Claims
- 1. A support frame for a working part having an edge, the working part being supported in a mounting frame having a pair of side plates with a frame portion holding the side plates spaced apart, the working part fitting between the side plates, said side plates each having a pair of spaced supports that lying on a reference plane for orientation of the working part, a pivot block mounted on each of the side plates, said pivot block having a guide for the working part for adjustable movement relative to the pivot block in a direction laterally of the reference plane, a lock for holding the working member in each of the pivot blocks at a desired lateral position relative to the reference plane, and an adjustable support between the mounting frame and the working part for adjustably moving the working part about the pivot axis relative to the mounting frame.
- 2. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the spaced supports on the side plates comprise laterally extending studs and a cylindrical receptacle, each having a central axis lying in the reference plane.
- 3. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the working part is a printhead having a print line along the edge.
- 4. The support frame of claim 3 in combination with an alignment assembly supporting the support frame, including a fixture, and wherein the fixture has a reference plane formed by a wall of transparent material, and a spring urging the print line against the reference plane.
- 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the alignment assembly includes a video camera for viewing a line of contact between the printhead and the transparent wall.
- 6. The combination of claim 5 and a support for the camera forming a reference plane on a side of the transparent member opposite the printhead, said camera having a readout means for determining the position of the line of contact relative to established reference lines.
- 7. A fixture for supporting a support frame for a printhead having an edge defining a line, at least two supports on opposite sides of said support frame for establishing a reference plane of support, the fixture permitting alignment of the line in a direction laterally of the reference plane and adjustment of the printhead angularly on the support frame relative to the reference plane;said fixture supporting said support frame on the supports on opposite sides of the support frame, to establish the reference plane at a known location; a camera positioned for viewing the reference line along the edge; a said support frame having side members, a pivot block pivotally mounted on each side member about a pivot axis substantially parallel to the reference plane, a support tab between each pivot block and the printhead being adjustable on the pivot block in a direction laterally of the reference plane; and an adjustable connection between the printhead and the support frame spaced from the pivot axis to permit changing the angle of the printhead about the pivot axis relative to the support frame.
- 8. The fixture of claim 7, wherein said camera is movably mounted for movement substantially parallel to the edge of the printhead, and a monitor to display the edge as viewed by the camera.
- 9. The fixture of claim 7, and a support on the fixture to support the printhead independently of the support frame, and further including an adjustment device on the fixture for moving the printhead laterally relative to the printhead support frame when the tabs are released from the pivot block.
- 10. The fixture of claim 9 and a bias member urging the support frame toward a wall panel forming a second reference plane for the edge of the printhead.
- 11. The fixture of claim 10, wherein the panel forming a second reference plane comprises a transparent panel against which the edge of the printhead is urged, the printhead having a part cylindrical surface at its edge to form a line of contact with the transparent panel.
- 12. The fixture of claim 11, and a pair of walls on the fixture, said walls having edges defining a narrow slit between the walls, said slit being substantially parallel to the line of contact between the part cylindrical surface of the printhead and of the transparent panel.
- 13. The fixture of claim 12, and a monitor for receiving images viewed by the camera and displaying the line of contact between the panel and the part cylindrical surface of the edge of the printhead relative to reference locations on the monitor.
- 14. A method of adjusting a printhead relative to a printhead support frame, comprising:mounting the printhead in the support frame, the support frame having a pair of side members between which the printhead is positioned; pivotally mounting a support block on each of the side members; positioning the printhead in the support frame between the side members; mounting the support frame in a fixture at a reference position using reference support members on the support frame defining a reference plane; determining the position of a print line on the printhead relative to the reference plane; adjusting the printhead relative to the support frame and reference plane to move the print line on the printhead into a reference position; and fixing the printhead to the support frame in the adjusted position.
- 15. The method of claim 14 including first adjusting the printhead on the pivot blocks in a direction laterally of the reference plane, and then adjusting the angular position of the printhead relative about the pivot axis relative to the reference plane.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Reference is made to copending application Ser. No. 09/430,712, filed on Oct. 29, 1999 for PRINTHEAD MOUNTING GUIDE FRAME, owned by the same assignee of this application and incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (7)