Modular Print Engine Unit With Common Axis Printheads

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media-wide array printing apparatuses face challenges in achieving high printing speed and minimizing image quality errors due to the arrangement of printhead modules, which often require staggered axes and result in a larger device size and increased width, limiting scalability and ease of servicing.

Innovation Solution

The modular print engine unit employs S-shaped printhead modules arranged on a common axis, allowing for a compact layout with overlapping nozzles in a single row, enabling easy servicing and reducing image quality errors by minimizing the distance between nozzles, and includes a printing fluid supply system, error detection, and service sub-system for independent operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If printhead modules are arranged in a staggered axis configuration, then printing coverage is achieved, but device size and width increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice widthVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a staggered axis arrangement (two-dimensional spread) to a single-row common axis arrangement (one-dimensional linear sequence). This dimensional change allows the printhead modules to be compacted into a narrower width while maintaining the required printing coverage through the linear sequence of nozzles in a single row.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The printhead is divided into multiple independently controllable printhead modules arranged in a single row. Each module contains multiple nozzles that can be selectively activated, allowing the system to achieve wide media coverage through sequential printing operations while maintaining a compact overall device width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If printhead modules are arranged in a staggered axis configuration, then printing coverage is achieved, but ease of servicing is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of servicingVSAvoiddevice width

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The printhead is divided into multiple independently controllable printhead modules arranged in a single row. Each module contains multiple nozzles that can be selectively activated, allowing the system to achieve wide media coverage through sequential printing operations while maintaining a compact overall device width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If printhead modules are arranged in a staggered axis configuration, then printing coverage is achieved, but image quality errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddevice width

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a staggered axis arrangement (two-dimensional spread) to a single-row common axis arrangement (one-dimensional linear sequence). This dimensional change allows the printhead modules to be compacted into a narrower width while maintaining the required printing coverage through the linear sequence of nozzles in a single row.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10071554B2Modular print engine unit

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

A modular print engine unit for a media-wide array printer includes multiple printhead modules, each printhead module having printing dies, and each printing die having multiple nozzles. The modular print engine unit is independently operable relative to another modular print engine unit within the media-wide array printer.