PRINTER CALIBRATION MODULE
An inkjet printer is disclosed that has a substrate support; a calibration module disposed adjacent to the substrate support and comprising a stage member; and a print assembly disposed across the substrate support, the print assembly comprising a printhead and a calibration imaging device positionable to face the stage member.
1 . An inkjet printer, comprising:
a substrate support;
a calibration module comprising:
a stage member with a vacuum extension that comprises a flat vacuum surface, an internal plenum, and openings in the vacuum surface that provide fluid flow from the surface to the internal plenum; and
a tensioner comprising a metal strip; and
a print assembly disposed across the substrate support, the print assembly comprising a printhead and a calibration imaging device positionable to face the stage member.
2 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum extension comprises a porous body.
3 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein the calibration module further comprises a linear positioner.
4 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum extension comprises holes and slots.
5 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum extension has a bevel.
6 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum extension engages with a test substrate to provide a deviation from flatness of the substrate surface that is less than about 5 μm.
7 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum extension comprises a holder and a porous body embedded in the holder.
8 . An inkjet printer, comprising:
a substrate support;
a calibration module comprising:
a stage member with a vacuum extension that comprises a flat vacuum surface, an internal plenum, and openings in the vacuum surface that provide fluid flow from the surface to the internal plenum;
a tensioner comprising a metal strip; and
a lifter to facilitate installation and removal of a test substrate assembly; and
a print assembly disposed across the substrate support, the print assembly comprising a printhead and a calibration imaging device positionable to face the stage member.
9 . The inkjet printer of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum surface has a plurality of openings arranged symmetrically across the surface.
10 . The inkjet printer of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum extension has a bevel.
11 . The inkjet printer of claim 8 , wherein the calibration module further comprises a linear positioner.
12 . The inkjet printer of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum surface comprises a ceramic porous body.
13 . The inkjet printer of claim 12 , wherein the vacuum extension further comprises a holder for the ceramic porous body.
14 . The inkjet printer of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum surface has slots.
15 . The inkjet printer of claim 14 , wherein the slots comprise short slots and long slots.
16 . The inkjet printer of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum surface has holes arranged in rows.
17 . An inkjet printer, comprising:
a substrate support;
a calibration module comprising:
a stage member with a vacuum extension that comprises a flat vacuum surface, an internal plenum, and openings in the vacuum surface that provide fluid flow from the surface to the internal plenum;
a tensioner comprising a metal strip; and
a lifter to facilitate installation and removal of a test substrate assembly; and
a print assembly disposed across the substrate support, the print assembly comprising a printhead and a calibration imaging device positionable to face the stage member,
wherein the vacuum surface is configured to provide maximum resolution of dots in an image captured by the imaging device of a transparent test substrate supported on the vacuum surface.
18 . The inkjet printer of claim 17 , wherein the vacuum surface extends partway across the vacuum extension.
19 . The inkjet printer of claim 17 , wherein the printhead assembly comprises a housing that houses the printhead and the imaging device.
20 . The inkjet printer of claim 17 , wherein the vacuum extension has two long sides and two short sides, and the long sides and the vacuum extension supports the test substrate between the two short sides.