PRINT-HEAD MODULE

Abstract

A print-head module for a single-pass inkjet printer contains a housing component with a transverse bracket which extends in the X-direction and on which a number of print heads are arranged which are adjusted positionally with respect to at least one reference position. A load-bearing frame with a supporting device is provided for supporting the load-bearing frame. The housing component is mounted on the load-bearing frame such that it swings about a pendulum axis. Furthermore, a single-pass inkjet printer has at least one print-head module of this type. The inkjet printer contains a frame construction with a support, on which the at least one print-head module is placed by use of the supporting device.

Claims

1. A print-head module for a single-pass inkjet printer, comprising: a number of print heads; a swing axis; a housing component having a transverse bracket extending in an X-direction and on said transverse bracket said number of print heads are disposed and are adjusted positionally with respect to at least one reference position; and a support frame having rest devices for resting said support frame, said housing component being mounted on said support frame such that said housing component can swing about said swing axis.

2. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein the swing axis is disposed above said transverse bracket in a Z-direction.

3. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein said swing axis is oriented parallel to the X-direction.

4. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein said rest devices of said support frame are disposed above said swing axis in a Z-direction.

5. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein said rest devices of said support frame are disposed above a center of mass of the print-head module in a Z-direction.

6. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein said support frame has two support arms which are spaced apart from one another in the X-direction, and said rest devices are disposed in a region of free ends of said support arms.

7. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein said support frame has a cross-member which extends in the X-direction and is disposed above said swing axis in a Z-direction.

8. The print-head module according to claim 1, further comprising mounting aids for lifting in and out in a vertical direction in a manner which is oriented freely by way of gravity being disposed above a center of mass of the print-head module in a Z-direction.

9. The print-head module according to claim 7, further comprising a coupling module being placed onto said support frame in the Z-direction, said coupling module having a first coupling part with a plurality of first connectors at least for supplying operating media and for providing electric energy; and wherein said support frame has a second coupling part with a plurality of second connectors which are complementary with respect to said first connectors, and it being possible for said first coupling part and said second coupling part to be decoupled and coupled mechanically from and to one another with a production of a connection between said first connectors and said second connectors.

10. The print-head module according to claim 9, wherein said coupling module is placed on said cross-member.

11. The print-head module according to claim 10, further comprising mounting aids being disposed on said coupling module.

12. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein said housing component has two side cheeks which extend in a Z-direction and are connected to said transverse bracket, and said support frame being disposed between said side cheeks.

13. The print-head module according to claim 12, further comprising side walls, in each case one of said side walls being mounted on both sides on said transverse bracket and on said side cheeks of said housing component.

14. The print-head module according to claim 1, wherein said rest devices have in each case one planar rest face which extends in an X-Y plane.

15. The print-head module according to claim 1, further comprising at least one radial plain bearing, said swing axis being fixed by way of said at least one radial plain bearing.

16. The print-head module according to claim 15, wherein: said housing component having an opening formed therein; and said at least one radial plain bearing has a guide pin which is oriented in the X-direction and is guided through said opening with oversize.

17. The print-head module according to claim 16, wherein said guide pin of said at least one radial plain bearing being mounted on said support frame and being guided in said opening on said housing component.

18. The print-head module according to claim 1, further comprising at least one supporting bearing for supporting said support frame on said housing component in a Y-direction.

19. The print-head module according to claim 18, further comprising at least two supporting bearings being spaced apart in the X-direction, one of said supporting bearings being configured as a floating bearing and another of said supporting bearings being configured as a fixed bearing with regard to the X-direction.

20. The print-head module according to claim 1, further comprising: an open bearing disposed on said housing component; and at least two bearing pieces being spaced apart from one another in the X-direction and are configured in each case for self-adjusting positioning in said open bearing.

21. The print-head module according to claim 20, further comprising a catching device for rough positioning in relation to a bearing seat of said bearing pieces being disposed on said housing component.

22. The print-head module according to claim 1, further comprising: a stop face disposed on said housing component; and a stop piece for coming into contact with said stop face.

