Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a head configured to discharge an ink onto a continuous sheet to form an image; a platen including a support face that supports the continuous sheet; a star-wheel-unit holding unit disposed at a position that is downstream of the head in a transport direction of the continuous sheet and is opposed to the support face; and a star wheel unit configured to be attachable to and detachable from the star-wheel-unit holding unit and to support a plurality of star wheels configured to press the continuous sheet on a side of the support face.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dot matrix printer (10) which comprises a printing unit (12) for printing a printing material and a feed area (20) for feeding the printing material to the printing unit (12). In the feed area (20) a gap (26) is formed through which the printing material is transported. In a print mode, the printing unit (12) prints the printing material, whereas in a feed mode the printing material can be fed from the feed area (20) to the printing unit (12) and the printing material is not printed. Further, the dot matrix printer (10) comprises a closing unit (32) which at least partially closes the gap (26) in the print mode.

Abstract: A carriage support member for an inkjet printer printhead carriage includes a bar shaped structure with a first contact area and a second contact area. A pivotable carriage attachment is located between the first contact area and the second contact area. The first contact area and the second contact area slide or roll along the secondary guide rail. The carriage is attached to the carriage attachment. The bar shaped structure pivots relative to the carriage by the carriage attachment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a support (1) in the form of a prismatic hollow body and a support. The walls of the support (1) are formed by assembling top belt modules (2), bottom belt modules (3), front wall modules (4) and rear wall modules (5) respectively one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the support. Disposed in the interior of the support (1) at distances apart are transverse webs (6) and at least one guide track (7, 9) is provided on the support (1) extending in its longitudinal direction for a unit mounted so that it can move along the guide track. In order to obtain a high precision of the guide tracks (6, 7), the latter are formed by machining regions of the modules (2, 3, 4, 5) to remove material after the modules und transverse webs have been assembled.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an assembly includes: a print bar; first and second guide rods oriented parallel to one another; a first bracket slidable along the first guide rod and connected loosely to one end of the print bar; and a second bracket slidable along the second guide rod and connected loosely to the other end of the print bar. In another embodiment, a method includes: directly constraining a print bar in Z and theta Y at a first connection; indirectly constraining the print bar in theta Y at a second connection; and neutralizing the theta Y constraint at the second connection through a third connection between the first connection and the second connection.

Abstract: A support rod is mounted to maintain straightness of a support surface of a printer. The support rod is used to preload the support surface in a direction opposite of an expected transverse load upon the support surface. The preloading supplied by the support rod counteracts a bending force on the support surface resulting from the expected transverse loading.

Abstract: A printer includes a supporting device, a cantilevered first guide arm, a second guide arm, and a printer head. The supporting device is configured to support a material to be printed. The cantilevered first guide arm has a longitudinal direction. The second guide arm is connected to the first guide arm to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the first guide. The second guide arm extends along a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The printer head is configured to print on the material supported by the supporting device and provided on the second guide arm to be movable along the lateral direction.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage and a channel for guiding the carriage along a path. The carriage includes a protrusion extending from the carriage. The channel includes a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls are opposed to each other. The protrusion of the carriage extends between the first wall and the second wall. A first portion of the protrusion is in contact with the first wall and a second portion of the protrusion is in contact with the second wall.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus includes a belt drive mechanism configured to move a carriage reciprocally placed on guide rails. The belt drive mechanism is comprised of a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and a timing belt, which is stretched between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The carriage includes a belt holder, which is configured to hold the timing belt, and a torsion coil spring, which is configured to urge elastically the belt holder to the carriage. The belt holder is disposed in a position to urge the carriage to one of the guide rail, and movable toward the guide rail relative to the carriage.

Abstract: A printhead carrier having a zero clearance bearing arrangement includes a first open-faced bearing coupled to a dampener frame. The first open-faced bearing has a first bearing surface positioned to contact the cylindrical guide surface of a guide rod of an imaging apparatus. A second open-faced bearing is coupled to the dampener frame. The second open-faced bearing has a second bearing surface positioned to contact the cylindrical guide surface of the guide rod. The guide rod is diametrically positioned between the first open-faced bearing and the second open-faced bearing. An elastic foam member is interposed between the first open-faced bearing and the dampener frame. The elastic foam member is compressed to exert an expansion force between the first open-faced bearing and the dampener frame to load the second open-faced bearing on the guide rod in a zero-clearance relationship with the guide rod.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising: a body; a first gear assembly mounted to the body so as to cooperate with a motor gear for driving rotation of the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly having a code feature; and a second gear assembly mounted to the body so as to cooperate with the first gear assembly to be rotatable therewith, the second gear assembly, in use, cooperating with a capper for capping a printhead so that the rotation of the second gear assembly moves the capper out of and into its capping position, wherein the code feature of the first gear assembly is arranged to cooperate with a holding feature of a mounting arrangement used to mount the second gear assembly to the body, the code feature being configured so that the cooperation with the holding feature maintains the first gear assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second gear assembly.

