Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes: (a) an inkjet printhead having a rigid elongate manifold with first and second parallel ink supply channels extending along a length of the manifold between respective ink ports positioned at opposite ends thereof; and a plurality of printhead chips mounted to a lower surface of the manifold, the ink supply channels supplying ink to the printhead chips via ink outlets defined in the lower surface. One end of the manifold has a first ink inlet port for the first ink supply channel and an ink outlet port for the second ink supply channel. The other end of the manifold has a first ink outlet port for the first ink supply channel and a second ink inlet port for the second ink supply channel. An ink delivery system is configured to flow ink along the first and second channels in opposite directions.

Abstract: A printing device includes: an inkjet printhead; a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the printhead through a lift path; and a pivotally movable spit flap positioned in the lift path. The spit flap is configured to swing away from the lift path when the printhead contacts the spit flap during lowering of the printhead.

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: An inkjet printing system includes: (a) an inkjet printhead having a rigid elongate manifold with first and second parallel ink supply channels extending along a length of the manifold between respective ink ports positioned at opposite ends thereof; and a plurality of printhead chips mounted to a lower surface of the manifold, the ink supply channels supplying ink to the printhead chips via ink outlets defined in the lower surface. One end of the manifold has a first ink inlet port for the first ink supply channel and an ink outlet port for the second ink supply channel. The other end of the manifold has a first ink outlet port for the first ink supply channel and a second ink inlet port for the second ink supply channel. An ink delivery system is configured to flow ink along the first and second channels in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method of coating threads using a printhead having rows of nozzles extending along a length of the printhead. The method includes the steps of: feeding the thread along a length of the printhead; and ejecting ink from the rows of nozzles towards the thread. Thread-coating modules and thread-coating systems make use of the method described.

Abstract: A printing device includes: an inkjet printhead; a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the printhead through a lift path; and a pivotally movable spit flap positioned in the lift path. The spit flap is configured to swing away from the lift path when the printhead contacts the spit flap during lowering of the printhead.

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: An ink delivery system for an inkjet printer includes: (a) an ink delivery module for supplying and receiving ink in a circulating fluidic loop having positive and negative pressure ink lines; (b) print modules interconnected between the positive pressure ink line and the negative pressure ink line. The ink delivery module has regulator pumps for gross control of ink pressure in the print modules; and each print module has a respective pressure control system for dynamic fine control of ink pressure in each individual print module.

Abstract: A modular inkjet printhead includes a plurality of printhead modules arranged end on end in a row, each printhead module having at least four rows of print chips configured for printing at least four different inks, each print chip having multiple nozzle rows for redundant printing of a respective ink. A print zone of the printhead has a width of less than 100 mm in a media direction.

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 modular inkjet printhead includes a plurality of printhead modules arranged end on end in a row. Each printhead module includes: a substrate having a plurality of ink supply channels; a plurality of print chips mounted on the substrate, each print chip receiving ink from a respective ink supply channel; and a plurality of fingers extending longitudinally from opposite ends of each printhead module, each finger comprising at least a portion of a respective print chip. The fingers of neighboring printhead modules are interdigitated such that print chips of neighboring printhead modules overlap and the portion of the print chip contained in a respective finger is positioned towards one lateral edge of the finger.

Abstract: A modular inkjet printhead includes: a plurality of printhead modules arranged end on end in a row; an elongate support structure extending a length of the printhead for holding the printhead modules; and an ink carrier extending alongside the support structure and laterally spaced from the printhead modules, the ink carrier being fluidically connected to each of the printhead modules via a plurality of ink connectors extending laterally therefrom; and a pair of elongate busbars extending longitudinally along a roof of the ink carrier, each busbar being electrically connected to each of the printhead modules via a pair of respective connector straps extending transversely therefrom, the busbars supplying power to each of the printhead modules.

Abstract: A printhead module includes a monolithic substrate having a plurality of rows of print chips mounted thereon. Each row of print chips receives power and data through a respective longitudinal slot defined through a thickness of the substrate, each longitudinal slot extending parallel with and offset from the rows of print chips.

Abstract: A modular inkjet printhead includes a plurality of printhead modules arranged end on end in a row. Each printhead module includes: a substrate having a plurality of parallel ink supply channels extending longitudinally along a length thereof and a plurality of parallel printhead segments. Each printhead segment extends longitudinally along a length of the substrate and has a plurality of print chips arranged end on end in a row. A plurality of fingers extend longitudinally from opposite ends of each printhead module, each finger including a portion of a respective one of the printhead segments. The fingers of neighboring printhead modules are interdigitated such that printhead segments of neighboring printhead modules overlap.

Abstract: A printhead module includes: an ink manifold defining a plurality of ink supply channels, the ink manifold having first and second opposite faces; a plurality of print chips mounted on the first face, each print chip receiving ink from a respective ink supply channel via a set of ink outlets defined in the first face; first PCBs mounted on the first face of the ink manifold, each print chip being electrically connected to a respective first PCB; and second PCBs mounted on the second face of the ink manifold. The first and second PCBs are connected via electrical connectors extending through longitudinal slots defined in the substrate.

Abstract: A modular inkjet printhead includes a plurality of printhead modules arranged end on end in a row. Each printhead module includes: a substrate having a plurality of longitudinal ink supply channels; a plurality of print chips mounted on a first face of the substrate, each print chip receiving ink from a respective ink supply channel; and a plurality of fingers extending longitudinally from opposite ends of each printhead module, each finger having an ink port extending away from a second face of the substrate opposite the first face, each ink port being in fluid communication with a respective ink supply channel Each ink supply channel is connected to a respective pair of ink ports at opposite ends of each printhead module and the fingers of neighboring printhead modules are interdigitated such that the ink ports of neighboring printhead modules overlap.

Abstract: A method of coating threads using a printhead having rows of nozzles extending along a length of the printhead. The method includes the steps of: feeding the thread along a length of the printhead; and ejecting ink from the rows of nozzles towards the thread. Thread-coating modules and thread-coating systems make use of the method described.

Abstract: A modular inkjet printhead includes a plurality of printhead modules arranged end on end in a row. Each printhead module includes: a substrate having a plurality of parallel ink supply channels extending longitudinally along a length thereof and a plurality of parallel printhead segments. Each printhead segment extends longitudinally along a length of the substrate and has a plurality of print chips arranged end on end in a row. A plurality of fingers extend longitudinally from opposite ends of each printhead module, each finger including a portion of a respective one of the printhead segments. The fingers of neighboring printhead modules are interdigitated such that printhead segments of neighboring printhead modules overlap.