23. The print-head module according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of: at least control boards for said print heads and being mounted on said support frame; supply lines for an operating medium, electric energy, air and/or coolant being mounted on said support frame; control lines for information signals being mounted on said support frame; fuses being mounted on said support frame; or a supply or drive units for said print heads being mounted on said support frame.

24. A single-pass inkjet printer, comprising: a frame construction; at least one print-head module containing a number of print heads, a swing axis, a housing component having a transverse bracket extending in an X-direction and on said transverse bracket said number of print heads are disposed and are adjusted positionally with respect to at least one reference position, and a support frame having rest devices for resting said support frame, said housing component being mounted on said support frame such that said housing component can swing about said swing axis; and at least one support disposed on said frame construction, said support frame being deposited by means of said rest devices on said at least one support.

25. The single-pass inkjet printer according to claim 24, wherein said at least one support contains a planar rest face which is supported via a ball joint.

26. The single-pass inkjet printer according to claim 24, further comprising: open bearings disposed on said frame construction; and at least two bearing pieces, which are spaced apart in the X-direction, of said housing component of said at least one print-head module being positioned in in each case one of said open bearings disposed on said frame construction.

27. The single-pass inkjet printer according to claim 23, further comprising a stop face disposed on said frame construction; and wherein said housing component of said at least one print-head module has a stop piece bearing against said stop face.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0050] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a partially broken-open, three-dimensional illustration of a print-head module for a single-pass inkjet printer having a support frame, having a housing component which is mounted in a swinging manner thereon with print heads, and having a coupling module which is placed onto the support frame according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the print-head module according to FIG. 1 in an enlarged detail view;

[0052] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the support frame of the print-head module according to FIG. 1 in an enlarged detail view; and

[0053] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detail of an inkjet printer having a print-head module according to FIG. 1 which is deposited in a printing position which is fixed on the unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a three-dimensional and partially broken-open illustration of a print-head module 1 for a single-pass inkjet printer. The print-head module 1 contains a housing component 2 which is mounted in a swinging manner on a support frame 3. A corresponding swing axis 5 is illustrated. Furthermore, a coupling module 6 is placed on the support frame 3.

[0055] The housing component 2 which is mounted on the support frame 3 such that it can swing about the swing axis 5 contains a transverse bracket 8 which extends in the X-direction and along which a plurality of print heads 10 which are positionally adjusted with respect to one another are mounted. The transverse bracket 8 is fastened between two side cheeks 12 which extend in each case in the Z-direction. In each case one side wall 13 is mounted on both sides on the transverse bracket 8 and on the side cheeks 12. The side wall 13 mechanically stabilizes the housing component 2. It also prevents an undesired movement of components which are received in the interior of the print-head module 1.

[0056] The swing axis 5 is defined by two radial plain bearings 14 which are situated in each case at the upper ends of the side cheeks 12. The housing component 2 can be pivoted about the swing axis 5 with respect to the support frame 3. A linear offset of the housing component 2 with respect to the support frame 3 is also made possible along the X-direction.

[0057] The support frame 3 contains a cross-member 17 which likewise extends in the X-direction and on which support arms 18 are mounted on both sides which extend beyond the housing component 2 in the X-direction. A rest device 20 for counter-bearing or depositing on a corresponding support, which is fixed to the unit, of the single-pass inkjet printer are configured in each case at the free ends of support arms 18.

[0058] The swing axis 5 and the rest device 20 are arranged above the center of mass S of the print-head module 1 in the Z-direction. The swing axis 5 is likewise defined above the transverse bracket 8 which supports the print heads 10. In other words, in the case of a gravity-oriented orientation, the transverse bracket 8 hangs below the support frame 2 or below the cross-member 17. The print-head module 1 per se with the support frame 3 and the housing component 2 also hangs below the rest device 20. To this extent, the print-head module 1 which is deposited on the rest device 2 is already oriented by gravity in accordance with a provided printing position which is fixed on the unit, and to this extent can be lifted in and out of the single-pass inkjet printer easily.

[0059] The transverse bracket 8 with the print heads 10 which are arranged therein extends over the entire printing width or over the entire width of a printing medium. The transverse bracket 8 has, for example, a length of 2.5 m.

