Scan axis and carriage
Scan axis
The scan-axis system is the part of the scan-axis subsystem designed to move the carriage backwards and
forwards for printing and servicing. This subsystem moves the carriage with a motor, belt, and pulley system.
Furthermore, the scan axis has features to open and close the spectrophotometer shutter (SOL) and to
enable/disable the cutter.
Scan-axis components
Scan beam:
It is an extruded aluminum part. Its main function is to guide the carriage along the scan axis via two rods,
and it sets its limits of movement. Apart from this it positions and holds the service station, the scan-axis
motor, the two brackets, and the pinchwheels assembly. It also works as an air container to be blown to the
print zone coming from the rear and leaving through several pipes located over the substrate and holds the
rear fans.
PPS system
The PPS consists of some screws and pockets, it locates the scan beam in reference to the side plates in
order to have a correct distance between the printheads and the substrate. This distance is supposed to be
constant during the life of the machine and it is set to be as small as possible without taking the risk of
having the printheads touching the substrate.
Left bracket
The left bracket is an injected plastic part, and its main function is to set an end for the carriage movement. It
also closes the scan beam to avoid the air blown to the print zone leaking. It has several features to enable/
disable the cutter and the SOL shutter. The left bracket also houses the substrate jam sensor, which works
with the reflector panel on the carriage assembly to detect substrate crashes. It also has some parts to
ensure that the encoder strip is held with tension.
Encoder strip
The encoder strip contains positional data that the encoder sensor (located in the carriage) can read and
detect the position of the carriage. Since it is made of thin metal it is sharp and extreme caution is needed
when handling it.
Right bracket
This part is the same in the left bracket, this metallic part closes the right hole of the scan beam extrusion. It
also holds the pulley assembly and the encoder strip.
Motor, pulley assembly, and belt
Their function is to transmit the position/speed to the carriage assembly.
Flat right bump
This plastic part defines the right end of the carriage movement. It is positioned and held by the scan beam.
Carriage
The carriage is the subsystem of the printer that performs the printing on the substrate. It is moved across
the print path by the scan axis impelling system and with it the 6 printheads and several sensors, the
Spectrophotometer (SOL), the line sensor (Tetris), the scan axis sensor. The carriage houses an on-board
32 Chapter 1 Printer systems ENWW
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