Inkjet printhead assembly having releasably attached printhead modules
View Patent ↗An inkjet printhead assembly includes an elongate ink feed structure defining a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply passages and a plurality of spaced apart sets of ink outlets in fluid communication with respective ink supply passages. A plurality of printhead modules are releasably attached to the ink feed structure. Each printhead module is in fluid communication with a respective set of ink outlets, and each printhead module includes an elongate printhead chip configured to eject ink supplied from the ink feed structure. Each printhead chip is obliquely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ink feed structure. A capping arrangement configured to cap nozzles on each printhead chip.
1. An inkjet printhead assembly comprising:
an elongate ink feed structure defining a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply passages and a plurality of spaced apart sets of ink outlets in fluid communication with respective ink supply passages;
a plurality of printhead modules releasably attached to the ink feed structure, each printhead module being in fluid communication with a respective set of ink outlets, each printhead module including an elongate printhead integrated circuit configured to eject ink supplied from the ink feed structure, each printhead integrated circuit being obliquely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ink feed structure; and
a capping arrangement configured to cap nozzles on each printhead integrated circuit.
2. An inkjet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the capping arrangement comprises an individual capper for each respective printhead module.
3. An inkjet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ink feed structure is an extrusion and the inkjet printhead assembly further comprises a pair of molded endcaps mounted to respective ends of the ink feed structure.
4. An inkjet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each endcap comprises a spine from which a plurality of plugs extend that are received within respective ink supply passages.
5. An inkjet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one of the endcaps comprises a pair of folding plates which extend from opposite sides of the spine, the plates comprising complementary formations to facilitate snap fitting of the plates together with the ink feed structure located between the plates.
6. An inkjet printhead assembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein one of the folding plates defines a plurality of external tubes bounding respective supply apertures which, in turn, can be located in fluid communication with respective ink supply passages.
7. A printer comprising the inkjet printhead assembly according to claim 1 .