Self aligning printhead carrier bearings for an imaging apparatus

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a guide rod extending along an X-axis; and

a printhead carrier configured for movement along said X-axis, said printhead carrier including:

a carrier housing having a first bearing pocket and a second bearing pocket, said first bearing pocket and said second bearing pocket being spaced apart along said X-axis, wherein a Z-axis passes through a central region of said carrier housing, said Z-axis being substantially perpendicular to said X-axis;

a first bearing configured to be received in said first bearing pocket, said first bearing including a first curved outer surface having a curve that extends in a direction of said X-axis, said curved outer surface being received in said first bearing pocket to facilitate a rotation of said first bearing in relation to said Z-axis of said carrier housing; and

a second bearing configured to be received in said second bearing pocket.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , said second bearing including a second curved outer surface having a curve that extends in said direction of said X-axis, said curved outer surface being received in said second bearing pocket to facilitate a rotation of said second bearing in relation to said Z-axis of said carrier housing.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , said first bearing pocket including a first upper mounting feature and a first lower mounting feature, said first upper mounting feature and said first lower mounting feature being spaced apart along a second Z- axis, said second Z-axis being substantially perpendicular to said X-axis.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 3 , said first bearing having a first locating pin for engagement with said first lower mounting feature and a first mounting post for engagement with said first upper mounting feature, said first locating pin and said first mounting post being diametrically opposed along said second Z-axis.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said first mounting post includes a screw hole for receiving a mounting screw.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 4 , said second bearing pocket including a second upper mounting feature and a second lower mounting feature, said second upper mounting feature and said second lower mounting feature being spaced apart along a third Z-axis, said third Z-axis being substantially perpendicular to said X-axis and substantially parallel to said second Z-axis.

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 6 , said second bearing having a second locating pin for engagement with said second lower mounting feature and a second mounting post for engagement with said second upper mounting feature, said second locating pin and said second mounting post being diametrically opposed along said third Z-axis, said second bearing having a flat outer surface that extends in a direction of said X-axis for engaging said second bearing pocket.

8. The imaging apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said second mounting post includes a screw hole for receiving a mounting screw.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 6 , said second bearing having a second locating pin for engagement with said second lower mounting feature and a second mounting post for engagement with said second upper mounting feature, said second locating pin and said second mounting post being diametrically opposed along said third Z-axis, said second bearing having a curved outer surface having a curve that extends in a direction of said X-axis, said curved outer surface engaging said second bearing pocket.

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said second mounting post includes a screw hole for receiving a mounting screw.

11. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a printhead carrier configured for movement along an X-axis, said printhead carrier including:

a carrier housing having a first bearing pocket, said first bearing pocket including a first upper mounting feature and a first lower mounting feature, said first upper mounting feature and said first lower mounting feature being spaced apart along a first Z-axis, said first Z-axis being substantially perpendicular to said X-axis; and

a first bearing configured to be received in said first bearing pocket, said first bearing having a first locating pin for engagement with said first lower mounting feature and a first mounting post for engagement with said first upper mounting feature, said first locating pin and said first mounting post being diametrically opposed along said first Z-axis, said first bearing having a first curved outer surface having a curve that extends in a direction of said X-axis and that is received in said first bearing pocket.

12. The imaging apparatus of claim 11 , said carrier housing having a second bearing pocket, said first bearing pocket and said second bearing pocket being spaced apart along said X-axis, said second bearing pocket including a second upper mounting feature and a second lower mounting feature, said second upper mounting feature and said second lower mounting feature being spaced apart along a second Z-axis, said second Z-axis being substantially perpendicular to said X-axis and substantially parallel to said first Z-axis.

13. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a second bearing configured to be received in said second bearing pocket, said second bearing having a second locating pin for engagement with said second lower mounting feature and a second mounting post for engagement with said second upper mounting feature, said second locating pin and said second mounting post being diametrically opposed along said second Z-axis, said second bearing having a flat outer surface that extends in a direction of said X-axis and that is received in said second bearing pocket.