Active printhead alignment for wide format printing systems

In this work, an active printhead alignment method for wide format printing systems is proposed. Instead of tightening manufacturing tolerances, the misalignment of each printhead is measured with respect to the printer frame and is regulated using a voice coil actuator. This dramatically increases performance where costs of the alignment mechanism can be compensated by loosening the manufacturing tolerances which would otherwise be necessary. An experimental setup has been build for proof-of-concept. The experiments show promising results. Printheads can be aligned with an accuracy of 2 pm. The higher print accuracy results in a better print quality and enables additional features such as higher resolution printing (> 600 dpi) and adding redundant printheads for covering temporary nozzle disfunctioning.