Abstract: A scanning inkjet printing method comprises arranging a recording medium on a print surface; moving a carriage supporting at least one inkjet print head over the recording medium on the print surface in a scanning direction, while image-wise applying droplets of a liquid to the recording medium to form a first swath of printed dots on the recording medium; moving the recording medium and the carriage relative to each other in a transport direction, wherein the transport direction is transverse to the scanning direction; moving the carriage over the recording medium on the print surface in the scanning direction, while image-wise applying droplets of the liquid to the recording medium to form a second swath of printed dots on the recording medium; detecting a position of the first swath; determining a sub-carriage movement relative to the carriage in response to the detected position of the first swath to position the second swath relative to the first swath, wherein the sub-carriage is supported by the carria

Abstract: A mounting structure for a plurality of print head units includes a frame; a rigid support mounted on the frame, the support having a plurality of mounting sites each of which is adapted to hold an individual print head unit; and an adjusting system for positional adjustment of the print head units relative to the frame. Each mounting site has at least one adjusting mechanism for individually adjusting, in at least one degree of freedom, a position of the print head unit that is held in that mounting site.

Abstract: A scanning inkjet printing method comprises arranging a recording medium on a print surface; moving a carriage supporting at least one inkjet print head over the recording medium on the print surface in a scanning direction, while image-wise applying droplets of a liquid to the recording medium to form a first swath of printed dots on the recording medium; moving the recording medium and the carriage relative to each other in a transport direction, wherein the transport direction is transverse to the scanning direction; moving the carriage over the recording medium on the print surface in the scanning direction, while image-wise applying droplets of the liquid to the recording medium to form a second swath of printed dots on the recording medium; detecting a position of the first swath; determining a sub-carriage movement relative to the carriage in response to the detected position of the first swath to position the second swath relative to the first swath, wherein the sub-carriage is supported by the carria

Abstract: In a print head support assembly for carrying a number of print heads and for positioning the number of print heads, the print head support assembly includes a carriage plate provided with reference elements for positioning the number of print heads, the carriage plate being further provided with at least four support positions and a support sub-assembly provided with at least four adjustable mounting points for coupling to said at least four support positions and for supporting the carriage plate at said at least four support positions. The support sub-assembly is configured to constrain the carriage plate in six degrees of freedom with respect to a position of the carriage plate and to constrain the carriage plate in at least one degree of freedom with respect to a shape of the carriage plate. Thus, a light-weight and compliant carriage plate may be used to provide for a light-weight carriage suitable for high-speed printing.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head fastening facing a medium support surface; a scanning print carriage being movable along a guide in a scanning direction (Y); and a transporter for transporting the medium in a transport direction (X). The printer includes a suspension structure connecting the print head fastening to the scanning print carriage while allowing movement of the print head fastening with respect to the scanning print carriage in a direction (X) parallel to the transport direction. The suspension structure is elastically deformable to allow for the movement in said direction (X).

Abstract: A print-head assembly for a printing apparatus includes: a carriage with a frame configured to be supported on a gantry for movement in a travel direction over a print surface; a print-head unit having one or more print heads mounted on the carriage; and an impact damping device mounted on an end region of the carriage in the travel direction, wherein an impact member of the damping device presents a contact surface in the travel direction. The impact member is mounted to the carriage frame for resilient movement over a buffer distance substantially parallel to the travel direction between a first extended position and a second retracted position for absorbing or damping an impact during movement of the carriage in the travel direction.

Abstract: In a print head support assembly for carrying a number of print heads and for positioning the number of print heads, the print head support assembly includes a carriage plate provided with reference elements for positioning the number of print heads, the carriage plate being further provided with at least four support positions and a support sub-assembly provided with at least four adjustable mounting points for coupling to said at least four support positions and for supporting the carriage plate at said at least four support positions. The support sub-assembly is configured to constrain the carriage plate in six degrees of freedom with respect to a position of the carriage plate and to constrain the carriage plate in at least one degree of freedom with respect to a shape of the carriage plate. Thus, a light-weight and compliant carriage plate may be used to provide for a light-weight carriage suitable for high-speed printing.

Abstract: A printing assembly comprises a medium support surface, a guide assembly and a carriage support structure for moveably supporting a print head carriage on the guide assembly. The guide assembly is arranged to move the print head carriage in a carriage plane, which carriage plane is parallel to the medium support surface. The guide assembly comprises a guide beam; and a guide rail arranged on the guide beam. The guide rail and the guide beam each extend in a scanning direction. The printer carriage support structure comprises a guide frame arranged on the guide rail and the guide frame is moveable in the scanning direction and extends in the scanning direction between a first support position and a second support position. The guide frame is supported on the guide rail at said first support position and at said second support position. A carriage frame is moveably supported on the guide rail through the guide frame.

