JP4819926B2 - Print head assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing head unit which is easily assembled and disassembled, and which is constituted of many separable individual components forming a variable-dimension printing head unit. <P>SOLUTION: A printing head module 30 for the printing head assembly is provided as a united device comprising: a support member 40; printing head integrated circuits 50 respectively having nozzles 42 formed to jet a printing fluid to a surface of a printing medium; a fluid distributing member to attach the printing head integrated circuit to the support member; and an electric connector to connect an electrical signal to the printing head integrated circuit. The support member has a channel 41 having a plurality of apertures arranged to guide the printing fluid to a related nozzle of the printing head integrated circuit from the channel and extending through the wall of the support member, conveying the printing fluid to the printing head integrated circuit and extending in a longitudinal direction, and the printing head assembly is equipped with the printing head module and a casing to which the printing head module is detachably attached. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a print head unit for use in a printing system. In particular, the present invention includes a printhead assembly that is attachable to and removable from a printing unit, a printhead module of the printhead assembly, a method of assembling such, and a printed circuit board. And various components of the printhead assembly.
[Cross-reference to co-pending applications]
The following application has been filed by the applicant at the same time as the present application.
PCT / AU _ / ___ (WAL) PCT / AU __ / ____ (RRA) PCT / AU __ / ____ (SMA)
The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference. The above applications are identified by these application docket numbers, which once assigned are replaced by the corresponding application numbers.

  Page width print heads for use in printing systems are known. Such print heads typically span the width of the print medium on which information is printed, and the print head dimensions and such configuration depend on the printing system application and the print medium dimensions. Change. In this regard, it is difficult to produce such a print head in a manner that accommodates this variability due to the large changes in the required dimensions of such a print head.

  The applicant has therefore proposed the use of a page-width printhead composed of a plurality of replaceable printhead tiles arranged in an end-to-end manner. Each of these tiles carries an integrated circuit that incorporates printing nozzles that fire printing fluid, such as ink, on the print medium in a known manner. Such a configuration makes it easier to produce variable-size printheads and allows the ability to remove and replace any defective tiles in the page-width printhead without having to discard the entire printhead I have to.

  However, apart from the ability to remove and replace any defective tiles, previously proposed printheads are generally formed as a unitary unit in which each component of the printhead is fixedly attached to the other component. Such a configuration complicates the assembly process and does not provide easy disassembly even if the need to replace components other than defective tiles becomes necessary. Accordingly, there is a need for a printhead unit that is easier to assemble and disassemble and is comprised of a number of separable individual parts that form a variable size printhead unit.

In one embodiment of the invention,
A printhead module for a printhead assembly, comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a support member, nozzles each formed to eject printing fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and at least one mounting the at least two printhead integrated circuits to the support member An integral device comprising a fluid distribution member and an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
The support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel for transporting printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit, and the printhead integrated circuit is routed from the at least one channel via each of the fluid distribution members. A printhead module is provided that includes a plurality of openings extending through the walls of the support member arranged to direct printing fluid to the associated nozzles in both or, if there are more than two, all.

  The integral device of the printhead module allows it to be removably attached to the printhead assembly.

  The support member is channeled to carry different print fluids in the direction of the associated group of nozzles in all of the printhead integrated circuits, if any, in both of the printhead integrated circuits via each of the fluid distribution members. It can be formed with a plurality of channels each disposed. In order to keep the printhead integrated circuit nozzles substantially free of impurities, additional channels may be provided for delivering air to the printhead integrated circuits.

  The use of separate fluid distribution members that support the individual circuits of the printhead integrated circuit provides a printhead tile. Each of these tile / fluid distribution members may be formed as a stacked stack of at least three layers comprising an upper layer to which the associated printhead integrated circuit is attached, an intermediate layer, and a lower layer attached to the upper surface of the support member.

  The lower layer has a first distribution opening positioned to align with each of the support member openings and an upper surface thereof associated with each of the first distribution openings having substantially the same diameter as the support member openings. A first distribution channel.

  The intermediate layer includes a second distribution opening having a smaller diameter than the first distribution opening arranged to align with the underlying first distribution channel.

  The upper layer has a second distribution channel on its lower surface arranged to align with the second distribution opening of the intermediate layer and a third associated with the second distribution channel having a smaller diameter than the second distribution opening. A distribution opening.

  This associated printhead integrated circuit includes nozzle supply openings that are aligned with the upper third distribution openings and are arranged to direct fluid to the respective nozzles, the nozzle supply openings having a diameter of approximately a few millimeters. The nozzle supply opening of the at least two printhead integrated circuits has a diameter of approximately a few micrometers, with a support member opening having substantially the same diameter as the third distribution opening.

  In order to attach the fluid distribution member (s) to the support member, the lower surface of the fluid distribution member (s) can be adhered to the upper surface of the support member by an adhesive. This adhesive is deposited to surround each of the openings in the support member and each of the corresponding openings formed in the lower surface of the fluid distribution member (s) to form a seal between the respective openings. Can be used to

  In a configuration having support member openings formed in rows extending across the support member with respect to the longitudinal direction of the support member, the two deposits of adhesive are formed in the openings to provide stability to the mounting device. Can be deposited on both sides of the row. The adhesive can be a curable resin.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead module for a printhead assembly, comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject printing fluid onto the surface of the print medium; and a support member that supports the printhead integrated circuit;
The support member has a plurality of longitudinally extending channels that carry different print fluids to the printhead integrated circuit;
A printhead module is provided wherein the support member is selectable to meet specific requirements regarding the number of print fluids used for printing.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead module for a printhead assembly, comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject printing fluid onto the surface of the print medium; a support member supporting the printhead integrated circuit; and the at least two printhead integrated circuits. At least two fluid distribution members each individually attached to a support member;
The support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel for conveying printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit and includes a plurality of openings extending from the at least one channel through the wall of the support member;
Each of the fluid distribution members is provided with a printhead module formed as a stacked stack of layers for directing print fluid from the openings in the support members to the nozzles of the associated printhead integrated circuit.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead module for a printhead assembly, comprising:
At least one printhead integrated circuit having nozzles formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium; and a support member that supports and conveys the print fluid for the at least one printhead integrated circuit; And at least one fluid distribution member for attaching the at least one print head integrated circuit to a support member and distributing the printing fluid from the support member to the print head integrated circuit,
A print head module is provided in which the lower surface of the at least one fluid distribution member is bonded to the upper surface of the support member by an adhesive.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for assembling a printhead module for a printhead assembly, comprising:
Attaching at least two printhead integrated circuits, each having a nozzle formed for printing fluid to a print medium, to the upper surface of at least one fluid distribution member;
The lower surface of the at least one fluid distribution member is formed on the lower surface of the at least two fluid distribution members so as to form an integrated device comprising the support member, the at least two print head integrated circuits, and the at least one fluid distribution member. Adhering to an upper surface of a support member having a fluid carrying channel for a nozzle of a head integrated circuit with an adhesive.

  The method may further comprise bonding an electrical connector to a portion of the top surface of the fluid distribution member to connect the electrical signal to the printhead integrated circuit. The adhesive used is a curable resin, in which case the adhesion step of the method further includes curing the curable resin to secure the fluid distribution member to the support member. Further, the bonding step may include depositing a curable resin around an opening in the top surface of the support member that extends into the fluid delivery channel. Still further, the bonding step may include the step of curing the curable resin to form a sealing gasket around the opening in the support member and the associated opening in the fluid distribution member.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly, comprising: a support member; at least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject printing fluid onto a surface of a print medium; and the support for the at least two printhead integrated circuits. At least one printhead module comprising an integral device comprising at least one fluid distribution member attached to the member and an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted;
With
The support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel for transporting printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit, and from the at least one channel via each of the fluid distribution members of the printhead integrated circuit. A printhead assembly is provided that includes a plurality of openings extending through the walls of the support member, arranged to direct printing fluid to associated nozzles in both, or if all three, of them.

  If the printhead assembly comprises a single printhead module having a plurality of printhead integrated circuits, the length of the printhead module is predetermined to provide a selected page width print.

  If the printhead assembly comprises at least two printhead modules, these are linear to the assembly having the total length and number of printhead integrated circuits predetermined to provide a selected page width print. Installed in line. In such a case, each of the printhead modules can be provided with ends that allow for the interconnection of linearly aligned printhead modules and provide fluid connections for their channels, these ends being complementary. With a female and male end. A sealing adhesive, such as epoxy, may be provided at the interface of the interconnected printhead modules to help seal the fluid connection.

  The printhead module (s) is attached to the casing in a manner that inhibits movement of the printhead module (s) relative to the casing at least in the direction of the print medium from the nozzles. To assist in this, the support member is formed so that its first side is slidably received in a longitudinally extending groove of the casing and its second side is clamped to the casing by a clamping device. May be. This clamping device is used to suppress the movement of the printhead module (s).

  The casing can comprise a longitudinally extending channel portion having a channel with first and second side walls joined by a lower wall and having a print head (s) attached therein. The first sidewall includes a longitudinally extending groove formed between upper and lower longitudinally extending tabs, and the second sidewall is attached to a second side of the at least one printhead module. The upper surface extending in the longitudinal direction has a height from the lower surface of the channel portion substantially equal to the height of the lower protrusion extending in the longitudinal direction of the first side wall.

  This channel part of the casing is integrated into the support frame with which the clamping device engages. A cover portion for covering the support frame is also provided in the casing.

  A capping member may be provided to cap or seal the end of the support member of the print head module. If the support member has complementary female and male ends, the capping member is arranged to cap each of the female and male ends. In addition, a sealing adhesive such as epoxy can be used at the interface between the interconnected capping members and the printhead module.

  At least at one longitudinal end of the printhead module to connect the print fluid transport hose (s) from the print fluid supply to the channel (s) of the printhead module (s) One fluid connector may be arranged. Where the support member has complementary female and male ends, the fluid connector (s) are arranged to interconnect with either the female or male ends. Further, a sealing adhesive such as epoxy may be used at the interface between the interconnected fluid connector (s) and the printhead module (s).

  To connect to the fluid transfer hose (s), the fluid connector (s) are arranged for (linear) fluid connection with the channel (s) of the printhead module (s) Having at least one tubular section; Where two fluid connectors are provided, one fluid connector is connected to each longitudinal end of the printhead module (s) to provide fluid supply from both ends of the channel (s). .

  If the support member is formed with a plurality of channels, these channels are routed in each of the printhead integrated circuits via each of the fluid distribution members, or in all of them if there are more than two. It may be arranged to carry different printing fluids in the direction of the relevant group of nozzles. Additional channels may be provided for conveying air to the printhead integrated circuit to maintain the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit substantially free of impurities.

  Printhead tiles are provided by the use of separate fluid distribution members that support the individual circuits of the printhead integrated circuit. Each of these tile / fluid distribution members may be formed as a stacked stack of at least three layers comprising an upper layer to which the associated printhead integrated circuit is attached, an intermediate layer, and a lower layer attached to the upper surface of the support member.

  The lower layer has a first distribution opening positioned to align with each of the support member openings and an upper surface associated with each of these first distribution openings having substantially the same diameter as the support member openings. A first distribution channel.

  The intermediate layer includes a second distribution opening having a smaller diameter than the first distribution opening arranged to align with the underlying first distribution channel.

  The upper layer has a second distribution channel on its lower surface arranged to align with the second distribution opening of the intermediate layer and a third having a smaller diameter than the second distribution opening associated with the second distribution channel. A distribution opening.

  The associated printhead integrated circuit includes nozzle supply openings that are aligned with the upper third distribution openings and are arranged to direct fluid to each of the nozzles, the nozzle supply openings having a diameter of approximately a few millimeters. A support member opening having substantially the same diameter as the third distribution opening, and the nozzle supply openings of the at least two printhead integrated circuits have a diameter of approximately a few micrometers.

  In order to attach the fluid distribution member (s) to the support member, the lower surface of the fluid distribution member (s) may be adhered to the upper surface of the support member with an adhesive. This adhesive is deposited to surround each of the openings in the support member and each of the corresponding openings formed in the lower surface of the fluid distribution member (s) to form a seal between the respective openings. Can be used to

  In a device having openings in the support member formed in rows extending across the support member with respect to the longitudinal direction of the support member, the two deposits of adhesive are formed on the openings in order to provide stability to the mounting device. Can be deposited on both sides of the row. The adhesive can be a curable resin.

  The print head module (s) is supported by the support frame of the casing. A cover portion for covering the support frame is also provided in the casing. The support frame also supports drive electronics provided for driving the printhead integrated circuit via the electrical connector.

  The printhead assembly may also include a print media guide attached to the casing. The print medium guide guides the print medium passing through the print surface formed by the print head module attached to the casing so as to prevent the print medium from striking the nozzles of each circuit of the print head integrated circuit. Placed in. This is accomplished by positioning the print media guide to form a gap between the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit and the passing print media.

  The drive electronics can control the printing operation of the printhead integrated circuit by incorporating at least one controller connected to at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via an electrical connector. The drive electronics are provided on at least one printed circuit board supported by the support frame of the casing. In order to connect the drive electronics to the electrical connector, the printed circuit board supports at least one connection port that matches the electrical connector. Each printhead integrated circuit may be connected to a separate electrical connector such that at least one controller is arranged to control a selectable number of printhead integrated circuit printing operations.

  If the printhead module (s) comprise one or more groups of two printhead integrated circuits, a single controller for controlling each group of two printhead integrated circuits via an electrical connector Can be selected. A single controller for controlling each group of four printhead integrated circuits via an electrical connector when the printhead module (s) comprise one or more groups of four printhead integrated circuits Can be selected. A single controller for controlling each group of eight printhead integrated circuits via an electrical connector when the printhead module (s) comprise one or more groups of eight printhead integrated circuits Can be selected. If the printhead module (s) comprise one or more groups of 16 printhead integrated circuits, a single controller for controlling each group of 16 printhead integrated circuits via an electrical connector Can be selected.

  A printed circuit board for the controller is supported on the support frame of the casing via at least one mounting element incorporating a clamping device for clamping the printhead module to the casing. In addition, the printed circuit board can have a connection strip provided at its opposite edge region, the connection strip adjacent to one end of the support frame being connectable to the data input and adjacent to the other end of the support frame. The connection strip is terminated in such a way as to prevent reflection of the data signal.

  In order to deliver power from the power source to the drive electronics, the printhead assembly includes a plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors disposed within the casing. Power from these electrical conductors is sent to the drive electronics via electrical connectors. Furthermore, power from the electrical conductor is also sent to the printhead integrated circuit via the electrical connector.

  In order to ensure the electrical connection of these various components, a weight plate is provided for weighting the conductor portion of the electrical connector for each of the plurality of electrical conductors. The weight plate includes a non-conductive portion made of, for example, an elastic material that presses the electrical connector against the electrical conductor.

  The plurality of electrical conductors may be arranged to be connected to a power source at one end of the printhead assembly. Alternatively, the plurality of electrical conductors are each connected to a power source at each end of the printhead assembly by each of two groups of electrical conductors connected to each other in the middle adjacent region at both ends of the printhead assembly. Can be arranged as two groups of electrical conductors. To facilitate this, adjacent regions of the individual electrical conductors are arranged in an overlapping manner.

  The plurality of electrical conductors are conveniently supported by mounting elements attached to the support frame of the casing. This is facilitated by a mounting element having a plurality of recessed channels for receiving individual ones of the plurality of electrical conductors formed therein.

  The printhead assembly can include at least two of the mounting elements disposed along the longitudinal direction of the casing, each disposed to support a separate printed circuit board. In this arrangement, the individual printed circuit boards are interconnected by electrical connection members located between (each) adjacent mounting elements. The electrical connection member (s) is disposed in a recess formed by a side region of the mounting element having a ridge and a recess that are disposed such that the recessed portion of the adjacent mounting element forms a recess. . The electrical connection member (s) comprises a non-conductive material coated with a conductive strip, in which case the electrical connection member (s) are arranged in series at the edge region of each of the individual printed circuit boards. Are positioned so as to cover the connecting strips which are spaced apart from each other.

  To ensure a reliable connection, each connection strip of the printed circuit board engages at least one of the two adjacent conductive strips of the electrical connection member (s) and the electrical connection member (s) ) Conductive strips are twice as many as the connection strips on the printed circuit board.

