Abstract: An adaptive media handling system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism having a printhead that prints on media in a printzone. A motor drives a media advance mechanism to move the media through the printzone, where the media is held by a media support member adjacent the printhead. A spacing adjuster is operatively engaged by the motor to position the media support member for a selected spacing between the media and the printhead. Fresh media is picked from a supply container using a lifter member operatively engaged by the spacing adjuster. The spacing adjuster may be a dual-sided cam, with one side for spacing adjust and the other for media picking. Motor rotation of the spacing adjuster adjusts the printhead-to-media spacing to a selected value, for instance, to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, or in response to the type of media or the type of image being printed.

Abstract: A multi-finned wiping system is provided for wiping an inkjet printhead that accumulates ink residue when used in an inkjet printing mechanism. A service station supports a wiper that contacts and wipes ink residue from the printhead. The service station also supports a cleaner that contacts and cleans the wiper. Either the wiper or the cleaner maybe constructed is of a resilient material comprising plural fins arranged to define an interstice between adjacent fins to capture the ink residue in the interstice. Interaction of the wiper and cleaner during the cleaning process pumps ink residue from the interstice to ready the fins for the next cleaning cycle. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a finned wiping system is also provided, along with a method of wiping accumulated ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in an inkjet printing mechanism.

Abstract: An adaptive wiping method of cleaning an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism cleans two or more diverse printheads that have different wiping needs, such as those dispensing different types of ink. Each printhead has an associated wiper that is mounted on a single service station sled for relative movement with respect to the printheads to achieve wiping contact. By offsetting the wipers, during one portion of the wiping stroke, at least one of the printheads may be wiped while at least one other printhead is not being wiped. This adaptive wiping system allows the printheads to be individually wiped at different speeds, which allows the system to be tailored to meet the diverse servicing needs of different inkjet cartridges, for instance, those containing different ink formulations.

Abstract: A skip stroke wiping method of cleaning an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism cleans a printhead that has an orifice plate, and first and second outboard regions located along two opposing sides of the orifice plate. In a bidirectional wiping routine, the ink residue is first wiped in a first direction from the orifice plate onto the first outboard region without touching the second outboard region. In a second wiping step, ink residue is wiped in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the orifice plate onto the second outboard region without touching the first outboard region. Thus, regions of the printhead having ink residue are skipped over in the wiping strokes to avoid contaminating the nozzles with previously wiped residue.

Abstract: An aerosol reduction system collects stray ink aerosol generated by inkjet printheads includes ventilation and collection components. During printing and purging, the printhead ejects ink to generate a desired ink droplet and a by-product comprising floating ink satellites. The aerosol collection system may be either passive or active, with the passive devices relying upon carriage motion to bring the collection elements into contact with the aerosol collection location. The passive systems have collection elements mounted on the carriage, including a rigid electrostatic filter, a billowing sail shaped filter geometry, or electrically charged plates. The active systems use some additional mechanism to bring the aerosol and the collection location together, such as the carriage-mounted aerosol removal or extraction fans illustrated. The collection location of these active systems may be mounted at the carriage, or well behind the carriage.

Abstract: A service station for a single-cartridge inkjet printing mechanism interchangeably receives different types of inkjet cartridges, with each type of cartridge having different servicing needs. To hermetically seal each cartridge printhead during periods of inactivity, two caps are gimbal-mounted at opposing ends of a retaining sleeve. The caps are spring-biased away from one another by a single spring, which may be compressed during printhead capping to accommodate for variations in printhead height between different cartridges. Gimbal mounting the caps allows each cap to compensate for any tilting of the printhead face when the cartridge is installed, which insures an adequate seal. The sleeve is rotated to bring the proper cap into alignment with the installed printhead. The service station also has two wipers, a spittoon, and a carriage locking mechanism. A method is also provided of servicing different types of cartridges in a single-cartridge inkjet printing mechanism.

Abstract: A cleaner or replenishing cartridge and a method of cleaning an inkjet printing mechanism using such a cartridge is disclosed. An inkjet pen within the printing mechanism is replaced by cleaner cartridge which is then positioned over or adjacent to a location of the printing mechanism to be cleaned. Power is applied to the cartridge either by coupling an on-board battery via a signal from the carriage interconnect, or through pulses applied through the interconnect. The cartridge may be fashioned for dispensing a fluid, such as an ink solvent, a lubricant, or a staticide to various printer components. The fluid may also be supplied to replenish a printer reservoir. The cartridge may be used for extracting ink sludge from the printer's ink lines, or for applying a vacuum suction force to draw particles into the cartridge. The cartridge may propel a strip of cleaning media across an area to be cleaned, or refurbish worn printhead wipers.

Abstract: A dual pivoting wiper system cleans the nozzle face plate of an inkjet printhead, particularly one that dispenses a pigment based ink. An inkjet printing mechanism has a printhead service station including a sled that moves from a rest position to a wiping position. The wiping system includes a support arm with proximate and distal ends, with the proximate end pivoted to the sled and the distal end pivotally supporting an upright wiper blade. The arm is spring-biased to push the wiper blade into engagement with the printhead. During wiping, the printhead is engaged by wiper blade and the blade remains relatively upright. Any spacing variations between the printhead and the sled are accommodated by spring flexure, and any lack of parallelism of the printhead from a nominal plane is primarily accommodated by pivoting of the blade at the distal end of the support arm.

