Patent Application
20200290341
The following disclosure relates to the field of image formation, and in particular, to printheads and the use of printheads.
Image formation is a procedure whereby a digital image is recreated on a medium by propelling droplets of ink or another type of print fluid onto a medium, such as paper, plastic, a substrate for 3D printing, etc. Image formation is commonly employed in apparatuses, such as printers (e.g., inkjet printer), facsimile machines, copying machines, plotting machines, multifunction peripherals, etc. The core of a typical jetting apparatus or image forming apparatus is one or more liquid-droplet ejection heads (referred to generally herein as “printheads”) having nozzles that discharge liquid droplets, a mechanism for moving the printhead and/or the medium in relation to one another, and a controller that controls how liquid is discharged from the individual nozzles of the printhead onto the medium in the form of pixels.
A typical printhead includes a plurality of nozzles aligned in one or more rows along a discharge surface of the printhead. Each nozzle is part of a “jetting channel”, which includes the nozzle, a pressure chamber, and a diaphragm that is driven by an actuator, such as a piezoelectric actuator. A printhead also includes a drive circuit that controls when each individual jetting channel fires based on image data. To jet from a jetting channel, the drive circuit provides a jetting pulse to the actuator, which causes the actuator to deform a wall of the pressure chamber via the diaphragm. The deformation of the pressure chamber creates pressure waves within the pressure chamber that eject a droplet of print fluid (e.g., ink) out of the nozzle.
Opposite the discharge surface of the printhead is the Input/Output (I/O) surface, where a print fluid is supplied to the printhead, or conveyed out of the printhead (such as with a flow-through head). The I/O surface includes I/O ports that typically connected to a reservoir or the like via a hose. Unfortunately, it may be cumbersome to connect the printheads to the reservoirs with the present I/O design.
Embodiments described herein comprise a printhead having one or more I/O ports situated on one side or both sides. The printhead also has one or more manifolds that fluidly couple the I/O ports on one side of the printhead, or fluidly couple the I/O ports on opposing sides of the printhead. Based on the configuration of the I/O ports and manifolds, printheads may be daisy-chained together so that a print fluid flows from one printhead to another in a supply chain. Thus, it is not necessary to run a hose to each individual printhead, making set up and operation more efficient.
One embodiment comprises a printhead that includes a plurality of jetting channels having nozzles on a bottom surface configured to jet a print fluid, and longitudinal sides disposed between the bottom surface and a top surface. The printhead further includes I/O ports disposed on one or more of the longitudinal sides, and configured to convey the print fluid into or out of the printhead. The printhead further includes one or more chain manifolds disposed between the I/O ports.
In another embodiment, the I/O ports comprise a first I/O port and a second I/O port disposed on a first one of the longitudinal sides.
In another embodiment, the printhead further includes one or more supply manifolds disposed longitudinally, and configured to fluidly couple the first I/O port and the second I/O port to the jetting channels.
In another embodiment, a first one of the supply manifolds and the chain manifold(s) are defined by a common duct within the printhead.
In another embodiment, the I/O ports further comprise a third I/O port and a fourth I/O port disposed on a second one of the longitudinal sides opposite the first one of the longitudinal sides. A first chain manifold of the chain manifold(s) fluidly couples the first I/O port on the first one of the longitudinal sides to the third I/O port on the second one of the longitudinal sides. A second chain manifold of the chain manifold(s) fluidly couples the second I/O port on the first one of the longitudinal sides to the fourth I/O port on the second one of the longitudinal sides.
In another embodiment, the first I/O port is staggered in relation to the third I/O port, and the first chain manifold is disposed at an angle across a width of the printhead between the first I/O port and the third I/O port. The second I/O port is staggered in relation to the fourth I/O port, and the second chain manifold is disposed at an angle across the width of the printhead between the second I/O port and the fourth I/O port.
In another embodiment, one or more of the I/O ports includes an O-ring.
In another embodiment, one or more of the I/O ports includes a hose coupling.
Another embodiment comprises a jetting apparatus that includes a mounting bracket configured to mount multiple ones of the printhead in a daisy chain.
Another embodiment comprises a jetting apparatus that includes a plurality of printheads installed perpendicular to a direction of relative movement between the printheads and a medium. Each printhead of the plurality comprises a plurality of jetting channels having nozzles configured to jet a print fluid, I/O ports disposed on a longitudinal side of the printhead, and a chain manifold disposed between the I/O ports. The printheads are installed as a daisy-chain via the I/O ports and the chain manifold so that the print fluid flows from one of the printheads to another of the printheads.
In another embodiment, the printheads are installed with an outlet I/O port of one of the printheads aligned with an inlet I/O port of another of the printheads.
In another embodiment, the jetting apparatus further comprises an O-ring configured to seal a connection between the outlet I/O port and the inlet I/O port.
