Apparatus and method for maintaining a substantially constant closely spaced working distance between an inkjet printhead and a printing receiver
US6561607B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 5, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J25/308
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention resides in an apparatus (8) and method for maintaining a print head (10) at a substantially constant, closely spaced working distance (22) from a surface (17) of a printing receiver (16) during relative translational movement between the print head (10) and the receiver (16) along a predetermined path of movement for depositing liquid or ink droplets (12) onto the surface (17), the apparatus (8) including an actuator (20) connected to the print head (10) and controllably actuable for moving the print head (10) toward and away from the receiver (16), an element (35,36) for detecting a representative distance between the print head (10) and locations on the surface (17) of the receiver (16) along the path of movement and generating a signal having a value representative of or related to the representative distance, an element (46) for comparing the signal value to a reference; value representative of the working distance (22) for determining a difference between the signal value and the reference value and generating a control signal representative of the difference, and a control element (24) for receiving the control signal and responsively controllably actuat…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.