  The mounting element (s) may incorporate a clamping device for clamping the printhead module (s) to the support frame. This is accomplished by the attachment element (s) comprising at least one extension arm portion arranged to clamp a longitudinally extending tab of the support member to the upper surface of the second side wall of the support frame. Further, the longitudinally extending tab of the support member includes a plurality of lugs spaced along the length thereof to correspond to the mounting position of the printhead integrated circuit. The extension arm part (s) includes a recess disposed to engage one of the plurality of lugs on the longitudinally extending tab clamped thereby.

  A (first) printed circuit board that supports the drive electronics supported by the casing support frame engages one end of the support frame by a second printed circuit board that connects the drive electronics to a power source and a data source. it can. For this purpose, the second printed circuit board connects a power terminal for connecting the electrical connector to the power source via an electrical conductor extending in the longitudinal direction and a drive electronic circuit for data input via the first printed circuit board. And a fluid delivery port for connecting at least one channel of the support member to a fluid supply via a fluid delivery tube.

  Further, the first printed circuit board is engaged with the other end of the support frame by a third printed circuit board arranged to spring-load on the first printed circuit board in the direction of the second printed circuit board. May be. The third printed circuit board may comprise a termination connection for terminating a data signal passing through the first printed circuit board from the second printed circuit board.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits At least one printhead module comprising an integral device comprising:
A casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted to inhibit movement of the at least one printhead module with respect to the casing in at least the direction of firing of the printing fluid from the nozzle to the print medium;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits At least one printhead module comprising:
The at least one printhead module is removable by having its first side slidably received in a longitudinally extending groove of the casing and its second side clamped to the casing by a clamping device. A casing to be attached;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium; and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits. At least two printhead modules each comprising:
A casing in which the at least two printhead modules are linearly aligned and removably mounted;
With
The assembly is provided with a printhead assembly having a total length and number of printhead integrated circuits that are predetermined to provide selected page width printing.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two prints each comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed for firing a printing fluid onto the surface of the print medium and a support member supporting the at least two printhead integrated circuits A head module;
A casing in which the at least two printhead modules are linearly aligned and removably mounted;
With
The support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel that carries printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit;
Each printhead module is provided with a printhead assembly having an end that allows for the interconnection of linearly aligned printhead modules and provides a fluid connection for the channel of its support member.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; At least one printhead module comprising:
A casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted;
There is provided a print head assembly comprising a capping member that caps a terminal end of a support member of the at least one print head module.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least one printhead comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject printing fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member supporting the at least two printhead integrated circuits. Modules,
A casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted;
With
The support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel that carries printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit;
A printhead assembly, wherein at least one fluid connector is provided for connecting at least one print fluid transport hose from a print fluid supply source to the at least one channel at a longitudinal end of the at least one printhead module. Provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least one printhead module comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject printing fluid onto the surface of the print medium and a support member supporting the at least two printhead integrated circuits. When,
A casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted;
With
The support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel that carries printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit;
Two fluid connectors, each of which is arranged to connect at least one fluid carrying hose from a printing fluid source to the at least one channel at a corresponding longitudinal end of the at least one print head module Are provided each for connection to a longitudinal end of the at least one printhead module.

In another embodiment of the present invention, at least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed for firing a printing fluid onto the surface of the print media, and printing for the at least two printhead integrated circuits. At least one printhead module comprising a support member for supporting and conveying the fluid;
There is provided a printhead assembly comprising a casing comprising a support frame for supporting the at least one printhead module and a cover portion removably attached to the support frame.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits At least one printhead module comprising:
A casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted;
There is provided a printhead assembly comprising: a print media guide attached to the casing arranged to guide a print medium passing through a print surface formed by the at least one printhead module attached to the casing. The

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Incorporated at least one controller connected to at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector to control a printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits. Drive electronics,
A casing in which the at least one printhead module and the drive electronics are removably attached;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject printing fluid onto the surface of the print medium, a support member supporting the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and an electrical signal for the at least two At least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connection to one printhead integrated circuit;
Drive electronics incorporating at least one controller arranged to control the printing operation of a selected number of circuits of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector;
A casing in which the at least one printhead module and the drive electronics are removably attached;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits, a support member for supporting and conveying printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and an electrical signal for connecting to the at least two printhead integrated circuits At least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector;
Incorporating at least one controller connected to at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector to control a printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits; Drive electronics,
A casing in which the at least one printhead module and the drive electronics are removably attached;
With
The drive electronics is provided with a printhead assembly provided on a printed circuit board supported by a support frame of the casing via at least one mounting element.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising: at least two flexible printed circuit boards for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
At least connected to at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the respective flexible printed circuit board to control a printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits. Drive electronics incorporating a controller;
A casing in which the at least one printhead module and the drive electronics are removably attached;
With
The drive electronics are provided on a printed circuit board supporting respective connection ports for connection to the flexible printed circuit board directly aligned with the respective flexible printed circuit board and the printhead integrated circuit. A head assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Incorporating at least one controller connected to at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector to control a printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits; Drive electronics,
A casing for releasably holding at least one mounting element, wherein the driving electronics are mounted and incorporating a clamping device for clamping the at least one printhead module to the casing;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Drive electronics incorporating at least one controller for controlling the printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors arranged to supply power from a power source to the drive electronics and the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A casing in which the at least one printhead module, the drive electronic circuit, and the plurality of electrical conductors are detachably attached;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A print head system,
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising: at least two electrical connectors for connecting electrical signals to each of the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Drive electronics incorporating at least one controller for controlling the printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A casing in which the at least one printhead module and the drive electronics are removably attached;
With
Each of the at least two electrical connectors is configured to guide a control signal from the at least one controller to the corresponding print head integrated circuit, and to supply power from a power source to the corresponding print head integrated circuit and the drive circuit. A printhead system is provided which is arranged to lead to

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Drive electronics incorporating at least one controller for controlling the printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors arranged to supply power from a power source to the drive electronics and the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A weight plate for weighting the conductor portion of the electric conductor for each of the plurality of electric conductors;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A plurality of longitudinally arranged in two groups of electrical conductors respectively connected to the power supply at each end of the printhead assembly for supplying power from the power supply to the at least two printhead integrated circuits. An extending electrical conductor;
With
Each of the two groups of electrical conductors of electrical conductors is provided with a printhead assembly that is connected to each other in an adjacent region in the middle of the end of the printhead assembly.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors arranged to supply power from a power source to the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector;
A support frame in which the at least one printhead module and a mounting element formed therein with a plurality of recessed channels for receiving and removably mounting each of the plurality of electrical conductors are removably retained; A casing with;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; At least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Drive electronics incorporating at least two interconnected controllers for controlling the printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector;
A casing in which the at least one printhead module and the drive electronics are removably attached;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; At least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Drive electronics incorporating at least two controllers each disposed on a printed circuit board to control the printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector;
At least two printhead modules and at least two adjacently disposed along the length of the casing, each of which is removably supported by at least one of two or more mounting elements. A casing comprising a mounting frame and a support frame for supporting the mounting element;
Coated with conductive strips disposed between adjacent mounting elements such that the conductive strips are positioned to cover a series of spaced connection strips at the edge region of each individual printed circuit board. An electrical connection member comprising a non-conductive material;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; At least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Drive electronics arranged to control the printing operation of at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector;
A plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors for supplying power from a power source to the drive electronics and the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A casing comprising a support frame that supports the at least one printhead module;
At least one attachment element held by the support frame, which incorporates a clamping device for attaching the drive electronics and electrical conductors and clamping the at least one printhead module to the support frame;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
Drive electronics arranged to control the printing operation of at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector;
A casing comprising a support frame in which the at least one printhead module and a plurality of mounting elements for mounting the drive electronics are removably disposed;
A first connector device at one end of the support frame for connecting the drive electronics and the printhead integrated circuit to a power source and data input;
A second connector device at the other end of the support frame that spring-loads the plurality of attachment elements in the direction of the first connector device;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits And at least one printhead module comprising electrical connectors for connecting electrical signals from both ends of the printhead assembly to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium; and at least one for supporting the at least two printhead integrated circuits and conveying the print fluid At least one printhead module comprising a support member having a longitudinally extending channel and an electrical connector for connecting an electrical signal to the printhead integrated circuit;
A support frame for removably attaching the at least one printhead module and drive electronics arranged to control a printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector; A casing with;
At least one power terminal for connecting the electrical connector to a power source and at least one data terminal for connecting the drive electronics to a data input and fluid attached to at least one longitudinal end of the support frame At least one connector device supporting at least one fluid transport port for connecting the at least one channel of the support member to a fluid supply via a transport tube;
A printhead assembly is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits At least one printhead module comprising:
A casing comprising a support frame for removably attaching the at least one printhead module and at least one clamping device for clamping the at least one printhead module to the support frame;
With
A printhead assembly is provided wherein the clamped printhead module and the at least one clamping device are substantially positionally independent of the casing.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, a printed circuit board having an integrally formed spring portion is provided.

  The integrally formed spring portion of the printed circuit board can be formed by removing a part of the printed circuit board.

In yet another embodiment of the invention,
A circuit assembly,
A plurality of first printed circuit boards arranged in a linearly aligned manner;
A second disposed at one end of the linearly aligned first printed circuit board for connecting electronic circuitry supported by the plurality of first printed circuit boards to supplied power and data. A printed circuit board;
A third printed circuit board comprising an integrally formed spring portion disposed at the other end of the linearly aligned first printed circuit board;
A circuit assembly is provided.

In yet another embodiment of the invention,
A printhead assembly comprising:
At least two printhead integrated circuits each having a nozzle formed to eject print fluid onto the surface of the print medium, and a support member for supporting and conveying the print fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; At least one printhead module comprising an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits;
A circuit assembly as described above electrically connected to the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector;
A casing comprising a support frame to which the at least one printhead module and the circuit assembly are removably attached;
A printhead assembly is provided.

  The print head assembly is attached to a support frame so that a plurality of first printed circuit boards of the circuit assembly are linearly aligned in the longitudinal direction, and the second and third printed circuit boards of the circuit assembly Are disposed at respective longitudinal ends of the support frame, and drive electronic circuits for controlling the printing operation of at least one circuit of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector are provided in the plurality of first Can be arranged on a printed circuit board.

  The third printed circuit board, which is a printed circuit board having a spring portion, further includes a termination connection for terminating a data signal from the second printed circuit board through the at least one first printed circuit board, and a spring. It can be provided on the part.

  In this printhead assembly, the printhead module is an integral unit comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits, a support member, an electrical connector, and at least one fluid distribution member that attaches the at least two printhead integrated circuits to the support member. It can be formed as a device. In this apparatus, the support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel for conveying printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit, and the printhead integrated circuit from each of the at least one channel via each of the fluid distribution members. A plurality of openings extending through the walls of the support member arranged to direct the printing fluid to the associated nozzles in both, or if there are more than two.

  These and other embodiments and advantages of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with a method of assembling the printhead module in connection with a printhead assembly and a printhead module incorporated into the printhead assembly. A printed circuit board for this printhead assembly is also described.

(General overview)
The printhead assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is intended for use as a page width printhead in a printing system. That is, a printhead that extends across the length of, for example, the width of a page of print media for printing. When printing, the print head assembly fires ink onto the print medium as the print medium travels through, thereby printing information on the print medium by the print head assembly held in a stationary position as the print medium travels through. Form. That is, the printhead assembly is not scanned across the page in the manner of conventional printheads.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the print head assembly 10 includes a casing 20 and a print head module 30. Casing 20 houses dedicated (or drive) electronics for the printhead assembly along with power and data input, and provides a structure for mounting the printhead assembly in a printer unit. A printhead module 30 that is received in the channel 21 of the casing 20 so as to be removable from the casing includes a fluid channel member 40 that supports a printhead tile 50 having a printhead integrated circuit 51 incorporating print nozzles. The printhead assembly 10 further includes an end housing 120 and plate 110 assembly, and an end plate 111 attached to the longitudinal ends of the assembled casing 20 and printhead module 30.

  The printhead module 30 and its associated components will now be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printhead module 30 includes a fluid channel member 40 and a printhead tile 50 attached to the top surface of the member 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the print head module 30 is provided with 16 print head tiles 50. However, as will be appreciated from the description below, the number of printhead tiles and printhead integrated circuits attached thereto may vary to suit the particular application of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the print head tiles 50 is configured such that when adjacent print head tiles 50 touch each other, the print head integrated circuits 51 mounted on them overlap in this region. Has a stepped end region. Further, the print head integrated circuit 51 extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the print head tile 50 to facilitate the overlap between the print head integrated circuits 51. This overlap of adjacent printhead integrated circuits 51 provides a constant pitch between print nozzles (described below) incorporated in the printhead integrated circuit 51, and this arrangement also allows print media to pass through the printhead assembly 10. Prevents breaks in information printed across or along (not shown). This overlap arrangement of printhead integrated circuits is described in Applicant's issued US Pat. No. 6,623,106, which is incorporated herein by reference.

  FIG. 4 shows a fluid channel member 40 of the printhead module 30 that serves as a support member for the printhead tile 50. The fluid channel member 40 is configured to fit within the channel 21 of the casing 20 and is used to deliver printing ink and other fluids to the printhead tile 50. To accomplish this, the fluid channel member 40 includes a channel-shaped duct 41 that extends its full length from each end of the fluid channel member 40. These channel-shaped ducts 41 are used to carry printing ink and other fluids from the fluid supply unit (of the printing system in which the printhead assembly 10 is mounted) to the printhead tile 50 via a plurality of outlet ports 42. The

  The fluid channel member 40 is formed by injection molding a suitable material. Suitable materials are chemically sensitive to ink and other fluids that are channeled through the fluid channel member 40 while the printhead integrated circuit nozzles are accurately maintained under operating conditions (described in more detail below). A material having a low coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE) so as to be inert. An example of a suitable material is a liquid crystal polymer (LCP). An injection molding process is used to form body portions 44a having open channels or grooves and lid portions 44b formed with elongated ridge portions 44c to be received in these open channels. Next, the main body 44a and the lid 44b are bonded together with epoxy to form a channel-shaped duct 41 as shown in FIGS. However, alternative molding techniques may be used to form the fluid channel member 40 integrally with the channel duct 41.

  A plurality of ducts 41 provided in communication with a corresponding outlet port 42 for each print head tile 50 are used to carry different colored or different types of ink or other fluids. Different inks can have different color pigments, such as black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and / or are selected for different printing applications, such as visually opaque ink, infrared opaque ink, and the like. Other fluids that can also be used to keep the printhead integrated circuit 51 free of dust and other impurities and / or for the print media to contact the print nozzles provided in the printhead integrated circuit 51 directly. Air for preventing, and in particular for high-speed printing applications, it is a fixing agent for fixing the ink immediately after printing to the print medium substantially.

  In the assembly shown in FIG. 4, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow color inks are each in one duct, infrared ink is in one duct, air is in one duct, and fixing agent is in one duct. Seven ducts are shown for transport in Even though seven ducts are shown, more or less numbers may be provided to suit a particular application. For example, additional ducts may be provided to carry black ink for a generally higher percentage of black and white or gray scale printing applications.

  The fluid channel member 40 further includes a pair of longitudinally extending tabs 43 along both sides for securing the printhead module 30 to the channel 21 of the casing 20 (described in more detail below). However, it should be understood that a series of individual tabs can alternatively be used for this purpose.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, each of the print tiles 50 of the printhead module 30 supports one of the printhead integrated circuits 51, the latter being a protectively encapsulated connection within an epoxy encapsulant 53. It is electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) 52 using a suitable contact method such as wire bonding. The PCB 52 extends to the edge of the print head tile 50 away from where the print head integrated circuit 51 is located, where the PCB 52 is flexible to supply power and data to the print head integrated circuit 51. Directly connected to a flexible printed circuit board (flexible PCB) 80 (described in detail below). This is illustrated in FIG. 6 by a separate flexible PCB 80 extending or “hanging” from the edge of each tile of the printhead tile 50. Flexible PCB 80 provides electrical connection between printhead integrated circuit 51, power supply 70, and PCB 90 (see FIG. 3) having drive electronics 100 (see FIG. 18A) housed in casing 20. (To be described in detail later).

