Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a printer frame and a maintenance station coupled to the printer frame. The maintenance station includes a maintenance frame having a first side. The first side has formed therein at least a first guide slot and a first flexible end-stop member associated with the first guide slot. A maintenance sled is provided which is movable within the maintenance frame in a first direction. The maintenance sled has a first guide member positioned to slideably ride in the first guide slot. A travel limit of the first guide member in the first direction is defined by the first flexible end-stop member.

Abstract: Spring members urge a print head support member with an urging force greater than a predetermined value so as to decrease a backlash.

Abstract: A service station servicing an ink-jet printhead of an ink-jet printing system. The service station includes a sled structure, and an elevator mechanism coupled to the sled structure for moving the sled structure between a rest position and a sled capping position. A printhead cap is supported on the sled structure, and is movable relative to the sled structure for movement between a retracted position and a printhead capping position. The cap is adapted to surround and seal the printhead nozzles when the sled has been moved to the sled capping position and the printhead cap has been moved to the printhead capping position. A piston is carried by the sled structure, and the printhead cap is mounted to the piston. An actuating mechanism moves the piston from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the printhead cap is positioned at the printhead capping position when the piston is moved to the extended position.

Abstract: Ink is sucked in a first amount from recording heads by applying negative pressure of suction pumps to the recording heads in a state in which communication between the recording heads and the atmosphere is cut off by sealing the recording heads by means of caps. The ink in the caps is then discharged by causing negative pressure of the suction pumps to act in a state in which the caps are made to communicate with the atmosphere, and then wiping is effected by a wiping blade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiping apparatus for an ink jet printer, which apparatus prevents the area surrounding the wiping apparatus from being contaminated by ink. The wiping apparatus reduces the amount of ink splashed on the surroundings when a wiper is out of the lower part of a cartridge. The apparatus comprises a housing having an upper part which is open, a cartridge which can be moved from one side to another side in an upper part of the housing, a nozzle for ejecting ink and provided on one side of the cartridge, a wiper installed on an upper part of the housing and made of an elastic material for cleaning the nozzle, a holding unit for holding the nozzle and rotatable in a direction along which the nozzle is bent when the wiper is bent in one direction for cleaning the nozzle, and an operation unit which operates the holding unit and is provided to move together with the cartridge.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a carriage on which are exchangeably mounted a recording discharging portion, for which is formed a recording liquid discharging port from which a recording liquid is discharged, and a processing liquid discharging portion, for which is formed a processing liquid discharging port from which a processing liquid is discharged to process the recording liquid, a dedicated recording liquid recovery member for, when the carriage is halted, performing a recovery process on a face in which the recording liquid discharging port is formed, and a processing liquid recovery member dedicated for, when the carriage is halted, performing a recovery process on a face in which the processing liquid discharging port is formed.

Abstract: The effective life of a printhead, such as an ink jet printhead, is extended, when printing repetitive images, by taking measures to change the printhead print elements (e.g. nozzles) that are fired to effect repetitive imaging at a desired location on the media. The nozzles can be changed, yet the repetitive images be provided at the same desired location on the media by one or more of: finishing the media after printing to take into account a new position of the images on the media to provide a proper finished media (e.g. by trimming a particular edge or edges); at spaced points in time moving the printhead relative to the media in the second dimension (e.g. substantially transverse to the first dimension); and/or at spaced points in time moving the media in the second dimension relative to the printhead.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus having a sheet forward roller 8 and a pump unit 11 connected to a single drive motor 7, and a drive force is transmitted to the pump unit 11 through time lag mechanisms 33-34 that cause a time lag at the time of switching rotational directions. Sheet feeding/discharging operation and ink sucking operation are performed with the single drive motor by taking advantage of a timing at which there are no load fluctuations accompanied by the switching operation, without requiring any switching mechanism.

Abstract: Cap holders (60, 70) are accommodation in a holder receiving member (40) in such a state that the cap holders are urged by springs toward the side of a recording head at two places with inclinations at angles of &thgr;1, &thgr;2 in the moving direction of a carriage and at an angle of &thgr;3 in a direction perpendicular thereto. Moments are produced by giving a difference to the distance between the whole periphery of a cap and the recording head, and peeling is effected from one point, so that the sealing of the recording head and the peeling of the cap off the recording head are made compatible.

