Inkjet printhead assembly
An inkjet printhead assembly includes: an elongate ink supply structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply channels corresponding to a plurality of different colored inks and a plurality of outlet openings; and a plurality of individual printhead modules arranged along a length of the ink supply structure. Each printhead module includes: a carrier having a plurality of inlets for receiving ink from a respective set of the outlet openings, a mounting surface having a plurality of ink supply slots defined therein and a plurality of converging walls extending from the inlets towards the ink supply slots, the converging walls defining a plurality of converging ink galleries for supplying the plurality of different colored inks. A printhead segment is bonded to each mounting surface, the printhead segment receiving the different colored inks from the plurality of ink supply slots.
1. An inkjet printhead assembly comprising:
an elongate ink supply structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply channels corresponding to a plurality of different colored inks and a plurality of outlet openings; and
a plurality of individual printhead modules arranged along a length of the ink supply structure,
wherein each printhead module comprises:
a carrier having a plurality of inlets for receiving ink from a respective set of said outlet openings, a mounting surface having a plurality of ink supply slots defined therein and a plurality of converging walls extending from the inlets towards the ink supply slots, the converging walls defining a plurality of converging ink galleries for supplying the plurality of different colored inks; and
a printhead segment bonded to the mounting surface, the printhead segment receiving the different colored inks from the plurality of ink supply slots.
2. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein each printhead module is adhesively bonded to the ink supply structure.
3. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein each printhead module further comprises a tape automated bonding (TAB) film connected to the printhead segment, the TAB film carrying power and data to the printhead segment.
4. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the printhead segments are arranged in two parallel rows.
5. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 4 , wherein the printhead segments are positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement.
6. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein each carrier is elongate and each of the converging walls extends a length of the carrier.
7. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein each carrier is comprised of molded plastics.
8. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlets of each carrier are spaced further apart than the ink supply slots.
9. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlets of each carrier have larger dimensions than the ink supply slots.
10. The inkjet printhead assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a slotted shield plate covering the elongate ink supply structure, wherein each printhead segment is exposed through the slotted shield plate.
11. A method of printing ink from a plurality of printhead segments, said method comprising the steps of:
supplying the ink to an inkjet printhead assembly having a plurality of printhead segments; and
printing the ink from the plurality of printhead segments,
wherein the inkjet printhead assembly comprises:
an elongate ink supply structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply channels and a plurality of outlet openings; and
a plurality of individual printhead modules arranged along a length of the ink supply structure, wherein each printhead module comprises:
a carrier having a plurality of inlets in fluid communication with said outlet openings, a mounting surface having a plurality of ink supply slots defined therein and a plurality of converging walls extending from the inlets towards the ink supply slots, the converging walls defining a plurality of converging ink galleries; and
a printhead segment bonded to the mounting surface, the printhead segment receiving the ink from one of the ink supply slots.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each printhead module is adhesively bonded to the ink supply structure.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein each printhead module further comprises a tape automated bonding (TAB) film connected to the printhead segment, the TAB film carrying power and data to the printhead segment.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the printhead segments are arranged in two parallel rows.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the printhead segments are positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein each carrier is elongate and each of the converging walls extends a length of the carrier.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein each carrier is comprised of molded plastics.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the inlets of each carrier are spaced further apart than the ink supply slots.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the inlets of each carrier have larger dimensions than the ink supply slots.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the inkjet printhead assembly further comprises a slotted shield plate covering the elongate ink supply structure, and wherein each printhead segment is exposed through the slotted shield plate.
21. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of: providing the ink, wherein the ink is suitable for printing by the printhead segments.