1. A modular printer comprising:
a media feed path defining a media feed direction;
a plurality of printer modules positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement so as to extend across a width of the media feed path,
wherein:
each printer module comprises a printhead and a respective maintenance sled for slidably moving towards the printhead in a direction parallel to the media feed direction;
the maintenance sleds for neighboring printer modules are configured to move in opposite directions towards their respective printheads.
2. The modular printer of claim 1 comprising at least first and second neighboring printer modules, the first printer module having a first printhead and a respective first maintenance sled, the second printer module having a second printhead and a respective second maintenance sled, wherein the first and second printheads are relatively proximal to each other with respect to the media feed direction, and the first and second maintenance sleds are relatively distal from each other with respect to the media feed direction.
3. The modular printer of claim 2 comprising alternate first and second printer modules positioned across the media path in a staggered overlapping arrangement.
4. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein the each printhead is mounted in a respective printhead cartridge.
5. The modular printer of claim 4, wherein the printhead cartridges are identical and replaceable in each of the printer modules.
6. The modular printer of claim 4, wherein the printhead cartridges are all oriented identically with respect to the media feed direction.
7. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein each printer module comprises a respective mechanism for lifting its respective printhead relative to the media feed path.
8. The modular printer of claim 7, wherein each printer module comprises a respective housing and a respective print bar carriage, the print bar carriage being slidably received within the housing and liftable relative to the housing.
9. The modular printer of claim 8, wherein each print bar carriage carries a respective printhead cartridge.
10. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first and second printheads in the media feed direction is from 10 to 100 mm.
11. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein a print zone of the printer has a width in the range of 10 to 100 mm, the width of the print zone being defined in a direction parallel to the media feed direction.
12. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein 12 print zone has a length greater than 216 mm, the length of the print zone being defined in a direction transverse to the media feed direction.
13. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein the printer modules are suspended over the media feed path.
14. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein each of the printer modules comprises a rigid mounting beam for mounting the printer module over the media feed path.
15. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein each maintenance sled comprises a wiper for wiping its respective printhead.
16. The modular printer of claim 1, wherein each maintenance sled comprises a capper for capping its respective printhead.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A multiple-frequency common antenna comprising:
a substrate sheet having a band gap for prohibiting propagation of an electromagnetic wave on a surface in a particular frequency band;
a first antenna for resonating in a first frequency band within the band gap provided on the surface of the substrate sheet; and
a second antenna for resonating in a second frequency band out of the band gap.
2. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the substrate sheet comprises:
a conductor plate forming a rear surface of the substrate sheet;
a plurality of small metal plates of same shape disposed, to provide an equal interval for each end portion in two dimensions, on the surface of an dielectric material layer holding a dielectric material layer disposed on the conductor plate; and
linear metal bars for electrically coupling the conductor plate and each small metal plate in the dielectric material layer,
whereby the surface of each small metal plate arranged in two dimensions forms the surface of the substrate sheet.
3. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are coupled with a same power feeding line at an area near a power feeding point.
4. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the first frequency band is in a higher frequency side than the second frequency band.
5. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the first frequency band is in a lower frequency side than the second frequency band.
6. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the first antenna is an inverse L-shape antenna.
7. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a hula-hoop type antenna including a horizontal conductor which is parallel to the surface of the substrate sheet.
8. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, further comprising:
a dielectric material plate disposed on the surface of the substrate sheet,
wherein the first antenna is an element pattern formed on the surface opposing to the substrate sheet of the dielectric material plate.
9. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the second antenna is a monopole antenna.
10. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the second antenna is a helical antenna.
11. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the second antenna is a non-uniform helical antenna having a plurality of different pitches.
12. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 1, wherein the second antenna includes a linear conductor bar and a helical antenna which are cascade-connected to each other.
13. A multiple-frequency antenna as in claim 3, wherein the substrate sheet includes:
a first substrate sheet having the first frequency band as a band gap; and
a second substrate sheet having a frequency band out of the first frequency band as a band gap,
wherein the first substrate sheet is disposed in an area near the power feeding point and the second substrate sheet is disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the first substrate sheet.
14. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 13, wherein the second substrate sheet has the second frequency band as a band gap.
15. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 13, wherein a length of the linear metal bar of the first substrate sheet is different from that of the linear metal bar of the second substrate sheet.
16. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 13, wherein a dielectric constant of dielectric material layer of the first substrate sheet is different from that of dielectric material layer of the second substrate sheet.
17. A multiple-frequency common antenna as in claim 13, wherein distance between end portions of small metal plates of the first substrate sheet is different from that between end portions of small metal plates of the second substrate sheet.