Abstract: An inkjet printer comprises a recording head having a plurality of nozzles for jetting ink, and an ink wiping device for wiping ink adhered on a surface of a nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, the ink wiping device including an ink absorber for absorbing ink, a moving device for moving the ink absorber and a pressing member to press a surface of the ink absorber toward the surface of the plurality of nozzles, wherein, the pressing member moves along the surface of the plurality of nozzles.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, in which ink is ejected from a recording head to a recording medium to carry out recording, includes a cap which covers an ink ejection port of the recording head, a cap holder which holds the cap, a cap base which rotatably and vertically movably supports the cap holder, and a base member which rotatably supports the cap base. When the cap is separated from the recording head by a predetermined distance, a position of the cap holder is controlled in a state in which the cap holder is oblique at a predetermined angle relative to the cap base so that an abutting plane of the cap is substantially parallel to an ink ejection port surface of the recording head. According to the apparatus, the structure is compact and inexpensive, the cap member can be surely held in close contact with the ejection port surface of the recording head with a constant pressing force, and the ejection port surface can be covered while surely maintaining airtightness.

Abstract: An apparatus provided with a carriage is guided and supported by at least two guide members, a guide shaft and a guide rail, arranged to be parallel to each other to enable the carriage to reciprocate. The guide members are arranged apart from each other substantially in the vertical direction, and the horizontal distance L1 between each guide member and the gravitational center of the carriage is arranged to be larger than the vertical interval L2 between the contact portions of the carriage and each guide member. With the structure thus arranged, it is possible to maximize the reduction of the swinging or vibration of a carriage so that the apparatus provided with the carriage can effect reciprocal scanning exactly and stably, thus realizing a small and high-performance apparatus that records images in high precision or reads highly precise images.

Abstract: A system for servicing a non-scanning printhead includes a servicing plate, a servicing component mounted on the servicing plate and adapted to service the non-scanning printhead, and a drive system adapted to move the servicing plate between a storage position and a service position such that the servicing component is spaced from the non-scanning printhead when the servicing plate is in the storage position and the servicing component is adapted to service the non-scanning printhead when the servicing plate is in the service position.

Abstract: A carrier locking apparatus of an inkjet printer having: a latch groove on a moving carrier carrying an ink cartridge; a locking lever, installed at a home position of the carrier, with a first end having a latch, and a second end having a pivoting lever; and a toggle spring joined to the locking lever's second end selectively applying elastic force to the locking lever to maintain each of two pivoted states. When the carrier moves to the home position, the carrier pushes the pivoting lever to pivot the locking lever in a first direction, inserting the latch into the latch groove to lock the carrier. When the carrier moves from the home position, the locking lever pivots in a second direction opposite the first direction, the latch disengages from the latch groove to unlock the carrier, and the locking lever pivots in the second direction.

Abstract: After purging an inkjet print head, large drops are formed on the nozzle plate of the inkjet printer. In order to provide sufficient wiping before printing, drops are first removed by skimming the print head. A skimmer, such as a wiper of A wiping system, just touches the drops that are drained from the print head.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier. An ink supply assembly is mounted on the carrier and defines a plurality of printhead chip receiving formations that are each dimensioned to engage a printhead chip and a plurality of ink supply conduits that terminate at the formations to supply ink to printhead chips engaged with the formations. A plurality of inkjet printhead chips is engaged with respective said formations to receive the ink via passages defined by the printhead chips in fluid communication with respective ink supply conduits. A rotary platen assembly is mounted on the carrier. The rotary platen assembly includes a platen body that is mounted on a shaft and defines a platen surface for supporting sheets of a print medium as the printhead chips carry out a printing operation on the sheets. The shaft is rotatable to bring the platen surface into and out of alignment with the printhead chips.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, a suction channel is defined between a concave groove-like channel of an ink guide member and a cap member. An ink discharge port is open to the suction channel while the suction channel communicates with the atmosphere through a plurality of communication holes. The distance between a bottom surface of the cap member and a surface of the concave groove-like channel facing the bottom surface is reduced in accordance with the distance from the ink discharge port. The ink discharge port is entirely covered with one longitudinal end portion of the ink guide member. The horizontal sectional area of each communication hole increases in accordance with the distance from the ink discharge port.

