direction and a rotation direction are respectively adjusted while the second head unit is engaging a tip part of a reference pin. More particularly, a width direction adjuster moves the second head unit in the width direction with a first head unit kept fixed to the base member. In this way, the gap between the first head unit and the second head unit is adjusted. Further, a rotation direction adjuster moves the second head unit in the orthogonal direction at a separation position distant from the reference pin. In this way, a rotation direction position of the second head unit with respect to the tip part of the reference pin is adjusted.