Mailing machine having ink jet printing and maintenance system
US5806994A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00556
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A mailing machine comprising a printer module, a transport device and a controller in operative communication with the transport device and the printer module. The printer module including an array of ink jet print elements for printing on an envelope and a repositioning device in operative engagement with the array of ink jet print elements for moving the array of ink jet print elements between a maintenance position and a print position. The transport device including suitable structure for feeding the envelope in a path of travel so that the envelope passes in opposed relationship to the array of ink jet print elements when the array of ink jet print elements are in the print position. The controller keeps an indicator of an amount of time elapsed between printing successive envelopes. If the indicator reaches a predetermined threshold, then the controller causes the array of ink jet print elements to perform a maintenance operation by firing the array of ink jet print elements in the absence of the envelope while the printer module is in the print position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.