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: Service station components for interacting with one type of printhead are located to be aligned in operative position only in a first servicing mode, and service station components for interacting with another type of printhead are differently located to be aligned in operative position only in a second servicing mode. This allows for different servicing schemes of two or more modes to be applied based on the individual characteristics of the ink and/or nozzle plates employed in inkjet printheads. In some instances, an individual printhead can be serviced in more than one servicing mode. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable service station units are provided for each different printhead.

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: A tool and a method for adjusting a space between a printhead in a print cartridge and a platen in an ink jet printer are disclosed. The shape of the tool mimics the shape of a print cartridge. The tool is inserted into an aperture in a carriage in place of the print cartridge whose printhead is the closest to the platen, or, if all of the printheads are equally close to the platen, then the tool may be inserted in place of any of the print cartridges. The tool includes a thin flexible member that extends toward the platen. The length of the member is such that, when the tool is properly inserted into the aperture and contacts the platen, then the printhead to platen spacing at that point on the platen would be just equal to a minimum acceptable spacing between a printhead in the same aperture and the platen.

Abstract: Service station components for interacting with one type of printhead are located to be aligned in operative position only in a first servicing mode, and service station components for interacting with another type of printhead are differently located to be aligned in operative position only in a second servicing mode. This allows for different servicing schemes of two or more modes to be applied based on the individual characteristics of the ink and/or nozzle plates employed in inkjet printheads. In some instances, an individual printhead can be serviced in more than one servicing mode. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable service station units are provided for each different printhead.

Abstract: Spaced pins support and align the strip. Apertures in the strip engage the pins with no fastening. The strip—best a transparent member and glued strength member—is end-mounted and -tensioned. Ideally the apertures are slots to constrain the strip as to only one dimension, and spaced (ideally about 30 cm on centers) to facilitate cutting various-size strips (e. g. for spans of roughly 91½, 106½, 152½ and 183 cm) from common, preapertured stock. The strip is longer than a meter; the invention is progressively more valuable for 1¼ m or longer strips. At least one pin is placed to keep fundamental oscillation of the strip, due to environmental vibration, from moving the strip out of position. The invention can take the form of the strip only, for use with the pins; or a printer with encoding system having the strip and pins—and a sensor responsive to the encoder to control printing; or a method of preparing a system for use.

Abstract: A printer apparatus and method of actuating a fluid pump in a printer to deliver fluid to an ink jet printhead without removing the printhead from a printhead carriage particularly useful for priming inkjet printheads using an air displacement pump to deliver air under positive pressure to the printheads. The pump is located proximate a service station on the printer and is automatically actuated by movement of the carriage to service station. The pump may be arcuately positionable to align the pump with a selected one of air passageways provided in a printhead holddown cover on the printhead carriage. Algorithms are provided for locating the precise position of the pump outlet along the carriage scan axis relative to its intended design location and for arcuately positioning the pump relative to the carriage to engage the pump outlet with a selected one of conduits in the carriage connected to each printhead.

Abstract: Service station components for interacting with one type of printhead are located to be aligned in operative position only in a first servicing mode, and service station components for interacting with another type of printhead are differently located to be aligned in operative position only in a second servicing mode. This allows for different servicing schemes of two or more modes to be applied based on the individual characteristics of the ink and/or nozzle plates employed in inkjet printheads. In some instances, an individual printhead can be serviced in more than one servicing mode. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable service station units are provided for each different printhead.

Abstract: A carriage-mounted optical sensor for an ink-jet hard copy apparatus includes a unitary light tube member which holds the optical components in fixed positions relative to each other as well as relative to an outer protective casing which attaches to the carriage. The light tube member serves as a cap to capture two LEDs between itself and a protective casing, to capture an optical lens between itself and a photocell holder, and to directly engage the casing. An inner wall having light redirecting features provides an improved light path cylinder and the device obtains a more accurate representation of the test pattern mark shape, reflectance value, and position.

Abstract: A reciprocating belt drive arrangement for the printhead carriage of a printer comprises an endless belt looped around a toothed drive pulley, which engages a toothed part of the belt, and an idler pulley with circumferential grooves which are arranged to receive ribs on the remaining part of the belt to prevent transverse movements of the belt leading to wear. The ribs and grooves may be interchangeable. In an alternative embodiment the toothed and ribbed parts extend side-by-side along the belt.