Printing unit with replaceable printhead
A printing unit includes: a sleeve and a print module received in the sleeve, the print module being slidably removable, in a first direction, from the sleeve. The print module includes a supply module and a replaceable printhead. The printhead is slidably removable, in a second direction, from the supply module, the first and second directions being non-parallel.
1. A printing unit comprising:
a sleeve; and
a print module received in the sleeve, the print module being slidably removable, in a first direction, from the sleeve,
wherein the print module comprises a supply module and a replaceable printhead, the printhead being slidably removable, in a second direction, from the supply module, the first and second directions being non-parallel, and
wherein the supply module further comprises an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module positioned on opposite external sidewalls of a body thereof, each of the ink inlet and ink outlet modules having a respective ink coupling engaged with complementary inlet and outlet couplings of the printhead.
2. The printing unit of claim 1 , wherein a lower part of the sleeve comprises a nest for datuming the print module.
3. The printing unit of claim 2 , wherein the printhead is removable from the supply module only when the print module is disengaged from the nest.
4. The printing unit of claim 1 , wherein the supply module comprises one or more locating pins extending parallel with the second direction, each locating pin being receivable in a respective alignment opening of the printhead.
5. The printing unit of claim 4 , wherein the locating pins extend from a clamp plate, the clamp plate comprising a longitudinal row of electrical contacts for supplying the power and data to the printhead.
6. The printing unit of claim 5 , wherein supply module further comprises a movable clamp for clamping the printhead against the clamp plate.
7. The printing unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second directions are perpendicular to each other.
8. The printing unit of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to a media feed direction.
9. The printing unit of claim 1 , wherein the body houses electronic circuitry for supplying power and data to the printhead.
10. The printing unit of claim 1 , wherein the ink inlet and outlet modules are each slidably movable relative to the opposite external sidewalls of the body, towards and away from the printhead, between a coupled position in which the supply module is fluidically coupled to the printhead and a decoupled position in which the supply module is fluidically decoupled from the printhead.
11. The printing unit of claim 10 , wherein the inlet and outlet modules are slidably movable in a direction parallel with the first direction.
12. The printing unit of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is configured for fixedly mounting on a print bar chassis.