摘要:
A maintenance system for an ink jet printer of the type having a full width array printhead has a movable carriage with a droplet sensor and a nozzle recovery device. As the carriage moves along the length of the printhead, each nozzle checked, one at a time, by the droplet sensor for the presence or absence of an ejected droplet and if the droplet has the correct directionality. Any problem nozzle is identified during a single traversal of the carriage across the printhead, and during a second traversal, the identified problem nozzles have a recovery operation performed on them such as being cleaned to remove any dried ink or other contaminating particles or being primed in the case of a clogged nozzle. The problem nozzles which have had a recovery operation performed on them and checked again by the droplet sensor is required for the entire array of nozzles, and ink is conserved since only predetermined nozzles are printed.
摘要:
A multiple port rotary indexing vacuum valve in a liquid ink printer including a selecting member and a multiple port member. The selecting member, defines an aperture therethrough and a first axis, including a first oscillatory surface. The multiple port member defines a plurality of ports and a second axis, including a second oscillatory surface wherein the second oscillatory surface is matable with the first oscillatory surface so that relative movement therebetween aligns the aperture of the selecting member with one of the plurality of ports of the multiple port member.
摘要:
A maintenance device includes a shuttle which is adapted to travel on a track through a fixed path generally parallel to the array. Mounted on the shuttle are an application, which includes a wicking member, for applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle openings and a vacuum device for applying suction to the nozzle openings. A spacing member on the shuttle spaces the shuttle from the head to form a meniscus of the cleaning liquid against the nozzle openings of the printhead. The maintenance device is used in a cleaning method wherein a vacuum force is applied to the nozzle openings while moving the shuttle in a first direction, the surface is wetted by the cleaning liquid while moving the shuttle in a second direction, and the a vacuum force is again applied to the nozzle openings after the wetting while moving the shuttle in the second direction.
摘要:
An ultrasonic liquid wiper for an ink jet printer maintenance station has a cleaning nozzle confrontingly aligned but spaced from printhead nozzles suspected of having viscous plugs of partially dried ink. A cleaning solution is held within the cleaning nozzle by surface tension to form a meniscus and is caused to bulge toward into contact with the printhead nozzle face and form a bridge of cleaning solution therewith. In addition to dissolving ink, the cleaning solution is ultrasonically excited by a piezoelectric material immediately upstream of the cleaning nozzle to provide a high frequency energized liquid wiper to facilitate viscous plug removal without having physical contact with the printhead nozzle face, thereby preventing wear of any hydrophobic coating on the nozzle face. A vacuum nozzle is positioned on each side of the cleaning nozzle to remove the cleaning solution deposited on the nozzle face, together with any ink dissolved therein. The cleaning nozzle optionally dwells for predetermined time periods to more effectively loosen and/or dissolve the viscous plugs of ink. The cleaning nozzles may have different concave shapes to aid in the ultrasonic cleaning action of the cleaning solution.
摘要:
An ink jet maintenance system having a translatable maintenance station carriage assembly including priming nozzles, wipers and drop detection hardware for translating across the width of the front nozzle face of one or more full-width array (FWA) printbars. The system includes an FWA printbar that is pivotally articulated between a print position and a maintenance position. An articulating cap assembly facilitates capping of ink jet printbar nozzles when the maintenance station carriage assembly moves to a home position outside the edge of the printbar and provides a free space area that allows translation of the maintenance station assembly when spaced away from the printbar.
摘要:
A maintenance apparatus for maintaining an ink jet printhead. The maintenance apparatus includes a maintenance station having a first member, a translation apparatus connected to the maintenance station which generates a translation force to translate the maintenance station along a path, and a displacement apparatus connected to the translation apparatus and operatively coupled to the first member for displacing the first member with respect to the translation apparatus. The maintenance apparatus minimizes system complexity by using the energy which translates the maintenance station for extending and retracting the capping member which seals the area around the front nozzle face of an ink jet printhead during periods of non-use. A lead screw and a motor move the maintenance station in a direction towards an ink jet printhead for maintenance operations and a actuating lever and camming system move the capping member into contact with the front face of the ink jet printhead.
摘要:
A method of printing includes, on an ongoing basis, determining a print defect state of a printing system, selecting a screen which has a halftone print parameter which masks a detected print defect, such as one or more of a screen frequency parameter, a screen angle parameter, and a dot growth parameter. The method further includes printing images according to the selected halftone print parameter. Alternatively, where the printing system includes more than one marking engine, the method includes selecting a marking engine according to the determined defect states of each of the marking engines.
摘要:
A thermal oxidation tester is shown for determining thermal stability of a fluid, particularly hydrocarbons when subjected to elevated temperatures. The tendency of the heated fluid to oxidize and (1) form deposits on a surface of a heater tube and (2) form solids therein, are both measured at a given flow rate, temperature and time. The measured results are used to determine whether a fluid sample passes or fails the test. Sample flow rate is important in the jet fuel thermal oxidation test. Current practice requires manual drop counting or flow confirmation with the use of volumetric glassware. An apparatus is described to precisely measure the flow rate and automatically perform flow rate check using a drip rate method and/or volumetric method.
摘要:
A toner supply arrangement for use in an integrated printing system which includes at least one toner container wherein the at least one toner container adapted for supplying toner to at least two image marking engines. The arrangement further includes a distribution mechanism adapted to transport the toner from the at least one toner container to the at least two image marking engines.
摘要:
An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a charge retentive surface is developed with toner particles to form a visible image thereof, including; a housing having a supply of toner and developer therein; a donor member for transporting toner from said housing to the development zone; a means for conveying toner to the donor member; means for generating a negative air stream for carrying toner therein; and a filter for removing the toner from the negative air stream, being positioned so that developer impinges on said filter to dislodge material collected in said filter.