  FIG. 5B shows the underside of one tile of the printhead tile 50. A plurality of inlet ports 54 are provided, such that these inlet ports 54 communicate with corresponding ports of the plurality of outlet ports 42 of the duct 41 of the fluid channel member 40 when the printhead tile 50 is mounted. Be placed. That is, as shown, seven inlet ports 54 are provided for the outlet ports 42 of the seven ducts 41. In particular, both the inlet and outlet ports have the correct fluid, that is, the fluid channeled by a particular duct, with the correct nozzle of the printhead integrated circuit (typically a group of nozzles for each type of ink or fluid. Are arranged in a slanted array with respect to the longitudinal direction of the printhead module.

A typical printhead integrated circuit 51 used in the implementation of the present invention includes more than 7000, spaced apart to achieve printing with a resolution of 1600 dots per inch (dpi) (eg, 7680) individual print nozzles may be provided. This is accomplished by having a nozzle density of 391 nozzles / mm ² over a 20 mm (0.8 inch) print width with each nozzle capable of firing a drop volume of 1 pl.

Thus, these nozzles are micro-sized (ie, on the order of about 10 ⁻⁶ meters) and are themselves macro-sized (such as provided by the inlet port 54 on the underside of the printhead tile 50). That is, it cannot receive flow (in the millimeter class). Thus, each printhead tile 50 is formed as a fluid distribution stack 500 (see FIG. 43) that includes a plurality of laminate layers having a printhead integrated circuit 51, a PCB 52, and an epoxy 53 provided thereto.

  This stack 500 reduces the macro-sized flow diameter at the inlet port 54 to the micro-sized flow diameter at the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit 51, thereby allowing the individual nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit 51 from the duct 41 of the fluid channel member 40. Transports ink and other fluids to the An exemplary structure of a stack that provides this reduction is described in more detail below.

  The nozzle system applicable to the printhead assembly of the present invention can comprise any type of inkjet nozzle device that can be integrated on a printhead integrated circuit. That is, systems such as continuous ink systems including thermal and piezoelectric types, electrostatic systems and drop-on-demand systems can be used.

  There are various types of known thermal drop-on-demand systems that can be used that typically include ink reservoirs adjacent to the nozzles and heater elements that are in thermal contact therewith. These heater elements heat the ink and generate bubbles that generate pressure in the ink so that droplets are fired through the nozzles onto the print media. The amount of ink ejected to the print medium and the timing of ejection by each nozzle are controlled by drive electronics. However, such thermal systems impose restrictions on the type of ink that can be used, since the ink must be heat resistant.

  There are various types of known piezoelectric drop-on-demand systems that can be used that typically use a piezoelectric crystal (located adjacent to the ink reservoir) that bends when current flows. This bending causes ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzles in a manner similar to the thermal system described above. In such a piezoelectric system, the ink does not need to be heated and cooled between cycles, thus providing for a wider range of available ink types. Piezoelectric systems are difficult to integrate into a drive integrated circuit and typically require multiple connections between the driver and the nozzle actuator.

  Alternatively, a nozzle microelectromechanical system (MEMS) can be used, and such a system includes a thermal actuator that causes the nozzle to fire ink droplets. An exemplary MEMS nozzle system applicable to the printhead assembly of the present invention is described in more detail below.

  Returning to the assembly of fluid channel members 40 and printhead tiles 50, each printhead tile 50 has a separate outlet port 42 and a corresponding inlet port 54 that allows effective transfer of fluid therebetween. Attached to the fluid channel member 40 so as to be aligned. An adhesive such as a curable resin (eg, epoxy resin) is used to attach the printhead tile 50 to the fluid channel member 40 on the top surface of the fluid channel member 40 prepared in the manner shown in FIG.

  That is, a curable resin is provided around each of the outlet ports 42 to form the gasket member 60 when cured. The gasket member 60 provides an adhesive seal between the fluid channel member 40 and the printhead tile 50, but also provides a seal around each of the communicating outlet port 42 and inlet port 54. This sealing configuration facilitates fluid flow and sealing between the ports. Further, two curable resin deposits 61 are provided on both sides of the gasket member 60 in a symmetrical manner.

  The symmetrically disposed deposit 61 functions as a locator to position the printhead tile 50 on the fluid channel 40 and to prevent twisting of the printhead tile 50 with respect to the fluid channel member 40. In order to provide additional bond strength, an adhesive drop 62 is provided in an open area on the top surface of the fluid channel member 40, particularly before and during curing of the gasket member 60 and the locator 61. A fast acting adhesive, such as cyanoacrylate, is deposited to form the locator 61 to prevent any movement of the printhead tile 50 with respect to the fluid channel member 40 during curing of the curable resin.

  With this arrangement, individual printhead tiles can be easily replaced when one or many nozzles of the associated printhead integrated circuit fails and the printhead is to be replaced. Thus, the surface of the fluid channel member and the print head tile will remain attached to the print head tile rather than the surface of the fluid channel member when the print head tile is removed from the surface of the fluid channel member by a lever. Processed in a way that guarantees. This results in a clean surface left behind by the removed printhead tile, so that new epoxy can be immediately supplied to the fluid channel member surface for reliable placement of the new printhead tile.

  The above-described printhead module of the present invention can be configured in various lengths, and depending on the particular application in which the printhead assembly is used, various numbers of printheads attached to the fluid channel member Tiles can be accommodated. For example, to provide a printhead assembly for printing in the landscape A3 size page width, the printhead assembly requires 16 individual printhead tiles. This can be, for example, four printhead modules each having four printhead tiles, or two printhead modules each having eight printhead tiles, or one having sixteen printhead tiles. This can be achieved by providing a printhead module (as in FIGS. 1 and 2), or any other suitable combination. In principle, a selected number of standard printhead modules can be combined to achieve the required width required for a particular printing application.

  In order to provide this modularity in an easy and efficient manner, the multiple fluid channel members of each module of the printhead module are formed to be modular and multiple fluid channel members in an end-to-end manner. Configured to allow connection. Conveniently easy and convenient connection means can be provided by configuring each of the fluid channel members to have complementary ends. In one embodiment of the invention, each fluid channel member 40 has a “female” end 45 as shown in FIG. 8 and a complementary “male” end 46 as shown in FIG.

  The end portions 45 and 46 correspond to the two print head modules 30 when the male end portion 46 of one print head module 30 is brought into contact with the female end portion 45 of the second print head module 30. It is configured to be connected in fluid communication with the duct. This allows fluid to flow through the connected printhead modules 30 without interruption, so that fluids such as ink are delivered correctly and effectively to the printhead integrated circuit 51 of each module of the printhead module 30. .

  In order to ensure that the coupling of the female and male ends 45, 46 provides an effective seal between the individual printhead modules 30, a sealing adhesive such as epoxy is applied between the bonded ends. .

  By providing such a configuration, any number of printhead modules can be properly connected in such a way that they contact each other to provide the desired scale-up of the overall printhead length. Obviously. One skilled in the art can appreciate that other configurations and methods for connecting the printhead assembly modules in fluid communication with each other are within the scope of the present invention.

  Furthermore, this exemplary configuration of the ends 45, 46 of the fluid channel member 40 of the printhead module 30 also allows easy connection to the fluid source of the printing system in which the printhead assembly is mounted. That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 that function as an interface for fluid flow between the duct 41 of the print head module 30 and the (internal) fluid transport tube 6 as shown in FIG. Fluid transport connectors 47, 48 are provided. These fluid delivery tubes 6 are housed within the printhead assembly 10 for connection to an external fluid delivery tube of the fluid source of the printing system, as will be described in detail below. Called. It will be apparent, however, that such a configuration is only one possible way in which ink or other fluid may be supplied to the printhead assembly of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the fluid conveyance connector 47 has a female end portion 47 a that can be coupled to the male end portion 46 of the print head module 30. As an alternative or in addition, as shown in FIG. 11, the fluid carrying connector 48 has a male end 48 a that can be coupled to the female end 45 of the printhead module 30. Furthermore, the fluid transfer connectors 47 and 48 include tubular portions 47b and 48b that can be coupled to the internal fluid transfer tube 6, respectively. FIG. 12 illustrates a particular method in which the tubular portions 47b, 48b are configured to be in fluid communication with the corresponding duct 41.

  Seven tubular portions 47b, 48b are provided to correspond to the seven ducts 41 provided in accordance with the above exemplary embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. Thus, each of the seven internal fluid transport tubes 6 is used to transport one of the seven fluids described above: black, cyan, magenta, yellow ink, IR ink, fixer, and air. However, as noted above, those skilled in the art may use more or fewer types of fluids in different applications, resulting in more or fewer fluid delivery tubes and tubular portions and ducts of fluid delivery connectors. It is clear to understand that.

  Furthermore, this exemplary configuration at the end of the fluid channel member 40 of the printhead module 30 also allows easy sealing of the duct 41. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 14A, a seal member 49 that can seal or cap both ends of the print head module 30 is provided. That is, the seal member 49 includes a female connection portion 49 a and a male connection portion 49 b that can be coupled to the male end portion 46 and the female end portion 45 of the print head module 30. Thus, it is advantageous to provide a single sealing member despite the differently configured ends of the printhead module. FIG. 14B illustrates an exemplary configuration of a seal member 49 that seals the duct 41 of the fluid channel member 40. Sealing between the seal member 49 and the fluid channel member 40 interface is further facilitated by applying a sealing adhesive such as epoxy as described above.

  For example, during operation of a single printhead module 30 for an A4 size page width printing application, a fluid carrying connector connected to one corresponding end 45, 46 to send fluid to the printhead integrated circuit 51. A combination of one of 47, 48 and a sealing member 49 connected to the other of the corresponding end 45, 46 is used. On the other hand, in applications where the print head assembly is particularly long and consists of a plurality of print head modules 30 connected to each other (for example, in wide paper printing), it may be necessary to supply fluid from both ends of the print head assembly. There is sex. Accordingly, each of the fluid transport connectors 47, 48 can be connected to a corresponding end 45, 46 of the end printhead module 30.

  The above-described exemplary configuration of the end of the printhead module of the present invention provides some modularity for the printhead module. This modularity allows the printhead module fluid channel member to be manufactured to a standard length associated with the minimum length application of the printhead assembly. The printhead assembly length can then be scaled up by combining multiple printhead modules to form a desired length printhead assembly. For example, a standard length printhead module can be manufactured to include eight printhead tiles, which can be a minimum requirement for A4 size printing applications. Thus, in a printing application that requires a wide printhead having a length corresponding to 32 printhead tiles, these four standard length printhead modules can be used. In contrast, many different standard length printhead modules are manufactured and can be used in combination in applications that require variable length printheads.

  However, these are merely examples of how the modularity of the printhead assembly of the present invention works, other combinations and standard lengths can be used and are within the scope of the present invention.

  The casing 20 and its associated components will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 15A-28.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the casing 20 is formed as a two-piece external housing that houses the various components of the printhead assembly and provides a structure for the printhead assembly that allows the entire unit to be immediately mounted on the printing system. Is done. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer housing includes a support frame 22 and a cover portion 23. Each of these portions 22, 23 is made of a suitable material that is lightweight and durable and can be easily extruded to form various lengths. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, portions 22, 23 are formed from a metal such as aluminum.

  As shown in FIGS. 15A-15C, the support frame 22 of the casing 20 includes an outer frame wall 24 and an inner frame wall 25 having two walls separated by an inner cavity 26 (outward and inward directions of the printhead assembly 10). With respect to). The channel 21 (see also FIG. 3) is formed as an extension of the upper wall 27 of the support frame 22 and the arm 28 extends from the inner frame wall away from the outer frame wall 24. Formed on the region. Channel 21 extends along the length of support frame 22 and is configured to receive printhead module 30. The print head module 30 is received in the channel 21 with the print head integrated circuit 51 facing upward as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the upper print head integrated circuit surface is printed on the print head assembly 10. Define the face.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, the channel 21 has a top frame 27 and a support frame 22 arranged as an external, internal side wall (with respect to the outward and inward directions of the printhead assembly 10) extending along the length of the support frame 22. And two generally parallel side walls 24a, 29. These two side walls 24a, 29 have different heights, with the higher outer side wall 24a being defined as the upper part of the outer frame wall 24 extending above the upper wall 27 of the support frame 22 and the shorter inner side wall. 29 is provided as an upper extension of the upper wall 27 substantially parallel to the inner frame wall 25. The outer side wall 24a includes a recess (groove) 24b formed along its length. The bottom surface 24 c of the recess 24 b is positioned so as to be at the same height as the top surface 29 a of the inner side wall 29 with respect to the upper wall 27 of the channel 21. The recess 24b further has an upper surface 24d formed as a ridge that runs along the length of the outer sidewall 24a (see FIG. 15B).

  In this configuration, one of the tabs 43 extending in the longitudinal direction of the fluid channel member 40 of the print head module 30 is held in the recess 24b of the outer side wall 24a so as to be held between the lower surface 24c and the upper surface 24d of the outer side wall 24a. Accepted. Further, the other longitudinally extending tab 43 provided on the opposite side of the fluid channel member 40 is positioned on the upper surface 29 a of the inner side wall 29. In this way, the assembled printhead module 30 can be secured in place on the casing 20 as will be described in detail below.

  In addition, the outer sidewall 24a also includes an inclined portion 24e along its upper margin, which is provided to secure the print media guide 5 to the print head assembly 10, as shown in FIG. The print media guide is fixed following assembly of the printhead assembly and guides a print media such as paper across the printhead integrated circuit for printing without direct contact with the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit. Configured to help.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, the upper wall 27 and the arm portion 28 of the support frame 22 each include lugs 27a, 28a that extend along the length of the support frame 22 (see FIGS. 15B, 15C). These lugs 27a, 28a are positioned to face each other substantially with respect to the inner frame wall 25 of the support frame 22 and secure a PCB (printed circuit board) support 91 (described below) to the support frame 22. Used for.

  15B and 15C show the channel 21, the upper wall 27 and its lugs 27a, the outer and inner side walls 24a and 29, the recess 24b and its bottom surface 24c and the upper surface 24d, the inclined portion 24e, the upper surface 29a of the inner side wall 29, and the arm portion 28. It shows how the outer and inner frame walls 24, 25 extend with respect to the length of the casing 20 so that the lugs 28a, 28b and the recesses 28c and the curved ends 28d extend (described in detail below).

  The PCB support 91 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIGS. In FIG. 3, the support 91 is shown in its fixed position extending from the upper wall 27 to the arm portion 28 along the inner frame wall 25 of the support frame 22. Support 91 is used to support PCB 90 on which drive electronics 100 (as will be described in detail below) is mounted.

  As seen particularly in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the support 91 has lugs 92 on its upper and lower surfaces that communicate with lugs 27a and 28a for fixing the support 91 to the inner frame wall 25 of the support frame 22. including. The base portion 93 of the support body 91 is disposed so as to extend along the arm portion 28 of the support frame 22, and when mounted on the support frame 22, lugs 28 a and 28 b (see FIG. 15B) of the arm portion 28. Mounted on top.

  The support 91 is formed so as to be positioned inside the casing 20 and with respect to the inner frame wall 25 of the support frame 22. This can be accomplished by molding the support 91 from a plastic material that is inherently resilient to engage the inner frame wall 25. This also provides the insulation necessary for supporting the PCB 90 to the support 91. For the support 91, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polycarbonate can be used.

  The base 93 further includes a recess 93a used to secure the PCB 90 to the support 91 and a corresponding positioning lug 93b (as will be described in more detail below). Further, the upper portion of the support 91 is positioned on the inner side wall 29 of the channel 21 and the print head (positioned on the upper surface 29a of the inner side wall 29) once the fluid channel member 40 of the print head module 30 is inserted into the channel 21. It includes an upwardly extending arm portion 94 that is positioned and shaped to mate with a longitudinally extending tab 43 of the module 30. This arrangement provides for the fixing of the printhead module 30 in the channel 21 of the casing 20, as more clearly shown in FIG.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the extension arm portion 94 of the support 91 is configured to perform a “clip” or “clamp” operation on and along one edge of the printhead module 30, which It helps to prevent the printhead module 30 from being detached or displaced from the fully assembled printhead assembly 10. This is done upward (ie, the z-axis shown in FIG. 3) by tabs 43 extending in the longitudinal direction of both fluid channel members 40 that are held securely in place (in a manner as described in detail below). The print head module 30 is substantially constrained so that it does not move in the lateral direction (ie, in the y-axis direction shown in FIG. 3). This is because the clipping operation acts on the fluid channel member 40 of the print head module 30 in the manner described above.

