Printing system with spittoon and aerosol collection

US8382242B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Zamtec Ltd · IE

Inventors

• Robert Rosati · San Diego, US
• David Petch · Village of La Jolla, US
• David Burney · San Diego, US
• Jim Sykora · San Diego, US
• Kenneth A Regas · San Diego, US
• Andy Bound · San Diego, US
• Neil Doherty · San Diego, US
• Scott Dennis · San Diego, US
• Ben Jones · San Diego, US
• Oksana Buyda · San Diego, US
• Locson Tonthat · San Diego, US
• Andrew Buyda · San Diego, US
• Patrick Kirk · San Diego, US
• Loren Hunt · San Diego, US
• Jason Dewey · San Diego, US
• Jim Trinchera · San Diego, US
• Bill Cressman · San Diego, US
• Ron Zech · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 2010
• Grant date: Feb 26, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 22, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J15/04
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A printing system that has a media feed assembly for feeding different sizes of media along a media path, the media path having a width corresponding to a maximum width of media that can be printed by the printing system. The system also having a printhead assembly positioned on a first side of the media path and spanning the width of the media path, an aerosol collection duct with an opening on the first side of the media path and a spittoon system positioned on a second side of the media path opposing the first side. The printhead assembly is configured to eject non-printing ink drops from any section not required to print media that is less than the maximum width, and the spittoon system is configured to collect the non-printing ink drops.