Abstract: An actuator is equipped with a body and a slider. Body side rail grooves are formed in side wall portions that constitute the body. On the other hand, slider side rail grooves are formed in the slider. Body side guide rails and slider side guide rails are provided in the body side rail grooves and the slider side rail grooves, respectively. Circular arc grooves serving as ball grooves are formed by body side ball receiving portions of the body side guide rails, and slider side ball receiving portions of the slider side guide rails.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier configured for movement along an X-axis. The printhead carrier includes a carrier housing having a first bearing pocket and a second bearing pocket. The first bearing pocket and the second bearing pocket are spaced apart along the X-axis. A Z-axis passes through a central region of the carrier housing. The Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to the X-axis. A first bearing is configured to be received in the first bearing pocket. The first bearing includes a first curved outer surface having a curve that extends in a direction of the X-axis. The curved outer surface is received in the first bearing pocket to facilitate a rotation of the first bearing in relation to the Z-axis of the carrier housing. A second bearing is configured to be received in the second bearing pocket.

Abstract: A positioning system for a carriage in a printing system includes a support plate having a groove along a length of the plate, and a rail positioned along the groove. A first adjusting mechanism is used to adjust the position of the rail in a first direction, and a second adjusting mechanism is used to adjust the position of the rail in a second direction that is substantially normal to the first direction.

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.