Self aligning printhead carrier bearings for an imaging apparatus

• Main Authors: SCHARF BRYAN C, WILLIAMSON RANDAL S, MEADOWS ROBERT M, NARO BRIAN A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.01.2006
• Subjects: BEARINGS; BLASTING; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; LIGHTING; LINING MACHINES; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTING; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS; SHAFTS; STAMPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS; WEAPONS

An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier configured for movement along an X-axis. The printhead carrier includes a carrier housing having a first bearing pocket and a second bearing pocket. The first bearing pocket and the second bearing pocket are spaced apart along the X-axis. A Z-axis passes through a central region of the carrier housing. The Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to the X-axis. A first bearing is configured to be received in the first bearing pocket. The first bearing includes a first curved outer surface having a curve that extends in a direction of the X-axis. The curved outer surface is received in the first bearing pocket to facilitate a rotation of the first bearing in relation to the Z-axis of the carrier housing. A second bearing is configured to be received in the second bearing pocket.