Claims
- 1. Method of locating a reference surface on a printing apparatus, the apparatus comprising a printing unit having at least one printing element and mounted on a support member;the method comprising the steps of: positioning the apparatus such that said printing element is located at a first predetermined position; positioning a reference member having said reference surface such that said reference surface is located at a second predetermined position; said first and second positions being in a predetermined spatial relationship; and fixing the reference member to said support member, thereby to fix said reference surface in said second predetermined position relative to said printing element.
- 2. Method according to claim 1 and wherein said printing element is a droplet ejecting element.
- 3. Method according to claim 2 and wherein said droplet ejecting element is a nozzle.
- 4. Method of manufacturing a printing apparatus, the apparatus including a printing unit comprising a droplet ejection unit having at least one printing element, said at least one printing element comprising at least one nozzle for droplet ejection formed in a nozzle plate, and a support member for said droplet ejecting unit;the method comprising the steps of: mounting said droplet ejecting unit on said support member; thereafter forming said at least one nozzle in said nozzle plate of the droplet ejecting unit; and thereafter arranging a reference member such that a reference surface of said reference member is located at a predetermined position relative to said at least one nozzle; and fixing the reference member to said support member.
- 5. Method according to claim 4 and further comprising the steps of:positioning the apparatus such that said printing element is located in a first additional predetermined position; positioning said reference member such that said reference surface is located at a second additional predetermined position; thereby to locate said reference surface at said predetermined position relative to said at least one nozzle.
- 6. Method according to claim 4 and further comprising the step of directing a high energy beam from a source of said high energy beam at that surface of the nozzle plate from which droplet ejection takes place, thereby to form said at least one nozzle.
- 7. Method according to claim 4 and further comprising the steps of:attaching said printing apparatus to a mechanism for effecting relative movement between the apparatus and a substrate to be printed; abutting said reference surface against a corresponding reference surface cf said mechanism, thereby to align said at least one printing element with said substrate.
- 8. Method according to claim 4, wherein said support member is adapted for attachment to a mechanism for effecting relative movement between the printing apparatus and a substrate to be printed.
- 9. Method according to claim 4, wherein said support member carries electronic drive circuitry for said printing unit.
- 10. Method according to claim 4, wherein said support member carries means for supplying droplet fluid to the droplet ejecting unit.
- 11. Method according to claim 4, wherein said printing unit has a plurality of said printing elements arranged co-linearly in an array direction and wherein said reference surface lies in a plane, the method further comprising the step offixing the reference member to said support member such that said plane lies normal to the array direction.
- 12. Method according to claim 11 and wherein said reference member has a longitudinal axis and is of uniform cross section perpendicular to said axis, the method further comprising the step of fixing said reference member such that said axis lies parallel to said line of co-linearly arranged printing elements.
- 13. Method according to claim 11 and wherein said printing unit has a plurality of said printing elements arranged co-linearly along a line having two ends, the method further comprising the step of:positioning the apparatus such that a printing element at one of the ends of said line of printing elements is located at a predetermined position relative to said reference surface.
- 14. Method according to claim 13 wherein the end of said line of printing element nearest said reference surface is located at a predetermined position relative to that surface.
- 15. Method according to claim 13 and further comprising the steps of:fixing said reference surface in said predetermined position relative to a printing element at one end of said line of printing elements; and fixing an additional reference surface of an additional reference member in an additional predetermined position relative to a printing element at the other end of said line of printing elements.
- 16. Method according to claim 15 and wherein said reference members are arranged co-linearly.
- 17. Method according to claim 16 and further comprising the step of forming a rigid bond between said reference members.
- 18. Method according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of printing elements are arranged co-linearly in a line and further comprising the step of fixing the reference member to that region of said support member lying closest to said line of co-linearly arranged printing elements.
- 19. Method according to claim 18 wherein said support member extends substantially in a plane, the method further comprising the step of fixing said reference member so as to lie substantially in said plane.
- 20. Method according to claim 4 and further comprising the step of fixing the reference member to said support member by means of adhesive.
- 21. Method according to claim 20 and wherein said adhesive is radiation-curing adhesive.
- 22. Method according to claim 21 and further comprising the step of transmitting radiation to said adhesive via said reference member, thereby to cure said adhesive.
- 23. Method according to claim 22 and wherein said reference member has a longitudinal axis and is of uniform cross section perpendicular to said axis, the method further comprising the step of applying a source of radiation to a surface of the reference member lying perpendicular to said axis.
- 24. Method according to claim 4 and further comprising the step of positioning said reference member relative to said support member with thermally-deformable material such as a thermoplastic material or a Wood's metal therebetween, and cooling said thermally-deformable material, thereby to fix said reference member to said support member.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9717698 |
Aug 1997 |
GB |
|
9718641 |
Sep 1997 |
GB |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/GB98/02519 filed Aug. 21, 1998, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (14)
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
International Search Report dated Nov. 26, 1998, Int'l. Appl. No. PCT/GB98/02519. |
International Preliminary Examination Report dated Jun. 14, 1999, Int'l. Appl. No. PCT/GB98/02519. |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/GB98/02519 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/507330 |
|
US |