Abstract: A printer comprises an inkjet printhead capping assembly that raises up on an elevator to seal the printheads between uses. Such sealing prevents drying of the ink on the printhead nozzles that would otherwise cause clogging and poor operation. The elevator rides up and down on four ramps located at each corner of a cap carriage platform. A rack and pinion gear pushes pins riding on each ramp laterally to translate into the needed up and down elevator motion.

Abstract: An ink ejection type printhead assembly includes a plurality of printhead modules, each of which includes a U shaped shutter that is mounted on the module with the arms of the shutter engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the module. The upper arm of the shutter has a pad that in the closed position blocks the outlets of the printhead. The shutter slides between open and closed positions under the influence e of a rotatable cam. The shutter includes a resilient leg flexible arm that carries a pad that engages a nozzle guard of the printhead when in the closed position. The flexible arm is moved away from the nozzle guard during opening and closing operations.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a printhead of an ink-jet printer includes a cleaning blade, a cleaning blade reciprocating system, a cap member, a cap member moving system, and a first driving force supplying system. The cleaning blade reciprocating system reciprocates the cleaning blade near the printhead so that the cleaning blade wipes an ink ejecting surface of the printhead. The cap member is formed to cover at least a part of the ink ejecting surface and receive waste ink discharged from the printhead. The cap member is moved by the cap member moving system toward and away from the printhead. The cap member comes into close contact with the ink ejecting surface when moved toward to the printhead. The first driving force supplying system is selectively connected to one of the cleaning blade reciprocating system and the cap member moving system to supply driving force thereto.

Abstract: A conveyor cleaner according to the present invention comprises an adhesive layer formed by a viscous body, and a cleaning roller whose circumferential surface is covered with the adhesive layer. The cleaning roller is rotatable with the adhesive layer being in contact with a conveyor face of a conveyor belt. When the conveyor belt 8 is moved downward, the conveyor face of the conveyor belt and the adhesive layer gets into contact with each other. As the cleaning roller is pushed down by the conveyor belt, the insertion member comes to be inserted into the adhesive layer. Driving the conveyor belt in this state rotates the cleaning roller, and dust on the conveyor face is transferred to the surface of the adhesive layer to be removed. Also, the cleaning roller is rotated with the insertion member being inserted into the adhesive layer. Thereby, dust having transferred to the surface of the adhesive layer is caught in the interior of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus which can maintain stable recording quality by adequately removing ink remaining on discharge ports during cleaning processing of a recording head, and a cleaning mechanism portion for such a recording apparatus. After a carriage enters into a cleaning mechanism portion and a recording head is capped by a cap, when the carriage is further shifted in an advancing direction in a capping condition, one end of the cap is opened.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for servicing a printhead. In one exemplary technique, the printhead is moved along a path away from a printing position adjacent a drum to a service position away from the drum. A service operation is conducted on the printhead at the service position. The printhead is then moved back to the printing position to reposition the printhead adjacent the drum.

Abstract: A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system for inkjet printer incorporating a wiper for wiping the printhead including a treatment fluid applicator configured for placing treatment fluid onto at least one element of the printhead and wiper elements involved in wiping the printhead orifice plate surface, the treatment fluid being placed on said at least one element by direct contact of the applicator, subsequently the wiper wipes the printhead, the treatment being available to enhance cleaning effectiveness, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render unwanted accumulations on the printhead more removable by wiping.

