20 Printer systems
Printer systems
Carriage Components
SOL Spectrophotometer
SOL is a color sensor and it is placed in the left side of the carriage, covered by a metal sheet that protects
it from the heater’s high temperatures. The main function of SOL is to measure color samples that have
been printed on the loaded media and are placed on the print platen zone.
Before taking any color measurement, SOL must be initialized. The SOL initialization process lasts for
about 7min. This process consists on 3 steps: sensor switch on, sensor warm up and sensor calibration.
When the initialization has been completed, the shutter is opened automatically and the carriage is
moved along the scan axis to place SOL on top of each sample to take a color measurement. After the
measurements, the shutter is closed again and the sensor is switched off.
SOL is used to make the linearization from the RIP.
Carriage base
The main function of this plastic part is to located the printheads. Its position is enforced by the two rods
and the belt. It serves as a base where other parts are attached and it has some features to located other
components (capping station and all the next parts).
Latch assembly
This assembly holds down the printheads and helps to ensure that they do not move during operation.
Once the handle is opened it can rotate to allow the user to remove the printheads. It has some features
(holes) to allow the primer to pass though it and make contact with the printheads. Some parts help to
transmit force to the printheads to hold them in position and to transmit information of when the ink should
be dropped.
Sensors
The SOL, the Tetris and the encoder sensor sends information to the PCA board and is passed to the
printmech though the trailing cable. The SOL performs a color calibration, the line sensor calibrates the
printhead alignment and detects other features (e.g. the media) and the encoder sensor detects the
movement of the carriage in relation to the Encoder strip.
Carriage PCA,
This part contains the electronics to control how and when the ink is dropped in every printhead and
receives the information from the sensors.
PCA Cover
This part covers the PCA to avoid aerosol contamination and acts as an electronic enclosure.
X-bias springs
The X-bias springs are sheet metal parts that hold the printhead in position in the X axis.
Covering sheet and metal parts
These parts reflect part of the radiation that is received from the heater to avoid excess overheating and
problems with the sensors and the printheads. Bushings, are bronze parts that are attached to the carriage
base and slide over the rod
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