Patent · US Expired

Ink jet printer having a capping mechanism

US5798777A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
1References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 18, 1996
Grant dateAug 25, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 18, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/16508
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An ink cassette is used in an ink jet printer and has nozzles through which ink is ejected. The ink cassette has a pair of nozzle levers with a cap formed between their free ends. The cap closes the nozzles when the nozzle levers pivot to a closing position and leaves the nozzles exposed when the levers pivot to an opening position. A carriage unit receives the ink cassette therein and moves between a print area and a non-print area. The carriage unit has supports on which the ink cassette pivots between a first position and a second position. When the ink cassette pivots to the first position, the ink cassette is engaged with a lock lever which holds the ink cassette in position, and the nozzle lever is engaged with lugs formed on the carriage unit which cause the nozzle levers to pivot to the opening position when the ink cassette is moved to the first position. The carriage unit may have a drive lever pivotally supported on the carriage unit and the aforementioned lug may be formed on a free end of the drive lever. The drive lever pivots between a third position where the lug engages the nozzle lever causing the nozzle lever to pivot to the opening position, and a fourth positio…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.