Abstract: The invention is a liquid jetting apparatus including: a head member having a plurality of nozzles, the nozzles being classified into n classes, n being not less than two; a micro-vibrating unit that causes liquid in a nozzle or nozzles of the respective classes to respectively minutely vibrate; and a micro-vibrating controlling unit that causes the micro-vibrating unit to operate. The micro-vibrating controlling unit is adapted to cause the micro-vibrating unit to operate in such a manner that the liquid in the nozzle or nozzles of the respective classes minutely vibrates at a common constant period T and at respective phases for the respective classes, the respective phases for the respective classes being different in turn by T/n.

Abstract: A cleaning station for a vertical nozzle plate of an ink jet printer includes a cylindrical cleaning roller that has an outer surface, and has a substantially vertical central axis and a substantially vertical rotational axis. The roller is spaced from the nozzle plate to form a cleaning cavity between the roller and the nozzle plate. The roller has a top end above the nozzle plate and a bottom end below the nozzle plate. A drive element is connected to the roller to rotate the roller about its rotation axis. A fluid outlet near the top of the roller directs cleaning fluid onto the outer surface of the roller, and into the cleaning cavity between the roller and the nozzle plate. A fluid reservoir stores cleaning fluid, and a fluid conduit conducts cleaning fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a cap capable of moving in approaching and receding directions against and away from a discharge port surface of a recording unit for covering the discharge port surface, a wiper sliding while contacting with the discharge port surface to wipe the discharge port surface to clean it, a wiper driving gear for transferring drive to the wiper, a cam and gear member equipped with a cam portion for controlling the movement of the cap and a gear portion for transferring drive to the wiper driving gear, in which the cam and gear member is configured so that the gear portion engages with the wiper driving gear after the cap has moved to a position where the cap does not interfere with the wiper. By such a configuration, both of the capping operation and wiping operation can be controlled with the single cam and gear member, which makes it possible to miniaturize a recovery mechanism portion for maintaining and recovering the ink discharging performance of the recording unit.

Abstract: Print cartridges on printers using stationary print cartridges are accessed by service station components such as wipers, scrapers, cleaning fluid applicators, ink receiving receptacles and cappers in a manner similar to what is done in a conventional scanning printhead printing system. A print cartridge support structure holds one or more print cartridges in a stationary position while applying ink on a media. A printhead is located on each of the print cartridges. The printhead has nozzles for ejecting ink which are arranged in a nozzle array of one or more columns of nozzles. A media movement mechanism provides movement of the media though a print zone located beneath the nozzle array. A printhead servicing station is located outside of the print zone and has one or more servicing modules dedicated for interaction with one of the nozzle arrays when the one of the nozzle arrays is positioned in aligned proximity with its dedicated servicing module.

Abstract: A power transmission arrangement includes a shaft, a first gear mounted on the shaft, a plate supported by the shaft and rotatable between a first position and a second position, a second gear supported by the plate and engaged with the first gear, and a third gear supported by the plate and movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position with the second gear when the plate is rotated between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An image forming device having a rotatable drum, at least one printhead mounted adjacent to the rotatable drum, and a printhead service station. The printhead and rotatable drum together define a print zone in which fluid travels from the printhead towards the rotatable drum, and the printhead service station is within the print zone.

Abstract: When a printhead is not in use, it remains filled with ink. In order to prevent evaporation of the ink through the nozzles of the printhead, and the consequential depositing of ink components in and around the ink nozzles, the invention provides capping of the nozzle during the non printing modes of the printer. The capping mechanism uses a page width elastomeric seal, which can move between a first capping position, in which it seals said nozzles of the printhead in an air tight manner, and a second position in which the elastomeric seal moves away from said print head to allow paper to be printed upon by said print head.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a printing device includes one or more print cartridges configured to remain stationary in a first position over a media path during printing and configured to be serviced while in a second position outside an area above the media path. The printing device further includes a service station configured to service the one or more print cartridges; and, a motor assembly configured to move the one or more print cartridges from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a frame, and a maintenance station coupled to the frame. The maintenance station includes a maintenance housing having an end portion. A maintenance sled is movably mounted to the maintenance housing. The maintenance sled has a first position and a second position. A flexible member is mounted to the maintenance sled. The flexible member includes a main body and an elastic portion extending from the main body. The main body and the elastic portion define a cavity. The elastic portion of the flexible member contacts the end portion of the maintenance housing when the maintenance sled is in the first position.

