Patent · US Expired

Printhead servicing system and method using a moveable wiper between a fluid source and a printhead

US5914734A · kind A · utility

66Cited by
8References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 1996
Grant dateJun 22, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 13, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/16541
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system including a source of treatment fluid further including a treatment fluid reservoir and a treatment fluid transfer element adapted to transfer treatment fluid from the reservoir to at least one of the two elements involved in wiping the printhead, the two such elements consisting of the printhead and the wiper, the transfer element thereby acts as an applicator placing treatment fluid onto said at least one element, the source of treatment fluid not contacting said one element directly, and the treatment fluid then is available to assist in cleaning the printhead as it is wiped by the wiper, removing accumulated dried ink solids and other debris, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render such accumulations more removable by wiping.

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