Patent ID: 6357859
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A printer apparatus for printing on a receiver member moving in a first direction comprising:a carriage support for supporting a carriage for lateral movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a carriage which is supported on the carriage support and which moves bi-directionally along a carriage path thereon; a print head mounted on the carriage for bi-directional movement with the carriage; electronic circuitry mounted on the carriage for bi-directional movement with the carriage; an optical data link for providing to the print head first control signals, the optical data link including an optical data transmitter, the optical data transmitter being mounted in a first housing that includes a controller for generating the first signals which are of relatively high frequency, the optical data link including an optical data receiver mounted in a second housing, the second housing being mounted on the carriage for bidirectional movement relative to the first housing; a flexible electrical connector that extends substantially between and electrically connects the controller to the electronic circuitry for providing power signals to the print head; the first housing including a first enclosure for substantially shielding the controller from external interfering electromagnetic fields; and the second housing including a second enclosure for substantially shielding the optical data receiver and the electronic circuitry from external interfering electromagnetic fields.