Orthogonal rotary wiping system for inkjet printheads
US5896145A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16541
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rotary self-cleaning servicing system services inkjet printheads in an inkjet printing mechanism. A rotary service station has a wiper supporting tumbler that rotates about an axis parallel to the printhead scanning direction to wipe the printhead orthogonally along the length of a linear nozzle array. A dual blade wiper has a forked wiping tip with wiping surfaces separated by recessed land portions. The wiper wicks ink from one nozzle and drags it along the linear array to other nozzles to lubricate the pen face and to dissolve any accumulated ink residue. Any ink rolls escape through the wiping tip recessed lands and move away from the nozzles. An optional wiper scraping system pivots through cammed engagement with the tumbler to selectively engage and scrape the wipers. A method is also provided of cleaning an inkjet printhead to maintain pen health, particularly for pens using fast drying pigment based inks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.