Patent · US Expired

Ink jet printer and printing system using the same

US6494560B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
6References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 29, 1999
Grant dateDec 17, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 29, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2002/1657
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

When ink is sucked from the nozzles during a cleaning process, a rubber cap having a plural number of small spaces independently operable for ink suction is applied to a print head, and only the small space associated with a clogged nozzle of those nozzles of the print head is connected to a suction pump. A user looks up in advance the number and location of a clogged nozzle, judges the cause of the clogging of the nozzle on the basis of the number and location of the clogged nozzle, and selects a suitable type of cleaning process, a selective cleaning (based on the specified-nozzle suction) or a conventional cleaning (based on the all-nozzle suction).

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