[0060] The corresponding supply and drive units 23 for the print heads 10, operating and supply lines 24, cable bundles 25 for supply and control lines, electric fuses 26 and the control boards 27 for the print heads 10 are mounted on the support frame 3 via a corresponding frame construction. As a result, the housing component 2 and therefore, in particular, the transverse bracket 8 which supports the print heads 10 are relieved of weight. The housing component 2 supports merely the print heads 10 per se. The print heads 10 themselves are mounted such that they can be displaced on the transverse bracket 8 in the X-direction and in the Y-direction.

[0061] A dimensional enlargement of the print-head module 1 is possible by way of the weight relief of the housing component 2 which supports the print heads 10. The print heads 10 can be positioned exactly in the printing position on the single-pass inkjet printer. A positional change of the print heads 10 as a result of a weight-induced material deformation is below the tolerance limit. The position of the print heads 10 can be fixed in the micrometer range and is stable. The weight of many components of the print-head module 1 is transmitted to the support frame 3. The support frame 3 is deposited via the rest device 20 on counter-bearing on the single-pass inkjet printer. The main weight of the print-head module 1 is absorbed by the corresponding support via the rest device 20.

[0062] In order to lift the print-head module 1 in and out in a vertical and gravity-oriented orientation, mounting aids 30 are provided on the coupling module 6, on which mounting aids 30 a cord of a cord lifting system is mounted. The coupling module 6 is placed mechanically and in connection terms on the cross-member 17 of the support frame 3 via a multi-coupling. To this end, the coupling module 6 contains a first coupling part 31 which couples to a second coupling part 32 which is connected fixedly to the cross-member 17.

[0063] The first coupling part 31 has a number of first connectors 34. Accordingly, second connectors 35 which are complementary to the first connectors 34 are included by the second coupling part 32. The first and second connectors 34, 35 are configured as operating medium lines, as control lines or as electric lines for energy supply. Mechanical coupling of the first coupling part 31 and the second coupling part 32 takes place via a motor 36, for example by a screw connection, the first connectors 34 being connected at the same time to the second connectors 35. Here, in particular, operating medium lines are coupled to one another in a manner which is sealed with respect to operating medium. Furthermore, ink tanks 38 are arranged on the coupling module 6. Furthermore, a strain relief device(s) 40 for the corresponding cable leadthroughs are mounted.

[0064] Here, bearing pieces 42 for positioning in an open bearing of the single-pass inkjet printer are mounted on the housing component 2, in each case on its side cheeks 12. The bearing pieces 42 are configured, for example, as height-adjustable ball pivots. The corresponding bearing elements on the single-pass inkjet printer are configured as upwardly open bearing sockets with a conical or ball socket or with a prism socket. In addition, a catching device 43 is mounted in each case on the side cheeks 12 of the housing component 2. The catching device 43 is configured, for example, with a wedge shaft which, during lowering of the print-head module 1, comes into contact with a catching wedge on the single-pass inkjet printer and is oriented as a result, with the result that the print-head module 1 is deposited automatically during lowering with the respective bearing pieces 42 into the bearing sockets of the open bearings and in the process reaches the desired and exactly oriented printing position. To this end, a corresponding play of the housing component 2 with respect to the support frame 3 is permitted via the radial plain bearings 14 of corresponding configuration. Variable positioning in the X-Y plane on the single-pass inkjet printer is also made possible via a flat rest face of the rest device 20. Fixing in the Y-direction takes place via the stop piece 44 during lifting in.

[0065] Details of the bearing can be seen from FIG. 2 in an enlarged detail view of the print-head module 1 according to FIG. 1. The stop piece 44 is configured as a ball pivot which is oriented and fixed in a prism guide in the Y-direction during lowering. The mounting aids 30 are configured as a cord fastening device 47. A height-adjustable bearing piece 42 and the catching device 43 which is fastened thereto can be seen clearly.

[0066] The radial plain bearings 14 which are arranged on both side cheeks 12 of the housing component 2 comprise in each case one guide pin 50 which penetrates an opening 51 in the respective side cheek 12. Here, the opening 51 has an oversize, with the result that an offset of the housing component 2 with respect to the support frame 3 is also possible in the Y-Z plane in accordance with the given play. It can likewise be seen that the housing component 2 can be offset linearly along the X-direction along the swing axis 5 with respect to the support frame 3. The planar rest face 49 can be seen on the rest device 20.

