Cleaning ink jet printheads and orifices
US6511155B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16552
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Cleaning apparatus for cleaning debris from orifices in an ink jet printhead nozzle plate includes a structure defining a cleaning cavity between two horizontally contacting rollers where cleaning liquid is loaded, agitated, and dynamically sealed in the cavity trough the rotation of the rollers. A relative movement is also provided between the nozzle plate and the cleaning structure so that the nozzle plate can be positioned above the cleaning cavity with the rotating rollers. The nozzle plate is spaced a small distance from the flow of the cleaning liquid that the cleaning fluid fills this small distance. The flow causes the cleaning fluid to engage the nozzle plate and remove debris from the nozzle plate and orifice nozzles. After the cleaning cycle has ended the cleaning fluid is discarded.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.