Ink-jet printer with printhead carriage alignment mechanism
US4872026A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 1988 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H29/26
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A novel ink-jet printer (10) is provided. The print provides both paper supply tray (12) and paper collection tray (18) in the front (14) of the printer for ease of paper handling and reduced footprint. The paper collection tray is provided with a pair of opposed output rails (22) which support a sheet of paper (16c) during printing to permit ink on a sheet of paper (16b) previously printed to dry. A paper handling mechanism is provided which eliminates a sheet pickup motor and associated elements. The paper handling mechanism is configured to pick off a sheet of paper from a stack of input paper, bring it around paper drive rollers (24) onto a platen (26), where the printing operation, employing a printhead cartridge (32), occurs. The printer further includes a service station (230) for clearing clogged nozzles in the printhead (33) and removing bubbles therefrom, for covering the nozzles with a protective cap (266), and for wiping contaminants off the nozzles. Reference pads (200) are provided for aligning and securing the printing cartridge in a carriage (35). The carriage is associated with a carriage guide (27), to which the carriage and print medium are referenced. The result…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.