[0067] The support frame 3, which is received in the housing component 2, of the print-head module 1 according to FIG. 1 can be seen from FIG. 3. As in FIG. 2, the planar rest face 49 on the rest device 20 can be seen. The control boards 27 and operating medium lines 24 are received in the interior of the support frame 3.

[0068] The cross-member 17 of the support frame 3 is mounted between two side plates 53 which extend in the Z-direction. In each case the guide pin 50 of the radial plain bearing 14 is screwed in on the two side plates 53. A supporting bearing 56 is formed at the lower end of the side plates 53, by way of which supporting bearing 56 the support frame 3 can additionally be supported on the housing component 2. It is possible as a result to transmit part of the weight of the support frame 3 and the components received therein to the housing component 2 and, in particular, to the transverse bracket 8 which supports the print heads. As a result, the printing position of the housing component 2 on the single-pass inkjet printer can possibly be stabilized.

[0069] The supporting bearings 56 which are provided on both sides comprise a ball pivot 57. The ball pivot 57 is mounted on the side plate 53. The correspondingly complementary bearing element is given as a bearing socket which is fastened in each case on the inner side of the corresponding side cheek 12 of the housing component 2.

[0070] One of the supporting bearings 56 contains a ball socket or conical socket 61. The other supporting bearing 56 contains a prism socket 62 as complementary bearing element. Whereas the ball or conical socket 61 defines an exact pivot point of the support frame 3 on the housing component 2, a longitudinal offset as a result of a temperature change loading is absorbed in the X-direction via the prism socket 62.

[0071] FIG. 4 shows a single-pass inkjet printer 65. The latter contains a frame construction 66, on which the print-head module 1 according to FIG. 1 is deposited. Thus, in particular, the rest device 20 on the support arms 18 is deposited on a support 68. Here, the support 68 contains a planar rest face 70 which is mounted in a rotatably movable manner in a ball joint 71. The rest face 70 of the support 68 is oriented in the ball joint 71 by way of the weight of the deposited support frame 3, with the result that there is always a flat contact independently of an inclination angle of the print-head module 1.

[0072] The bearing pieces 42 on the side cheeks of the housing component 2 are received in corresponding bearing sockets of the open bearings 74 in a positionally adjusted manner. The respective catching device 43 is positioned on corresponding catching wedges.

[0073] The stop piece 44 on a side cheek of the housing component 2 is defined with respect to a stop face 75 on the frame construction 66. The running direction L of a printing medium can be seen.

[0074] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0075] 1 Print-head module [0076] 2 Housing component [0077] 3 Support frame [0078] 5 Swing axis [0079] 6 Coupling module [0080] 8 Transverse bracket [0081] 10 Print heads [0082] 12 Side cheek [0083] 13 Side wall [0084] 14 Radial plain bearing [0085] 17 Crossmember [0086] 18 Support arm [0087] 20 Rest means [0088] 23 Supply and drive unit [0089] 24 Operating medium line [0090] 25 Cable bundle [0091] 26 Fuses [0092] 27 Control boards [0093] 30 Mounting aid [0094] 31 First coupling part [0095] 32 Second coupling part [0096] 34 First connectors [0097] 35 Second connectors [0098] 36 Motor [0099] 38 Ink tank [0100] 40 Strain relief means [0101] 42 Bearing piece [0102] 43 Catching means [0103] 44 Stop piece [0104] 47 Cord fastening means [0105] 49 Rest face [0106] 50 Guide pin [0107] 51 Opening [0108] 53 Side plate [0109] 56 Supporting bearing [0110] 57 Ball pivot [0111] 61 Ball socket [0112] 62 Prism socket [0113] 65 Single-pass inkjet printer [0114] 66 Frame construction [0115] 68 Support [0116] 70 Rest face [0117] 71 Ball joint [0118] 74 Open bearing [0119] 75 Stop face [0120] L Running direction [0121] S Center of mass