Apparatus and method for varying print element spacing in a printing system

Claim 2

A printing system comprising a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element and a controller for controlling said spacing device, said spacing device including a drive train having: an electromechanical device defining one end of said drive train; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element and defining another end of said drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled in series between said electro-mechanical device and said carrier in said drive train.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 , further comprising a printer controller electrically coupled to said spacing device.

Claim 4

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, said spacing device including: an electr-omechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; and a printer controller electrically coupled to said spacing device, said printer controller operating to control said spacing device to vary said physical spacing between said first printing element and said second printing element based upon at least one of an advance speed of a print medium and an approximate drying time of an ink after being deposited on said print medium.

Claim 5

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, said spacing device including: an electr-omechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; and a printer controller electrically coupled to said spacing device, said printer controller operating to control said spacing device to vary said physical spacing between said first printing element and said second printing element based upon at least one of an advance speed of a print medium and an approximate drying time of an ink after being deposited on said print medium.

Claim 6

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element said spacing device including: an electromechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; a mechanical actuator coupled between said electro-mechanical device and said carrier; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; and a printer controller electrically coupled to said electro-mechanical device.

Claim 7

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element said spacing device including: an electromechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; a mechanical actuator coupled between said electro-mechanical device and said carrier; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; and a printer controller electrically coupled to said electro-mechanical device.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4 , wherin said piezoelectric material is electrically coupled to said printer controller.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4 , wherein said mechanical actuator comprises at least one of a gear train and a linkage.

Claim 10

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, said first printing element being associated with a first printhead and said second printing element being associated with a second printhead, said spacing device including: an electro-mechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; a controller; and means for supplying to said controller a signal representing at least one of an advance speed of a print medium in a feed direction in the printing system and an approximate drying time of the ink after being deposited onto the print medium by at least one of said first printing element and said second printing element; said spacing device being responsive to said controller for varying the spacing between said first printing element and said second printing element on the basis of said at least one of the advance speed of the print medium and the approximate drying time of the ink.

Claim 11

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, said first printing element being associated with a first printhead and said second printing element being associated with a second printhead, said spacing device including: an electro-mechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; a controller; and means for supplying to said controller a signal representing at least one of an advance speed of a print medium in a feed direction in the printing system and an approximate drying time of the ink after being deposited onto the print medium by at least one of said first printing element and said second printing element; said spacing device being responsive to said controller for varying the spacing between said first printing element and said second printing element on the basis of said at least one of the advance speed of the print medium and the approximate drying time of the ink.

Claim 12

A printing system comprising a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element, and a second printing element, and a controller for controlling said spacing device, said spacing device including: an electromechanical device for effecting a relative movement of said first printing element with respect to a location of said second printing element; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electromechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train.

Claim 13

A printing system comprising a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element, and a second printing element, and a controller for controlling said spacing device, said spacing device including: an electromechanical device for effecting a relative movement of said first printing element with respect to a location of said second printing element; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electromechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train.

Claim 14

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, said first printing element being associated with a first printhead and said second printing element being associated with a second printhead, said spacing device including: an electro-mechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; a printer controller electrically connected to said electromechanical device; and a mechanical actuator coupled to said electromechanical device and to one of said first printhead and said second printhead; wherein when said electromechanical device is energized by said printer controller, a change in spacing between said first printhead and said second printhead is effected.

Claim 15

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, said first printing element being associated with a first printhead and said second printing element being associated with a second printhead, said spacing device including: an electro-mechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; and a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; a printer controller electrically connected to said electromechanical device; and a mechanical actuator coupled to said electromechanical device and to one of said first printhead and said second printhead; wherein when said electromechanical device is energized by said printer controller, a change in spacing between said first printhead and said second printhead is effected.

Claim 16

A printing system comprising a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, and a controller for controlling said spacing device, said first printing element being associated with a first printhead, said spacing device including: an electro-mechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; and a drive mechanism coupled to said first printhead and to said electro-mechanical device, wherein when said electro-mechanical device is activated, a change in spacing between said first printing element and said second print element is effected.

