Abstract: In order that sensitive structures of inkjet printing mechanisms be cleaned without damaging these structures, a cleaning sheet and a process of using the sheet has been created. Debris and dried ink is removed from print cartridges and their carriage using a cleaning sheet having two strips of material spaced with a napped surface disposed longitudinally between the side edges and spaced apart from each other. By controlling the distance the strips are spaced from the sheet feed edge of the cleaning sheet, the print cartridges can be placed adjacent the strips for scrubbing against the strips without resulting in a media jam in the printer due to the increased thickness of the cleaning sheet.

Abstract: Resting position error recognition for an ink-jet, translational-type, service station mechanism. Service station drive mechanism binding due to hard stop impact is compensated for by calculating a difference between when the drive mechanism stops and when a predetermined velocity change was first recorded. In a more sophisticated embodiment, noise filtering is employed to improve accuracy with increasing number of uses of the service station mechanism.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate to a print cartridge that can be configured to receive ink from one of at least two possible ink paths depending upon a desired printer configuration. In one exemplary embodiment, the print cartridge has a body configurable to receive ink from at least two different ink supply configurations, and a fluid interface that when coupled with the body effectively selects one of the ink supply configurations.

Abstract: Resting position error recognition for an ink-jet, translational-type, service station mechanism. Service station drive mechanism binding due to hard stop impact is compensated for by calculating a difference between when the drive mechanism stops and when a predetermined velocity change was first recorded. In a more sophisticated embodiment, noise filtering is employed to improve accuracy with increasing number of uses of the service station mechanism.

Abstract: A ganged inkjet printhead sealing system maintains inkjet printhead health in an inkjet printing mechanism during periods of printing inactivity. In multi-printhead printing mechanisms, separate caps seal against each of the printheads. The caps each have an outlet vent. The vents are all ganged together and fluidically coupled to a single, common pressure regulation chamber that isolates the environment adjacent the printhead nozzles from the external environment when the printheads are capped. A fluid in a U-shaped manometer tube, or an elastomeric bladder are used to isolate the pressure chamber environment. The bladder may be constructed as a thin-walled sheet, a spring-biased bag, or as a bellows. The pressure chamber volume changes to accommodate pressure spikes during the capping process, as well as environmental changes in temperature, elevation, barometric pressure, etc. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a ganged capping system, along with associated capping methods are also provided.

Abstract: A ganged inkjet printhead sealing system maintains inkjet printhead health in an inkjet printing mechanism during periods of printing inactivity. In multi-printhead printing mechanisms, separate caps seal against each of the printheads. The caps each have an outlet vent. The vents are all ganged together and fluidically coupled to a single, common pressure regulation chamber that isolates the environment adjacent the printhead nozzles from the external environment when the printheads are capped. A fluid in a U-shaped manometer tube, or an elastomeric bladder are used to isolate the pressure chamber environment. The bladder may be constructed as a thin-walled sheet, a spring-biased bag, or as a bellows. The pressure chamber volume changes to accommodate pressure spikes during the capping process, as well as environmental changes in temperature, elevation, barometric pressure, etc. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a ganged capping system, along with associated capping methods are also provided.

Abstract: In order that sensitive structures of inkjet printing mechanisms be cleaned without damaging these structures, a cleaning sheet and a process of using the sheet has been created. Debris and dried ink is removed from print cartridges and their carriage using a cleaning sheet having two strips of material spaced with a napped surface disposed longitudinally between the side edges and spaced apart from each other. By controlling the distance the strips are spaced from the sheet feed edge of the cleaning sheet, the print cartridges can be placed adjacent the strips for scrubbing against the strips without resulting in a media jam in the printer due to the increased thickness of the cleaning sheet.

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: 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: A capillary vent system for a service station cap system in an ink-jet printer having a basin formed on a substantially planar surface mounted on the under side of a nylon sled subjacent a cap for a printhead mounted on the top surface of the sled which serves as a cover for the basin. A vent is defined between a semicircular groove formed on the under side of the basin cover such that the vent is in fluid communication with the basin and has a lower surface substantially coplanar with the underside of the cover. The vent extends from the edge of the cover to a location over the basin. Ink from the printhead collects in the basin and at least some of the collected ink drains through the vent. The vent forms a capillary space between the basin member and the basin cover to draw the collected ink in, thus preventing vent clogging.

Abstract: A rounded capillary vent system for ink-jet printers in which an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) element having a basin formed on a substantially planar surface is mounted on the under side of a nylon sled. An EPDM cap for a printhead is mounted on the top surface of the sled. A vent is defined between a semicircular groove formed on the under side of the nylon cover and the EPDM planar surface. The vent extends from the edge of the cover to a location over the basin. Ink from the printhead collects in the basin and at least some of the collected ink drains through the vent. Ink in the vent collects in the corners formed at the juncture of the EPDM material and polycarbonate cover. The capillary space between the EPDM material and the nylon cover draws the collected ink thereinto thus preventing vent clogging.

Abstract: The service station provides components for wiping and capping the orifice plate of an ink-jet pen that is installed in a printer that can carry more than one pen-type. Certain service station components are dedicated for use with only one type of pen and other components are dedicated for use with another type of pen, thereby avoiding ink contamination that may occur, where, for example, a single wiper is used to wipe pens of both type.

Abstract: A printhead wiper for ink-jet printers molded from an elastomer and including a wiping beam having a wiping edge formed at one end of the beam. The other end of the beam is integral with a base. A hole through the beam near the base decreases beam stiffness. A higher durometer elastomer may thus be used without applying excessive wiping force to the printhead. In another embodiment the wiper includes a pair of wiping blades each of which have wiping edges for wiping a printhead traveling thereby. The first wipe removes pooled ink and debris and spreads viscous ink while the second wipe further the spread ink before it can retract to its former drop or pooled configuration.

Abstract: A birdirectionally movable carriage in an ink-jet printer contains either a color or a black ink cartridge. When a color cartridge is mounted on the carriage, a rotatable service station having both color and black cartridge service stations mounted thereon rotates to position the color service station adjacent the travel path of the color cartridge. A cap on the color service station includes a lip for sealing against the color cartridge and a flexible diaphragm which flexes to minimize pressure differentials between the interior and exterior of the cap. Because ink vapor diffusion through the diaphragm is possible, a diffusion vent is provided to a chamber on the side of the diaphragm exposed to the exterior of the cap. The diffusion vent permits diaphragm flexing while inhibiting ink vapor diffusion from the cap.