Abstract: A carriage support member for an inkjet printer printhead carriage includes a bar shaped structure with a first contact area and a second contact area. A pivotable carriage attachment is located between the first contact area and the second contact area. The first contact area and the second contact area slide or roll along the secondary guide rail. The carriage is attached to the carriage attachment. The bar shaped structure pivots relative to the carriage by the carriage attachment.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage and a channel for guiding the carriage along a path. The carriage includes a protrusion extending from the carriage. The channel includes a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls are opposed to each other. The protrusion of the carriage extends between the first wall and the second wall. A first portion of the protrusion is in contact with the first wall and a second portion of the protrusion is in contact with the second wall.

Abstract: A carriage system for a printing apparatus is disclosed. The carriage system includes a movable carriage for carrying at least one ink pen, a carriage rod on which the carriage is rotatably mounted, an anti-rotation rail that is adjacent to one end of the carriage to prevent the rotation of the carriage in one direction, and a spring-loaded preloader coupled to an underside of the carriage to prevent the rotation of the carriage in the opposite direction and to urge the carriage against the anti-rotation rail. The preloader includes a preloader body made of a nonmetallic material, a roller operable to roll along a surface below the carriage, and a resilient spring.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus includes a belt drive mechanism configured to move a carriage reciprocally placed on guide rails. The belt drive mechanism is comprised of a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and a timing belt, which is stretched between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The carriage includes a belt holder, which is configured to hold the timing belt, and a torsion coil spring, which is configured to urge elastically the belt holder to the carriage. The belt holder is disposed in a position to urge the carriage to one of the guide rail, and movable toward the guide rail relative to the carriage.

Abstract: A system, method and structures for dissipating heat away from a thermal fluid ejector modules through a thermally-conductive carriage molded from a polymer to the ambient air surrounding the structure upon which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates. The heat is transferred via conduction and convection from the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage across a thin volume of air trapped between a thermally-conductive carriage rod guide, enclosed on each end by thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings, and the thermal contact of the thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings with the surface of at least one thermally-conductive carriage guide rod which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier configured for movement along an X-axis. The printhead carrier includes a carrier housing having a first bearing pocket and a second bearing pocket. The first bearing pocket and the second bearing pocket are spaced apart along the X-axis. A Z-axis passes through a central region of the carrier housing. The Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to the X-axis. A first bearing is configured to be received in the first bearing pocket. The first bearing includes a first curved outer surface having a curve that extends in a direction of the X-axis. The curved outer surface is received in the first bearing pocket to facilitate a rotation of the first bearing in relation to the Z-axis of the carrier housing. A second bearing is configured to be received in the second bearing pocket.

Abstract: An inkjet printer with a cutting head comprises a linear motion rail, and a linear motion block slidably provided on the linear motion rail. An inkjet head carriage holding an inkjet head and a cutting head carriage holding a cutting head are fixed to the linear motion block through respective mounting parts and moved along the linear motion rail.

Abstract: A scanning system for use in inspecting or writing on a substrate minimizes vibrations by applying movement-actuating forces directly between a carriage and a countermass which are both free to move along parallel tracks. Forces for decelerating and accelerating the scanning carriage are preferably applied along a minor part of a length of movement of the carriage. The carriage is then isolated from forces applied parallel to the track while moving along a major part of its length of movement. As a result, the carriage travels smoothly with approximately uniform speed during it's operative pass, without suffering from vibrations introduced by direct closed-loop feedback control.

Abstract: A carriage including a printing component support and a pair of bushings having an inner region with at least three spaced rail contact regions separated by respective non-contact regions.