Abstract: A cleaning system for a fluid ejector arrangement employing a single roller for handling different fluids that should not be mixed. The single roller is divided into portions assigned to respective fluids. In embodiments, the single roller is used to clean a plurality of ejectors, in which case each section of the roller handles one ejector. In other embodiments, the single roller is used to clean a single ejector that ejects to a plurality of fluids, in which case each section of the roller handles one fluid. Still other embodiments can employ a plurality of ejectors and a plurality of fluids ejected from one or more of the ejectors, wherein each section of the roller is assigned to a particular fluid, whether the fluid be ejected from the same ejector or from a different ejector.

Abstract: An ink jet device comprising at least one print head arranged to eject ink drops in a spitting operation and a spittoon arranged to store said ejected ink, the device further comprising a temporary spittoon arranged to move between first and second positions, in said first position said temporary spittoon being located in close proximity to a nozzle plate of said printhead and arranged such that ejected ink drops are directed onto a surface of said temporary spittoon, in said second position said temporary spittoon being located sufficiently distant from said nozzle plate to allow a capping or wiping operation to be performed and arranged to transfer said ink to said spittoon.

Abstract: A printer includes at least one ink applicator supported in a medium-facing position in which the applicator is adapted to face the print medium when the medium is in a transport path and a first servicing tool outside the transport path and facing the at least one ink applicator, while the at least one ink applicator is in the medium-facing position. In one embodiment, the printer includes a medium transport configured to move the medium relative to the at least one ink applicator, wherein the medium transport includes the first servicing tool.

Abstract: A printhead servicing mechanism comprises a gear assembly actuated by a printhead carriage to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a printhead servicing device actuated by the gear assembly in the engaged position.

Abstract: A printhead servicing mechanism comprises a printhead capping device that moves between a storage position and a printhead capping position, and a crank arm assembly that moves the printhead capping device between the storage and capping positions.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a pair of rollers whose axes of rotation are parallel to each other. An endless conveyor belt is stretched between the pair of rollers. The conveyor belt conveys a print medium in the conveyance direction attendant upon rotations of the pair of rollers. The conveyor belt has, on its outer circumferential surface, an ink receiving groove extending in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction. The depth of the ink receiving groove gradually increases toward the center of the ink receiving groove in the conveyance direction in at least one of regions continuous from front and rear ends of the ink receiving groove in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a recording head and a cap placed in tight contact with a nozzle forming surface for defining a sealed space. A head moving mechanism moves the recording head along a direction in which the nozzle forming surface is extended, toward or separately from a contact position at which the cap is placed in tight contact with the recording head. A cap moving mechanism moves the cap toward or separately from the contact position at which the cap is placed in tight contact with the nozzle forming surface. A cap holding mechanism including a slider holds the cap such that the cap is allowed to slide along a moving direction of the recording head and positions the cap at the contact position.

Abstract: A printer maintenance apparatus, includes: a mounting base movable forward and backward between a maintenance position and a retraction position; a wiping mechanism mounted on the mounting base and including a wiper base and a wiper; and a capping mechanism mounted on the mounting base including a cap base and a cap. The cap base moves toward the nozzle surface to move the cap to cover the nozzle surface when the mounting base is at the maintenance position. The cap base moves retractably from the nozzle surface when the mounting base moves from the maintenance position. The wiper base moves toward the nozzle surface to bring the wiper into contact with the nozzle surface when the mounting base is at the maintenance position. The wiper base keeps the wiper in contact with the nozzle surface while the mounting base moves backward from the maintenance position.

