Modular printhead assembly
View Patent ↗A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate substrate member that defines a plurality of holes. An ink conduit is mounted longitudinally on one side of the substrate member and defines a plurality of ink holes to be in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member. A plurality of printhead module assemblies is mounted along an opposite side of the substrate member. Each module assembly includes an ink feed structure in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member and a printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink feed structure. A bus bar assembly is arranged on the substrate member for providing the printhead integrated circuits with power.
1. A modular printhead assembly comprising
a channel that defines a plurality of holes;
an ink conduit mounted longitudinally on one side of the channel and defining a plurality of holes to be in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the channel;
a plurality of printhead module assemblies mounted along an opposite side of the channel, each module assembly including an ink feed structure in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the channel and a printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink feed structure; and
a bus bar assembly arranged on the substrate member for providing the printhead integrated circuits with power; wherein,
the ink conduit is an extruded flexible hose that defines parallel channels that extend the length of the channel, one end of the hose being capped and the other end being connectable to ink containers.
2. A modular printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which the channel is a metal channel, with the ink conduit and the bus bar assembly mounted in the channel and the printhead module assemblies mounted externally on a floor of the channel.
3. A modular printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which a support plate is positioned in the channel such that the ink conduit is interposed between the support plate and the floor of the channel.
4. A modular printhead assembly as claimed in claim 3 , in which the bus bar assembly is mounted on the support plate such that the support plate is interposed between the ink conduit and the bus bar assembly.
5. A modular printhead assembly as claimed in claim 4 , in which the bus bar assembly includes an extrusion on the support plate that extends along the channel and a number of bus bars, the extrusion being shaped to locate the bus bars.
6. A modular printhead assembly as claimed in claim 5 , in which each printhead module assembly includes a flexible printed circuit board fastened at one end with the ink feed structure and electrically connected to the printhead integrated circuit, with an opposite end connected to the bus bars.
7. A modular printhead assembly as claimed in claim 6 , in which a retaining plate is arranged on the channel such that the ink conduit, the support plate and the bus bar assembly are interposed between the floor of the channel and the retaining plate to be retained in the channel.