  In this regard, the fluid channel member 40 of the printhead module 30 is exposed to a force applied by a support 91 oriented along the y-axis in the direction from the inner side wall 29 to the outer side wall 24a. This force causes the tab 43 extending in the longitudinal direction of the fluid channel member 40 on the outer side wall 24a side of the support frame 22 to be held between the lower surface 24c and the upper surface 24d of the recess 24b. This force is combined with the other longitudinally extending tab 43 of the fluid channel member 40 held between the upper surface 29a of the inner side wall 29 and the extension arm portion 94 of the support 91 to combine the z-axis of the print head module 30. Acts to suppress movement in the direction (as described in more detail below).

  However, the printhead module 30 can still accommodate movement in the x-axis direction (i.e., along the longitudinal direction of the printhead module 30), if the casing 20 undergoes thermal expansion and contraction during operation of the printing system. This is desirable. Since the casing is typically made of an extruded metal such as aluminum, dimensional changes are caused by such materials that are susceptible to thermal expansion and contraction in a thermally variable environment such as that present in a printing unit. There is a possibility of receiving.

  That is, to ensure the integrity and reliability of the printhead assembly, the fluid channel member 40 of the printhead module 30 is first made of a material (such as LCP) that is not subject to substantial dimensional changes due to environmental changes. So that the positional relationship between the individual printhead tiles is maintained, and the printhead module 30 is positionally substantially independent with respect to the casing 20 in which the printhead module 30 is removably mounted. (Ie, the printhead module is “floating” in the longitudinal direction of the channel 21 of the casing 20).

  Therefore, since the print head module is not restrained in the x-axis direction, any thermal expansion force from the casing in this direction may not be transmitted to the print head module. Furthermore, since the constraints in the z-axis direction and the y-axis direction are elastic, there is a certain tolerance for movement in these directions. As a result, the sophisticated printhead integrated circuit of the printhead module is protected from these forces and the reliability of the printhead assembly is maintained.

  In addition, the clip device also provides for easy assembly and disassembly of the printhead assembly by simply “unclipping” the PCB support (s) from the casing. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 16, a pair of extension arm portions 94 are provided, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that larger or smaller numbers are within the scope of the present invention.

  Referring again to FIGS. 16-17B, the support 91 further includes a channel portion 95 at the top thereof. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, channel portion 95 includes three grooved recesses 95a, 95b, 95c. The grooved recesses 95a, 95b, 95c form three longitudinally extending conductors or bus bars 71, 72 that form a power source 70 (see FIG. 3) and extend along the length of the printhead assembly 10. 73 (see FIG. 2). The bus bars 71, 72, 73 carry the power required to operate the printhead integrated circuit 51 and the drive electronics 100 (shown in FIG. 18A and described in detail below) disposed on the PCB 90. For example, made of gold-plated copper.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the three bus bars provide a voltage of Vcc (eg, via bus bar 71) and ground (Gnd) (eg, via bus bar 72 and V + (eg, via bus bar 73)). In particular, the Vcc and Gnd voltages are applied to the drive electronics 100 and related circuitry of the PCB 90, and the Vcc, Gnd and V + voltages are applied to the printhead integrated circuit 51 of the printhead tile 50. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a greater or lesser number of bus bars, and thus the grooved recesses in the PCB support, can be used depending on the power requirements of a particular printing application.

  The support 91 of the present invention further includes a (lower) retaining clip 96 located below the channel portion 95. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 16, a pair of retaining clips 96 are provided. These retaining clips 96 include notches 96a on the bottom surface that function to help securely mount the PCB 90 on the support 91. To this end, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 18A, PCB 90 includes a pair of slots 97 on its top side (with respect to the mounting direction of PCB 90) that facilitate engagement with retaining clip 96. When aligned to align with the notch 96a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the PCB 90 is tightly attached between the notch 96 a of the holding clip 96 and the above-described recess 93 a and the positioning lug 93 b of the base portion 93 of the support 91. This configuration securely holds the PCB 90 in place to allow a reliable connection between the drive electronics 100 of the PCB 90 and the printhead integrated circuit 51 of the printhead module 30.

  Referring again to FIG. 18A, an exemplary circuit layout for PCB 90 will now be described. The circuit includes drive electronics 100 in the form of a print engine controller (PEC) integrated circuit. The PEC integrated circuit 100 is used to drive the printhead integrated circuit 51 of the printhead module 30 to print information on a print medium that passes through the printhead assembly 10 when attached to a printing unit. The function and structure of the PEC integrated circuit 100 will be described in detail later.

  The exemplary circuitry of the PCB 90 also includes four connectors 98 (see FIG. 18B) on its top that receive the lower connections 81 (see FIG. 6) of the flexible PCB 80 extending from each of the printhead tiles 50. . In particular, the corresponding ends of the four flexible PCBs 80 are connected between the PCBs 52 of the four printhead tiles 50 and the four connectors 98 of the PCB 90. Next, the connector 98 is connected to the PEC integrated circuit 100 so that data communication can be performed between the PEC integrated circuit 100 and the print head integrated circuit 51 of the four print head tiles 50.

  In the above embodiment, one PEC integrated circuit is selected to control four printhead tiles to meet the required print speed requirements of the printhead assembly. This method requires four PEC integrated circuits for a printhead assembly having 16 printhead tiles, as described above with respect to FIGS. Is done. However, depending on the particular application of the printhead assembly of the present invention, the number of PEC integrated circuits used to control a large number of printhead tiles can vary, and as such, the printhead tiles and PEC integrated circuits. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many different combinations of numbers of PCBs and PCBs and PCB supports can be used. Furthermore, a single PEC integrated circuit 100 may be provided to drive a single printhead integrated circuit 51. Further, two or more PEC integrated circuits 100 may be arranged on one PCB 90 so that the PCB 90 and the support 91 having different configurations can be used.

  The modular approach of using multiple PCBs holding separate PEC integrated circuits to control different areas of the printhead is advantageous for easy determination and removal and replacement of defective circuits in the printhead assembly. It should be noted that it helps.

  The power supply described above to the circuitry of the PCB 90 and the printhead integrated circuit 51 attached to the printhead tile 50 is provided by the flexible PCB 80. In particular, flexible PCB 80 provides data connection between PEC integrated circuit (s) 100 and printhead integrated circuit 51, bus bars 71, 72, 73, PCB 90, and printhead integrated circuit 51. Used for two functions: providing a power connection between In order to provide the necessary electrical connections, flexible PCB 80 is positioned to extend from printhead tile 50 to PCB 90. This can be achieved by using the configuration shown in FIG. 3 provided with a resilient pressure plate 74 to press the flexible PCB 80 against the bus bars 71, 72, 73. In this configuration, power from the bus bars 71, 72 (ie, Vcc and Gnd) is applied to the connector 98 of the PCB 90, and power from all of the bus bars 71, 72, 73 (ie, Vcc, Gnd, and V +) is applied to the print head tile 50. Appropriately arranged electrical connectors are provided on the flexible PCB 80 that routes to the PCB 52.

  The pressure plate 74 is shown in detail in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 19B, the pressure plate 74 is aligned with the bus bars 71, 72, 73 and the flexible PCB 80 lying therebetween when the pressure plate 74 is attached to the support 91. It includes a ridge (pressure elastomer) 75 located on the rear surface of plate 74 (with respect to the mounting direction on support 91). The pressure plate 74 engages a corresponding hole in the (upper) holding clip 99 of the support 91 protruding from the extension arm portion 94 (see FIG. 15A), and the hole 74a is engaged via the tab portion 74c (see FIG. 20) (lower part) is attached to the support 91 by engaging the hole 74b with a corresponding one of the retaining clips 96. The pressure plate 74 has a spring-like elasticity that electrically contacts the flexible PCB 80 to the bus bars 71, 72, 73 by a raised portion 75 that provides insulation between the pressure plate 74 and the flexible PCB 80. It is formed.

  As most clearly shown in FIG. 21, the pressure plate 74 further includes a curved lower portion 74 b that serves as a means to assist in the removal of the pressure plate 74 from the support 91.

  A specific method in which the pressure plate 74 is held on the support 91 so as to press the flexible PCB 80 against the bus bars 71, 72, 73, and a method in which the extension arm portion 94 of the support 91 enables the above-described clip action. Will now be fully described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 22A-22E.

  FIG. 22 shows a schematic front view of a support 91 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 22A is a side cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 22 with hatched portions showing the components of the support 91 located on the dashed line II.

  FIG. 22A specifically shows one of the upper retaining clips 99. An enlarged view of the retaining clip 99 is shown in FIG. 22B. The holding clip 99 is configured such that the upper surface of one hole 74a of the pressure plate 74 can be held against the upper surface 99a of the holding clip and the holding portion 99b (see FIG. 21). Due to the spring-like elasticity of the pressure plate 74, the upper surface 99a applies a slight upward outward force to the pressure plate 74 when the pressure plate 74 is attached so that the upper portion of the pressure plate 74 contacts the holding portion 99b. .

  Referring now to FIG. 22C, a side cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 22, one of the lower retaining clips 96 is shown. An enlarged view of the retaining clip 96 is shown in FIG. 22D. The retaining clip 96 is configured such that the tab portion 74c of one of the holes 74b of the pressure plate 74 can be retained against the inner surface 96c of the retaining clip 96 (see FIG. 20). Thus, the lower portion of the pressure plate 74 is loaded in the opposite direction, for example, inwardly with respect to the support frame 22, by the above-mentioned slight force exerted by the retaining clip 96 on the upper portion of the pressure plate 74 in a direction away from the support 91. As a result, the pressure plate 74 is pressed against the bus bars 71, 72, 73, which in turn is flexible in the same direction via the ridges 75 to ensure contact with the bus bars 71, 72, 73. It works to press PCB80.

  Returning to FIG. 22C, one of the extension arm portions 94 is shown. An enlarged view of the extension arm portion 94 is shown in FIG. 22E. The extension arm 94 is an L-shaped foot positioned to fit over the inner sidewall 29 of the channel 21 and the longitudinally extending tab 43 of the fluid channel member 40 of the printhead module 30 disposed thereon. The portion is configured to be substantially L-shaped. As shown in FIG. 22E, the end of the L-shaped foot has an arcuate surface. This surface corresponds to the edge of the recess 94a provided in each of the extension arm portions 94, and its center is substantially located at the line II-II in FIG. 22 (see FIGS. 16 and 17B). ) The recess 94a extends along the length of the tab 43 extending in the longitudinal direction of the fluid channel member 40 to accommodate the position of the print head tile 50 when the extension arm 94 is clipped onto the fluid channel member 40. And are arranged to engage regularly spaced angular lugs 43a (see FIG. 4A).

  In this position, the arcuate edge of the recess 94a is in contact with the angled surface of the angled lug 43a (see FIG. 4A), which is the only point of contact between the extension arm 94 and the longitudinal extension tab 43. . Although not shown in FIG. 4A, the longitudinally extending tab 43 on the other side of the fluid channel member 40 similarly has a cornered lug 43a, which is a recess 24b on the support frame 22. In contact with the upper surface 24b.

  As previously mentioned implicitly, this particular configuration causes a downward inward force to act on the fluid channel member 40 by the extension arm 94 at these points of contact. This downward force helps restrain the printhead module 30 in the channel 21 in the z-axis direction as previously described. This inward force also constrains the printhead module 30 within the channel 21 by pushing the angular lugs 43a on the opposite longitudinally extending tabs 43 of the fluid channel member 40 into the recesses 24b of the support frame 20. Where the upper surface 24d of the recess 24b also applies an opposite downward inward force to the fluid channel member. In this regard, these opposing forces act to limit the range of motion of the fluid channel member 40 to the y-axis direction. It should be understood that the two angled lugs 43a shown in FIG. 4A for each of the recesses 94a are merely exemplary configurations of angled lugs 43a.

  Further, the angled lug 43a corresponds to the position of the print head tile 50 on the top surface of the fluid channel member 40 so that the bottom connection 81 of each flexible PCB 80 is aligned with the corresponding connector 98 of the PCB 90 when installed. (See FIGS. 6 and 18B). This is facilitated by a flexible PCB 80 having a hole 82 (FIG. 6) received by the lower retaining clip 96 of the support 91. As a result, these flexible PCBs 80 are correctly positioned under the pressure plate 74 held by the holding clip 96 as described above.

  22C and 22E, the (upper) lug 92 of the support 91 has an inner surface 92a that is slightly inclined from the plane normal of the support 91 in a direction away from the support 91. As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the upper lug 92 is formed as an elastic member that can be a hinge with respect to the support 91 by a spring-like action. As a result, the casing 20 is supported by biasing the (lower) lug 92 into a recess formed between the lower portion of the inner surface 25 and the lug 28a of the arm portion 28 of the support frame 22 when attached to the casing 20. A slight force is applied to the lugs 27 a on the uppermost surface 27 of the support frame 22 to help fix the support 91 to the frame 22.

  The manner in which the structure of the casing 20 is completed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the casing 20 includes the above-described cover portion 23 disposed adjacent to the support frame 22. Thus, the support frame 22 and the cover portion 23 together define a two-piece outer housing of the print head assembly 10. The profile of the cover part 23 is as shown in FIG.

  The cover portion 23 is configured to be placed on an exposed PCB 90 attached to a PCB support 91 mounted on the support frame 22 by the channel 21 of the casing 20 that holds the print head module 30. As a result, the cover unit 23 encloses the print head module 30 in the casing 20.

  The cover portion 23 is a tab that extends longitudinally (with respect to the orientation of the printhead assembly 10) on a bottom surface that is received in a recess 28c formed between the lug 28b and the curved end 28d of the arm portion 28 of the support frame 22. 23a (see FIG. 15A). This arrangement positions and holds the cover portion 23 in the casing 20 with respect to the support frame 22. The cover 23 is further held in place by attaching the end plate 111 or end housing 120 via the end plate 110 to the longitudinal side using screws through the threaded portion 23b (FIG. 23, FIG. 23). 29, 39). The end plates 110 and / or 111 are also attached to the support frame 22 on both longitudinal sides using screws through threaded portions 22a, 22b provided in the internal cavity 26 (see FIGS. 15A, 29, 39). thing). Further, the cover portion 23 is a hollow portion on the inner surface (with respect to the inner side of the print head assembly 10) of the cover portion 23 for accommodating the pressure plate (s) 74 attached to the PCB support body (s) 91. 23c has a profile as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the cover portion may also include a fin portion 23d (see FIG. 3) provided to dissipate heat generated by the PEC integrated circuit 100 during operation. To facilitate this, the inner surface of the cover part 23 may also be provided with a thermal coupling material part (not shown) that physically contacts the PEC integrated circuit 100 when the cover part 23 is attached to the support frame 22. is there. Still further, the cover portion 23 can also function to suppress electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can interfere with the operation of the dedicated electronic circuitry of the printhead assembly 10.

  The method by which a plurality of PCB supports 91 are assembled in the support frame 22 to provide a sufficient number of PEC integrated circuits 100 per printhead module according to one embodiment of the present invention is now described in FIGS. It will be explained with reference to.

  As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, each of the supports 91 is arranged to hold one of the PEC integrated circuits 100 that drives the four printhead integrated circuits 51. Thus, for example, in a printhead module 30 having 16 printhead tiles, 4 PEC integrated circuits 100 and thus 4 supports 91 are required. For this purpose, the support 91 is shown in FIG. 24 to extend the length of the casing 20 with each of the clipped supports 91 attached to the support frame 22 and the printhead module 30 as described above. As shown, assembled by end-to-end method. In this way, the single printhead module 30 of the 16 printhead tiles 50 is securely held in the casing 20 along its length.

  As shown more clearly in FIG. 16, the support 91 further includes a raised portion 91a and a recessed portion 91b at each end thereof. That is, each edge region of the end wall of the support 91 includes a raised portion 91a having a recess 91b formed along the outer edge thereof. This configuration creates an adjacent arrangement between adjacent supports 91 shown in FIG.

