Ink jet printer maintenance system
US5404158A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1992 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16523
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A maintenance station for an ink jet printer having a printhead with nozzles in a nozzle face and an ink supply cartridge is mounted on a translatable carriage for concurrent movement therewith. When the printer is in a non-printing mode, the carriage is translated to the maintenance station located outside and to one side of a printing zone, where various maintenance functions are provided depending upon the location of the carriage mounted printhead within the maintenance station. The printhead nozzle face is cleaned by at least one wiper blade as the printhead enters and leaves the maintenance station. Adjacent the wiper blade is a location for collecting nozzle-clearing ink droplets, followed by a capping location where a carriage actuatable cap moves into sealing engagement with the printhead nozzle face and surrounds the nozzle to provide a controllable environment therefor. A vacuum pump is interconnected to the cap by flexible hose with an ink separator therebetween. Priming is conducted when continued movement of the carriage mounted printhead actuates a pinch valve to isolate the separator from the cap and enable a predetermined vacuum to be produced therein by energizing…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.