Abstract: A printing unit includes: three elongate printheads positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement for spanning across a media feed path, wherein a first printhead and a second printhead are longitudinally spaced apart and positioned in a row across the media feed path and a third printhead is offset from and overlaps with both the first and second printheads; three wipers for longitudinally wiping respective printheads in a direction perpendicular to a media feed direction, each wiper being parked at one longitudinal end of its respective printhead. One of the wipers, in its parked position, is positioned in a space between the first and second printheads.

Abstract: A method of replacing a printhead in an inkjet module includes the steps of: detaching a printhead nest assembly from a printhead carrier of the inkjet module, the printhead nest assembly having a nest and a printhead nestably secured within the nest; opening the nest and removing the printhead; inserting a replacement printhead into the opened nest and then closing the nest to reform the printhead nest assembly; and fastening the printhead nest assembly to the printhead carrier.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: a unit chassis and a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted on the unit chassis, each inkjet module having a respective printhead. The inkjet modules are each pivotally mounted on the unit chassis for pivotally moving the inkjet modules towards and away from each other.

Abstract: An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis having an elongate base plate and a rear wall extending upwards therefrom; an elongate printhead liftably mounted on the chassis; a lift mechanism operatively connected to the printhead for lifting and lowering the printhead relative to the base plate; a capping assembly slidably mounted on the base plate, the capping assembly having a capper extending parallel with the rear wall and the printhead; a capper movement mechanism operatively connected to the capping assembly for linearly slidably moving the capping assembly towards and away from the rear wall; and a cap cover pivotally mounted to the rear wall. During use, engagement of part of the capping assembly with the cap cover pivots the cap cover away from the capper to allow sliding movement of the capper towards the rear wall and into a covered position.

Abstract: A printhead nest assembly for facilitating printhead replacement. The printhead nest assembly includes: a nest configured for detachable fastening to a printhead carrier and a replaceable printhead nestably secured within the nest, the nest enveloping all sides of the printhead. The nest is configurable in open and closed positions and allows removal of the printhead only in the open position and only when the printhead nest assembly is detached from the printhead carrier.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: a unit chassis for positioning over a media feed path; a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted in tandem on the unit chassis in forward and reverse orientations, each inkjet module including a module chassis having a C-shaped base plate defining an open longitudinal slot and a printhead positioned in the open longitudinal slot of a respective base plate; and an aerosol extractor positioned beneath the base plate of a downstream inkjet module relative to a media feed direction. The pair of opposed C-shaped base plates have relatively proximal open longitudinal slots containing the pair of printheads and relatively distal longitudinal base members.

Abstract: An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis having an elongate base plate defining a longitudinal slot; a pair of posts extending upwards from the base plate at opposite ends of the longitudinal slot; a pair of brackets having sleeve bushings slidably engaged with the posts; an elongate printhead carrier supported between the brackets, the printhead carrier having: front and rear plates defining a cavity therebetween, a brace interconnecting upper parts of the front and rear plates, and a pair of datum blocks interconnecting lower parts of the front and rear plates; a printhead mounted to the datum blocks; and a lift mechanism operatively connected to each bracket for lifting and lowering the printhead carrier relative to the base plate.

Abstract: An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis; a printhead carrier mounted to the chassis; and a printhead nest assembly having a nest fastened to the printhead carrier and a replaceable printhead nestably secured within the nest. The printhead nest assembly is detachable from the printhead carrier and the printhead is removable from the nest only when the printhead nest assembly is detached from the printhead carrier.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: a unit chassis having a pair of side bars interconnected by a pair of end bars; first and second print modules mounted on the unit chassis, each print module having a respective printhead and an associated print zone; an aerosol extractor providing an airflow through the print zones; and an interstitial bar positioned in a space between the printheads. The interstitial bar is configured to modulate the airflow through the print zones.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: a height-adjustable print module including a printhead for printing onto a media surface; and a resilient flap positioned for engagement with part of the print module. In use, movement of the print module towards the media surface into a printing position forms a seal between the print module and the flap for printing.