Abstract: A service station for use in servicing one or more inkjet print cartridges includes a service station sled assembly movably attached to a service station chassis. The sled assembly includes at least one wiper and at least one cap. In one embodiment, the service station includes a cam and cam follower that interact to move the sled assembly. The cam is shaped so that movement of the cam to a first position causes each cap to contact a printhead of a corresponding inkjet print cartridge. Movement of the cam to a second position causes the cap to move away from the printhead and moves the wiper into a wiping position. In another embodiment, a service station according to the invention for use with a facsimile machine including inkjet printing apparatus includes a motor that is positioned so as to minimize the footprint of the service station.

Abstract: Cap holders (60, 70) are accommodation in a holder receiving member (40) in such a state that the cap holders are urged by springs toward the side of a recording head at two places with inclinations at angles of &thgr;1, &thgr;2 in the moving direction of a carriage and at an angle of &thgr;3 in a direction perpendicular thereto. Moments are produced by giving a difference to the distance between the whole periphery of a cap and the recording head, and peeling is effected from one point, so that the sealing of the recording head and the peeling of the cap off the recording head are made compatible.

Abstract: Service station components for interacting with one type of printhead are located to be aligned in operative position only in a first servicing mode, and service station components for interacting with another type of printhead are differently located to be aligned in operative position only in a second servicing mode. This allows for different servicing schemes of two or more modes to be applied based on the individual characteristics of the ink and/or nozzle plates employed in inkjet printheads. In some instances, an individual printhead can be serviced in more than one servicing mode. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable service station units are provided for each different printhead.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is capable of making the scanning range of a carriage narrower without expanding the left and right recording blanks of a recording material, and further, making the apparatus smaller without lowering the quality of recorded images, as well as enhancing the throughput thereof. To provide such apparatus, it is arranged to control the traveling speeds of a recording head in recording areas, and then, to determine the traveling speeds thereof in accordance with the distance between the stop position and the position to start recording, the distance between the position to terminate recording and the stop position, as well as with the contents to be recorded on a given line, among others.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus including a cap for capping an ink ejection opening for ejecting ink provided on a head surface of an ink-jet printing head by contacting a capping surface of the cap onto the head surface, a cap supporting member for supporting the cap to move the cap between an open state and a closed state against the head surface of the ink-jet printing head by rotating on an axis, and the posture of the cap being controlled for placing the capping surface in parallel to the head surface at least at a first position and at a second position different from the first position, the first position and the second position being in the open state of the cap.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a carriage on which are exchangeably mounted a recording discharging portion, for which is formed a recording liquid discharging port from which a recording liquid is discharged, and a processing liquid discharging portion, for which is formed a processing liquid discharging port from which a processing liquid is discharged to process the recording liquid, a dedicated recording liquid recovery member for, when the carriage is halted, performing a recovery process on a face in which the recording liquid discharging port is formed, and a processing liquid recovery member dedicated for, when the carriage is halted, performing a recovery process on a face in which the processing liquid discharging port is formed.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer has a suction cap for avoiding discharge failure of an ink from a printing head. When the printing head comes to a restoring area, the suction cap is moved from a waiting position at which the suction cap is retracted from a passage for movement of the printing head to a protruding position at which the suction cap protrudes into the passage for movement of the printing head. The suction cap covers a nozzle surface of the printing head. A purge unit is driven to suck the ink remaining in the printing head through the suction cap. The suction cap is supported by a casing so that the suction cap is swingable when it is pressed against the printing head.

Abstract: A device for positioning an ink jet print head and a cleaning and sealing device may be used in a postage meter and/or addressing machine for print media guided along a printing window in a guide plate by a transport device. In order to improve printing quality, the print head stationarily disposed behind the guide plate and the printing window is adjustable out of a printing position to be set in a defined way, into a cleaning and/or a sealing position and back again, and a cleaning and sealing device adapted to the print head can be coupled to the print head in a positionally accurate and functionally appropriate manner. The print head is pivotably secured and the cleaning and sealing device is disposed behind the guide plate, but linearly adjustably toward and away from the print head. A common gear for adjustment of the print head and the cleaning and sealing device is driven by a motor running in only one direction of rotation.

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 inkjet printhead nozzles is also provided.