  This arrangement of two recesses 91b adjacent to one ridge 91a on each side forms a cavity that can receive a suitable electrical connection member 102, as shown in the cross section of FIG. Such an arrangement is input from one or both ends of the plurality of assembled supports 91, that is, input via a data connector (described later) provided at the end of the casing 20. Allows adjacent PCBs 90 supported by support 91 to be electrically connected to each other so that the data signal to be routed to the desired PEC integrated circuit 100 and thus to the desired printhead integrated circuit 51. To do.

  For this purpose, the connection member 102 provides an electrical connection between a plurality of pads provided in an edge contact region on the lower surface of each PCB 90 (with respect to the mounting direction on the support 91). Each of these pads is connected to a different area of the PCB 90 circuitry. FIG. 26 shows a PCB pad disposed on the connecting member 102. In particular, as shown in FIG. 26, a plurality of pads are provided as a series of connection strips 90a, 90b in a substantially central region of each edge of the lower surface of the PCB 90.

  As described above, since the connection member 102 is disposed in a cavity formed in the adjacent recess 91b of the adjacent support 91 (see FIG. 25), one PCB 90 is attached when the PCB 90 is attached to the support 91. The connecting strip 90a and the adjacent connecting strip 90b of the PCB 90 contact the same connecting agent 102 to provide an electrical connection therebetween.

  To accomplish this, each connecting member 102 can be formed as shown in FIG. 27 because it is a rectangular block with a series of conductive strips 104 provided on each surface thereof. Alternatively, the conductive strip 104 can be formed on only one surface of the connecting member 102 as shown in FIGS. Such connecting members can typically be formed from strips of silicone rubber printed to provide strips of conductive and non-conductive materials spaced apart in sequence. As shown in FIG. 27, these conductive strips 104 are provided in a 2: 1 relationship with the connection strips 90a, 90b of the PCB 90. That is, the conductive strip 104 is provided twice as many as the connection strips 90a and 90b having the width of the conductive strip 104 less than half the width of the connection strips 90a and 90b. Thus, any one connection strip 90a or 90b can contact one or both of the corresponding two conductive strips 104, thus minimizing the alignment requirement between the connection member 104 and the contact area of the PCB 90.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the connection strips 90a, 90b have sufficient spacing between the connection strips to prevent a short circuit, while the two thinner conductive strips 104 are each one of the connection strips 90a, 90b. The contact strips are approximately 0.4 mm wide at intervals of 0.4 mm so that they can be contacted with high reliability. The connecting strips 90a, 90b and the conductive strip 104 can be gold plated to provide reliable contact. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the use of a connecting member and a suitably configured PCB support is merely one exemplary method of connecting PCB 90, and that other types of connections are within the scope of the present invention. to understand.

  Further, the circuit of the PCB 90 includes not only the print head integrated circuit 51 in which the PEC integrated circuit 100 of one PCB 90 of the PCBs 90 of the assembled support 91 is directly connected to the PCB 90 but also adjacent PCB (s). Arranged so that 90 integrated circuits and any non-adjacent PCB (s) 90 additional circuitry can be used to drive. Such a configuration advantageously provides the printhead assembly 10 with the ability to operate continuously despite one of the PEC integrated circuit 100 and / or PCB 90 being defective at a reduced printing speed.

  According to the above-described scalability of the printhead assembly 10 of the present invention, the assembly that contacts the end of the PCB support 91 has the required length of the printhead assembly 10 due to the modularity of the support 91. Can be expanded to For this purpose, the bus bars 71, 72, 73 need to extend the combined length of the plurality of PCB supports 91, which is when a relatively long printhead assembly 10 is desired such as wide paper printing applications. Moreover, this may result in insufficient power being sent to each of the PCBs 90.

  To minimize power loss, two power sources can be used, one at each end of the printhead assembly, and a group of bus bars 70 can be used from each end. For example, the connection of these two busbar groups substantially at the center of the printhead assembly 10 is facilitated by providing exemplary connection areas 71a, 72a, 73a shown in FIG.

  In particular, the bus bars 71, 72, 73 are provided in a zigzag arrangement with respect to each other, and their end regions are constituted by actual row portions shown in FIG. 28 as connection regions 71a, 72a, 73a. Accordingly, the connection areas 71a, 72a, 73a of the first group of bus bars 70 overlap and engage with the corresponding bus bar connection areas 71a, 72a, 73a of the bus bars 71, 72, 73 of the second group of bus bars 70. .

  The manner in which these busbars are connected to the power source, the arrangement of the end plates 110, 111 and the end housing (s) 120 that house these connections are now referred to FIGS. 1, 2 and 29-39. Explained.

  FIG. 29 shows an end of an exemplary printhead assembly according to an embodiment of the invention similar to that shown in FIG. At this end, the end housing 120 is attached to the casing 20 of the print head assembly 10 via the end plate 110.

  The end housing plate assembly contains connection electronics for supplying power to the bus bars 71, 72, 73 and for supplying data to the PCB 90. This end housing plate assembly also houses a connection for an internal fluid transfer tube 6 with an external fluid transfer tube (not shown) of the fluid source of the printing system to which the printhead assembly 10 is applied.

  These connecting portions are provided on the connector device 115 as shown in FIG. FIG. 30 shows a connector device 115 that fits into an end plate 110 attached via screws as described above to the end of the casing 20 of the printhead assembly 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the connector device 115 includes a power supply connection unit 116, a data connection unit 117, and a fluid conveyance connection unit 118. The terminal of the power supply connection part 116 is connected to the corresponding contact screw of the three contact screws 116a, 116b, 116c provided to be connected to the corresponding one of the bus bars 71, 72, 73, respectively. Is done. For this purpose, each of the bus bars 71, 72, 73 is provided with a threaded hole at a position suitable for engagement with the contact screws 116a, 116b, 116c. Further, as shown in FIG. 31, in order to facilitate the engagement between the bus bars 71, 72, 73 and the connector device 115, at the end portions of the bus bars 71, 72, 73 to be brought into contact with the contact screws 116a, 116b, 116c. Are provided with connection areas 71a, 72a, 73a (see FIG. 28).

  30, 32A, 32B show only three contact screws, one for each of the busbars, or a location for three contact screws. However, the use of different numbers of contact screws is also within the scope of the present invention. That is, depending on the amount of power routed to the busbars, it may be necessary to provide more than one contact screw for each busbar to provide sufficient power contact (see, eg, FIGS. 33B and 33C). thing). Further, as described above, a greater or lesser number of bus bars may be used, and thus a correspondingly greater or lesser number of contact screws may be used. Still further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other means of bringing the bus bar into contact with the power source via the connector device, such as soldering, are also within the scope of the present invention.

  A method of attaching the power connection 116 and the data connection 117 to the connector device 115 is shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B. Further, the connection tab 118a of the fluid transport connection portion 118 is attached to the hole 115a of the connector device 115 so that the fluid transport connection portion 118 overlaps the data connection portion 117 with respect to the connector device 115 (see FIGS. 30 and 32C). .

  30 and 32C, according to the seven internal fluid transfer tubes 6, the fluid transfer connection portion 118 is provided with seven internal and external tube connectors 118b and 118c. That is, as shown in FIG. 34, the fluid transfer tube 6 connects between the internal tube connector 118b of the fluid transfer connection portion 118 and the seven tubular portions 47b or 48b of the fluid transfer connector 47 or 48. As previously mentioned, those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the present invention is not limited to this number, such as a fluid delivery tube.

  32A and 32B, the connector device 115 is connected to the bus bars 71, 72, 73 via the region 115b and the contact screws 116a, 116b, 116c of the power supply connecting portion 116, and on the casing 20 via the region 115c. The regions 115b and 115c are shaped to be received by the casing 20 in a manner that facilitates the connection of the end PCB 90 and the data connection 117 of the plurality of PCBs 90 arranged in the.

  The region 115c of the connector device 115 is provided so that one of the connecting members 102 connects the data connecting portion of the data connecting portion 117 to the end PCB 90, and thus the plurality of PCBs 90 are connected via the connecting member 102 provided therebetween. It is advantageous to have a connection area (not shown) of the data connection 117 corresponding to the connection strip 90a or 90b provided in the edge contact area on the underside of the end PCB 90 so that it can be used to connect to everything. is there.

  This is shown in FIG. 33A having a ridge 112a and a recess 112b on one edge thereof arranged to align with the ridge 91a and recess 91b of the end PCB support 91 (see FIG. 24), respectively. This is facilitated by using such a support member 112. The support member 112 is attached to the rear surface of the end PCB support 91 by engaging the tab 112c with the slot region 91c on the rear surface of the end PCB support 91 (see FIG. 17B). Is held on the upper and lower side surfaces by the clip portion 112d of the support member 112 so that the connection region of the region 115c is substantially in the same plane as the edge contact region of the lower surface of the end PCB 90.

  When the end plate 110 is attached to the end of the casing 20 in this way, an adjacent arrangement is formed between the recesses 112b and 91b, similar to the adjacent arrangement formed between the recesses 91b of the adjacent support 91 in FIG. . Therefore, the connection member 102 can be accommodated compactly between the end PCB 90 and the region 115 c of the connector device 115. This arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 33B and 33C for another type of connector device 125 having a corresponding region 125c, which will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 37, 38A, and 38B.

  This exemplary method of connecting the data connection 117 to the end PCB 90 does not require a different configuration of PCB 90 disposed at the longitudinal end of the casing 20, and the same method of data connection is the same as the print head. It contributes to the modular aspect of the present invention in that it can be kept throughout assembly 10. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additional or other component provisions for connecting the data connection 117 to the end PCB 90 are within the scope of the present invention.

  Returning to FIG. 30, the regions 115b, 115c of the connector device 115 can protrude into the casing 20 for connection to the bus bars 71, 72, 73 and the end PCB 90, and the bus bars 71, 72, 73 It can be seen that the end plate 110 is shaped to fit the regions 115b, 115c of the connector device 115 so that can extend to contact screws 116a, 116b, 116c provided on the connector device 115. This particular shape of end plate 110 is shown in FIG. 35A, where regions 110a and 110b of end plate 110 correspond to regions 115b and 115c of connector device 115, respectively. Further, an area 110 c of the end plate 110 is provided to allow connection between the internal fluid transport tube 6 and the fluid transport connectors 47, 48 of the print head module 30.

  The end housing 120 is also connected to the power supply 116 and the data connection such that an external connection region such as the external tube connector 118c of the fluid carrying connection 118 shown in FIG. 32C is exposed from the printhead assembly 10 as shown in FIG. Shaped as shown in FIG. 35A to hold part 117 and fluid transport connection 118.

  FIG. 35B shows an end plate 110 and an end housing 120 that may be provided at the other end of the casing 20 of the printhead assembly 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 35B corresponds, for example, to the situation where end housings are provided at both ends of the casing to provide power and / or fluid carrying connections at both ends of the printhead assembly. Such an exemplary printhead assembly is shown in FIG. 36 and corresponds, for example, to the above-described exemplary application of wide paper printing where the printhead assembly is relatively long.

  To this end, FIG. 37 shows an end housing plate assembly for the other end of the casing having a connector device 125 housed therein. For illustrative purposes, bus bars 71, 72, 73 attached to the connector device 125 are shown. As can be seen, the bus bars 71, 72, 73 are provided with connection areas 71 a, 72 a, 73 a for engagement with the connector device 125, similar to that shown in FIG. 31 for the connector device 115. This connector device 125 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 38A and 38B.

  38A and 38B, like the connector device 115, the connector device 125 holds the power connection portion 116, a place for a contact screw for contact with the bus bars 71, 72, 73, and a fluid conveyance portion. 118 (not shown) includes holes 125a for retaining clips 118a and regions 125b, 125c for extending into the casing 20 through regions 110a, 110b of the end plate 110, respectively. However, unlike the connector device 115, the connector device 125 does not hold the data connection portion 117 and includes a spring portion 125d instead.

  This is because, unlike power and fluid sources in relatively long printhead assembly applications, it is simply necessary to input drive data from one end of the printhead assembly. However, in order to correctly input a data signal to the plurality of PEC integrated circuits 100, it is necessary to terminate the data signal at an end opposite to the data input end. Therefore, the region 125c of the connector device 125 includes a termination region (not shown) corresponding to the edge contact region on the lower surface of the end PCB 90 at the termination end. These termination regions are suitably connected to the contact regions via the connection member 102 in the manner described above.

  The purpose of the spring portion 125d is to maintain these end connections even in the case of expansion and contraction of the casing 20 due to temperature changes as described above, which may exacerbate any effect in longer printhead applications. . The configuration of the spring portion 125d shown in FIGS. 38A and 38B allows the region 125c to be displaced through a certain distance from the main body portion 125e of the connector device 125 while being biased in the vertical direction away from the main body portion 125e. The spring portion is formed in the connector device 125 by removing a part of the material constituting the main body portion 125e.

  In this way, when the connector device 125 is attached to the end plate 110 attached to the casing 20, the spring portion 125d receives a pressing force on the body of the connector device 125, thereby moving the region 125c from its rest position to the body. The region 125c is brought into contact with the adjacent edge of the end PCB 90 in such a way that the portion 125e is displaced by a predetermined amount. In this arrangement, for any dimensional change of the casing 20 due to thermal expansion and contraction, the data signal remains terminated at the end of the plurality of PCBs 90 opposite the end of the data signal input as follows: Guarantee that.

  The PCB support 91 is held on the support frame 22 of the casing 20 so as to “float” the printhead module (s) 30 as “float” on the channel 21 as described above. Is done. As a result, the support 91 and the fluid channel member 40 of the printhead module 30 are formed of a similar material, such as an LCP having the same or similar expansion coefficient, so that in the case of any expansion and contraction of the casing 20 Further, the support 91 holds the relative position with the print head module (s) 30 by the clip action of the extension arm portion 94.

  Thus, each of the supports 91 retains an adjacent connection via the connection member 102, which is facilitated by a relatively large overlap between the connection member 102 and the connection strips 90a, 90b of the PCB 90 as shown in FIG. To be. Accordingly, the PCB 90 and the support 91 to which they are attached are biased toward the connector device 115 by the spring portion 125d of the connector device 125, so that when the casing 20 is expanded and contracted, the connector devices 115, 125 otherwise. Any gap that may occur between the end portion PCB 90 and the end PCB 90 is prevented by the action of the spring portion 125d.

  Adaptation to any expansion and contraction is facilitated by the two groups of connection areas 71a, 72a, 73a of the bus bar 70 used in relatively long printhead assembly applications with respect to power. This allows the overlap area between the two groups of bus bars 70 to allow relative movement of the connector devices 115, 125 to which the bus bars 71, 72, 73 are attached while maintaining the connection overlap in this area. This is because these connection regions 71a, 72a, 73a are formed.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 30, 33B, 33C, and 37, the connector devices 115 and 125 are connected to the connector devices 115 and 125 (with respect to the mounting direction to the casing 20) in front of the connector devices 115 and 125 (via contact screws 116a, 116b, and 116c). The ends of the bus bars 71, 72, 73 are shown. As an alternative, the bus bars 71, 72, 73 can be connected to the rear surfaces of the connector devices 115, 125. In such an alternative configuration, even if the bus bars 71, 72, 73 thus connected may slightly displace the connector devices 115, 125 towards the cover part 23, the area of the connector devices 115, 125 115c and 125c are maintained in substantially the same plane as the edge contact region of the end PCB 90 by the clip portion 112d of the support member 112 that holds the upper and lower sides of the region 115c 125c.

  A printed circuit board having connection areas printed on the individual areas can be used as connector devices 115, 125 to provide the various electrical connections provided thereby.

  FIG. 39 shows an end plate 111 that can be attached to the other end of the casing 20 of the printhead assembly 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention instead of the end housing plate assembly shown in FIGS. 35A and 35B. This provides for situations where the printhead assembly is not long enough to require power and fluid to be supplied from both ends. For example, in an A4 size printing application, a printhead assembly containing one printhead module consisting of 16 printhead tiles can be used.

  Therefore, in such a situation, it is not particularly necessary to provide a connector device at the end of the print head module 30 that is capped by the capping member 49. An end plate 111 can be used which serves to securely hold the support frame 22 and the cover part 23 of the casing 20 to each other via (see FIG. 2).

