Printer Printhead Alignment via Floating Holder and Reference Points
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers with multiple printheads face challenges such as reduced print quality due to misalignment, difficulty in exchanging printheads, and inadequate supply of print material to individual printheads.
Innovation Solution
A print module with a floating printhead holder allowing six degrees of freedom, a material supply unit, and a base plate with referencing elements and biasing means to secure and align the printheads precisely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple printheads are used in a printer, then printing productivity is improved, but alignment precision between printheads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The printer is divided into multiple independent print modules, each containing a single printhead. Each module can be independently positioned and aligned using dedicated referencing elements (first, second, and third reference elements) that ensure precise alignment of nozzle openings across multiple printheads while maintaining modular independence for easy installation and replacement.
2Productivity
If multiple printheads are used in a printer, then printing productivity is improved, but ease of printhead exchange deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each printhead is enclosed in an independent print module that can be removed and replaced as a single unit. The modular design with dedicated holding portions and holding mounts allows individual modules to be exchanged without affecting other printheads, significantly improving maintenance ease while maintaining high printing productivity through the multi-printhead configuration.
3Productivity
If multiple printheads are used in a printer, then printing productivity is improved, but material supply reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each print module containing a printhead is equipped with its own dedicated material supply unit and fluid delivery system. This segmentation ensures that material supply issues in one module do not affect other printheads, maintaining reliable material delivery to each nozzle while preserving the high productivity benefits of multiple printheads.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances print quality by ensuring precise alignment and easy exchange of printheads, while also optimizing the supply of print material, thereby improving the overall printing process.
Implementation Method 1
spring elements configured to bias the guide pin of a respective holding portion into the confinement hole of the respective holding mount
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of referencing elements and biasing elements configured: a) to bias the printhead into a predetermined position and orientation while the print module is inserted into the base plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A print module (101) for a printer, comprising a material supply unit (103); a printhead (104) in liquid communication with the material supply unit; and a floating printhead holder (105) configured to hold the printhead moveable with six degrees of freedom; wherein at least a lower end portion of the printhead with nozzle openings protrudes through an opening (507) in a surface (501) of the print module in a first direction; and wherein the lower end portion of the printhead comprises a plurality of reference points (512) having a predetermined spatial relationship to the nozzle openings of the printhead.