PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY INCORPORATING INK CASSETTE AND INK DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY
A printhead assembly includes a printhead assembly having printhead integrated circuits each with a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements for ejecting ink; an ink distribution assembly supporting the printhead integrated circuits, said ink distribution assembly defining a plurality of longitudinal ink ducts extending along a length of the assembly, and a plurality of ink inlet ports in fluid communication with respective ink ducts; a plurality of ink crossover channels defined over and across the plurality of longitudinal ink ducts, the ink crossover channels connecting the ink inlet ports to respective longitudinal ink ducts; and an ink cassette defining a plurality of ink reservoirs in fluid communication with the ink ducts via a ink hoses engaged with respective ink inlet ports.
1 . A printhead assembly comprising:
a printhead assembly having printhead integrated circuits each with a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements for ejecting ink;
an ink distribution assembly supporting the printhead integrated circuits, said ink distribution assembly defining a plurality of longitudinal ink ducts extending along a length of the assembly, and a plurality of ink inlet ports in fluid communication with respective ink ducts;
a plurality of ink crossover channels defined over and across the plurality of longitudinal ink ducts, the ink crossover channels connecting the ink inlet ports to respective longitudinal ink ducts; and
an ink cassette defining a plurality of ink reservoirs in fluid communication with the ink ducts via a ink hoses engaged with respective ink inlet ports.
2 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a paper feed mechanism for feeding paper past said printhead, and a printed circuit board (PCB) having electronic components for controlling the feed mechanism and the printhead integrated circuits.
3 . The printhead assembly of claim 2 , wherein the paper feed mechanism includes a feed roller, feed idler rollers, a platen, exit rollers and a pin wheel assembly all driven by a stepper motor.
4 . The printhead assembly of claim 2 , wherein the paper feed components are mounted between a pair of bearing moldings in turn mounted to the chassis at respective ends thereof.
5 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the printhead assembly is mounted to a chassis by means of printhead spacers mounted to the chassis.
6 . The printhead assembly of claim 2 , wherein Tape Automated Bond (TAB) films interconnect the printed circuit board and the printhead integrated circuits.
7 . The printhead assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electronic components on the PCB include a memory, controller integrated circuitry, quality assurance circuitry and motor driver circuitry.
8 . The printhead assembly of claim 2 , wherein the paper feed mechanism includes a platen for supporting the paper and roller assemblies for driving the paper over the platen.
9 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ink distribution assembly is divided into an upperside and a lower side, the upperside defining the plurality of longitudinal ink ducts, and the lower side defining a plurality of transitional ducts.
10 . The printhead assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of transfer ports provided between the plurality of longitudinal ink ducts and the plurality of transitional ducts, the transfer ports connecting the longitudinal ink ducts with respective transitional ducts.
11 . The printhead assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of transitional ducts are angled acutely with respect to the plurality of longitudinal ink ducts.