Method and apparatus for cleaning/maintaining of an AIP type printhead
US6350012B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16535
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In AIP printheads, misfunction after printing a number of prints, due to the accumulation of ink and dust around orifices in the orifice plate may occur. In order to clean the printheads, the dirty printhead is first capped and the ink pressure in the printhead increase significantly to allow ink to escape through the orifices and completely fill a small gap inside the cap portion. After letting the orifices soak for a predetermined time to dissolve the dried ink and loosen dust debris which may be found on the printheads, the cap drainhole is opened to drain the ink while keeping the ink pressure inside the head at an intermediate higher level. This higher pressure prevents the ink still remaining inside the bore of each orifice hole from reentering the printhead. The dirty ink remaining inside the orifice bore is removed using a wiping station in separate steps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.