Abstract: A platen assembly for a printer includes a chassis to which there is mounted a printhead and a pair of bearing moldings supported by the chassis and movable toward and away from the printhead. A platen body (83) is rotatably mounted between the bearing moldings and includes a platen surface (78) extending therealong, a capping device (80) extending therealong and a blotting device (81) also extending therealong. Each device is selectively aligned with the printhead upon a rotation of the body between respective angular orientation. The body includes end caps having cam surfaces engageable with a projection affixed to the chassis to cause movement of the bearing members toward and away from the printhead during rotation of the body so that the body does not damage the printhead.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus of an inkjet printer includes a control unit to control a drive motor for a wiping member convey unit to be in contact with a stopper two or more times in order to prevent a wiping member and a wiper disposed therein from being erroneously positioned due to an abnormal repulsive force occurring in the wiping member convey unit when the wiping member convey unit comes in contact with the stopper, due to outer impact and changes in load of the motor. The wiper-positioning method includes a first contact operation of driving the motor for the wiping member convey device to come in contact with the stopper, and a re-contact operation of controlling the motor for the wiping member convey unit to be in contact with the stopper one or more times again.

Abstract: A shuttle-type printer has a movable carriage to carry and position at least one pen over a printing surface. The printer also has a carriage positioning system coupled to move the carriage at a slew rate in swaths over the printing surface. The carriage positioning system starts the carriage at a starting position for individual swaths. The carriage positioning system implements techniques for masking the effects of periodic vibrations in the printer. According to one technique, the carriage positioning system varies the starting position for the individual swaths. According to a second technique, the carriage positioning system makes multiple passes before advancing the recording media and varies the slew rate for individual passes. The techniques do not eliminate or reduce the vibrations themselves, but mask their effects in the print results that are caused by period vibrations in the printer.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus of an inkjet printer includes a housing, a capping member disposed in the housing and having two caps closing up surfaces of ink injection nozzles of two printing heads, respectively, a wiping member disposed in the housing and having a wiper wiping the surfaces of the ink injection nozzles, a transmission disposed on the housing reducing a rotation force from a driving source, a capping member mover changing the rotation force of the transmission into a vertical force to move the capping member in a capping position in a capping operation, and a wiping member mover changing the rotation force of the transmission into a horizontal force to move the wiping member in a wiping position in a wiping operation, wherein the wiping operation of the wiping member and the capping operation of the capping member, or an capping-release operation of the capping member and the wiping operation of the wiping member are successively performed in response to the rotation force of the transmission.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the waste ink storage capacity of an ink printing device includes a printhead and a drive mechanism. The apparatus includes a spreader mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism of the ink printing device, wherein the spreader mechanism is driven in both horizontal and vertical directions by the drive mechanism to engage waste ink in a waste ink accumulation region and disperse waste ink over said waste ink accumulation region.

Abstract: A cap moving mechanism for moving a cap for sealing a liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid to a target, includes a pushing-up part for moving the cap upwards or downwards by rotating, a cam shaft provided integrally with the pushing-up part as a rotating shaft of the pushing-up part, a cam shaft gear including a drive region, which rotates integrally with the cam shaft taken as a rotating shaft, whereby a driving force of a motor for driving the cam shaft is transmitted, and a non-drive region whereby the driving force of the motor is not transmitted and a driving force transmission gear for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the cam shaft gear in order that the cap can be moved downwards from a state in which the cap has been completely moved upwards, after the motor rotates by a predetermined amount from when the cap has been completely moved upwards, and transmitting the driving force of the motor to the cam shaft gear in order that the cap can be moved upwards from a state in which the cap

Abstract: An ink jet recording device is provided comprising a head recovering unit for operating for recovering a discharge function of an ink jet recording head, a cap member disposed on the head recovering unit to tightly close ink discharge ports, a recording medium conveying mechanism for conveying a recording medium, and a connecting unit for switching transmission and non-transmission of a driving force to the head recovering unit in conjunction with a capping operation of the cap member, and makes it possible to provide a drive switching mechanism which is convenient and highly reliable, reduce a number of driving source and realize a recording apparatus having a high reliability at a low cost while saving a space.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head is provided with a nozzle formation face on which nozzles for ejecting ink drops in accordance with print data are formed. A capping member for sealing the nozzle formation face has an inner space formed with a bottom. An ink absorbing member is provided on the bottom of the inner space. In a first flushing mode, ink drops are ejected into the capping member in a state that the nozzle formation face is sealed by the capping member. In a second flushing mode, ink drops are ejected into the capping member in a state that the capping member is separated from the nozzle formation face. Either the first flushing mode or the second flushing mode is selectively performed.