Abstract: An apparatus provided with a carriage is guided and supported by at least two guide members, a guide shaft and a guide rail, arranged to be parallel to each other to enable the carriage to reciprocate. The guide members are arranged apart from each other substantially in the vertical direction, and the horizontal distance L1 between each guide member and the gravitational center of the carriage is arranged to be larger than the vertical interval L2 between the contact portions of the carriage and each guide member. With the structure thus arranged, it is possible to maximize the reduction of the swinging or vibration of a carriage so that the apparatus provided with the carriage can effect reciprocal scanning exactly and stably, thus realizing a small and high-performance apparatus that records images in high precision or reads highly precise images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gap adjusting device that allows gap adjustment with a small torque and also allows more gap positions to be set. The gap adjusting device rotates bushing members so as to change level (PG) of carriage guide shafts for guiding a carriage. An intermediate gear that engages with the bushing members has a boss to be inserted into a cam groove formed in a slidable member that can slide. In accordance with a sliding operation of the slidable member 51, PG is changed. The weights of the carriage and the carriage guide shafts are transmitted to the boss via the bushing members and the intermediate gear and therefore the boss is pushed against a sidewall of the cam groove to be in contact with the sidewall, thereby PG is maintained. Therefore, the slidable member 51 can be caused to slide with a small torque.

Abstract: A compliant belt attach assembly for use in a printer includes a belt attach and a drive belt having a drive lug. The belt attach defines a lug chamber for containing the drive lug of the drive belt. First and second drive bars are configured to contact the first and second sides of the drive lug to allow drive lug deformation in response to vibration transmitted by the drive belt.

Abstract: An arrangement for guiding a printhead fixed on a carriage, said carriage provided with plain bearings which are in sliding contact with a set of substantially parallel guide rods, wherein a first plain bearing is in contact with a first guide rod and a second plain bearing is in contact with a second guide rod, the second plain bearing being movably fixed to the carriage by means of a resilient element, wherein he resilient element allows substantially no movement of the second plain bearing with respect to the carriage in a direction parallel to the guide rods.

Abstract: A lubricating system includes a flexible, nominally planar lubricating structure including first and second end regions and a central region positioned therebetween. The lubricating structure is impregnated with a lubricating fluid and is adapted for securement to a printhead carriage only at said first and second end regions.

Abstract: A method and device for locking and unlocking a print head assembly along a shaft in an addressing machine. The print head assembly is fixedly mounted on a locking mechanism, which comprises a flange and a collet, wherein the collet has an inner circumference for slideably mounting on the shaft, and a tapered outer circumference having a first threaded section and a second threaded section. The flange has a threaded opening larger than the first threaded section but smaller than the second threaded section. When adjusting the position of the print head assembly, an operator turns the collet so that flange is engaged with the first threaded section. When locking the position of the print head assembly, the operator turns the collet so that the flange is engaged with the second threaded section, causing the collet to exert a frictional force on the shaft.

Abstract: In a printer, in which printing is performed on a recording medium which is transported in a first direction, a carriage is reciprocately moved in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. A print head is mounted on the carriage, and provided with a head face. A frame is placed in a first side of the print head. A guide plate extends in the second direction. The guide plate includes a first portion provided as a part of the frame so as to extend in a third direction which is orthogonal to both of the first direction and the second direction, a second portion continued from the first portion so as to extend in the first direction. The second portion supports the carriage so as to define a distance between the head face and the recording medium. The guide plate further includes a third portion continued from the second portion so as to extend in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction.

Abstract: A printhead gap adjustment mechanism for use in an imaging apparatus includes a worm gear coupled to a carrier shaft to transmit a rotational motion to the carrier shaft. A worm screw is positioned in rotational cooperation with the worm gear, the worm screw having an axis of rotation. A first cam is coupled to the carrier shaft. A first cam follower surface is disposed in proximity to the first cam. A guide device guides the carrier shaft in a translational direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the worm screw. A rotation of the worm screw transmits rotational motion to drive the first cam via the worm gear and the carrier shaft, the first cam engaging the first cam follower surface to effect a translational motion of the worm gear in the translational direction, thereby effecting a movement of the printhead in the translational direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for guiding a printhead fixed on a carriage, said carriage provided with plain bearings which are in sliding contact with a set of substantially parallel guide rods, wherein a first plain bearing is in contact with a first guide rod and a second plain bearing is in contact with a second guide rod, the second plain bearing being movably fixed to the carriage by means of a resilient element, wherein the resilient element allows substantially no movement of the second plain bearing with respect to the carriage in a direction parallel to the guide rods.

Abstract: A scanning device such as a printer has a trapezoidal carriage support beam which permits a compact juxtaposition of the carriage slider rod, the printhead, a drive belt and an encoder device. A second slider mounting for the printer carriage includes a bushing incorporating a part-spherical portion and an arm which engage with corresponding parts of the carriage.

