Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead; an ink line connected to the printhead; and a compliance fluidically communicating with the ink line. The compliance includes sealed flexible bellows configured for dampening ink pressure fluctuations in the ink line.

Abstract: A printer includes: a media support defining a media feed path; and a pagewide printing unit for printing onto media fed along the media feed path. The printing unit includes: a maintenance chassis fixedly positioned over the media feed path, the maintenance chassis having a maintenance module fixedly mounted thereto; a print bar chassis movably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis including a print module having a printhead; and a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis between a maintenance position a printing position. The printhead extends and retracts through a space defined by the maintenance module in the printing and maintenance positions, respectively.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead including: an elongate fluid manifold having a plurality of fluid outlets positioned longitudinally along a base of the fluid manifold, each neighboring pair of fluid outlets being separated by a support web; and a plurality of butting printhead chips arranged in a row and attached to the base of the fluid manifold, each printhead chip receiving a printing fluid from one or more fluid outlets. Each butting pair of printhead chips has respective butting end portions commonly supported by one of the support webs.

Abstract: A printhead capping system includes: a mounting bracket having a fixed shaft; a cap assembly mounted on the mounting bracket; and an arm hingedly connected to the shaft, the arm moving the cap assembly between a capping position and a printing position. The shaft is a drain shaft for receiving fluid drained from the cap assembly.

Abstract: A pagewide printing unit for mounting over a media feed path and printing onto media. The printing unit includes: a print module having a printhead; a maintenance module having a fixed frame supporting a capper and a wiper, the print module being movable relative to the fixed frame; and a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the print module relative to the fixed frame between a maintenance position a printing position. The fixed frame is in a same fixed position in both the maintenance and printing positions. Further, the capper and the wiper are each independently movable relative to the fixed frame.

Abstract: A modular printer includes: a media support defining a media feed path; and a plurality of pagewide printing units spaced apart along a media feed direction of the media feed path. Each printing unit includes: a maintenance chassis fixedly positioned over the media feed path; and a print bar chassis seated on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis supporting one or more print modules extending across a width of the media feed path. A lift mechanism raises and lowers the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis, with each print bar chassis being independently liftable from a printing position to a maintenance position. A footprint of each printing unit in both the printing and maintenance positions is defined by a perimeter of the maintenance chassis.

Abstract: A print module including a printhead cartridge releasably engaged with a supply module The supply module includes a body housing electronic circuitry for supplying power and data to a printhead of the printhead cartridge; and an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module flanking the body at opposite sides thereof. Each of the ink inlet and ink outlet modules having a respective ink coupling engaged with complementary inlet and outlet couplings of the printhead cartridge.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system includes: a maintenance chassis having a maintenance module with a laterally movable capper; a print bar chassis movably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis having a printhead and a cover for the capper; a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis between a capping position a printing position; and a retraction mechanism for laterally extending and retracting the capper between the capping position and the printing position. The printhead is engaged with the capper in the capping position and the cover is engaged with the capper in the printing position.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: an elongate fluid manifold having at least one longitudinally extending channel, the fluid manifold having a base defining a plurality of fluid outlets, the fluid outlets being spaced apart along a floor of the channel; a plurality of printhead chips bonded to the base of the fluid manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more fluid outlets; and a plurality of transverse ribs positioned across the channel, each transverse rib extending upwardly from the floor of the channel.

Abstract: A printer including: a print module having a printhead for printing onto media fed along a media feed path and a maintenance module for maintaining the printhead. The maintenance module includes an L-shaped frame having a longer arm extending parallel with a longitudinal axis of the printhead and a shorter arm. The longer arm includes a capper for capping the printhead and the shorter arm includes a wiper for longitudinally wiping the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an elongate fluid manifold having a base which includes a truss structure. The truss structure has webs extending between opposite chords, wherein a plurality of openings between the webs and the chords define fluid outlets. One or more printhead chips are attached to the webs of the truss structure with each printhead chip receiving printing fluid from a plurality of the fluid outlets.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: an elongate fluid manifold comprising at least one longitudinally extending channel, the fluid manifold having a base defining a plurality of ink outlets, the fluid outlets being spaced apart longitudinally along a floor of the channel; a plurality of printhead chips bonded to the base of the fluid manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more fluid outlets; and a plurality of transverse ribs positioned across the channel, each transverse rib extending upwardly from the floor of the channel. One or more of the transverse ribs has a recess allowing fluid flow along the floor of the channel between the transverse ribs.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having an elongate support having a plurality of internal webs protruding from a base section to define a plurality of parallel fluid supply channels, a shim supported by the support and defining a plurality of rows of openings through which fluid from respective supply channels is supplied, and a plurality of elongate printhead modules supported serially on the shim. Each module defines a plurality of fluid supply passages through which fluid passes to fluid ejection nozzles from respective rows of the openings. Either end of each module defines complementary formations such that adjacent modules nest together.

Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.

Abstract: A printer includes a modular vacuum belt assembly for moving print media in a media feed direction along a media path. The modular vacuum belt assembly includes a plurality of moving belt modules interconnected along a width of the media path. Neighboring moving belt modules are interconnected via a connecting fixed vacuum plenum.

Abstract: A printhead capping system includes: a fixed plate; first and second sliders slidably movable along the fixed plate; a mounting bracket having a cap assembly mounted thereon; and first and second arms interconnecting the mounting bracket and the respective first and second sliders. Movement of the first and second sliders towards each other causes lateral movement of the cap assembly away from the fixed plate, and movement of the first and second sliders away from each other causes lateral movement of the cap assembly towards the fixed plate.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a manifold assembly and a print chip. The manifold assembly includes an ink passage having an ink outlet and an air passage having an air outlet. The print chip is attached to part of the manifold assembly and is positioned for receiving ink from the ink outlet of the ink passage. The air outlet is offset from the print chip and is configured for delivering a flow of air laterally across the print chip.

Abstract: A printer includes: a first fixed printhead having a respective first print zone; a first platen positioned in the first print zone; a second fixed printhead positioned downstream of the first printhead having a respective second print zone; a second platen positioned in the second print zone; an input roller assembly configured for feeding media sheets along a downward trajectory towards the first platen; an intermediary roller assembly positioned between the first and second platens and configured for receiving the media sheets from the first platen and feeding the media sheets along a downward trajectory towards the second platen; and an exit roller assembly for receiving the media sheets from the second platen. The second platen is positioned relatively lower than the first platen to facilitate a stepped media feed path with minimal distance between the first and second printheads.

Abstract: A printing method includes the steps of: receiving a color image and separating the color image into a plurality of distinct color planes; dithering a first distinct color plane to obtain dot data for the first distinct color plane; dithering a second distinct color plane to obtain dot data for the second distinct color plane; providing the dot data for the first distinct color plane to a first print head cartridge for printing by a plurality of nozzle rows of the first print head cartridge; and providing the dot data for the second distinct color plane to a second print head cartridge positioned downstream from the first print head cartridge in a direction of print media propagation, the dot data for the second distinct color plane for printing by a plurality of nozzle rows of the second print head cartridge.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printhead having first and second ports; an ink container for supplying ink to the printhead, the ink container having a supply port and a return port; a first ink conduit interconnecting the supply port and the first port; a second ink conduit interconnecting the return port and the second port; an ink valve positioned in the first ink conduit; a first pump positioned in the second conduit; and a second pump positioned in a valve bypass conduit. The first and second pumps are employed during pressurized priming of the printhead so as to optimize a pressure gradient along a length of the printhead.