Abstract: Provided is a print cradle assembly for a printhead cartridge. The cradle assembly includes a docking bay molding and a media feed drive assembly positioned on the docking bay molding and configured to feed media through the assembly. The cradle assembly also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a printer controller for controlling the media feed drive assembly and operation of the cartridge, as well as a heatshield mounted to the PCB for shielding the printer controller from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and user contact with the PCB.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system comprises: a stationary pagewidth printhead having an ink ejection face; an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting the ink ejection face; and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. In use, the printhead remains stationary when the roller is rolled across the face.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing contact with nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. The contact surface has a sloping profile. The maintenance station has a motor and cam arrangement for moving the pad substantially perpendicularly with respect to the ink ejection face. The pad moves from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with the nozzles to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement and the sloping profile of the pad causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a printhead mounted on a support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide mounted on the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a pad with an angled contact surface to operatively facilitate the transferal of ink from the printhead to the wicking element. The wicking element is formed from an absorbent material and is positioned in a cavity defined between the print media guide and the support structure.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly having a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. An ink collector is arranged on the wicking element for receiving ink that has wicked through the wicking element to ensure that wicked ink is removed away from the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station has an elastically deformable pad coextensive with the printhead. The pad is a one-piece elastomer pad having a uniform contact surface configured for sealing contact with all nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. A mechanism is configured for reciprocally moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with all nozzles in the ink ejection face, and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The pad and the mechanism cooperate such that the contact surface is progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during peeling disengagement.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead, and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. The contact surface of the roller is configured so as to avoid trapping of ink on or in the roller surface.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead, and an engagement mechanism for reciprocally moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The engagement mechanism is configured to move the pad rotatably with respect to the printhead such that, during engagement, a first part of the surface is contacted with the face prior to a second part of the surface. During disengagement the second part is disengaged from the face prior to the first part.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system comprises: a stationary pagewidth printhead having an ink ejection face; an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting the ink ejection face; and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. In use, the printhead remains stationary when the roller is rolled across the face.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead, and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead; and (b) rolling the roller across the face.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing contact with nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. The contact surface has a sloping profile. The maintenance station has a motor and cam arrangement for moving the pad substantially perpendicularly with respect to the ink ejection face. The pad moves from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with the nozzles to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement and the sloping profile of the pad causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: A method of unblocking nozzles in a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead; and (b) moving the pad from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from said face. The movement causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: A method of unblocking nozzles in a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead; and (b) moving the pad from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from said face. The movement causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising a printhead mounted on a substrate, an elastically deformable pad and an ink removal system mounted on the substrate. The pad has a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The pad being linearly moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. In order to provide a cleaning action, the contact surface is configured to progressively contact the face during sealing engagement and peel away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface adapted for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of a printhead; and an engagement mechanism for moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The engagement mechanism moves the pad between the first position and the second position in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the face, and the contact surface is a curved surface, whereby the contact surface is progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The maintenance station also comprises an engagement mechanism for moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face, and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The maintenance station is configured such that the contact surface is progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: Provided is a print cradle assembly for a printhead cartridge. The cradle assembly includes a docking bay molding, a media feed drive assembly positioned on the docking bay molding and configured to feed media through the assembly, and a printed circuit board (PCB) with a printer controller for controlling the media feed drive assembly and operation of the cartridge. The cradle assembly also includes a maintenance drive assembly for driving a capping mechanism of a printhead of the cartridge.

Abstract: An ink delivery arrangement includes a silicon substrate that defines a plurality of ink inlet channels. A CMOS drive circuitry layer is arranged on the silicon substrate. A plurality of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the silicon substrate to be in fluid communication with respective ink inlet channels. Each nozzle arrangement includes an annular nozzle wall about a respective ink inlet channel. A nozzle roof is on the nozzle wall so that the wall and roof define a nozzle chamber, the roof being movable with respect to the wall. A nozzle rim is defined by the nozzle roof so that ink can be ejected from the nozzle chamber when the roof is moved with respect to the wall. An electrically actuated beam is fast with the substrate to receive current from the drive circuitry layer and is connected to the nozzle roof to move the nozzle roof when actuated by the current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a print engine with a nested cradle, printhead cartridge and ink cartridges that form a stack. The print engine includes a printer cradle including an elongate chassis, a media drive assembly mounted at one end of the chassis, and a print media drive roller extending along the chassis and driven by the media drive assembly. A printhead cartridge is installed in the cradle to form a plurality of docking bays and includes an ink ejection printhead. Ink cartridges are installed in respective docking bays to supply respective types of ink to the ink ejection printhead.