Abstract: An imaging inkjet cartridge system for an inkjet printing mechanism provides near photographic image quality, as well as crisp black text and line art. In a multi-pen carriage, typically for a tri-chamber full color (e.g. cyan, magenta and yellow) cartridge and a monochrome (e.g. black) cartridge, the monochrome cartridge may be replaced with an imaging inkjet cartridge. The full color cartridge carries full colorant concentrations of inks, while the imaging cartridge carries ink formulations having reduced colorant concentrations, such as cyan and magenta, with either a full or a reduced colorant concentration of black ink. The carriage may also carry all three cartridges (full color, black and imaging). Pens containing other color and concentration combinations may also be interchanged. A method is provided of retrofitting or upgrading an inkjet printing mechanism by replacing or interchanging cartridges, such as by replacing the monochrome cartridge with an imaging inkjet cartridge.

Abstract: A trap door spittoon system confines airborne ink aerosol satellites generated while purging an inkjet printhead. This systems prevent stray ink aerosol from clinging to undesired surfaces in an inkjet printing mechanism. The printing mechanism has an inkjet printhead that selectively ejects ink during both printing and when purging the printhead by a process known as "spitting." This ink ejection generates as a by-product airborne ink aerosol satellites, which float about the mechanism, often landing in undesirable locations. To confine the ink aerosol generated during purging, the printing mechanism has a spittoon with a mouth that is covered by a trap door mechanism immediately following spitting to capture the stray aerosol within the spittoon. Various pivoting and sliding door embodiments are shown, along with a method of operating an inkjet printing mechanism to confine the wandering inkjet aerosol.

Abstract: A method of automatically optimizing the controllable parameters related to producing printed material on a hardcopy output device is provided, along with a hardcopy output device configured for implementing this method. Users require different types of printed objects to have different characteristics. Specifically, business graphics need to be sharp and vivid, photographic images should look realistic, and text must be black, crisp and clear. By extracting, analyzing and conditioning data generated during a printing stream, the various regions of text, graphics and photographic images on a sheet are distinguished, characterized, and printed with a custom balancing of color pleasing to the human eye for each type of image printed.

Abstract: An inkjet cartridge cooldown time system is used to monitor the ink level remaining in the cartridge to provide an early warning before the cartridge is completely empty, so the cartridge may be either refilled or replaced. An ink level monitoring method selects first and second cartridge temperatures. Then the cartridge is paused during a printing operation, such as during a form feed, to measure the cooldown time required for the cartridge to transition from the first temperature to the second temperature. The measuring step is repeated to compile a set of cooldown times. In a signaling step, the operator is alerted of the approach of an out of ink condition when a cooldown time has increased a selected value, such as at least 20%, over the compiled set of cooldown times. An inkjet printing mechanism is also equipped for using this method to monitor ink levels.

Abstract: A rotary priming service station system is provided for priming inkjet printheads in an inkjet printing mechanism. A platform pivoted to a rotatable tumbler supports a plunger-actuated rolling diaphragm cap. A trigger mechanism is pivoted to the sled to actuate the cap plunger, which pulls down on the cap to draw a negative priming pressure on the nozzles when the cap is sealed against the printhead. A retractable stand-off finger project through the sled to separate the diaphragm cap from the printhead until the cap begin to draw the negative priming pressure. Through tumbler rotation and printhead motion, the trigger mechanism is cocked and activated. The platform supports a wiper that performs a fast post-prime wipe of the printhead. The tumbler rotates the cap and wiper against a blotting mechanism to blot away any primed ink residue. A method is also provided for priming inkjet printheads in an inkjet printing mechanism.

Abstract: A rotary capping system services inkjet printheads in an inkjet printing mechanism. A rotary service station has a tumbler with a dual pivoting link that supports a cap platform. The cap platform is gimbal mounted to the link and spring-biased away from the tumbler. The platform has an extending arm that contacts the printhead carriage to align the cap and printhead. When the printhead is positioned for capping, rotation of the tumbler around an axis parallel to the printhead scanning direction brings the platform arm into contact with the carriage. Continued rotation of the tumbler pivots the link and the platform to sweep the cap through a non-linear, generally arcuate path into a capping position at the printhead. The illustrated cap has a multi-ridge lip for sealing over surface irregularities on the printhead nozzle face. A method of sealing inkier printhead nozzles is also provided.

Abstract: A wet wiping system is provided that is particularly useful for wiping an inkjet printhead that uses pigment based ink. A wet wiping method comprises an admitting step, where ink is admitted though printhead nozzles, either by firing the inkjet cartridge with a low thermal turn on energy, or through capillary action provided by placing the printhead in contact with a wicking pad. In a dissolving step, any accumulated ink residue adjacent the nozzles is dissolved with the admitted ink. In a wiping step, the admitted ink and any dissolved ink residue is wiped from the printhead. One wet wiper has a cellulose acetate polyester blade supported on at least one side by a foam block. The wicking pad may have a ramped portion for gradually contacting the printhead, or a domed wicking surface that is compressed upon contact with the printhead to facilitate the capillary action.

Abstract: The invented method involves the coding of color and black print image data for communication of the same from a printer server or driver to an ink-jet printer. The coding is such that true black or process black can be selected by the driver and can be used by a printer capable of producing both, i.e. an ink-jet printer equipped with a black ink pen and a tri-color ink pen. An invented print protocol permits one of a variety of color palettes w be selected on a print page basis. If the selected palette includes true black (K), then, for areas wherein only true black will be printed, the communication sequence in which the codes are sent to the printer requires none of the color selection coding. A four-plane, as well as other, palettes are described, with the four-plane palette including true black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y).