Abstract: An inkjet printer having a two-stage capping mechanism for a pagewidth printhead is disclosed. The printhead has a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead and they are arranged to deliver ink onto print media which, in use, is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism incorporates a capping member which has a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead and which is configured to contact the printhead in nozzle capping engagement. A pivotal carrier supports the capping member. An actuating mechanism is provided and arranged to effect pivotal movement of the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the printhead and a second position at which the capping member is located in contact with the printhead.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which comprises: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the one printhead, and (b) a capping mechanism having—(i) a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, (ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead in a arcuate first direction from a first to a second position and (iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of the at least one printhead when the printhead is in the second position. The capping mechanism is also disclosed in relation to a printer having a printhead assembly with two pagewidth printheads.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which comprises: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a single pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping/purging mechanism having— (i) a capping member associated with the printhead, the capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead and being located in a non-capping first position adjacent the printhead, (ii) purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the printhead, and (iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member from the first position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has an ink supply, an ink manifold in fluid communication with the ink supply, a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles mounted to the ink manifold, a pump in fluid communication with the ink manifold and, a gas inlet that can be opened to establish fluid communication between the ink manifold and a supply of gas, and can be closed to form a gas tight seal. The ink manifold can be primed using the pump by closing the gas inlet, and de-primed when the gas inlet is open. This allows the printhead to be deprimed during storage and transport and it allows the printhead IC to be cleaned by a foam formed by air forced through the ink election nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead assembly with at least two printhead integrated circuits (IC's), each having arrays of printing fluid ejection nozzles. A support member in the assembly supports and carries the printing fluid fed to the at least two printhead integrated circuits. Drive circuitry for controlling the operation of the printhead IC's has an electrical connector for connecting the drive circuitry to the at least two printhead integrated circuits. The assembly has a casing for supporting the printhead IC's, the support member, the drive circuitry and the electrical connector within an inkjet printer, wherein, the casing has a heat sink to draw heat away from the drive circuitry.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is disclosed in which a protector is provided for a capping facility for a printhead within the printer. The protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to engage with the capping facility during intervals when the capping facility is not engaged with the printhead, whereby the capping member is protected against loss of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material. In one of its embodiments the printer has a protector for a capping facility in the form of a capping mechanism for a printhead having a plurality of ink-delivery nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least two printhead modules and a casing in which printhead modules are removably and adjacently mounted to extend across a pagewidth. Each printhead module has at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto a surface of print media, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and an electrical connector for connecting electrical power signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits from both ends of the printhead assembly.

Abstract: A printer comprising: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having— (i) a single pagewidth printhead and (ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping mechanism having— (i) a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead and located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from but confronting the printhead, and (ii) a motor drive arranged for camming engagement with the capping member to effect its linear transitioning from the first position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead.

Abstract: A capping mechanism is disclosed for a pagewidth printhead having a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead and arranged to deliver ink onto print media which, in use, is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism incorporates a capping member which has a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead and which is configured to contact the printhead in nozzle capping engagement, and a pivotal carrier supporting the capping member. An actuating mechanism is provided and arranged to effect pivotal movement of the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the printhead and a second position at which the capping member is located in contact with the printhead.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which has: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping/purging mechanism associated with the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided having a printhead with an array of nozzles, a maintenance assembly for moving between a capped position where the assembly covers the array of nozzles, and an uncapped position spaced from the array of nozzles and a motorized drive for moving the maintenance assembly between the capped position and the uncapped position. The maintenance assembly has a capper for covering the array and a cleaner for wiping the array, such that the motorized drive uses a cam shaft arrangement for moving the cleaner relative to the capper.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which has— (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping mechanism associated with the printhead. The capping mechanism comprises— i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material which has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the printhead, and ii) an actuating mechanism arranged to position the capping member in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead. Also disclosed is a printer having a printhead assembly that incorporates two pagewidth printheads between which the capping member is in use located.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which has (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping mechanism associated with the printhead. The capping mechanism comprises a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material having a width corresponding substantially to the length of the printhead. The flexible sheet-like material is provided as a replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to form the capping member. Also disclosed is a printer in which, as an optional aspect, a platen is positioned adjacent the printhead and arranged to engage with and position the capping member in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which comprises: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having two offset pagewidth printheads and a plurality of nozzles located along each of the printheads for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printheads, and (b) a capping mechanism having (i) a capping member associated with each of the printheads, the capping members having lengths corresponding substantially to those of the printheads and each said capping member being moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated printhead, and (ii) an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and arranged to effect transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its second position.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles, an ink manifold for distributing ink to the printhead IC, the ink manifold having an ink inlet and an ink outlet, an upstream pump in fluid communication with the ink inlet, and a downstream pump in fluid communication with the ink outlet. The upstream pump and the downstream pump are independently operable. This allows the printhead to be primed or deprimed for storage and transport and it allows the printhead IC to be cleaned by a foam formed by air forced through the ink election nozzles.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which comprises: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having two opposed pagewidth printheads and a plurality of nozzles located along each of the printheads for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printheads, and (b) a capping mechanism having (i) a capping member located adjacent the printheads and having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printheads, (ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the printheads from a printing first position to a spaced-apart second position and (iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between the printheads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two printheads when the printheads are in the second position.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed that has: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping mechanism associated with the printhead. The capping mechanism comprises (i) a carrier positioned adjacent the printhead and having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, (ii) a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, and (iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from a non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead. Also disclosed is a printer in which the carrier of the capping mechanism incorporates a purging chamber into which material may be purged from the printhead nozzles.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which comprises: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping/purging mechanism having (i) a capping/purging member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, (ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead in a arcuate first direction from a first position to a second position and a third position, and (iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping/purging member in an arcuate second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of the printhead when it is in the second position and to permit purging of the nozzles when the printhead is in the third position. The capping/purging mechanism is also disclosed in relation to a printer having a printhead assembly with two pagewidth printheads.

Abstract: A protector is provided for a capping facility for a printhead. The protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to engage with the capping facility during intervals when the capping facility is not engaged with the printhead, whereby the capping facility is protected against loss of moisture and/or ingress of contaminating material. In one of its possible forms, the protector is provided for a capping facility in the form of a capping mechanism for a printhead having a plurality of ink-delivery nozzles.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which has: (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping mechanism associated with the printhead. The capping mechanism comprises (i) a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, (ii) a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret and (iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the capping member from a non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead.