Contactless cleaning of vertical ink jet printheads
US6905552B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/16552
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A cleaning station for a vertical nozzle plate of an ink jet printer includes a cylindrical cleaning roller that has an outer surface, and has a substantially vertical central axis and a substantially vertical rotational axis. The roller is spaced from the nozzle plate to form a cleaning cavity between the roller and the nozzle plate. The roller has a top end above the nozzle plate and a bottom end below the nozzle plate. A drive element is connected to the roller to rotate the roller about its rotation axis. A fluid outlet near the top of the roller directs cleaning fluid onto the outer surface of the roller, and into the cleaning cavity between the roller and the nozzle plate. A fluid reservoir stores cleaning fluid, and a fluid conduit conducts cleaning fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.