Inkjet printer spitting method for reducing print cartridge cross-contamination
US6328413A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/2114
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for minimizing cross-contamination of print cartridges in an inkjet printing system due to aerosol drift by employing a bi-directional spitting scheme coupled with a configuration of the print cartridges. The method includes a carriage for traversing across a print medium and a spittoon, the carriage having a plurality of N receptacles, the receptacles identified from left to right as positions 1 through N, includes mounting a reactive print cartridge in either positions 1 and N, or both, on the carriage, the reactive print cartridges having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting reactive droplets and mounting a plurality of print cartridges in the remaining positions on the carriage, the print cartridges having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets. During operation of the printing system, depending on the number of reactive print cartridges and the number of print cartridges and the location thereof, intermittently ejecting non-printing ink and reactive droplets from the print cartridges in a specific order while the carriage is moving in a transverse left to right direction and ejecting ink and reactive droplets from the print cartridges in a specific order whil…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.