Claim 17

A printing system comprising a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element, and a controller for controlling said spacing device, said first printing element being associated with a first printhead, said spacing device including: an electro-mechanical device; a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element, said electro-mechanical device and said carrier defining the ends of a drive train; a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled within said drive train; and a drive mechanism coupled to said first printhead and to said electro-mechanical device, wherein when said electro-mechanical device is activated, a change in spacing between said first printing element and said second print element is effected.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a first nozzle of said plurality of nozzles is associated with a first printhead and a second nozzle of said plurality of nozzles is associated with a second printhead, said means for varying the spacing comprising: a mechanical actuator coupled to one of said first printhead and said second printhead; and an electro-mechanical device coupled to said mechanical actuator, wherein when said electro-mechanical device is actuated by said controller, said mechanical actuator effects a change in spacing between said first printhead and said second printhead.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said mechanical actuator comprises at least one of a gear train and a linkage.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a piezoelectric material positioned between at least one of: said mechanical actuator and said first printhead; said mechanical actuator and said electro-mechanical device; and at least two components comprising said mechanical actuator.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a first nozzle of said plurality of nozzles is associated with a first printhead and a second nozzle of said plurality of nozzles is associated with a second printhead, said means for varying the spacing comprising: a member; a piezoelectric material mechanically coupled between at least one of said first printhead and said member; and an oscillator electrically coupled to said piezoelectric material which supplies an electrical signal to said piezoelectric material.

Claim 26

The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: determining an approximate drying time of an ink after being jetted onto the print medium by at least one of said multiple print elements; and varying a spacing between at least two of said multiple print elements on the basis of at least one of said advance speed and said drying time.

Claim 29

The method of claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: determining an advance speed of said print medium in a feed direction in the printing system; and after printing has commenced, varying a spacing in the transport direction of the print medium between at least two of said multiple print elements on the basis of said advance speed and said drying time.

Claim 30

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element in a direction corresponding to a transport direction of a print medium, said first printing element being associated with a printhead having at least one opening, said at least one opening having a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the transport direction of the print medium; and a fixed structure including at least one guide rod slidably engaging said at least one opening of said printhead to thereby enable sliding movement of said printhead in either of two opposite directions substantially parallel to the transport direction of the print medium, said fixed structure being attached to said second printing element.

Claim 31

A printing system comprising: a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first printing element and a second printing element in a direction corresponding to a transport direction of a print medium, said first printing element being associated with a printhead having at least one opening, said at least one opening having a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the transport direction of the print medium; and a fixed structure including at least one guide rod slidably engaging said at least one opening of said printhead to thereby enable sliding movement of said printhead in either of two opposite directions substantially parallel to the transport direction of the print medium, said fixed structure being attached to said second printing element.

Claim 32

The system of claim 20 , further comprising a printer controller electrically coupled to said spacing device.

Claim 33

The system of claim 21 , wherin said printer controller operates to control said spacing device to vary physical spacing between said first printing element and said second printing element based upon at least one of an advance speed of a print medium and an approximate drying time of an ink being deposited on said print medium.

Claim 34

The system of claim 21 , wherin said spacing device comprises: an electro-mechanical device electrically coupled to said printer controller; and a mechanical actuator coupled between said electro-mechanical device and a carrier transporting one of said first printing element and said second printing element.

Claim 35

The system of claim 23 , wherin said electro-mechanical device and said carrier define the ends of a drive train, and further comprising a piezoelectric material electrically coupled to said printer controller and mechanically coupled between at least two adjacent components in said drive train.

Claim 36

A printing system comprising a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first page width printhead and a second page width printhead in a direction corresponding to a transport direction of a print medium, said spacing device including a drive train coupled to one of said first page width printhead and said second page width printhead.

Claim 37

A printing system comprising a spacing device which varies a physical spacing between at least a first page width printhead and a second page width printhead in a direction corresponding to a transport direction of a print medium, said spacing device including a drive train coupled to one of said first page width printhead and said second page width printhead.