IP Library Granted Patent US 7,108,353
Granted Patent B2
US 7,108,353 · App. 10/760,207 · Granted Sep 19, 2006

Printhead assembly with floating components

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,108,353
App. No.
10/760,207
Granted
Sep 19, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printhead assembly is provided comprising at least one printhead module comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and comprising a casing comprising a support frame removably mounting the at least one printhead module and at least one clamping arrangement clamping the at least one printhead module to the support frame. The clamped printhead module and the at least one clamping arrangement are substantially positionally independent of the casing.

Claims (21)

1. A printhead assembly, comprising:

at least one printhead module comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; and

a casing comprising a support frame removably mounting the at least one printhead module and at least one clamping arrangement clamping the at least one printhead module to the support frame,

wherein the clamped printhead module and the at least one clamping arrangement are substantially positionally independent of the casing.

2. A printhead assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one clamping arrangement comprises locking members for interlocking with lug members of the printhead module.

3. A printhead assembly according to claim 2 ,

wherein the lug members are arranged along longitudinally extending tabs of the support member and are spaced so as to correspond to the mounted positions of the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and

the locking members of the at least one clamping arrangement are provided as recessed portions each arranged so as to engage with one of the lug members on clamped the longitudinally extending tab.

4. A printhead assembly according to claim 3 ,

wherein the support member includes the longitudinally extending tabs on the two parallel sides thereof,

the support frame comprises a first side wall having a longitudinally extending recessed groove and a second side wall substantially parallel to the first side wall, and

the longitudinally extending tab on one side of the support member is received in the longitudinally extending recessed groove of the support frame and the longitudinally extending tab on the other side of the support member is received on an upper surface of the second side wall of the support frame.

5. A printhead assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one clamping arrangement comprises at least one extending arm portion for clamping the longitudinally extending tab of the support member to the upper surface of the second side wall of the support frame.

6. A printhead assembly according to claim 5 ,

the at least one extending arm portion includes at least one of the recessed portions of the at least one clamping arrangement.

7. A printhead assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one printhead module further comprises an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits; and

the printhead assembly further comprises drive electronics removably mounted to the support frame by the clamping arrangement, the drive electronics being arranged to control the printing operation of at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector.

8. A printhead assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one printhead module is formed as a unitary arrangement of the at least two printhead integrated circuits, the support member, the electrical connector, and at least one fluid distribution member mounting the at least two printhead integrated circuits to the support member; and

the support member has at least one longitudinally extending channel for carrying the printing fluid for the printhead integrated circuits and includes a plurality of apertures extending through a wall of the support member arranged so as to direct the printing fluid from the at least one channel to associated nozzles in both, or if more than two, all of the printhead integrated circuits by way of respective ones of the fluid distribution members.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 25, 2014
From: ZAMTEC LIMITED
To: MEMJET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 033244/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028548/0551 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2004
From: SILVERBROOK, KIA; BERRY, NORMAN MICHAEL; JACKSON, GARRY RAYMOND; NAKAZAWA, AKIRA
To: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LTD.
Reel/Frame 014911/0389 →