WIDE FORMAT PRINTER WITH INPUT MEDIA ROLLER AND OUTPUT VACUUM BELTS
A wide format printer that has a print zone, a drive roller positioned upstream of the print zone, a vacuum platen assembly positioned under the print zone, a printhead assembly overlaying and spanning the print zone and a vacuum belt assembly configured to receive media from the print zone. The print zone is more than 432 mm (17 inches) wide.
1 . A wide format printer comprising:
a print zone;
a drive roller upstream of the print zone;
a vacuum platen assembly positioned under the print zone;
a printhead assembly overlaying and spanning the print zone; and
a vacuum belt assembly configured to receive media from the print zone; wherein,
the print zone is more than 432 mm (17 inches) wide.
2 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 wherein the printhead assembly has a staggered array of printheads that, during use, collectively span the media.
3 . The wide format printer according to claim 2 wherein the vacuum platen assembly comprises a plurality of service modules, each with a vacuum platen configured for alignment with a corresponding one of the array of printheads.
4 . The wide format printer according to claim 3 wherein the service modules are configured to cross the media path to engage the printhead during a capping or servicing operation.
5 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 further comprising a scanner adjacent the vacuum belt assembly.
6 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum belt assembly has a plurality of individual vacuum belts.
7 . The wide format printer according to claim 6 wherein the individual vacuum belts share a common belt drive mechanism.
8 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 further comprising a media encoder embedded within the vacuum platen assembly.
9 . A wide format printer according to claim 3 wherein the service modules are independently operable.
10 . A wide format printer according to claim 9 wherein the service modules each have a wiper for wiping the corresponding printhead.
11 . A wide format printer according to claim 5 wherein the vacuum platen assembly further comprises a fixed vacuum platen in which the service modules are embedded, the fixed vacuum platen being positioned adjacent the print zone, the print zone encompassing an area simultaneously printable by the printheads.
12 . A wide format printer according to claim 11 wherein the media path is between 914 mm and 1372 mm wide.
13 . A wide format printer according to claim 12 wherein the print zone has an area less than 129032 square mm (200 square inches).
14 . A wide format printer according to claim 13 configured to generate less than 0.2 psi pressure difference between one surface of the media and the other as the media is fed across the fixed vacuum platen.
15 . A wide format printer according to claim 13 configured to generate between 0.036 psi to 0.116 psi pressure difference between one surface of the media and the other as the media is fed across the fixed vacuum platen.
16 . A wide format printer according to claim 13 wherein the vacuum platen assembly is configured to generate a normal force on the media of between 4 lbs to 13.5 lbs as the media is fed across the fixed vacuum platen.
17 . A wide format printer according to claim 1 wherein the individual vacuum belts are configured to transport the media at a faster speed than the drive roller.
18 . A wide format printer according to claim 17 wherein during use, the media simultaneously engages both the drive roller and the individual vacuum belts such that the media slips relative to the individual vacuum belts.