Abstract: A print-head assembly for a printing apparatus includes: a carriage with a frame configured to be supported on a gantry for movement in a travel direction over a print surface; a print-head unit having one or more print heads mounted on the carriage; and an impact damping device mounted on an end region of the carriage in the travel direction, wherein an impact member of the damping device presents a contact surface in the travel direction. The impact member is mounted to the carriage frame for resilient movement over a buffer distance substantially parallel to the travel direction between a first extended position and a second retracted position for absorbing or damping an impact during movement of the carriage in the travel direction.

Abstract: A printing assembly comprises a medium support surface, a guide assembly and a carriage support structure for moveably supporting a print head carriage on the guide assembly. The guide assembly is arranged to move the print head carriage in a carriage plane, which carriage plane is parallel to the medium support surface. The guide assembly comprises a guide beam; and a guide rail arranged on the guide beam. The guide rail and the guide beam each extend in a scanning direction. The printer carriage support structure comprises a guide frame arranged on the guide rail and the guide frame is moveable in the scanning direction and extends in the scanning direction between a first support position and a second support position. The guide frame is supported on the guide rail at said first support position and at said second support position. A carriage frame is moveably supported on the guide rail through the guide frame.

Abstract: A print head mounting structure includes a beam that extends along a scan axis y of the print head; and a carriage adapted to be driven for reciprocating movement along the beam. The carriage includes a print head carrier for carrying the print head, a cable guide carrier and a link. The print head carrier has a first runner block arranged to guide the print head carrier along the beam. The cable guide carrier is connected to a flexible cable guide that extends along the beam and has a second runner block arranged to guide the cable guide carrier along the beam independently of the print head carrier. The link connects the print head carrier and the cable guide carrier for joint movement along the beam, wherein the link is rigid and play-free in the direction of the scan axis y and is resilient in all remaining degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head fastening facing a medium support surface; a scanning print carriage being movable along a guide in a scanning direction (Y); and a transporter for transporting the medium in a transport direction (X). The printer includes a suspension structure connecting the print head fastening to the scanning print carriage while allowing movement of the print head fastening with respect to the scanning print carriage in a direction (X) parallel to the transport direction. The suspension structure is elastically deformable to allow for the movement in said direction (X).

Abstract: A mounting structure for a plurality of print head units includes a frame; a rigid support mounted on the frame, the support having a plurality of mounting sites each of which is adapted to hold an individual print head unit; and an adjusting system for positional adjustment of the print head units relative to the frame. Each mounting site has at least one adjusting mechanism for individually adjusting, in at least one degree of freedom, a position of the print head unit that is held in that mounting site.

Abstract: A print head mounting assembly for mounting and positioning an inkjet print head on a print head support structure includes a first clamping mechanism for clamping the inkjet print head in a first direction and a second clamping mechanism for clamping the inkjet print head in a second direction, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In order to ease adjustment of the position of the print head, the second clamping mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the print head in the second direction and a release mechanism for releasing the first clamping mechanism, the release mechanism being arranged that the release mechanism is to be operated for operating the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A print head mounting structure includes a beam that extends along a scan axis y of the print head; and a carriage adapted to be driven for reciprocating movement along the beam. The carriage includes a print head carrier for carrying the print head, a cable guide carrier and a link. The print head carrier has a first runner block arranged to guide the print head carrier along the beam. The cable guide carrier is connected to a flexible cable guide that extends along the beam and has a second runner block arranged to guide the cable guide carrier along the beam independently of the print head carrier. The link connects the print head carrier and the cable guide carrier for joint movement along the beam, wherein the link is rigid and play-free in the direction of the scan axis y and is resilient in all remaining degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A print head mounting assembly for mounting and positioning an inkjet print head on a print head support structure includes a first clamping mechanism for clamping the inkjet print head in a first direction and a second clamping mechanism for clamping the inkjet print head in a second direction, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In order to ease adjustment of the position of the print head, the second clamping mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the print head in the second direction and a release mechanism for releasing the first clamping mechanism, the release mechanism being arranged that the release mechanism is to be operated for operating the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A suction device is provided for cleaning a nozzle surface of a print head. The suction device comprises a suction surface and a spacer, whereby the spacer is provided with a spacer channel, the spacer channel comprising a spacer opening at an outer surface of the spacer and the spacer channel being operatively coupled to an air flow source. The spacer is configured for positioning the suction surface at a predetermined distance from the nozzle surface for providing a suction gap. The suction device is configured to provide in operation an air flow through the suction gap, along the nozzle surface and into the suction channel. An air flow may be provided through the spacer channel of the spacer in order to clean an area of the nozzle surface of the print head.

Abstract: A suction device is provided for cleaning a nozzle surface of a print head. The suction device comprises a suction surface and a spacer, whereby the spacer is provided with a spacer channel, the spacer channel comprising a spacer opening at an outer surface of the spacer and the spacer channel being operatively coupled to an air flow source. The spacer is configured for positioning the suction surface at a predetermined distance from the nozzle surface for providing a suction gap. The suction device is configured to provide in operation an air flow through the suction gap, along the nozzle surface and into the suction channel. An air flow may be provided through the spacer channel of the spacer in order to clean an area of the nozzle surface of the print head.