Abstract: A print carriage assembly for an ink jet printer. The print carriage assembly includes a print carriage slidably supported on a printer slider rod, and a sub-carriage that is separate from the printer carriage and slidably supported on the printer slider rod for pushing the printer carriage.

Abstract: A carriage including a printing component support and a pair of bushings having an inner region with at least three spaced rail contact regions separated by respective non-contact regions.

Abstract: In a carriage assembly of a printer employing a movable print head, bosses provided with respective bearing supporting holes, each inner circumferential surface of which has a predetermined radius of curvature, are formed at a side of a carriage, and bearing bushings, each of which has an outer circumferential surface having a different predetermined radius of curvature corresponding to that of the bearing supporting hole, are also formed so as to make a spherical pair with the bearing supporting hole. A shaft through-hole, through which a guiding rod is inserted slidably, is formed through each bearing bushing. The bearing bushing can rotate freely in the bearing supporting hole, and therefore, the axes of the carriage assembly and the guiding rod can be aligned automatically.

Abstract: A carriage slider rod is mounted on a steel beam by means of brass support elements. The support elements are first riveted to the beam and then have precisely aligned V-shape grooves machined therein to provide accurate location for the slider rod. The slider rod is screwed to the beam using central bores passing through the support elements. To fix the support elements to the beam, they are first located in respective apertures and then deformed by a clenching tool, one jaw of which passes through an adjacent aperture in the bottom wall of the beam.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of ink-jet printers used for color printing of large format articles This invention is used for improving quality and for increasing the yield of printers and comprises successively applying primary colors, suppressing color aberrations when printing a semi-transparent material on both sides, precisely positioning the head when printing an image on the substrate and eliminating the lines connecting the carriage to the systems supplying control signals, air and inks. To this end, the carriage with the jet heads is moved in one direction along a closed guiding rail which is fitted with a hatched ruler for precise positioning, wherein the heads will thus bypass the substrate on both sides while information is transmitted from the device control unit to the carriage using a radio transceiver. The printer can further be equipped with two independent and parallel substrate feeding systems for performing a one-sided printing on two substrates at the same time.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adjusting and maintaining printhead-to-platen spacing in a printing device, wherein the printing device includes a printhead-carrying carriage and the carriage is pivotally mounted on and reciprocally shiftable along a guide shaft. An anti-rotation rail mounted on a hanger in the printer engages the carriage and determines its position relative to the printer's platen. A clamp structure is connected to the anti-rotation rail and extends through the hanger and is operable for clamping the anti-rotation rail to the hanger. An adjuster mechanism connected to the clamp structure is operable for selectively shifting the anti-rotation rail vertically upwardly or downwardly to position and maintain the carriage, and correspondingly, the printhead a preselected, nominal distance from the platen.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the spacing in a printer between a printhead and the travel path for print media which moves through the printer. The printhead is borne by a carriage which is rotatably mounted adjacent an elongate bearing rail wherein the rotated condition of the carriage relative to that rail establishes the desired spacing. First and second relative moveable bearing structures mounted on the carriage include bearing surfaces which can alternatively adjust the bearing structures so that one or the other, but not both, determine the rotated condition of the carriage.

Abstract: An assembly including a carriage for driving a marking apparatus on at least one guide member wherein the carriage is secured to a bearing allowing the carriage to slide on the guide member. The carriage includes at least one opening made with transverse dimensions substantially greater than those of the guide member so that when the carriage is placed in position, an intermediate space is defined between the walls of the opening and an opposite outer periphery of the guide member which space is filled with a polymerizable resin which forms a bearing sleeve between the walls of the opening and at least a part of the outer periphery of the guide member.

Abstract: A printer carriage has a bushing liner arranged to slide on a rod, the liner including a metal body with plastic inserts having, on their inside surfaces, ribs, which constitute the bearings of the bushing liner. The inserts are located in grooves of the metallic body by means of an injection moulding process. The external surface of the bushing liner comprises a plurality of flat and curved sections arranged asymmetrically to permit firm and accurate location in an aperture of the carriage.

Abstract: A carriage including a printing component support and a pair of bushings having an inner region with at least three spaced rail contact regions separated by respective non-contact regions.

Abstract: A print carriage assembly for an ink jet printer. The print carriage assembly includes a print carriage slidably supported on a printer slider rod, and a sub-carriage that is separate from the printer carriage and slidably supported on the printer slider rod for pushing the printer carriage.

