Printhead drive system for serial printer
US5465107A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J19/18
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The printhead of an ink jet printer is mounted on a printhead carrier for reciprocal movement on a carrier guide rod above a record feed path. A bi-directional motor drives a drive belt attached to the carrier to thereby pull the printhead back and forth. The belt is attached to the carrier at two points which are spaced from the axis of the carrier guide rod, one point being above the axis and the other point being below the axis. The arrangement is such that any tilt of the printhead carrier in a vertical plane, resulting from a pulling force of the drive belt, is always in the same direction regardless of the direction in which the printhead carrier is pulled. This improves the accuracy of ink dot placement thereby giving better print quality. The drive belt is mounted on pulleys which are positioned such that there is an upward incline from each attachment point to a pulley. The carrier is provided with feet which ride in a groove in a carrier guide. When the belt is driven, an upward component of force is applied to the carrier at the point where the belt is attached to the carrier. This upward force tends to rotate the printhead carrier about the guide rod, thereby forcing th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.