US 11,679,587 B2
Compliant printhead locating apparatus for a print module
Willard Charles Raymond, Plymouth, MN (US); Charles Carlson Langford, Plymouth, MN (US); Nathan Albert Bergman, Minneapolis, MN (US); Michael Laurence Beauchene, Dayton, MN (US); Anthony David Kaufhold, Chaska, MN (US); Richard Charles Raymond, Fridley, MN (US); and Nicholas Todd Mann, Orono, MN (US)
Assigned to Prototype and Production Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/270,927
Filed by Prototype and Production Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/048861
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 24, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/051065, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 12, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/726,489, filed on Sep. 4, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0206168 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. B41J 2/165 (2006.01); B41J 29/02 (2006.01); B41J 2/175 (2006.01); B41J 2/14 (2006.01); B41J 25/00 (2006.01); B41J 25/34 (2006.01); B41J 25/304 (2006.01); B41J 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/1433 (2013.01) [B41J 2/1652 (2013.01); B41J 2/16505 (2013.01); B41J 2/16508 (2013.01); B41J 2/16511 (2013.01); B41J 2/16532 (2013.01); B41J 2/16552 (2013.01); B41J 2/16588 (2013.01); B41J 2/1752 (2013.01); B41J 11/008 (2013.01); B41J 25/001 (2013.01); B41J 25/003 (2013.01); B41J 25/304 (2013.01); B41J 25/34 (2013.01); B41J 29/02 (2013.01); B41J 2002/16555 (2013.01); B41J 2202/20 (2013.01); B41J 2202/21 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compliant printhead locating apparatus for a print module, comprising:
(a) a printing apparatus having a printing platform over which a movable print module may extend, said print module constituting a self-contained printing unit having its own fluid supply, printhead drive electronics and printhead assembly;
(b) said printing apparatus and said print module having a cooperative guidance and positioning mechanism for accurately guiding and positioning said printhead assembly into a precise location over said printing platform;
(c) said printhead assembly being flexibly mounted to a remainder of said print module by a separate coupling device which facilitates flexible compliant self-aligning movement of said printhead assembly in multiple directions about a center of said coupling device; and
(d) said coupling device incorporating a set of springs positioned to permit slight compression and extension between said printhead assembly and said remainder of said printing module, as well as 360 degree flexible movement therebetween.
 
2. A compliant printhead locating apparatus for a print module, comprising:
(a) a printing apparatus having a printing platform over which a movable print module may extend, said print module constituting a self-contained printing unit having its own fluid supply, printhead drive electronics and printhead assembly;
(b) said printing apparatus and said print module having a cooperative guidance and positioning mechanism for accurately guiding and positioning said printhead assembly into a precise location over said printing platform;
(c) said printhead assembly being flexibly mounted to a remainder of said print module by a separate coupling device which facilitates flexible compliant self-aligning movement of said printhead assembly in multiple directions about a center of said coupling device;
(d) said coupling device being comprised of a remote center compliance device capable of flexible compliant movement in all directions about a center of said coupling device; and
(e) said remote center compliance device being comprised of a plurality of spaced spring members extending between said printhead assembly and said remainder of said printing module.
 
3. A compliant printhead locating apparatus for a print module, comprising:
(a) a printing apparatus having a printing platform over which a plurality of movable print modules may extend, each of said print modules constituting a self-contained printing unit having its own single-source fluid supply, printhead drive electronics and printhead assembly;
(b) said printing apparatus and each of said print modules having a separate cooperative guidance and positioning mechanism for accurately guiding and positioning said printhead assembly of each of said printing modules into a precise location over said printing platform; and
(c) said printhead assembly of each of said printing modules being flexibly mounted to a remainder of its associated said print module by a separate coupling device which permits slight compression and extension between said printhead assembly and said remainder of said printing module, as well as 360 degree flexible self-aligning movement therebetween.