Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for cleaning and capping a print head in an ink jet printer

US6158838A · kind A · utility

56Cited by
11References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 1998
Grant dateDec 12, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 10, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/16552
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A cleaning and capping station for an ink jet print head having a nozzle plate forming a plurality of ink ejecting nozzles includes an elastomeric seal for forming an enclosure around the nozzles in the nozzle plate. A mist of fluid containing an ink solvent is sprayed into the enclosure onto the nozzle plate. Ink is ejected from the head onto an absorbent material, and the nozzle plate is wiped with an elastomeric wiper after ink is ejected from the print head.

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