  Further, if it is necessary to provide a data signal termination at this end of the plurality of PCBs 90, the end plate 111 is similar to the region 125c of the connector device 125, and is a termination region corresponding to the edge contact region of the end PCB 90. A slot portion (not shown) can be provided on its inner surface (with respect to the mounting direction on the casing 20) that can support a PCB (not shown) having a vertical axis. Similarly, these terminal regions can be appropriately connected to the contact region via the support member 112 and the connection member 102. This PCB also provides a spring portion similar to the spring portion 125d of the connector device 125 between the termination region and the end plate 111 when expansion and contraction of the casing 20 can cause connection problems in this application. Can be included.

  Either the end housing 120 and the plate 110 assembly are attached to both ends of the casing 20 or the end housing 120 and the plate 110 assembly are attached to one end of the casing 20 and the end plate 111 is attached to the other end of the casing 20. Thus, the structure of the print head assembly according to the present invention is completed.

  The printhead assembly thus assembled can then be mounted on a printing unit where the assembled length of the printhead assembly is applicable. An exemplary printing unit to which the printhead module and printhead assembly of the present invention can be applied is as follows.

For home office printing units that print on A4 and letter size paper, a printhead assembly with a single printhead module with 11 printhead integrated circuits can be used to present a printhead width of 224 mm. . The printing unit can print at about 60 pages / minute (ppm) when the nozzle speed is about 20 kHz. At this speed, up to about 1690 × 10 ⁶ drops or about 1.6896 ml of ink are fired per second for the entire printhead. This results in a surface printing speed of the linear printing speed or about 0.07Sqms ^-1 to about 0.32ms ^-1. A single PEC integrated circuit can be used to drive all 11 printhead integrated circuits with a PEC integrated circuit that calculates approximately 1.8 billion dots per second.

For print units that print on A3 and tabloid size paper, a printhead assembly with a single printhead module with 16 printhead integrated circuits can be used to present a printhead width of 325 mm. This printing unit can print at about 120 ppm when the nozzle speed is about 55 kHz. At this speed, a maximum of about 6758 × 10 ⁶ drops or about 6.7584 ml of ink are fired per second for the entire printhead. This results in a area printing speed of the linear printing speed or about 0.28Sqms ^-1 to about 0.87ms ^-1. With PEC integrated circuits that collectively calculate approximately 7.2 billion dots per second, four PEC integrated circuits, each driving four printhead integrated circuits, can be used.

For a printing unit that prints on a roll of wallpaper, a printhead assembly having one or more printhead modules with 36 printhead integrated circuits can be used to present a printhead width of 732 mm. When the nozzle speed is about 55 kHz, a maximum of about 15206 × 10 ⁶ drops or about 15.2064 ml of ink is fired per second for the entire printhead. This results in a surface printing speed of the linear printing speed or about 0.64Sqms ^-1 to about 0.87ms ^-1. With a PEC integrated circuit that calculates approximately 16.2 billion dots per second, nine PEC integrated circuits, each driving four printhead integrated circuits, can be used.

For wide paper printing units that print on a roll of print media, a printhead assembly having one or more printhead modules with 92 printhead integrated circuits can be used to present a printhead width of 1869 mm. When the nozzle speed is in the range of about 15-55 kHz, a maximum of about 10598 × 10 ^{6 to} 38861 × 10 ⁶ drops or about 10.95984 to 38.8608 ml of ink are fired per second for the entire printhead. This results in a surface printing speed of the linear printing speed or about 0.45～1.63Sqms ^-1 to about 0.24~0.87ms ^-1. At this lower speed, each of the 16 printhead integrated circuits is driven by a PEC integrated circuit that collectively computes about 10.8 billion dots per second (one of the PEC integrated circuits that drive 12 printhead integrated circuits). Six PEC integrated circuits can be used. At this higher speed, 23 PEC integrated circuits, each driving 4 printhead integrated circuits, can be used with a PEC integrated circuit that collectively computes about 41.4 billion dots per second.

For “ultra-wide” print units that print on a roll of print media, a printhead assembly having one or more printhead modules with 200 printhead integrated circuits is used to present a printhead width of 4064 mm it can. When the nozzle speed is about 15 kHz, a maximum of about 23040 × 10 ⁶ drops or about 23.04 ml of ink is fired per second for the entire printhead. This results in a surface printing speed of the linear printing speed or about 0.97Sqms ^-1 to about 0.24ms ^-1. 13 PECs each driven 16 printhead integrated circuits (by one of the PEC integrated circuits driving 8 printhead integrated circuits) with PEC integrated circuits that collectively calculate approximately 23.4 billion dots per second An integrated circuit can be used.

  For the exemplary print unit application described above, the required printhead assembly can be provided by a corresponding standard length printhead module or by a combination of several standard length printhead modules. It is possible that any of the above exemplary print unit applications can include duplex printing with simultaneous duplex printing, such that two printhead assemblies each having the number of printhead tiles given above are used. Of course. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these applications are merely examples, and the number of printhead integrated circuits, the nozzle speed, and the associated printing capabilities of the printhead assembly will depend on the particular printing unit application.

(Print engine controller)
The function and structure of the PEC integrated circuit applicable to the printhead assembly of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to FIGS.

  In the above exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the printhead integrated circuit 51 of the printhead assembly 10 is controlled by the PEC integrated circuit 100 of the drive electronics 100. One or more PEC integrated circuits 100 are provided to allow page width printing on a variety of different sized pages. Each of the PCBs 90 supported by the PCB support 91 as described above has one PEC integrated circuit 100 that interfaces with four printhead integrated circuits 51, which essentially consists of PEC integrated circuits 100. The print head integrated circuit 51 is driven, and the received print data is transferred to the print head integrated circuit 51 in a format suitable for printing.

  An exemplary PEC integrated circuit suitable for driving the printhead integrated circuit of the present invention is the applicant's co-pending US patent application Ser. Nos. 09 / 575,108, 09 / 575,109, 09/575. , 110, 09 / 606,999, 09 / 607,985, 09 / 607,990, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 40, the data flow and functions performed by the PEC integrated circuit 100 will be described with respect to a situation where the PEC integrated circuit 100 is suitable for driving a print head assembly having a plurality of print head modules 30. As described above, the printhead module 30 of one embodiment of the present invention utilizes six channels of printing fluid. These are as follows:
-Cyan, magenta, yellow (CMY) for normal color printing,
-Black text or other black or black (K) for grayscale printing,
Infrared color (IR) for tag-enabled applications,
A fixing agent (F) that enables high-speed printing.

  As shown in FIG. 40, a document is typically a raster image processor (single) programmed to perform various processing steps 131-134 associated with printing the document prior to transmission to the PEC integrated circuit. Or a plurality of (PIP integrated circuit 100) by a computer system having RIP (s). These steps typically include receiving document data (step 131) and storing this data in a memory buffer of the computer system (step 132), where a page layout is generated and required. Can be added. Prior to transmission to the PEC integrated circuit 100, the pages from the memory buffer are rasterized by RIP (step 133) and then compressed (step 134). When page data is received, the PEC integrated circuit 100 processes this data to drive the printhead integrated circuit 51.

  Due to the page width of the printhead assembly of the present invention, each page must be printed at a constant speed to avoid the production of visible artifacts. This means that the printing speed cannot be changed to match the input data speed. Thus, document rasterization and document printing are decoupled to ensure that the printhead assembly has a constant data supply. In this configuration, the page is not printed until a page is fully rasterized, and a compressed version of each rasterized page image is stored in memory to achieve a constant high printing speed. This decoupling also allows RIP (s) to operate prior to the printer when purchasing time to rasterize complex pages and rasterizing simple pages.

  While continuous tone color images are reproduced by stochastic dithering, black text and line art are reproduced using dots directly, so the compressed page image format is a separate foreground binary black layer and background continuous. Gradation color layer. The black layer is synthesized on the continuous tone layer after the continuous tone layer is dithered (although the continuous tone layer has an optional black component). If necessary, the final layer of tags (in IR or black ink) is optionally added to this page for printout.

  The dither matrix selection area in the page description is losslessly compressed to a negligible size and rasterized into a continuous tone resolution binary bitmap that forms part of the compressed page. The IR layer of the printed page optionally includes encoding tags at a programmable density.

  As described above, the RIP software / hardware rasterizes each page description and compresses the rasterized page image. Each compressed page image is transferred to the PEC integrated circuit 100 where it is then stored in the memory buffer 135. This compressed page image is then retrieved and sent to a page image magnifier 136 where the page image is reproduced. If necessary, an optional dither is added to an arbitrary continuous tone layer by a dithering means 137, and an optional black binary layer is combined with an arbitrary infrared color tag that can be drawn by a rendering means 139. It can be synthesized on the continuous tone layer by the device 138. Returning to the description of the processing steps, the PEC integrated circuit 100 then drives the print head integrated circuit 51 to print the page data synthesized in step 140 that generates the print page 141.

  In this regard, the processing performed by the PEC integrated circuit 100 can be considered to consist of a number of different stages. The first stage has the ability to simultaneously expand all JPEG compressed continuous tone CMYK layers, group 4Fax compressed binary dither matrix selection maps, and group 4Fax compressed binary black layers. In parallel with this, the binary IR tag data can be encoded from the compressed page image. The second stage dithers the continuous tone CMYK layer using the dither matrix selected by the dither matrix selection map, and synthesizes the binary black layer on top of the resulting binary K layer. Add an IR layer to the page. A fixer layer is also generated at each dot location where needed for any of the C, M, Y, K or IR channels. The last stage prints binary CMYK + IR data through the printhead assembly.

FIG. 41 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a printhead assembly of the present invention that includes a PEC integrated circuit (s) 100 in connection with the overall printing system architecture. As shown, the various components of the printhead assembly include:
A PEC integrated circuit 100 that is responsible for receiving page images compressed for storage in the memory buffer 142, performing page expansion and black layer composition, and transmitting dot data to the printhead integrated circuit 51. The PEC integrated circuit 100 can also communicate with a master quality assurance (QA) integrated circuit 143 and a (replaceable) ink cartridge QA integrated circuit 144 and includes means to restore printhead assembly characteristics to ensure optimal printing. ;
A memory buffer 142 for storing compressed page images and for temporary use when printing a given page; The structure and function of memory buffers are known to those skilled in the art, and a range of standard integrated circuits and techniques for using them are available when using the PEC integrated circuit (s) 100;
A master integrated circuit 143 that is compatible with the replaceable ink cartridge QA integrated circuit 144. The structure and function of a QA integrated circuit is known to those skilled in the art, and a range of known QA processing is available when using the PEC integrated circuit (s) 100.

As stated to some extent above, the PEC integrated circuit 100 of the present invention essentially performs the following four levels of functions:
Receiving compressed pages via a serial interface such as IEEE 1394;
-To function as a print engine for generating pages from a compressed format. This print engine function can enlarge the page image, dither the continuous tone (continuous tone) layer, synthesize the black layer on the continuous tone layer, Adding and sending the resulting image to the printhead integrated circuit;
Function as a print controller to control the printhead integrated circuit and the stepping motor of the printing system;
Act as two standard low speed serial ports for communication with two QA integrated circuits. In this regard, two ports are used instead of one to ensure strong security during the authentication procedure.

  These functions will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 42 which provides a more specific illustration of a PEC integrated circuit architecture according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The PEC integrated circuit 100 incorporates a simple microcontroller CPU core 145 to perform the following functions:
Performing the QA integrated circuit authentication protocol between the printed pages via the serial interface 146;
Driving the stepping motor of the printing system via the parallel interface 147 during printing to control the paper feed to the printhead integrated circuit 51 for printing (the stepping motor requires a 5 KHz process);
Synchronize the various components of the PEC integrated circuit 100 during printing;
Provide an interface to external data requests (such as programming registers);
Provide an interface means to the corresponding printhead module's low-speed data requirements (such as reading a characterization vector, writing a pulse profile);
Provide a means for writing portrait and landscape tag structures to external DRAM 148.

  To perform the page enlargement and printing process, the PEC integrated circuit 100 includes a high speed serial interface 149 (such as a standard IEEE 1394 interface), a standard JPEG decoder 150, a standard group 4 Fax decoder 151, and custom halftone generation. Unit / synthesizer (HC) 152, custom tag encoder 153, line loader / formatter (LLF) 154, and print head interface 155 (PHI) communicating with print head integrated circuit 51 And including. Decoders 150 and 151 and tag encoder 153 are buffered in HC 152. Tag encoder 153 establishes the infrared tag (s) for the page according to a protocol that depends on how the page is used.

  The print engine function works in a double buffered manner. That is, one page is loaded from the high-speed serial interface 149 to the external DRAM 148 via the DRAM interface 156 and the data bus 157, but the previously loaded page is read from the DRAM 148 and passed through print engine processing. Once the page has completed printing, the currently loaded page becomes the page to be printed and a new page is loaded via the high speed serial interface 149.

  In the first stage described above, this process expands any JPEG compressed continuous tone (CMYK) layer and expands any of the two group 4Fax compressed binary data streams. These two streams consist of a black layer (the PEC integrated circuit 100 is actually not color aware and this binary layer can be routed to any of the output inks) and continuous tone (continuous tone) dithering. Matte layer (matte surface) for choosing between dither matrices. In the second stage, in parallel with the first stage, any tag is encoded for later rendering with IR or black ink.

  Finally, the continuous tone layer is dithered in the third stage, and the position tag and the binary spot layer are combined on the resulting binary dithering layer. The data stream is ideally adjusted to create a smooth transition across overlapping segments in the printhead assembly, and ideally adjusted to compensate for unusable nozzles in the printhead assembly . From this stage, up to 6 channels of binary data are generated.

  However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the printhead module 30 need not have all six channels. For example, the printhead module 30 can provide only CMY by pushing K into the CMY channel and ignoring IR. Alternatively, the location tag can be printed in K if IR ink is not available (or for testing purposes). The resulting binary CMYK-IR dot data is buffered and formatted for printing by the printhead integrated circuit 51 via a set of line buffers (not shown). Most of these line buffers may ideally be stored in external DRAM 148. Six channels of binary dot data are printed via PHI 155 in the last stage.

  HC152 has the ability to halftone a continuous tone (typically CMYK) layer to its binary version and the binary layer of spot 1 on the appropriate halftone continuous tone layer (s) Combined with the ability to synthesize. If K ink is not present, the HC 152 can properly map K to CMY dots. This also selects between the two dither matrices, pixel by pixel, based on the corresponding values in the dither matrix selection map. Input to the HC 152 is an enlarged continuous tone layer (from the JPEG decoder 146) via the buffer 158, an enlarged binary spot 1 layer via the buffer 159, and a buffer 160. Typically, an enlarged dither matrix selection bitmap having the same resolution as the continuous tone layer, and full dot resolution tag data via a buffer (FIFO) 161.

  The HC 152 uses up to two dither matrices that are read from the external DRAM 148. The output from the HC 152 to the LLF 154 is a set of printer resolution binary image lines on up to six color planes. Typically, the continuous tone layer is CMYK or CMY, and the binary spot 1 layer is K. Once started, the HC 152 proceeds until it detects an “end of page” condition or until it is explicitly stopped via its control register (not shown).

  The LLF 154 receives the dot information from the HC 152 and loads the dots for a given print line into the appropriate buffer storage (some on the integrated circuit (not shown) and some in the external DRAM 148), These are formatted in the order required for the printhead integrated circuit 51. In particular, the input to LLF 154 is a set of 6 words of 32 bit words and 1 bit of data valid bits all generated by HC 152. The output of the LLF 154 is a set of 190 bits representing up to 15 printhead integrated circuits in 6 colors. Depending on how many colors are actually used in the printhead assembly, not all output bits may be valid.

  The physical arrangement of the nozzles on the printhead assembly of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is two offset (offset) rows, which have odd and even dots of the same color for two different rows. It means to do. The even dots are for line L and the odd dots are for line L-2. In addition, there are many lines between one color dot and another color dot. Since six color planes for the same dot location are calculated at a time by the HC 152, it is necessary to delay the dot data for each of these color planes until the same dot is positioned under the appropriate color nozzle. is there. The size of each buffer line depends on the width of the printhead assembly. Since a single PEC integrated circuit 100 can generate up to 15 dots for the printhead integrated circuit 51, a single odd or even buffer line is 15 640 dots for a total of 9600 bits (1200 bytes). Is a set. For example, the total buffer required for odd dots of 6 colors is about 45 kilobytes.

