Cooperating mechanical sub-assemblies for a drum-based wide format

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved wide format color digital print engine, and in particular to a cooperating group of print engine sub-assemblies comprising a sealable enclosure defining electronics and printing sub-spaces within the enclosure and supporting two critical alignment plates which alone control alignment of all major sub-assemblies of the print engine and which provide accurate attachment points for a carriage drive and rail sub-assembly, a motor and drum mounted to rotate within a printing bay, and mounting points for a service station for cleaning and storing a plurality of marking elements associated with replaceable ink emitting cartridges. The subassemblies cooperate to generate high quality colored images as a drum-based large format digital ink jet print engine. In particular, the present invention provides a highly manufacturable print engine benefiting from a discrete few controlled mounting locations so that accurate mounting of the cooperating sub-assemblies allow a very stable carriage assembly for driving said carriage laterally with respect to a printing medium coupled to the exterior of a drum spinning within a printing bay and controlled by print head electronics utilizing a timing sequence from the rotating drum and lead screw for driving the carriage assembly.