Abstract: On a slider which is pressed by a carriage to follow the movement the carriage while moving up and down on a base in accordance with the movement of the carriage, a cap is provided swingably through a support frame urged against a recording head by a spring or the like so that only one of its corners projects out at the time of non-capping. The cap moving up in accordance with the movement of the carriage, first, comes into contact with a nozzle plate of the recording head, and then expands the contact region gradually until it contacts with the whole of the nozzle plate. Therefore, pressure is concentrated in the contact free region partially so that the cap becomes familiar to the nozzle plate from its one corner and expands the contact region to make sealing finally.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a print head having ink nozzles, which is movable in a direction across the feeding path. A supply mechanism is provided at one side of the feeding path, which supplies ink to the print head located in the ink supply station. A maintenance mechanism is provided at the other side of the feeding path, which operates a predetermined operation. The ink jet printer is further provided with a first clutch which transmits the rotation of the actuator to the supply mechanism only when the print head is located in the above-mentioned one side, and a second clutch which transmits the rotation of the actuator to the maintenance mechanism only when the print head is located in the above-mentioned the other side. With this, the supply mechanism and the maintenance mechanism are actuated by a common actuator.

Abstract: A cartridge for use with a printing apparatus of the type typically employed for digital printing in which a painting material is deposited in metered amounts on a print medium comprises a housing containing a drive wheel, a first idler disposed in a paint reservoir, a wire disposed around the wheel and the idler, and an air nozzle having at least one nozzle orifice therein for directing a jet of air toward said wire. As the drive wheel is rotated, as with an external drive mechanism, paint contained within the paint reservoir coats the wire and is drawn by the wire in the path of the air jet. The air jet removes at least a portion of the paint from the wire and deposits the paint onto a print medium. By employing a plurality of such cartridges into a single print head, each containing a different color of paint, a color image can be painted onto a print medium.

Abstract: A recovery device is described for use with a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus. The recording head is mounted on a carriage which can reciprocate. The recovery device includes a cap for capping an ink discharge portion of the recording head when not in use, and a wiper for wiping out the ink discharge portion with a movement of the carriage. The wiper is disposed outside the cap relative to the recording area. The recording head does not pass through an area occupied by the wiper when the recording head performs a predischarge with respect to the cap during recording.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes a printer housing structure, and at least one immobile ink-jet pen including a nozzle array mounted to the housing structure at a print area, the pen remaining stationary during printing operations. A two axis media drive system includes a media drive roller structure which is rotatable to move the medium in a first axis relative to the print area to position the medium relative to the pen nozzle array for a given swath, and a translating media carriage, the drive roller structure supported by the media carriage. The carriage is mounted for translating movement along a second axis transverse to the first direction, to slew the media along the second axis during printing, and a motor system for rotating the media drive roller and for translating the carriage. The motor system is a single motor/encoder system for driving the carriage and the roller.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a maintenance station in which a movable sled starts from a known position due to a diagonally disposed return spring. A cam profile near the uppermost portion of vertical movement of a movable sled is produced in accordance with a quadratic equation. This quadratic designed equation profile reduces the force required to move the movable sled up the cam profile to its uppermost position. The return spring, which holds the movable sled in the known position by urging a front wall of the movable sled against a front wall of a support housing, also absorbs energy to decrease the noise level of the printer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aligning the printer carriage of an inkjet printer with a service station of the printer where for example capping, wiping or spitting of inkjet cartridges held by the printer carriage can be performed. The method utilizes an optical sensor mounted on the printer carriage to scan a reference mark within the service area. Preferably the reference mark exhibits a change in reflectance in the scanning direction of the printer carriage and is mounted on a service station carriage which also holds removable service modules. An embodiment employs an iterative method in which calibration steps are interspersed by capping operations so as to ensure accurate alignment is achieved.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus using a liquid discharging head for discharging a liquid, including a cleaning unit for cleaning a nozzle section of the liquid discharging head. The cleaning unit is formed of an elastic pillar member not absorbing the liquid and is elastically deformed when it comes into contact with a face including the nozzle section of the liquid discharging head. The liquids which are discharged through the liquid discharging head include an ink and a printability improving solution which makes the dye or pigment insoluble or coagulates the dye or pigment in the ink.