  The PHI 155 is means for loading the dots to be printed by the PEC integrated circuit 100 onto the print head integrated circuit 51 and controlling the actual dot printing process. This takes input from the LLF 154 and outputs data to the printhead integrated circuit 51. The PHI 155 can handle various printhead assembly lengths and formats. The internal structure of the PHI 155 includes a maximum of six colors, eight print head integrated circuits 51 per transfer, and fifteen print head integrated circuits 51 (8.5 in a printing system capable of printing on A4 / letter size paper at full speed. A maximum of two groups of printhead integrated circuits 51 groups, which is sufficient for a printhead assembly having an inch).

  The combination characterization vector of the printhead assembly 10 can be read back via the serial interface 146. This characterization vector can include not only relative printhead module alignment data, but also information about nozzles that are not available. Each printhead module may be interrogated via its low speed serial bus 162 to return the printhead module characterization vector. Characterization vectors from multiple printhead modules can be combined to create a nozzle defect list for the entire printhead assembly, allowing the PEC integrated circuit 100 to correct defective nozzles during printing. As long as the number of defective nozzles is small, this correction can produce results that are indistinguishable from those of a printhead assembly that does not have defective nozzles.

(Fluid distribution stack)
An exemplary structure of the fluid distribution stack of the printhead tile will now be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 43 shows an exploded view of a fluid distribution stack 500 having a printhead integrated circuit 51 also shown with respect to the stack 500. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 43, the stack 500 includes three layers: an upper layer 510, an intermediate layer 520, and a lower layer 530, and further includes a channel layer 540 and a plate 550 provided in this order on the upper layer 510. Including. Each of the layers 510, 520, 530 is formed as a sheet of stainless steel or micro-molded plastic material.

  The printhead integrated circuit 51 is bonded to the upper layer 510 of the stack 500 so as to lie over the array of etched holes 511, and thus adjacent to the stack of channel layer 540 and plate 550. The printhead integrated circuit 51 itself is formed as a multi-layer stack of silicon having fluid channels (not shown) in the bottom layer 51a. These channels align with the holes 511 when the printhead integrated circuit 51 is attached to the stack 500. In one embodiment of the present invention, the printhead integrated circuit 51 has a width of about 1 mm and a length of 21 mm. This length is determined by the width of the stepper field used to fabricate the printhead integrated circuit 51. Accordingly, the holes 511 are arranged to match these dimensions of the printhead integrated circuit 51.

  The upper layer 510 has an etched channel 512 on its lower surface (FIG. 43 shows only a portion of the channel 512 as a hidden detail). Channels 512 extend as shown so that their ends align with holes 521 in intermediate layer 520. Different channels in channel 512 align with different holes in hole 521. Similarly, the hole 521 is aligned with the channel 531 of the lower layer 530.

  Each of the channels 531 carries a different color or type of ink or fluid, except for the last channel indicated by reference numeral 532. The last channel 532 is an air channel that aligns with further holes 522 in the middle layer 520, and these holes 522 also align with further holes 513 in the upper layer 510. The further holes 513 align with the inside 541 of the slot 542 formed in the channel layer 540 so that these inside align with the air channel 532 as shown by the dashed line 543 and are therefore in fluid flow communication with the air channel 532.

  The lower layer 530 includes an entry port 54 of the printhead tile 50 that opens into a corresponding one of the channels 531, 532.

  To supply air to the printhead integrated circuit surface, compressed and filtered air from an air supply (not shown) enters the air channel 532 through a corresponding inlet port 54, respectively with the intermediate layer 520 and The holes 522 and 513 in the upper layer 510 are then passed through the slots 542 in the channel layer 540. This air enters the side surface 51b of the printhead integrated circuit 51 from the direction of the arrow A, and is then discharged from the printhead integrated circuit 51 substantially in the direction of the arrow B. A nozzle guard 51c may be further disposed on the top surface of the printhead integrated circuit 51 to partially cover the nozzles to help keep the nozzles clean away from the print media dust.

  In order to supply these nozzles with different colors and types of inks and other fluids (not shown), these different inks and other fluids enter the corresponding one of the channels 531 through the inlet port 54, Passes through the corresponding hole 521 in the intermediate layer 520, flows along the corresponding channel in the lower surface of the upper layer 510, passes through the corresponding hole 511 in the upper layer 510, and finally, through the slot 542 of the channel layer 540 as described above. It passes through and reaches the print head integrated circuit 51.

  As it travels this path, the ink and fluid flow diameters gradually decrease from a macro-sized flow diameter at the inlet port 54 to a micro-sized flow diameter at the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit 51.

  The exemplary embodiment of the fluid distribution stack shown in FIG. 43 is configured to distribute seven different fluids, including air, to the printhead integrated circuit in accordance with the above-described exemplary embodiment of the fluid channel member duct. The However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that more or fewer types of fluids can be used depending on the particular printing application, and therefore the fluid distribution stack can be configured as needed.

(Nozzle and actuator)
An exemplary nozzle arrangement suitable for the printhead assembly of the present invention is the applicant's following co-pending and granted applications: US Pat. No. 6,188,415; 6,209,989. No. 6,213,588; No. 6,213,589; No. 6,217,153; No. 6,220,694; No. 6,227,652; No. 6 No. 6,227,654; No. 6,231,163; No. 6,234,609; No. 6,234,610; No. 6,234,611 No. 6,238,040; No. 6,338,547; No. 6,239,821; No. 6,241,342; No. 6,243,113; No. 244,691; No. 6,247,790; No. 6,247,791; No. No. 6,247,793; No. 6,247,794; No. 6,247,795; No. 6,247,796; No. 6,254,220 No. 6,257,704; No. 6,257,705; No. 6,260,953; No. 6,264,306; No. 6,264,307; 267,469; 6,283,581; 6,283,582; 6,293,653; 6,302,528; 6,312,107; 6,336,710; 6,362,843; 6,390,603; 6,394,581; 6,416,167; 6,416 168; 6,557,977; 6,273,544; 6,299,28 No. 6,299,290; No. 6,309,048; No. 6,378,989; No. 6,420,196; No. 6,425,654; No. 6 , 439,689; 6,443,558; and 6,634,735; U.S. Patent Application No. 09 / 425,420; U.S. Patent No. 6,623,101; 406,129; 6,457,809; 6,457,812; 6,505,916; 6,550,895; 6,428,133; 6,305,788; 6,315,399; 6,322,194; 6,322,195; 6,328,425; 6,328 431; No. 6,338,548; No. 6,364,453; No. 6,383 No. 6,390,591; No. 6,390,605; No. 6,417,757; No. 6,425,971; No. 6,426,014; No. 6,428,139; No. 6,428,142; No. 6,439,693; No. 6,439,908; No. 6,457,795; No. 6,502, No. 306; No. 6,565,193; No. 6,588,885; No. 6,595,624; No. 6,460,778; No. 6,464,332; No. 6,478,406; No. 6,480,089; No. 6,540,319; No. 6,575,549; No. 6,609,786; No. 6,609,787 No. 6,612,110; No. 6,623,106; No. 6,629,745; No. No. 6,659,590; U.S. patent application Nos. 09 / 575,127; 09 / 575,152; 09 / 575,176; 09/575; No. 177; No. 09 / 608,780; No. 09 / 693,079; No. 09 / 693,135; No. 09 / 693,735; No. 10 / 129,433; No. 10 / 129,437; No. 10 / 129,503; No. 10 / 407,207; and No. 10 / 407,212, application docket numbers JUM003 and JUM004, US patent applications No. 10 / 302,274; No. 10 / 302,297; No. 10 / 302,577; No. 10 / 302,617; No. 10 / 302,618; No. 10/302, 644; same 10 / 302,668; 10 / 302,669; 10 / 303,312; 10 / 303,348; 10 / 303,352; and 10/303, No. 433 and Application Docket Nos. MTB01-MTB14, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Some of the above applications are identified by their application docket numbers, and once assigned, the application docket numbers are replaced by the corresponding application numbers.

  Of these, an exemplary nozzle device will now be described with reference to FIGS. One nozzle device (see FIG. 5A) incorporated in each of the print head integrated circuits 51 mounted on the print head tile 50 includes a nozzle and a corresponding actuator. FIG. 44 shows an array of nozzle devices 801 formed on a silicon substrate 815. These nozzle devices are the same as each other, but in one embodiment, different nozzle devices are supplied with different color inks and fixing agents. The rows of nozzle devices 801 are arranged in a zigzag manner to allow ink dot spacing during printing that is shorter than the spacing possible with a single row of nozzles. Multiple rows also provide for redundancy (if desired), thereby providing a predetermined failure rate per nozzle.

  Each nozzle device 801 is a product of integrated circuit manufacturing technology. As shown in the drawing, the nozzle device 801 is configured by a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS).

  For clarity and ease of explanation, the structure and operation of a single nozzle device 801 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Each printhead integrated circuit 51 includes a silicon wafer substrate 815. On the silicon wafer substrate 815, a 0.42 micron 1P4M12 volt CMOS microprocessing circuit is disposed.

  A silicon diode (alternatively glass) layer 817 is disposed on the wafer substrate 815. This silicon diode layer 817 defines a CMOS dielectric layer. The CMOS top level metal defines a pair of matched aluminum electrode contact layers 830 disposed on the silicon diode layer 817. Both the silicon wafer substrate 815 and the silicon diode layer 817 are etched to define an ink inlet channel 814 having a substantially circular cross section (in plan view). Located in the silicon diode layer 817 around the ink inlet channel 814 is an aluminum diffusion barrier 828 of CMOS metal 1, CMOS metal 2/3, and CMOS top level metal. The diffusion barrier 828 functions to suppress diffusion of hydroxy ions through the CMOS oxide layer of the driving circuit layer 817.

  A passivation layer in the form of a silicon nitride layer 831 is disposed on the aluminum contact layer 830 and the silicon diode layer 817. Each portion of passivation layer 831 disposed on contact layer 830 has an opening 832 defined therein to provide access to contact 830.

  The nozzle device 801 includes a nozzle chamber 829 defined by an annular nozzle wall 833 that terminates at the upper ends of a nozzle roof 834 and a radially inner nozzle rim 804 that is circular in plan view. Ink inlet channel 814 is in fluid communication with nozzle chamber 829. A movable rim 810 including a movable seal lip 840 is disposed at the lower end of the nozzle wall. Annular wall 838 surrounds the movable nozzle and includes a stationary seal lip 839 adjacent to movable rim 810 when the nozzle is stationary as shown in FIG. A fluid seal 811 is formed by the surface tension of the ink trapped between the stationary seal lip 839 and the movable seal lip 840. This prevents ink leakage from the chamber while providing a low resistance connection between the annular wall 838 and the nozzle wall 833.

  As best shown in FIG. 52, a roof 834 around the nozzle rim 804 defines a plurality of radially extending recesses 835. These recesses 835 serve to accommodate the radial ink flow as a result of ink escaping past the nozzle rim 804.

  The nozzle wall 833 forms part of a lever device attached to a carrier 836 having a generally U-shaped profile with a base 837 attached to a layer 831 of silicon nitride.

  The lever device also includes a lever arm 818 that extends from the nozzle wall and incorporates a laterally stiff beam 822. The lever arm 818 is formed of titanium nitride (TiN) and is attached to a pair of passive beams 806 disposed on both sides of the nozzle device, as best shown in FIGS. The other ends of these passive beams 806 are attached to the carrier 836.

  The lever arm 818 is also attached to an actuator beam 807 formed from TiN. It is noted that this attachment to the actuator beam is made at a single point of small but significant distance that is higher than the attachment to the passive beam 806.

  As best shown in FIGS. 48 and 51, the actuator beam 807 is substantially U-shaped in plan view and defines a current path between the electrode 809 and the counter electrode 841. Each of the electrodes 809 and 841 is electrically connected to a respective point on the contact layer 830. Similar to being electrically connected via contacts 809, the actuator beam is also mechanically secured to anchor 808. Anchor 808 is configured to inhibit movement of actuator beam 807 to the left in FIGS. 45-47 when the nozzle device is operating.

  The TiN of the actuator beam 807 is electrically conductive but has a sufficiently high electrical resistance to undergo self-heating when current is passed between the electrodes 809 and 841. Since no current flows through the passive beam 806, the passive beam does not expand.

  The device that is stationary when in use is filled with ink 813 that defines the meniscus 803 under the influence of surface tension. Ink is retained in chamber 829 by the meniscus and generally does not leak without some other physical effect.

  As shown in FIG. 46, current is passed between the contacts 809 and 841 and passes through the actuator beam 807 to eject ink from the nozzles. The self-heating of the beam 807 due to its resistance causes the beam to expand. The size and design of the actuator beam 807 means that most of this expansion occurs in the horizontal direction with respect to FIGS. Since expansion to the left is suppressed by the anchor 808, the end of the actuator beam 807 adjacent to the lever arm 818 is pushed to the right.

  The relative horizontal inflexibility of the passive beam 806 prevents significant horizontal movement of the lever arm 818. However, the relative displacement of the passive beam and actuator beam attachment points relative to the lever arm causes a torsional movement that moves the lever arm 818 substantially downward. This movement is effectively a pivoting or hinged movement. However, the absence of a true pivot point means that the rotation occurs around the pivot area defined by the bending of the passive beam 806.

  The downward movement (and slight rotation) of the lever arm 818 is amplified by the distance of the nozzle wall 833 from the passive beam 806. The downward movement of the nozzle wall and roof causes a pressure increase in the chamber 29, causing the meniscus to bulge and rise as shown in FIG. It is noted that the ink surface tension means that the fluid seal 811 is stretched by this movement without causing ink leakage.

  As shown in FIG. 47, the driving current is stopped at an appropriate time, and the actuator beam 807 rapidly cools and contracts. This contraction causes the lever arm to begin returning to the rest position and then causes a pressure drop in chamber 829. The interaction between the swollen ink force and its original surface tension, and the negative pressure caused by the upward movement of the nozzle chamber 829, is adjacent to the action of the swollen meniscus becoming thin and eventually snapping. Ink droplets 802 that continue to rise until contacting the print medium to be printed are defined.

  Immediately after the ink droplet 802 is separated, the meniscus forms the concave shape shown in FIG. The surface tension keeps the pressure in the chamber 829 relatively low until the ink is sucked upward through the inlet 814, returning the nozzle device and ink to the resting state shown in FIG.

  As best shown in FIG. 48, the nozzle apparatus also incorporates a test mechanism that can be used both after manufacture and periodically after the printhead assembly is installed. The test mechanism includes a pair of contacts 820 connected to a test circuit (not shown). A bridge contact 819 is provided on the finger 843 extending from the lever arm 818. Since this bridge contact 819 is on the opposite side of the passive beam 806, activation of the nozzle moves the bridge contact upward to contact the contact 820. A test circuit is used to confirm that this activation causes the circuit formed by the contacts 819, 820 to close. If the circuit is properly closed, it can generally be assumed that the nozzle is operable.

(Example component assembly method)
An exemplary method of assembling the various modular components described above of a printhead assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is described. The following method is merely representative of an example of the assembly of a particular printhead assembly of the present invention and is different for assembling this exemplary printhead assembly or other exemplary printhead assembly of the present invention. It should be understood that can be used.

