Printer having printhead extending and retracting through maintenance module
A printer includes: a media support defining a media feed path; and a pagewide printing unit for printing onto media fed along the media feed path. The printing unit includes: a maintenance chassis fixedly positioned over the media feed path, the maintenance chassis having a maintenance module fixedly mounted thereto; a print bar chassis movably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis including a print module having a printhead; and a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis between a maintenance position a printing position. The printhead extends and retracts through a space defined by the maintenance module in the printing and maintenance positions, respectively.
1. A printer comprising:
a media support defining a media feed path; and
a pagewide printing unit for printing onto media fed along the media feed path, the printing unit comprising:
a maintenance chassis fixedly positioned over the media feed path, the maintenance chassis having a maintenance module fixedly mounted thereto;
a print bar chassis movably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis comprising a print module including a printhead having opposite longitudinal sides; and
a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis between a maintenance position a printing position,
wherein:
the maintenance module comprises a fixed frame defining a space through which the printhead extends and retracts in the printing and maintenance positions respectively;
the fixed frame houses one or more movable maintenance components; and
the fixed frame extends alongside only one of the longitudinal sides of the printhead.
2. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the print bar chassis comprises a plurality of print modules in a staggered overlapping arrangement across a width of the media path and the maintenance chassis comprises a corresponding plurality of maintenance modules, each maintenance module maintaining a respective printhead.
3. The printer of claim 1 comprising a plurality of printing units positioned along the media feed path.
4. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the media feed path is generally arcuate and each print bar chassis is radially liftable with respect to the media feed path.
5. The printer of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the maintenance chassis defines a datum for the print bar chassis in the printing position.
6. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the frame is L-shaped having a longer leg and a shorter leg, and wherein the space is defined by a space partially encompassed by the longer and shorter legs.
7. The printer of claim 6 , wherein each maintenance module comprises at least one of: a wiper and a capper.
8. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the capper is configured to move laterally with respect to the printhead and parallel with a media feed direction.
9. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the wiper is configured to move longitudinally with respect to the printhead and perpendicular to a media feed direction.
10. The printer of claim 9 , wherein wipers of neighboring printheads are configured to move in opposite longitudinal directions.
11. The printer of claim 1 , wherein each print module is slidably received in a sleeve fixed to the print bar chassis.
12. The printer of claim 1 , wherein each print module comprises a supply module and a replaceable printhead cartridge, the printhead cartridge comprising the printhead.
13. The printer of claim 12 , wherein the supply module houses at least one PCB having a printer controller chip for controlling a respective printhead.
14. The printer of claim 12 , wherein the supply module comprises an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module for supplying ink to and receiving ink from the printhead cartridge.
15. A method of maintaining a printhead comprising the steps of:
providing a maintenance chassis positioned over a media feed path in a fixed relationship relative to a media support, the maintenance chassis comprising a maintenance module;
providing a print bar chassis movably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis comprising a print module having the printhead;
lifting the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis, such that the printhead is retracted at least partially from a space defined by the maintenance module; and
moving a capper or a wiper of the maintenance module into alignment with the printhead,
wherein:
the maintenance module comprises a fixed frame defining a space through which the printhead extends and retracts in the printing and maintenance positions respectively; and
the printhead has opposite longitudinal sides and the fixed frame extends alongside only one of the longitudinal sides of the printhead.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of lowering the print bar chassis such that the printhead engages with the capper or the wiper.
17. A pagewide printing unit for mounting over a media feed path and printing onto media, the printing unit comprising:
a maintenance chassis for fixedly mounting over the media feed path, the maintenance chassis having a maintenance module fixedly mounted thereto;
a print bar chassis movably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis comprising a print module including a printhead having opposite longitudinal sides; and
a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis between a maintenance position a printing position,
wherein:
the maintenance module comprises a fixed frame defining a space through which the printhead extends and retracts in the printing and maintenance positions respectively;
the fixed frame houses one or more movable maintenance components; and
the fixed frame extends alongside only one of the longitudinal sides of the printhead.
18. The printing unit of claim 17 , wherein a footprint of the printing unit in both the printing and maintenance positions is defined by a perimeter of the maintenance chassis.