WIDE FORMAT PRINTER WITH SPITTOON AND AEROSOL COLLECTION
A wide format printer that has a media feed assembly for feeding different sizes of media along a media path having a width from 914 mm (36 inches) to 1372 mm (54 inches), a printhead assembly positioned on a first side of the media path and spanning the width of the media path, an aerosol collection duct with an opening on the first side of the media path and a spittoon system positioned on a second side of the media path opposing the first side. The printhead assembly is configured to eject non-printing ink drops from any section not required to print media that is less than the maximum width, and the spittoon system is configured to collect the non-printing ink drops.
1 . A wide format printer comprising:
a media feed assembly for feeding different sizes of media along a media path, the media path having a width from 914 mm to 1372 mm;
a printhead assembly positioned on a first side of the media path and spanning the width of the media path;
an aerosol collection duct with an opening on the first side of the media path; and,
a spittoon system positioned on a second side of the media path opposing the first side; wherein,
the printhead assembly is configured to eject non-printing ink drops from any section not required to print media that is less 1372 mm wide, and the spittoon system is configured to collect the non-printing ink drops.
2 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 wherein the media feed assembly feeds media along the media path in a media feed direction and the printhead assembly has a plurality of printheads arranged into a group of leading printheads and a group of trailing printheads, the leading printheads being upstream of the trailing printheads with respect to the media feed direction.
3 . The wide format printer according to claim 2 wherein the opening of the aerosol collection duct is downstream of the trailing printheads.
4 . The wide format printer according to claim 3 wherein the spittoon system is at least one service module operating in a spittoon mode.
5 . The wide format printer according to claim 4 further comprising a plurality of the service modules, one of the service modules being provided for each of the printheads respectively wherein during use, any of the printheads not fully required to print media that is less than 1372 mm wide, have the corresponding service module operating in the spittoon mode.
6 . The wide format printer according to claim 5 wherein the service modules are configured to operate in a platen mode when all the corresponding printhead is printing the media.
7 . The wide format printer according to claim 5 wherein the service modules are independently operable.
8 . The wide format printer according to claim 7 wherein the printhead assembly has a plurality of printheads positioned to span the media path, each of the service modules configured to service one of the printheads respectively.
9 . The wide format printer according to claim 8 further comprising a platen having an apertured platen face, wherein the service modules are positioned for accessing the printheads through the apertured platen face.
10 . The wide format printer according to claim 9 wherein the apertured platen face has an aperture for each one of the plurality of service modules respectively.
11 . The wide format printer according to claim 10 wherein one of the modes is a capping mode for use when the printhead corresponding to the service module is inactive.
12 . The wide format printer according to claim 10 wherein one of the modes is a priming mode for use when the printhead corresponding to the service module is a newly installed replacement printhead.
13 . The wide format printer according to claim 12 wherein the service modules that do not correspond to the newly installed replacement printhead are configured to operate in the capping mode while the newly installed replacement printhead is primed.
14 . The wide format printer according to claim 1 further comprising:
a drive roller configured to engage and push media into a print zone; and,
a movable media engagement assembly configured to engage one side of the media and pull the media while the drive roller remains engaged with the media.
15 . The wide format printer according to claim 14 wherein the movable media engagement assembly has an apertured surface that has a media engagement side and low pressure region at a side opposite the media engagement side.
16 . The wide format printer according to claim 15 wherein the movable media engagement assembly has a vacuum belt configured to receive the media from the print zone.
17 . The wide format printer according to claim 16 wherein the drive roller is configured to control a media translation speed until the media disengages from the drive roller.
18 . The wide format printer according to claim 17 wherein the vacuum belt is configured to control the media transport speed subsequent to disengagement of the media from the drive roller.
19 . The wide format printer according to claim 9 further comprising a media encoder positioned in the platen and configured to produce timing signals for operating the printhead assembly.
20 . The wide format printer according to claim 16 further comprising a scanner adjacent the vacuum belt to capture information from the media for feedback control of the pagewidth printhead assembly.