Abstract: A printhead carrier assembly in an ink jet printer includes a carrier moving along a linear path. At least one rotatable bearing is attached to the carrier. The at least one rotatable bearing has at least one axis of rotation. A rotatable shaft has a surface in contact with the at least one bearing such that the shaft is nonparallel to the at least one axis of rotation of the at least one rotatable bearing. The shaft is substantially parallel to the linear path of the carrier. Rotation of the shaft causes the at least one rotatable bearing to roll along a helical path on the surface of the shaft to thereby carry the carrier along the linear path.

Abstract: An ink jet printer including a print carriage and a latching assembly for latching print cartridges in the print carriage. The print cartridge includes a latch feature on a top wall of the cartridge body, and the latching assembly includes a latch arm hingeably attached to a cartridge receiving chute of the print carriage, a clamp structure supported by the latch arm for applying a first clamp force and a second clamp force to the cartridge latch feature generally along respective orthogonal axes and independently of each other.

Abstract: A printhead carrier assembly in an ink jet printer includes a carrier moving along a linear path. At least one rotatable bearing is attached to the carrier. The at least one rotatable bearing has at least one axis of rotation. A rotatable shaft has a surface in contact with the at least one bearing such that the shaft is nonparallel to the at least one axis of rotation of the at least one rotatable bearing. The shaft is substantially parallel to the linear path of the carrier. Rotation of the shaft causes the at least one rotatable bearing to roll along a helical path on the surface of the shaft to thereby carry the carrier along the linear path.

Abstract: Substantially uniform spacing between a printhead and a platen throughout a print zone associated with said printhead in an ink jet printer is provided. The ink jet printer includes a printer frame, and the platen is slideably coupled to the printer frame. A first carrier guide rod is attached to the printer frame, and a second carrier guide rod has at least one end adjustably attached to the printer frame. A position of the second carrier guide rod is adjusted to provide parallelism between the first carrier guide rod and the second carrier guide rod. The platen is biased to a position relative to a position of at least one of the first carrier guide rod and the second carrier guide rod.

Abstract: A carriage assembly of a printer employing a movable print head is disclosed. In the carriage assembly, bosses provided with respective bearing supporting holes each inner circumferential surface of which has a predetermined radius of curvature are formed at a side of a carriage, and bearing bushings each of which has an outer circumferential surface having a different predetermined radius of curvature corresponding to that of the bearing supporting hole, and makes a spherical pair with the bearing supporting hole. A shaft through-hole through which a guiding rod is inserted slidably is formed through each bearing bush. The bearing bushing can rotate freely in the bearing supporting hole, and therefore, the axes of the carriage assembly and the guiding rod can be aligned automatically.

Abstract: To assemble a printer chassis comprising three structural aluminium beams extending between two structural sideplates, the printer carriage beam is first attached to the sideplates by means of attachment points arranged along a straight line and then the printing beam and lower beam are attached to provide a vibration- and deformation-resistant chassis relative to which all the other printer components are referenced. Slider rods are mounted on the printer carriage beam by means of screws which hold the rods against the beam to keep them straight. The screws also pass through apertures in rod supports, the apertures being sized to permit longitudinal thermal movements of the rods relative to the beam.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of ink-jet printers used for color printing of large format articles. This invention is used for improving quality and for increasing the yield of printers and comprises successively applying primary colors, suppressing color aberrations when printing a semi-transparent material on both sides, precisely positioning the head when printing an image on the substrate and eliminating the lines connecting the carriage to the systems supplying control signals, air and inks. To this end, the carriage with the jet heads is moved in one direction along a closed guiding rail which is fitted with a hatched ruler for precise positioning, wherein the heads will thus bypass the substrate on both sides while information is transmitted from the device control unit to the carriage using a radio transceiver. The printer can further be (equipped With two independent and parallel substrate feeding systems for performing a one-sided printing on two substrates at the same time.

Abstract: A carriage, driven along a carriage rod, rests on the carriage rod at carriage V-bearings. The V-bearing connection is open at the bottom. A magnetic preloader applies a magnetic force biasing the carriage toward the carriage rod. A roller coupled to the carriage runs along a track surface away from the carriage rod. At high slew velocities, a local discontinuity, such as a bump, encountered by the roller causes an acceleration of the roller away from the track surface. The upward rotation causes a torque rotating the carriage around the carriage rod. A magnetic restoring torque is applied in the vicinity of the roller to keep the roller running smoothly along the track surface.

Abstract: Image processing equipment has a wear resistant coating on translational rod bearings which support a scanner for slidable movement in a frame. Titanium nitride is coated over a hardened stainless steel core of the translational rods and bearing pads which are arranged for sliding contact with the rods comprise diamond laminated tungsten carbide.