Abstract: A replaceable inkjet printhead cleaner service station system has separate replaceable cleaning units for each printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism, which has a pallet that moves the cleaning units translationally to service the printheads. Each cleaning unit has a printhead wiper, a printhead snout wiper, a capping system, a spittoon, and optionally, an ink solvent application system. A service station pallet moves a replaceable base between rest and sealing positions, with the base defining a cam surface. A sled has a cam follower that rides along the cam surface, with the sled supporting a cap lip. An activation wall extends from the sled to engage the printhead and move the sled along the cam surface to the sealing position through linear motion of the pallet while the printhead remains stationary. A method is provided for sealing an inkjet printhead, along with a printing mechanism employing such a capping system.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead servicing station for an inkjet printing mechanism includes a translational pallet that carries servicing appliances, like wipers, caps and flaps. A service station frame defines a guide track that supports the pallet for translational movement in a plane substantially parallel with a printhead plane and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis of the printhead when transported by a carriage. The frame has adjacent pallet and carriage alignment datums. The pallet has a carriage lock that secures the carriage with or without the inkjet printhead installed therein. The pallet has a rack gear that is driven with a spindle pinion gear. The service station frame has a base and a bonnet cover that define the guide track, with the pallet being sandwiched therebetween. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a service station, and a method of assembling a service station are also provided.

Abstract: There are provided a purge cap 46 used both for a recovery and a protecting operations and protecting caps 21A-D used only for a protecting operation, in which the number of the protecting caps 21A-C is kept in three, less by one than the number of the ink jet heads. When the carriage is in the recovery area, the purge cap 46 alone is advanced to cover one of the ink jet heads, performing a recovery operation. When the carriage is in a protecting position, the purge cap 46 and the protecting caps 21A-C are obliquely advanced together, thereby covering all of the ink jet heads.

Abstract: First and second cap members seal nozzle openings of first and second ink jet recording heads and are disposed on a side of a slider facing the nozzle openings. The slider is rotatably supported at the center portion in the longitudinal direction by a supporting member which is rotatable about a rotation shaft elongated in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage, and which is vertically movable in accordance with the movement of the carriage. When the carriage is moved, the slider swings about the shaft in a manner similar to a seesaw, whereby the two cap members are sequentially fitted into the recording heads.

Abstract: An ink jet printer mechanism is disclosed in which a print receiving medium is supported in a clamp in a printing station and a print head is traversed through the printing station. A service station for the print head is provided adjacent the printing station and the print head is traversed to the service station between printing operations. The service station includes a carriage which is movable by a drive motor to bring capping and wiping elements into engagement with the print head. A mechanical linkage from the carriage opens the clamp when the capping element is aligned for engagement with the print head.

Abstract: Pressure is applied to a resilient seal around the venting portion of a print head while the nozzles are elevated in the vertical position above the ink, thereby forcing ink out of the nozzles and purging the in-flow paths of air.

Abstract: A service station for an inkjet printing mechanism has a moveable platform that receives waste ink which is occasionally discharged from an inkjet printhead. The printing mechanism has a drive mechanism which moves the platform between a first position for receiving the purged ink, and a second position for discharging the purged ink. The moveable platform may be configured as a rotating annular wheel, with a scraper positioned adjacent thereto for removing the discharged ink from the wheel. The platform may be provided by an endless belt conveyed over two or more rollers. At least one of the rollers may be located substantially tinder the printhead, and another roller may be located either near or remote from the printhead. Ink may be discharged from the belt using a scraper, and/or using specially contoured rollers. A method is also provided for cleaning an inkjet pen mounted for use in an inkjet printing mechanism.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus and the information processing system using the ink jet recording apparatus as its output device have a cap mechanism that can perform a stable forced suction of ink to recover the performance of the recording head. The cap of this cap mechanism is formed of an elastic member and has a suction surface engageable with the ink discharge surface of the recording head and a back surface engageable with the cap supporting surface of the holding device. Before the holding device is pushed toward the cap by the pressing device, there is a gap formed between the back surface of the cap and the cap supporting surface of the holding device. The distance in the gap between the back surface and the cap supporting surface progressively decreases from the central portion toward the end portions of the back surface, with the end portions of the back surface engaged with the holding device.

