Maintenance station for ink jet printhead
US5563637A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16547
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A maintenance station for an ink jet printer comprises two modules supported from the printer middle frame by a tongue and groove arrangement and secured in place only by retaining elements integrally formed with the middle frame. The first module includes a wiper element and a cap to provide an air seal around the nozzles. The wiper and cap are mounted on a pivoted rocker element so that as the wiper is moved toward the printhead the cap is moved away therefrom and visa-versa. The second module carries a small DC motor, a nut with a pair of forked arms, and gearing for converting bidirectional rotation of the motor into linear reciprocal motion of the forked arms. The forked arms engage projections on the rocker element so that the wiper or cap is moved toward or away from the printhead depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. In a first position of the rocker element the wiper is positioned in the path of the printhead so as to wipe the nozzles as the printhead is moved back and forth. In a second position the cap presses against the printhead to form an air seal around the nozzles. In a third position the wiper and cap are both spaced away from the path of the printh…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.