Abstract: In an implementation of printing mechanism hinged printbar assembly, a hinged printbar assembly pivots about a hinge between a print position and a service position. Print modules coupled to the hinged printbar assembly each have one or more printheads and the printheads of the print modules collectively span a width of a print media when the hinged printbar assembly is in the print position. A wiper assembly services the printheads on the hinged printbar assembly and includes printhead caps to cover the printheads on the hinged printbar assembly.

Abstract: A maintenance system for an inkjet printhead is relocated to a position proximate the printhead to maintain the printhead. The relocation is performed by temporarily attaching the maintenance station to the media carrier of the inkjet printer. The maintenance station may be stowed in a docking station when it is not in use.

Abstract: A service station system for an inkjet printer includes head caps to revolve between a capping position and an uncapping position of printer heads, a slider to slide with respect to the head caps and having wipers mounted on a front end portion thereof. The service station system also includes a slider movement unit to slide the slider, and a revolution unit disposed between the head caps and the slider, to revolve the head caps in association with the sliding of the slider with respect to the head caps. Accordingly, services for the printer heads may be systematically carried out in a relatively small space, and in particular, a compact and small-sized service station system is provided so that a volume from front to rear of an inkjet printer may be reduced.

Abstract: A phase change waste ink control apparatus and method are provided and are suitable for use in a phase change ink image producing machine including a printhead system. The apparatus for the method includes (a) devices for producing phase change waste ink such as from a printhead system; (b) a waste ink gutter assembly, including a heating device, for collecting, accumulating and coalescing the phase change waste ink. The apparatus also includes (c) a controller for periodically turning the heating device on to heat and melt coalesced phase change waste ink within the waste ink gutter assembly; and (d) a waste ink collection container for collecting melted phase change waste ink from the waste ink gutter assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flushing process for an ink jet recording apparatus that employs inks using pigments as coloring agents and moves a recording head along a guide shaft to flush the inks to flushing portions of a platen, in which a first flushing for flushing one of dark pigment ink(s) and light pigment ink(s) and a second flushing for flushing the other of the dark pigment ink(s) and the light pigment ink(s) are performed onto the same positions of the platen. Also provided is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs the flushing process.

Abstract: A capping device for a printhead assembly of a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer is formed of spring steel and includes an elastomeric onsert having a series of recesses which create chambers positioned over air inlet and exhaust holes of each printhead module of the assembly. These allow the air to flow from one inlet to the next outlet. When the capping device is moved to its capped position, the airways are sealed off so as to prevent air from drying out and therefore blocking the delicate nozzles of the printheads. Another function of the molding is to cover and clamp against nozzle guards of the assembly to protect against drying out and also to keep foreign particles such as paper dust from entering and damaging the printer nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead interposing maintenance method and apparatus are provided for maintaining a printhead assembly within a relatively tight space in an image producing machine.

Abstract: In a method for independently wiping a first and a second printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism, a first and a second wiping assembly separated from each other are provided in the printing mechanism. Furthermore, the wiping of the first printhead by the first wiper and the wiping of the second printhead by the second wiper are separately controlled.

Abstract: The printheads of an inkjet printer have a service station movable in a direction transversely of a printhead scanning direction and comprising servicing modules for undertaking different functions, one of the modules being detachable from the rest. The detachable connection comprises a rotating hook and a fixed hook which automatically interengage and disengage.

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.