Ink jet print head with capillary flow cleaning
US6513903B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16552
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention resides in a self-cleaning printer with a print head having an orifice plate defining an ink jet orifice, a cleaning orifice and a drain orifice. The orifice plate further defines an outer surface between the orifices. A source of pressurized cleaning fluid is connected to the cleaning orifice and a fluid return is connected to the drain orifice for storing used cleaning fluid. A cleaning surface is disposed adjacent to and separate from the outer surface to define a capillary fluid flow path from the cleaning orifice across the ink jet orifice and to the drain orifice. During cleaning, the source of pressurized cleaning fluid discharges a flow of a cleaning fluid into the capillary fluid flow path and pressurized cleaning fluid from the capillary flow path passes through the drain orifice and into the fluid return.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.