The printhead integrated circuit 51 and the printhead tile 50 are assembled as follows:
A. First, the printhead integrated circuit 51 is prepared by forming 7680 nozzles on its surface that are spaced so that they can be printed at a resolution of 1600 dpi;
B. The fluid distribution stack 500 (from which the printhead tile 50 is formed) comprises three layers 510, 520, 530, a channel layer 540 and a plate made of stainless steel joined together in a vacuum furnace by metal interdiffusion. 550, wherein the inner surface of the lower layer 530 and the surfaces of the intermediate layer 520 and the upper layer 510 are arranged on the individual nozzles of the print head integrated circuit 51 as described above with the CMYK ink, the IR ink, the fixing agent, and the like. And etched to provide channels and holes 531 and 532, 521 and 522, and 511 to 513, respectively, so that air can be conveyed to the surface of the printhead integrated circuit 51. Furthermore, the outer surface of the lower layer 530 is etched to provide an inlet port 54;
C. Next, an adhesive, such as a silicone adhesive, is applied to the top surface of the fluid distribution stack 500 to attach the printhead integrated circuit 51 and the (fine pitch) PCB 52 in close proximity;
D. Printhead integrated circuit 51 and PCB 52 are picked up, pre-centered, and then joined to the top surface of fluid distribution stack 500 by a pick and place robot;
E. The assembly is then placed in an oven so that the adhesive can be cured to secure the printhead integrated circuit 51 and PCB 52 in place;
F. The wire bonding machine then makes a connection between the printhead integrated circuit 51 and the PCB 52, thereby providing a 25 micron diameter alloy between the bond pad on the printhead integrated circuit 51 and the conductive pad on the PCB 52. Or gold or aluminum wires are joined;
G. The wire bond area is then encapsulated in an epoxy adhesive dispensed by an automatic two-head dispenser. To draw a dam around the wire bond area, first a high viscosity, non-retentive adhesive is applied, and then to fully encapsulate the wire bond area under the adhesive, the dam has a low viscosity. Filled with adhesive;
H. The assembly is then placed on a horizontal plate in an oven and heat cured to form an epoxy encapsulant 53. This horizontal plate ensures that the encapsulant does not flow out of the assembly when cured;
I. The printhead tile 50 and printhead integrated circuit 51 formed in this manner are “wet” tested with a suitable fluid, such as pure water, to ensure reliable performance, and then dried so that the fluid channel member. 40 ready for assembly.

These units comprised of printhead tiles 50 and printhead integrated circuits 51 are prepared for assembly into fluid channel member 40 as follows:
J. et al. A (stretched) flexible PCB 80 is provided to provide data and power connections from the PCB 90 and bus bars 71, 72, 73 to the printhead integrated circuit 51;
K. This flexible PCB 80 is aligned to PCB 52 and attached using a high temperature bar soldering machine.

The fluid channel member 40 and the casing 20 are formed and assembled as follows:
L. The individual fluid channel member 40 has an elongate body 44a having seven individual channels (channels) extending through the elongate body 44a and two longitudinally extending tabs 43 extending along opposite sides thereof. Is formed by injection molding. A (elongated) lid 44b is also shaped so that it can surround the body 44a to separate each of the channels. Both the body portion and the lid portion are shaped to have ends that form female and male end portions 45, 46 when assembled together. Next, the lid portion 44b and the main body portion 44a are bonded and cured with epoxy so as to form seven ducts 41;
M.M. The casing 20 then forms aluminum as desired by forming the (elongated) support frame 22 and the (elongated) cover portion 23 having channels 21 formed on the upper wall 27 of the (elongated) support frame 22 separately. Formed by extrusion into composition and length;
N. The end plate 110 is attached to one (first) end portion of the casing 20 by screws via screw portions 22a and 22b formed on the support frame 22, and the end plate 111 includes screw portions 22a, Attached to the other (second) end of the casing 20 by screws through 22b;
O. Epoxy via a controlled dispenser to either the female or male connector 47 or 48 and the appropriate area of either the female or male connection 49a or 49b of the capping member 49 (ie not to cover the channel) Is applied;
P. Via a controlled dispenser, to the appropriate regions of the female and male ends 45, 46 of the plurality of fluid channel members 40 assembled end to end to correspond to the desired length (ie, channel Epoxy is applied)
Q. A female or male connector 47 or 48 is then attached to the male or female end 46 or 45 of the fluid channel member 40, which is a collar at the first end of the plurality of fluid channel members 40, and the capping member 49. The female or male connection 49a or 49b is attached to the male or female end 46 or 45 of the fluid channel member 40, which is a saddle at the second end of the plurality of fluid channel members 40;
R. Each of the fluid channel members 40 is then placed in the channel 21 one by one. The (first) fluid channel member 40 that should initially be at the first end is such that the unconnected end 45 or 46 of the fluid channel member 40 remains exposed with epoxy. Placed in the end channel 21 and secured in place by a PCB support 91 clipped into the support frame 22 in the manner described above. The second member 40 is then placed in the channel 21 to join the first fluid channel member 40 via its corresponding end 45 or 46 and the epoxy therebetween, and then PCB support. Clipped in place by body 91. This can then be repeated until the last fluid channel member 40 is in place at the second end of the channel 21. Of course, only one fluid channel member 40 may be used, in which case it is attached to a connector 47 or 48 attached to one end 45 or 46 and attached to the other end 45 or 46. Capped member 49;
S. The device is then placed in a compression jig, thereby assisting in sealing the connections between the individual fluid channel members 40 and their end connectors 47 or 48 and the capping member 49. A compressive force is applied to the end of the. The entire assembly and jig are then placed in an oven at a temperature of about 100 ° C. for a predetermined period of time, for example, about 45 minutes, to increase the cure of the adhesive connection. However, other curing methods such as room temperature curing can also be used;
T.A. Following curing, the device is pressure tested to ensure the integrity of the sealing between the individual fluid channel members 40 and the connectors 47 or 48 and the capping member 49;
U. The exposed upper surface of the assembly is then oxygen plasma cleaned to facilitate installation of individual printhead tiles 50.

The print head tile 50 is attached to the fluid channel member 40 as follows:
V. Prior to placement of the individual printhead tiles 50 on the top surface of the fluid channel member 40, the bottom surface of the printhead tiles 50 is argon plasma cleaned to improve bonding. Next, an adhesive in the form of epoxy is applied to the top surface of the fluid channel member 40 by a robotic dispenser at strategically important locations on the top surface around the outlet port 42 and symmetrically around the outlet port 42. To help fix the printhead tile 50 in place, a fast acting adhesive, such as cyanoacrylate, is applied as an adhesive drop to the remaining empty area on the top surface just before placing the printhead tile 50. ;
W. It is then ensured that a continuous printing surface is defined along the length of the printhead module 30 and that the outlet port 42 of the fluid channel member 40 is aligned with the inlet port 54 of the individual printhead tile 50. For this, each individual printhead tile 50 is placed carefully aligned with the top surface of the fluid channel member 40 by a pick and place robot. Following placement, the pick and place robot applies pressure to the print head tile 50 for about 5-10 seconds to help cure the cyanoacrylate and secure the print head tile 50 in place. This process is repeated for each printhead tile 50;
X. The assembly then cures the epoxy to form a gasket member 60 and a locator 61 for each printhead tile 50 that seals the fluid connection between each outlet port 42 and the inlet ports 42, 54. For about 45 minutes in an oven at about 100 ° C. This secures the printhead tile 50 in place on the fluid channel member 40 so as to define the printing surface;
Y. Following curing, the assembly is inspected and tested to ensure correct alignment and positioning of the printhead tile 50.

The printhead assembly 10 is assembled as follows:
Z. A support member 112 is attached to the end PCB support 91 to align with the recess 91b of the end support 91;
AA. Connecting members 102 are disposed in adjacent recesses 91b between adjacent PCB supports 91 and in adjacent recesses 112b and 91b of the support member 112 and the end PCB support 91, respectively;
BB. Next, the PCB 90, each having the PEC integrated circuit 100 and its associated circuitry assembled thereon, is attached to the PCB support 91 along the length of the casing 20, and the notches 96a and recesses of the retaining clip 96 are provided. 93a and the positioning lug 93b of the base 93 of the PCB support 91 is held in place. As described above, in the PCB 90, the PEC integrated circuit 100 of one PCB 90 drives the print head integrated circuit 51 including the four print head tiles 50, the eight print head tiles 50, or the 16 print head tiles 50. Can be arranged. Each of the PCBs 90 enables data transfer between the PEC integrated circuits 100 of each PCB 90, between the printhead integrated circuit 51 and the PEC integrated circuit 100 of each PCB 90, and between the data connections 117 of the connector device 115. Including connection strips 90a, 90b on its inner surface in communication with the connection member 102;
CC. The connector device 115 having the power source 116 and the data connection 117 and the fluid distribution connection 118 attached thereto is screwed so that the region 115c of the connector device 115 is clipped into the clip portion 112d of the support member 112. Attached to the part plate 110;
DD. The bus bars 71, 72, 73 are inserted into the corresponding grooved recesses 95a, 95b, 95c of the plurality of PCB supports 91, and the corresponding contact screws 116a, 116b of the power connection part 116 of the connector device 115 at their ends. , 116c. Bus bars 71, 72, 73 provide a path for power to be distributed throughout the printhead assembly;
EE. Each of the flexible PCBs 80 extending from each of the printhead tiles 50 is then connected to the connector 98 of the corresponding PCB 90 by inserting the slot region 81 into the connector 98;
FF. The raised portion 75 of the pressure plate 74 then brings the power contacts of the flexible PCB 80 into contact with each of the bus bars 71, 72, 73, so that between the bus bars 71, 72, 73 and the PCB 90 and the printhead integrated circuit 51. By engaging the holes 74a and the tabs 74c of the holes 74b with the corresponding retaining clips 99, 96 of the PCB support 91 to provide a path for power transfer, the pressure plate 74 is attached to the PCB support. Clipped to 91;
GG. The internal fluid transfer tube 6 is then attached to the corresponding tubular section 47b or 48b of the female or male connector 47 or 48;
HH. Next, the elongated aluminum cover portion 23 of the casing 20 is placed over the assembly and screwed in place by screws through the remaining holes in the end plates 110, 111 into the screw portions 23b of the cover portion 23; An end housing 120 is also placed over the connector device 115 and is screwed into place in the end plate 110, thereby providing electro-fluid communication between the print head assembly and the printer unit. Thus, the outer housing of the print head assembly is completed. An external fluid tube or hose can then be assembled to supply ink or other fluid to the channel duct. The cover portion 23 can also function as a heat sink for the PEC integrated circuit 100 when the fin portion 23d is provided thereon, thereby protecting the circuit of the print head assembly 10.

The print head assembly is tested as follows:
II. The printhead assembly 10 thus assembled is moved to the test area and inserted into the final print test machine, which is essentially a working printing unit, thereby connecting the printhead assembly 10 to the fluid supply and power source. Is done manually;
JJ. A test page is printed and analyzed, and appropriate adjustments are made to finish the printhead electronics;
KK. If successful, the print surface of the print head assembly 10 is capped and a plastic sealing film is applied to protect the print head assembly 10 until product installation.

  Although the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be readily implemented without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description set forth herein, but rather that these claims be construed broadly.

1 is a perspective view of a print head assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the opposite side of the printhead assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the print head assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a part of a print head module incorporated in the print head assembly of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the cover part of the print head module of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4B is a top view of a print head tile that forms part of the print head module of FIG. 4A. FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the print head tile of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5B shows an electrical connector for a printhead integrated circuit attached to the printhead tile shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing connections made between the printhead module of FIG. 4A and the lower side of the printhead tiles of FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a “female” end of the printhead module of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4B illustrates the “male” end of the printhead module of FIG. 4A. FIG. 10 shows a fluid carrying connector for the male end of FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fluid carrying connector for the female end of FIG. 8. FIG. 12 shows the fluid transport connector of FIG. 10 or 11 connected to a fluid transport tube. It is a figure which shows the tubular part apparatus of the fluid conveyance connector of FIG. FIG. 10 shows a capping member for the female and male ends of FIGS. FIG. 14B shows the capping member of FIG. 14A applied to the printhead module of FIG. 4A. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional (skeleton) view of a support frame of a casing of the print head assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 15B is a perspective view from above of the support frame of FIG. 15A. FIG. 15B is a perspective view from below of the support frame of FIG. 15A. FIG. 2 illustrates a printed circuit board (PCB) support that forms part of the printhead assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 17 is a side view of the PCB support of FIG. 16. FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the PCB support of FIG. 16. FIG. 17 illustrates circuit components supported by a PCB supported by the PCB support of FIG. 16. FIG. 18B is a perspective view of the opposite side of the PCB and circuit components of FIG. 18A. FIG. 17 is a side view showing additional components attached to the PCB support of FIG. 16. FIG. 2 is a rear side view of a pressure plate that forms part of the printhead assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 20 is a front view showing additional components of FIG. 19. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing additional components of FIG. 19. It is a front view of the PCB support body of FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing taken along the II line | wire of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the cross section A of FIG. 22A. It is side surface sectional drawing taken along the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the cross section B of FIG. 22C. It is an enlarged view of the cross section C of FIG. 22C. FIG. 2 is a side view of a cover portion of a casing of the print head assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 17 shows a plurality of FIG. 16 PCB supports in a modular assembly. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a connecting member that is supported by two adjacent PCB supports of FIG. 24 and used to interconnect the PCBs supported by the PCB support. It is a figure which shows the connection member of FIG. 25 which interconnects two PCB. It is a figure which shows the interconnection between two PCBs by the connection member of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection area of bus bars arranged in the print head assembly of FIG. 1. 1 is a perspective view of an end of a print head assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a connector device disposed at an end of the print head assembly shown in FIG. 29. FIG. 31 shows the connector device of FIG. 30 housed in an end housing plate assembly that forms part of the printhead assembly. FIG. 31 is a side view of the connector device of FIG. 30. FIG. 31B is a side view of the connector device of FIG. 30 on the side opposite to FIG. 30A. It is a figure which shows the fluid conveyance connection part of the connector apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a support member disposed in a print head assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 33B is a cross-sectional view of a printhead assembly having the support member of FIG. 33A disposed thereon. FIG. 34 is a more detailed view of a portion of the printhead assembly of FIG. 33B. FIG. 32 shows the connector device of FIG. 30 housed in the end housing plate assembly of FIG. 31 attached to the casing of the printhead assembly. FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view of the end housing plate assembly of FIG. 31. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an end housing plate assembly that forms part of the printhead assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 36B is a perspective view of the printhead assembly when configured to use both end housing plate assemblies of FIGS. 35A and 35B. FIG. 35B shows the connector device housed in the end housing plate assembly of FIG. 35B. FIG. 38 is a side view of the connector device of FIG. 37. FIG. 38 is a side view of the connector device of FIG. 37 opposite to FIG. 38A. FIG. 30 shows the end plate when attached to the printhead assembly of FIG. 29. FIG. 18B is a diagram illustrating data flow and functions performed by a print engine controller integrated circuit that forms one of the circuit components shown in FIG. 18A. FIG. 41 illustrates the print engine controller integrated circuit of FIG. 40 in the context of the overall printing system architecture. FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating an architecture of a print engine controller integrated circuit of FIG. 41. 5B is an exploded view of the fluid distribution stack of elements forming the printhead tile of FIG. 5A. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view (partially cross-sectional view) of a portion of a nozzle system of a printhead integrated circuit incorporated in a printhead module of the printhead assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 45 is a longitudinal sectional view of a single nozzle (of the nozzle system shown in FIG. 44) in a stationary state. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the nozzle of FIG. 45 in an initial drive state. FIG. 47 is a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle of FIG. 46 in a late drive state. FIG. 48 is a partial longitudinal sectional perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 45 in the driving state shown in FIG. 47. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 45 which abbreviate | omitted ink. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the nozzle of FIG. FIG. 47 is a partial longitudinal sectional perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 45 in the driving state shown in FIG. 46. It is a top view of the nozzle of FIG. It is a top view of the nozzle of FIG. 45 which abbreviate | omitted the lever arm part and the movable nozzle part.

Claims (4)

A printhead assembly comprising at least two printhead modules, a casing, a first fluid connector, a second fluid connector,
Each printhead module supports and supports at least two printhead integrated circuits, each having a nozzle formed therein for ejecting printing fluid onto the surface of the print media, and each of the at least two printhead integrated circuits. A support member having at least one longitudinally extending channel for conveying the printing fluid to the printhead integrated circuit;
At least two printhead modules are removably mounted adjacent to the casing, and complementary female and male ends at opposite longitudinal ends of the support members of the adjacent printhead modules. Interconnected with each other,
The first fluid connector is a male of the support member of the printhead module attached at one end of the adjacently attached printhead module to connect a fluid firing hose from a fluid supply to the printhead module. Having a female connector portion configured to interconnect at the ends;
The second fluid connector includes a support member of the print head module mounted at the other end of the adjacent print head module for connecting a fluid firing hose from a fluid supply to the print head module. A printhead assembly having a male connector portion configured to interconnect at a female end.   The printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein a sealing adhesive is provided at an interface between the interconnected first and second fluid connectors and the printhead module.   The printhead assembly of claim 2, wherein the sealing adhesive is an epoxy. The printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid connectors have tubular portions for connection with the fluid firing hose.

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