Abstract: A printing unit includes: a fixed unit chassis having a lower cable tray mounted to a front part thereof; a movable printhead chassis having an upper cable tray mounted to a front face thereof, the printhead chassis supporting an upstream print module and a downstream print module relative to a media feed direction; a lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the printhead chassis relative to the unit chassis; upstream and downstream cable trunkings positioned at opposite upstream and downstream ends of the unit chassis for receiving electrical cabling from the lower cable tray; and upstream and downstream conduits connected to the upstream and downstream print modules respectively. The downstream cable trunking feeds cabling from the lower cable tray into the upstream conduit via the upper cable tray, and the upstream cable trunking feeds cabling from the lower cable tray into the downstream conduit via the upper cable tray.

Abstract: A thread-coating module includes: a coating chamber having a thread entrance at one end and a thread exit at an opposite end thereof; and an inkjet printhead positioned in a printhead opening of the coating chamber for ejecting ink onto thread fed through the coating chamber. The coating chamber has an ink management system positioned opposite the printhead for managing excess ink. The ink management system includes: an inner ink-collection slot in fluid communication with a drain port for recycling excess ink and an outer aerosol-collection chamber fluidically connected to a vacuum port.

Abstract: An aerosol extraction unit includes: a frame having first and second opposite side bars extending parallel with a media feed direction; and aerosol extractors extending perpendicular to the media feed direction between the first and second side bars. Each aerosol extractor includes: an air knife having a knife slot for directing a flow of air towards print media; and a suction nozzle positioned upstream of the knife slot for directing aerosol into a suction channel. The first side bar includes an air manifold in fluid communication with each knife slot; and the second side bar includes a suction manifold in fluid communication with each suction nozzle.

Abstract: A printing unit includes: a fixed maintenance chassis having a bottom plate defining a plurality of first slots; print modules having a respective inkjet printheads extending across a media feed path; a lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the print modules relative to the media feed path; and an aerosol extraction unit mounted to an underside of the bottom plate. The aerosol extraction unit includes a plurality of aerosol extractors, which extend across the media feed path between a pair of side bars, the aerosol extractors being spaced apart along the media feed direction to define a corresponding plurality of second slots aligned with the first slots. Each print module is slidably movable through its respective first and second slots towards the media feed path into a printing position.

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 thread-coating module includes: a base plate having a printhead opening; an inkjet printhead received in the printhead opening; and a chamber unit having a mouth for engagement with the base plate and an ink-collection slot opposing the printhead. The chamber unit and the base plate are movable relative to each other for opening and closing a coating chamber comprising the base plate and the chamber unit, with the ink-collection slot being positioned opposite the printhead in the coating chamber.

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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 support chassis configured for fixedly mounting over a media feed path; a maintenance chassis mounted on the support chassis; a print bar chassis liftably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis having a plurality of print modules mounted thereon, each print module comprising a respective printhead; and an aerosol collector fixed to the support chassis and positioned for collecting ink mist generated during printing.

Abstract: A printing system includes: a media feed chassis including a plurality of fixed roller shafts, each roller shaft having a rotatable roller for guiding print media through a media feed path; and inkjet modules mounted on the media feed chassis for printing on the print media. Each inkjet module includes: a support chassis seated on the media feed chassis; a maintenance chassis mounted on the support chassis; and a print bar chassis mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis having inkjet printheads mounted thereon.

Abstract: A thread-coating system includes: a thread-coating module having a droplet ejector assembly; a thread gatherer positioned upstream of the thread-coating module and configured for arranging a plurality of threads in a thread wall; a thread expander positioned downstream of the thread-coating module for receiving a coated thread wall and expanding the coated thread wall into individual threads. The thread gatherer is configured for adjusting a spacing of threads in the thread wall and an overall height of the thread wall via a pivoting motion.

Abstract: A thread-coating module includes: a base plate having a printhead opening; an inkjet printhead received in the printhead opening; and a chamber unit having a mouth for engagement with the base plate and an ink-collection slot opposing the printhead. The chamber unit and the base plate are movable relative to each other for opening and closing a coating chamber comprising the base plate and the chamber unit, with the ink-collection slot being positioned opposite the printhead in the coating chamber.

Abstract: A thread-coating module includes: a coating chamber having a thread entrance at one end and a thread exit at an opposite end thereof; and an inkjet printhead positioned in a printhead opening of the coating chamber for ejecting ink onto thread fed through the coating chamber. The coating chamber has an ink management system positioned opposite the printhead for managing excess ink. The ink management system includes: an inner ink-collection slot in fluid communication with a drain port for recycling excess ink and an outer aerosol-collection chamber fluidically connected to a vacuum port.

Abstract: A method of wiping an inkjet printhead. The method includes the steps of: lifting a print module carrier relative to a media feed path, the print module carrier having a mounting arm bridging over a wiper carriage parked at one longitudinal end of a printhead carried by the print module carrier; and moving the wiper carriage, from its parked position below the mounting arm, longitudinally along the printhead to wipe a surface of the printhead.

Abstract: A method of capping printheads positioned along a curved media path having an apex. The method includes the steps of: providing a first printhead upstream of the apex and a corresponding first capper downstream of the first printhead; providing a second printhead downstream of the apex and a corresponding second capper upstream of the second printhead; moving the first capper towards the first printhead and capping the first printhead; and moving the second capper towards the second printhead and capping the second printhead. The first and second cappers are moved in opposite directions away from the apex for capping the first and second printheads.

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.