Abstract: An integrated inkjet module includes: a chassis having an elongate base plate; a pair of posts extending upwards from the base plate at opposite ends of a longitudinal slot; a pair of brackets slidably engaged with the posts; a printhead liftably mounted to the chassis via the brackets; a lift mechanism operatively connected to each bracket for lifting and lowering the printhead relative to the base plate; and a wiper parked at one end of the longitudinal slot for longitudinally wiping the printhead. The printhead is movable between a print position and a raised position, the chassis has an open front face allowing access to the printhead via the front face, and one of the brackets is configured for shielding the wiper in the print position.

Abstract: A printing unit including: a unit chassis; and first and second inkjet modules mounted on the unit chassis, each inkjet module having a respective printhead nest assembly, each printhead nest assembly including a replaceable printhead nestably secured within a respective nest with each nest enveloping its respective printhead about all sides. The nest includes: a cantilever spring engaged with its respective printhead, the cantilever spring being biased away from the printhead; and a screw adjuster in butting engagement with the cantilever spring for urging the cantilever spring towards and away from the printhead. In use, a skew of one printhead is mechanically adjustable relative to the other printhead via rotational movement of the screw adjuster.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: a unit chassis and a pair of opposed inkjet modules mounted in tandem on the unit chassis in forward and reverse orientations, each inkjet module having one respective printhead and at least one of: a capper and a wiper. Each printhead includes first and second rows of print chips mounted on a unitary surface of a respective ink manifold, the first and second rows of print chips having a plurality of print chips butted end-on-end along a length of the printhead. The printheads are wholly aligned with respect to a media feed direction for printing in four ink colors from the pair of printheads.

Abstract: A method of printing redundantly in four colors from first and second printheads aligned along a media feed direction. Each of the first and second printheads has respective first and second rows of print chips butted end-on-end, the first and second rows of print chips having 180-degree rotational symmetry. Each row of print chips in one printhead is supplied with the same two inks which are printed from both rows of print chips in that printhead. Compensatory sets of nozzles in the first and second rows of print chips are offset along the media feed direction, by virtue of the 180-degree rotational symmetry, so as to hide print artefacts arising from the compensatory sets of nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead module includes a monolithic substrate having longitudinal ink supply channels defined through a thickness of the substrate and extending parallel with each other along a length of the substrate; rows of print chips mounted on a front face of the substrate, each row of print chips receiving ink only from a respective one of the ink supply channels; and first PCBs mounted on the front face, each PCB extending alongside a respective one of the rows of print chips and supply power thereto. The rows of print chips and the first PCBs are mounted alternately across the front face of the substrate.

Abstract: A printhead module for a modular pagewide inkjet printhead. The printhead module has only four rows of print chips configured for printing four different inks, each print chip having multiple nozzle rows for redundant monochrome printing of one respective ink. A print zone of the printhead module has a width of less than 100 mm across the four rows of print chips.

Abstract: A printhead module includes: a monolithic substrate having alternate longitudinal slots and longitudinal ink supply channels defined through a thickness of the substrate and extending parallel with each other along a length of the substrate; and a plurality of rows of print chips mounted on a front face of the substrate, each row of print chips receiving ink only from a respective one of the ink supply channels. Each one of the longitudinal slots is configured to supply power and data only to a respective one of the rows of print chips.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: three elongate printheads positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement for spanning across a media feed path, wherein a first printhead and a second printhead are longitudinally spaced apart and positioned in a row across the media feed path and a third printhead is offset from and overlaps with both the first and second printheads; three wipers for longitudinally wiping respective printheads in a direction perpendicular to a media feed direction, each wiper being parked at one longitudinal end of its respective printhead. One of the wipers, in its parked position, is positioned in a space between the first and second printheads.

Abstract: A printhead module for a modular pagewide inkjet printhead. The printhead module has only four rows of print chips configured for printing four different inks, each print chip having multiple nozzle rows for redundant monochrome printing of one respective ink. A print zone of the printhead module has a width of less than 100 mm across the four rows of print chips.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: a sleeve and a print module received in the sleeve, the print module being slidably removable, in a first direction, from the sleeve. The print module includes a supply module and a replaceable printhead. The printhead is slidably removable, in a second direction, from the supply module, the first and second directions being non-parallel.