Service station for printers having firing nozzles perpendicular to direction of carriage motion
US6561618B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16547
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermal inkjet printer with firing nozzles perpendicular to the carriage motion has two motors: paper and carriage. These motors, alone or in concert, provide the power to the service station. The service station has separate wiping and pen cleaning functions. The wipers need to move across the pens in a direction that is perpendicular the carriage direction. Through the use of gears, the wipers can be made to clean the pens at the same time that the paper is being advanced and using the same motor source. For capping, the caps are moved into place as the pens come to rest. The motion of the pens themselves could easily push a lever that pushes the caps into place.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.