Method of and apparatus for cleaning ink jet head
US5784081A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16523
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed are a method of and an apparatus for cleaning a plurality of nozzles of an ink jet head. This cleaning method comprises a step of covering a nozzle surface formed with the plurality of nozzles with a cap; a step of depressurizing an air space formed between the nozzle surface and the cap by use of a depressurizing element to suck the inks from the nozzles; a step of stopping the depressurization by the depressurizing element; a step of keeping the nozzle surface covered with the cap so that the inks jetted from the nozzles due to the depressurization wet-spread over the entire nozzle surface by a capillary force; and a step of retracting the cap from the nozzle surface. Further, in this cleaning apparatus, a contact angle .theta.1 between the ink and the cap internal surface and a contact angle .theta.2 between the ink and the nozzle surface are set to 90.degree. or smaller and also set such that .theta.2 is not greater than .theta.1.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.