Abstract: A print head positioner includes a tilt mechanism that selectively engages and moves a carriage supporting the print head when the print head and supporting carriage are in a home position. The print head positioner is uncoupled from the carriage X-axis drive mechanism during imaging to avoid extraneous loading on the mechanism. The positioner includes interlocks to prevent inadvertent disengagement from the carriage during tilting and to restrict print head tilting when the carriage is away from the home position.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an ink jet head, a cap covering the ink jet head, and a suction pump for recovering the ink jetting condition of the ink jet head by adding negative pressure to the cap and sucking the inferior ink from the ink jet head. A coil spring forces the cap to contact the ink jet head while rail members having a cam groove control the contact force between the cap and the ink jet head. The contact force is controlled in at least two continuous stages. In the first stage, a first suction operation is conducted while the cap and ink jet head are contacting each other under a contact force having a first strength where a space formed between the cap and ink jet head does not communicate with the atmosphere. The second suction operation is performed after the first suction operation while the cap and ink jet head are partially contacting each other under a contact force having a second strength different from the first strength where the space is partially communicating with the atmosphere.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder includes a head having ink ejection orifices, a cap for covering the orifices, a suction device for sucking ink from the head covered with the cap, a moving device for moving the cap with respect to the head, and a control device for controlling the moving and suction devices. In order to restore the ink jet head to its initial condition, the suction device is driven to suck the ink collecting between the cap and the head covered with the cap. Thereafter, the control device moves the cap by a slight distance, within the range where the cap is in close contact with the head, a plurality of times in such a direction that the cap retracts from the head. Each time the cap has moved by the distance, the suction device is driven. When the cap separates from the head, air is prevented from being entrained into the ink ejection orifices. Ink is prevented from spilling from the orifices.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium with an ink jet recording head capable of ink jetting is described. The recording head is closed by capping after turning off the power source or during waiting or when no data is provided from a host unit for a predetermined period of time. To ensure reliable capping, the position of the carriage carrying the head is recognized. According to the invention, in a case when jumping of teeth occurs in a carriage motor drive system gear due to external disturbance of carriage running, the error that occurs in the carriage position recognition is held within one step so that there is no adverse effect on the capping executed during non-recording time such as when recording is ended or when absorbing recovering is executed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus means ink is discharged from a recording head onto a recording material for recording. The ink jet recording apparatus has a cap for closing an ink discharge portion of the recording head, and a device for indicating that the ink discharge portion has been closed with the cap.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus or more specifically an ink-jet printer, a plurality of gears are disposed in parallel with the direction of movement of a carriage and a slide gear is connected with the carriage outside of the recording space and is made to engage with one of a plurality of the gears corresponding the moving position of the carriage. The control sequences each for causing a gear being shifted from one gear engagement position to the adjacent position, are so combined that the gear can be shifted past the adjacent gear engagement position to a desired gear engagement position and the overlapped operations in each of the gear shift control sequence combinations can be skipped.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder includes an ink jet head, a cap for covering the head, and a suction pump for sucking through the suction port of the cap the ink remaining between the head and cap. The cap surface can turn on an axis between a position in parallel with the jet surface of the head and a position inclined with respect to the jet surface. The cap is biased to incline at least before the cap surface contacts with the jet surface. The turning axis is positioned between a first reference plane and a second reference plane. The first plane includes the cap surface at the parallel position. The second plane is parallel with the first plane, and includes the point on the cap surface which contacts first with the jet surface. The vertical position of the cap surface does not shift between the start and end of the contact. The cap suction port is positioned below the jet ports in the jet surface.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer has a suction cap for avoiding discharge failure of an ink from a printing head. When the printing head comes to a restoring area, the suction cap is moved from a waiting position at which the suction cap is retracted from a passage for movement of the printing head to a protruding position at which the suction cap protrudes into the passage for movement of the printing head. The suction cap covers a nozzle surface of the printing head. A purge unit is driven to suck the ink remaining in the printing head through the suction cap. The suction cap is supported by a casing so that the suction cap is swingable when it is pressed against the printing head.

