Patent ID: 7270396
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A composite printhead supporting structure for a pagewidth printhead assembly having a plurality of spaced printhead modules, each printhead module having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, a printhead module and a space adjacent the printhead module together defining a printhead pitch, the structure comprising: a composite beam elongated in the direction of the printhead assembly and being at least as long as the printhead assembly, the beam comprising segments bonded together end to end in the paper-width direction, at least one of the segments comprising material that is different from the materials of the other segments, wherein; the materials have coefficients of thermal expansion different from that of the printhead modules, the coefficients of thermal expansion and the size of the segments being such that any length of the supporting structure equal to the printhead pitch comprises at least two materials, wherein said length has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to that of the printhead modules.