Print head purging unit that selects nozzle row to be purged using rotating member
US6467872B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/1652
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink jet printer includes a print head, a cap member, a suction pump, a switching mechanism. The cap member is formed with partition walls. When the cap member and the print head are placed in intimate contact, the partition walls define partitioned chambers around nozzle rows of the print head, so the nozzle rows are isolated from each other. The switching mechanism has a switching member that, by rotating, selectively switches the suction pump into fluid communication with one at a time of the partitioned chambers and out of fluid communication with any partitioned chamber other than a selected partitioned chamber. The suction pump is driven to perform a purge operation on only the nozzle row in the partitioned chamber selected by the switching mechanism.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.