Abstract: A translational inkjet printhead servicing station for an inkjet printing mechanism, particularly one having imaging printheads for creating photographic quality images, includes a collapsible spittoon having a mouth that collapses during a portion of the servicing routine to save space. Spit ledges extend into the spittoon mouth to capture ink droplets and ink aerosol by-products, with the captured ink draining from the ledges into a catch basin below. The service station includes a printhead wiper blade having a tip that removes ink residue from the printhead. A dual-direction wiper cleaning system removes liquid components of the ink residue from the wiping tip in two opposing directions. In one direction, the liquid ink residue is pulled away from the wiper tip under capillary forces created by a series of grooves formed on the surface of the wiper blade, while in the opposite direction, the liquid components are absorbed off the tip by a wiper scraper.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink cap for capping an ink discharge port to discharge ink containing coloring material, a processing liquid cap for capping a processing liquid discharge port to discharge processing liquid for processing ink and preventing means for preventing the ink cap from capping the processing liquid discharge port or preventing means for preventing the processing liquid cap from capping the ink discharge port. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to avoid any insolubilization of coloring material contained in ink against solvent, thus maintaining the performance of such ink jet recording apparatus in good condition at all times for the excellent formation of images to be recorded.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head and a cap. The apparatus includes a recording head, the recording head having a discharge port face with a discharge port arranged thereon, and a recovery device, the recovery device including the cap for covering the discharge port face, the cap having an interior and including a body portion and an edge portion opposing the discharge port face and having a leading end, the edge portion including an elastic member for covering a periphery of the discharge port, wherein during a capping operation a plane defined by the leading end of the edge portion is not parallel to the discharge port face and the edge portion is not displaced in a direction different from a capping direction between the cap and the ink jet recording head.

Abstract: A service station for use in servicing one or more inkjet print cartridges includes a service station sled assembly movably attached to a service station chassis. The sled assembly includes at least one wiper and at least one cap. In one embodiment, the service station includes a cam and cam follower that interact to move the sled assembly. The cam is shaped so that movement of the cam to a first position causes each cap to contact a printhead of a corresponding inkjet print cartridge. Movement of the cam to a second position causes the cap to move away from the printhead and moves the wiper into a wiping position. In another embodiment, a service station according to the invention for use with a facsimile machine including inkjet printing apparatus includes a motor that is positioned so as to minimize the footprint of the service station.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer, a carriage carrying print heads engages with a print head cap support member when the carriage reaches a position where the print heads are positioned opposite to a print head cap supported on the print head cap support member during its movement toward a capping position where the print heads are capped with the print head cap, and moves together with the print head cap support member. As the carriage moves further toward the capping position, an operating member is operated by a cam to operate the print head cap so as to move toward the print heads for capping operation. Thus, the movement of the carriage and the capping operation of the print head cap are perfectly and accurately synchronized. A purging unit is driven through a gearing including a pump driving cam gear by a line feed motor.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead service station for an inkjet printing mechanism includes a platform that is translationally moveable perpendicular to a scanning axis along which a carriage transports the printhead. The sliding pallet carries servicing appliances, like wipers and caps for servicing the printhead orifice plates, as well as flaps for cleaning cheek regions of the printhead adjacent the orifice plate. The pallet may be moved to expose a spittoon formed thereunder for spitting ink from the printhead. An upper bonnet portion of the service station frame has a scraper bar for removing ink residue from the wipers and flaps. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a service station, and a method of servicing an inkjet printhead are also provided.

Abstract: A device for capping at least one ejection nozzle of a removable ink jet print head of a postage meter, the device including protection means for protecting the ink contained in the nozzle against drying out, the device protection means being mounted on support means capable of moving between a first position in which the protection means are retracted inside the print head and a second position in which the protection means cover the ejection nozzle(s) completely, said displacement being performed automatically while said head is being extracted from a base of a postage meter in which it is incorporated.The support means are U-shaped, having two parallel arms interconnected at one end by a link element receiving said protection means, and wherein they are capable of pivoting about a common axis secured to a frame of the device.

Abstract: A printer head capping unit for improving the accuracy of capping with an ink cartridge having a guide groove and with a sled having a boss formed in an opposed shape. The head capping unit for an ink-jet printer having a wiper for wiping a surface having a nozzle hole of the printer head formed at the ink cartridge's lower part, a cap for sealing, a cap holder fixing the cap, a sled fixing the wiper and cap holder, and a main frame having the sled performing a sliding movement when a carriage having an ink cartridge reached a home position, comprises at the ink cartridge's lower part a guide groove being formed, and at the sled a boss being formed in a shape opposed to that of the guide groove so as to be closely inserted when the carriage reached the home position, thereby accurately sealing the nozzle surface of the printer head.