Ink jet print head cleaning
US6517188B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/185
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A self-cleaning printer includes a print head having a surface that is susceptible to a contaminate build up. A cleaning liquid containing a concentration of macroscopic cleaning particles is flowed in frictive contact with the contaminate such that a combined effect of frictive force and hydrodynamic shearing force acting on the contaminate effectively removes the contaminate from the surface. Preferably, the cleaning particles are adapted to attach to the contaminate. They may include polymeric beads such as polystyrene spheres. The cleaning particles preferably have surfaces to which polymeric chains are attached, the polymeric chains having end groups which adhere to the contaminate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.