In another embodiment, the printheads at ends of the daisy-chain are connected to a reservoir via a hose.
In another embodiment, the printhead further comprises one or more supply manifolds disposed longitudinally, and configured to fluidly couple the I/O ports to the jetting channels. A first one of the supply manifolds and the chain manifold are defined by a common duct.
Another embodiment comprises a jetting apparatus that includes a plurality of printheads. Each printhead of the plurality comprises a plurality of jetting channels having nozzles configured to jet a print fluid, I/O ports that comprise a first I/O port and a second I/O port disposed on a first longitudinal side of the printhead, and a third I/O port and a fourth I/O port disposed on a second longitudinal side of the printhead opposite the first longitudinal side, a first chain manifold disposed between the first I/O port on the first longitudinal side and the third I/O port on the second longitudinal side, and a second chain manifold disposed between the second I/O port on the first longitudinal side and the fourth I/O port on the second longitudinal side. The printheads are installed as a daisy-chain via the I/O ports, the first chain manifold, and the second chain manifold so that the print fluid flows from one of the printheads to another of the printheads
In another embodiment, the printheads are installed with an outlet I/O port of one of the printheads aligned with an inlet I/O port of another of the printheads.
In another embodiment, the jetting apparatus further comprises an O-ring configured to seal a connection between the outlet I/O port and the inlet I/O port.
In another embodiment, the printheads at ends of the daisy-chain are connected to a reservoir via a hose.
In another embodiment, the printheads are installed at an angle to a direction of relative movement between the printheads and a medium.
In another embodiment, the first I/O port is staggered in relation to the third I/O port, and the first chain manifold is disposed at an angle across a width of the printhead between the first I/O port and the third I/O port. The second I/O port is staggered in relation to the fourth I/O port, and the second chain manifold is disposed at an angle across the width of the printhead between the second I/O port and the fourth I/O port.
In another embodiment, the printheads are installed parallel to a direction of relative movement between the printheads and a medium.
In another embodiment, the first I/O port is transversely aligned with the third I/O port, and the first chain manifold is disposed transversely across a width of the printhead between the first I/O port and the third I/O port. The second I/O port is transversely aligned with the fourth I/O port, and the second chain manifold is disposed transversely across the width of the printhead between the second I/O port and the fourth I/O port.
In another embodiment, the printhead further comprises one or more supply manifolds disposed longitudinally, and configured to fluidly couple the I/O ports to the jetting channels. The supply manifolds are fluidly coupled at one end to the first chain manifold, and fluidly coupled at the other end to the second chain manifold.
The above summary provides a basic understanding of some aspects of the specification. This summary is not an extensive overview of the specification. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the specification nor delineate any scope particular embodiments of the specification, or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the specification in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference number represents the same element or the same type of element on all drawings.
The figures and the following description illustrate specific exemplary embodiments. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the embodiments and are included within the scope of the embodiments. Furthermore, any examples described herein are intended to aid in understanding the principles of the embodiments, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. As a result, the inventive concept(s) is not limited to the specific embodiments or examples described below, but by the claims and their equivalents.
The bottom surface 220 of head member 202 includes the nozzles of the jetting channels, and represents the discharge surface of printhead 200. The top surface 222 of head member 202 represents the I/O portion for receiving print fluids into printhead 200 and/or conveying print fluids (e.g., fluids that are not jetted) out of printhead 200. Top surface 222, which is also referred to as the I/O surface, includes a plurality of I/O ports 211-212. Top surface 222 has two ends 226-227 that are separated by electronics 204. I/O port 211 is disposed toward end 226, and I/O port 212 is disposed toward end 227.
Head member 202 includes a housing 230 and a plate stack 232. Housing 230 is a rigid member made from stainless steel or another type of material. Housing 230 includes an access hole 234 that provides a passageway for electronics 204 to pass through housing 230 so that actuators may interface with diaphragms of the jetting channels. Plate stack 232 attaches to an interface surface (not visible) of housing 230. Plate stack 232 (also referred to as a laminate plate stack) is a series of plates that are fixed or bonded to one another to form a laminated stack. Plate stack 232 may include the following plates: one or more nozzle plates, one or more chamber plates, one or more restrictor plates, and a diaphragm plate. A nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles that are arranged in one or more rows (e.g., two rows, four rows, etc.). A chamber plate includes a plurality of openings that form the pressure chambers of the jetting channels. A restrictor plate includes a plurality of restrictors that fluidly connect the pressure chambers of the jetting channels with a supply manifold. A diaphragm plate is a sheet of a semi-flexible material that vibrates in response to actuation by an actuator (e.g., piezoelectric actuator).
Although this design of printhead 200 is effective for its intended purpose, operators may want flexibility in how multiple printheads are connected within a jetting apparatus. In the embodiments described below, the I/O portion is disposed on the side(s) of the printhead, and a manifold(s) (referred to herein as a chain manifold) is disposed through the printhead so that a print fluid may flow through the printhead between I/O ports to act as a supply for another printhead. With this design, multiple printheads may be daisy-chained together within a jetting apparatus.
