摘要:
A printer apparatus and method of actuating a fluid pump in a printer to deliver fluid to an ink jet printhead without removing the printhead from a printhead carriage particularly useful for priming inkjet printheads using an air displacement pump to deliver air under positive pressure to the printheads. The pump is located proximate a service station on the printer and is automatically actuated by movement of the carriage to service station. The pump may be arcuately positionable to align the pump with a selected one of air passageways provided in a printhead holddown cover on the printhead carriage. Algorithms are provided for locating the precise position of the pump outlet along the carriage scan axis relative to its intended design location and for arcuately positioning the pump relative to the carriage to engage the pump outlet with a selected one of conduits in the carriage connected to each printhead.
摘要:
Service station components for interacting with one type of printhead are located to be aligned in operative position only in a first servicing mode, and service station components for interacting with another type of printhead are differently located to be aligned in operative position only in a second servicing mode. This allows for different servicing schemes of two or more modes to be applied based on the individual characteristics of the ink and/or nozzle plates employed in inkjet printheads. In some instances, an individual printhead can be serviced in more than one servicing mode. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable service station units are provided for each different printhead.
摘要:
Service station components for interacting with one type of printhead are located to be aligned in operative position only in a first servicing mode, and service station components for interacting with another type of printhead are differently located to be aligned in operative position only in a second servicing mode. This allows for different servicing schemes of two or more modes to be applied based on the individual characteristics of the ink and/or nozzle plates employed in inkjet printheads. In some instances, an individual printhead can be serviced in more than one servicing mode. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable service station units are provided for each different printhead.
摘要:
A replaceable inkjet printhead cleaner service station system has separate replaceable cleaning units for maintaining each printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. Each cleaning unit has a printhead wiper, a printhead snout wiper, a capping system, a spittoon, and an ink solvent application system. A set of non-replaceable wiper scrapers are supported by the service station frame. When printing with interchangeable printheads that dispense mutually incompatible inks the cleaning units are exchanged when installing a printhead with an ink which is incompatible with the ink dispensed by a previous printhead to avoid cross-contamination if the inks at the wipers and caps. To prevent cross-contamination at the permanent scrapers, the scraper for each pen is divided into two separate regions each dedicated to cleaning only one wiper associated with one type of ink. A method is provided for cleaning an inkjet printhead, along with a printing mechanism employing such a system.
摘要:
Print cartridges on printers using stationary print cartridges are accessed by service station components such as wipers, scrapers, cleaning fluid applicators, ink receiving receptacles and cappers in a manner similar to what is done in a conventional scanning printhead printing system. A print cartridge support structure holds one or more print cartridges in a stationary position while applying ink on a media. A printhead is located on each of the print cartridges. The printhead has nozzles for ejecting ink which are arranged in a nozzle array of one or more columns of nozzles. A media movement mechanism provides movement of the media though a print zone located beneath the nozzle array. A printhead servicing station is located outside of the print zone and has one or more servicing modules dedicated for interaction with one of the nozzle arrays when the one of the nozzle arrays is positioned in aligned proximity with its dedicated servicing module. A motorized device coupled to the print cartridge support structure moves the print cartridge support structure out of the print zone to the service station during a period when the print cartridges are not applying ink to the media.
摘要:
A removable service module in a printer service station periodically interacts with a print cartridge, and is sized for proper installation in a matching service carriage slot. Upper and lower boundary guides on the service carriage prevent an unmatched or wrongly positioned service module from fitting through a slot entrance and becoming seated into a completed mounting position.
摘要:
A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system including a source of treatment fluid further including a treatment fluid reservoir and a treatment fluid transfer element adapted to transfer treatment fluid from the reservoir to at least one of the two elements involved in wiping the printhead, the two such elements consisting of the printhead and the wiper, the transfer element thereby acts as an applicator placing treatment fluid onto said at least one element, the source of treatment fluid not contacting said one element directly, and the treatment fluid then is available to assist in cleaning the printhead as it is wiped by the wiper, removing accumulated dried ink solids and other debris, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render such accumulations more removable by wiping.
摘要:
A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system including a treatment fluid applicator placing treatment fluid on at least one of two elements involved in wiping, said two elements being a printhead orifice plate surface and a wiper, the system being so configured that treatment fluid is applied before wiping the printhead by projecting treatment fluid onto at least one element through the atmosphere, thereby avoiding direct contact between the applicator and said one element, the treatment fluid being placed so as to be available to assist in wiping a portion of the printhead orifice plate where the nozzle orifices are located to remove debris that may have accumulated, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render such accumulations more removable by wiping, the source of treatment fluid being uncontaminated by contact with either the printhead or the wiper.
摘要:
A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system for inkjet printer incorporating a wiper for wiping the printhead including a treatment fluid applicator configured for placing treatment fluid onto at least one element of the printhead and wiper elements involved in wiping the printhead orifice plate surface, the treatment fluid being placed on said at least one element by direct contact of the applicator, subsequently the wiper wipes the printhead, the treatment being available to enhance cleaning effectiveness, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render unwanted accumulations on the printhead more removable by wiping.