Printhead 400 has longitudinal sides 424-425 disposed between bottom surface 420 and top surface 422. One or both of longitudinal sides 424-425 represents the I/O portion for receiving print fluids into printhead 400 and/or conveying print fluids (e.g., fluids that are not jetted) out of printhead 400. Longitudinal side 424 includes one or more I/O ports 411-412. I/O ports 411-412 are spaced by a distance (e.g., a distance more than the length of the jetting channels) so that I/O port 411 is disposed on longitudinal side 424 toward end 426, while I/O port 412 is disposed on longitudinal side 424 toward end 427. An I/O port 411-412 comprises an opening in head member 402 that acts as an entry point for a print fluid, and/or an exit point for a print fluid. I/O ports 411-412 may include a hose coupling, hose barb, etc., for coupling with a supply hose of a reservoir, a cartridge, or the like. I/O ports 411-412 may include an O-ring 441-442, a gasket, a seal, or the like, for coupling with another I/O port of another printhead.
In this embodiment, printhead 400 includes a pair of I/O ports 411-412 on longitudinal side 424. Supply manifold 511 fluidly couples I/O ports 411-412, and may further define a chain manifold 513 within printhead 400. A chain manifold 513 comprises a groove, duct, conduit, etc., configured to convey a print fluid through a printhead for transfer to another printhead. A purpose of a chain manifold is to provide a passageway for a print fluid through a printhead so that multiple printheads may be daisy-chained together. Thus, the size, design, etc., of a chain manifold may be different than a supply manifold, which is used to supply a print fluid to jetting channels. For example, a chain manifold 513 may be larger in size or have a lower flow resistance than a regular supply manifold 512. Supply manifold 511/chain manifold 513 may comprise a duct formed within head member 402, and supply manifold 512 may also comprise a duct formed within head member 402. In this embodiment, the duct common for supply manifold 511/chain manifold 513 may be larger than the duct for supply manifold 512 so that the common duct acts as both a supply manifold and a chain manifold. Supply manifold 511/chain manifold 513 fluidly couples I/O port 411 on longitudinal side 424 with I/O port 412 on the same side. With this configuration, printhead 400 may be installed in a jetting apparatus perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between printhead 400 and the medium.
As is evident in
In this embodiment, printhead 400 includes a pair of I/O ports 411-412 on longitudinal side 424, and a pair of I/O ports 713-714 on longitudinal side 425. Printhead 400 also includes chain manifolds 813-814. Chain manifold 813 fluidly couples I/O port 713 on longitudinal side 425 with I/O port 411 on longitudinal side 424. I/O port 713 is staggered in relation to I/O port 411, meaning that they are not transversely aligned across the width of printhead 400. Thus, chain manifold 813 is disposed at an angle across the width of printhead 400 between I/O port 713 and I/O port 411. Chain manifold 814 fluidly couples I/O port 714 on longitudinal side 425 with I/O port 412 on longitudinal side 424. I/O port 714 is staggered in relation to I/O port 412, meaning that they are not transversely aligned across the width of printhead 400. Thus, chain manifold 814 is disposed at an angle across the width of printhead 400 between I/O port 714 and I/O port 412. With this configuration, printhead 400 may be installed in a jetting apparatus at an angle in relation to the direction of relative movement between printhead 400 and the medium. Supply manifolds 511-512 are fluidly coupled at one end to chain manifold 813, and fluidly coupled at the other end to chain manifold 814.
As is evident in
In this embodiment, printhead 400 includes a pair of I/O ports 411-412 on longitudinal side 424, and a pair of I/O ports 713-714 on longitudinal side 425. Printhead 400 also includes chain manifolds 1013-1014. Chain manifold 1013 fluidly couples I/O port 713 on longitudinal side 425 with I/O port 411 on longitudinal side 424. I/O port 713 is transversely aligned with I/O port 411 across the width of printhead 400. Thus, chain manifold 1013 is disposed transversely across the width of printhead 400 between I/O port 713 and I/O port 411. Chain manifold 1014 fluidly couples I/O port 714 on longitudinal side 425 with I/O port 412 on longitudinal side 424. I/O port 714 is transversely aligned with I/O port 412 across the width of printhead 400. Thus, chain manifold 1014 is disposed transversely across the width of printhead 400 between I/O port 714 and I/O port 412. With this configuration, printhead 400 may be installed in a jetting apparatus parallel to the direction of relative movement between printhead 400 and the medium. Supply manifolds 511-512 are fluidly coupled at one end to chain manifold 1013, and fluidly coupled at the other end to chain manifold 1014.
As is evident in
Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and any equivalents thereof.
