Abstract: A combination wiper actuator and spittoon assembly, which includes a service station for a printhead having a body and a spittoon assembly connected to the body. The spittoon assembly includes a spittoon having a receptacle. An elevation device is used to elevate the spittoon assembly with respect to the rest of the service station and a latch is used to maintain the spittoon assembly in an elevated position. Finally, a wiper is supported by the spittoon assembly and is used to wipe the printhead when the spittoon assembly is in an elevated position. A latch release tab is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a spring connecting the spittoon assembly to a wall of the service station.

Abstract: A porous absorbent can be formed using recycling materials, which makes it possible to provide at lower costs an excellent capability of absorbing ink or the like, as well as an excellent handling performance. The porous absorbent contains at least virgin fiber, old paper fiber of waste newspaper, and hemp fiber, and an ink jet recording apparatus is provided with such porous absorbent for absorbing waste ink discharged from the recording head thereof.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink collection unit is disposed on a moving path of a recording head for receiving ink drops ejected from the recording head to which a flushing drive signal is supplied. The ink collecting unit is formed with an aperture through which the ink drops ejected from the recording head pass, and an air flow passage.

Abstract: An improved ink blotter method system usable in a maintenance station of an ink jet printer including wiper blades positioned to clean the printheads and an assembly of absorbent materials to clean the wiper blades.

Abstract: A modular ink absorbent system for channeling waste ink spit from a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism to a permanent storage location while isolating the ink from contaminating other components in the mechanism. An absorbent core has a spit target that receives the waste ink and an exit surface. A pair of support walls of a flexible or rigid, fluid impervious material sandwich the core between them. The exit surface is in fluid communication with the storage location and the support walls channel the ink from the target surface to the permanent storage location. The support walls have mounting structures which mate easily with mounting structures on the printer service station frame to accurately locate the target from the printhead. A method of conducting ink spit through a printing mechanism, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a modular ink absorbent system, are also provided.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a carrier for carrying a recording medium, a head installation unit for installing a recording head to record on the recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports while reciprocating in the width direction intersecting the carrying direction of the recording medium, a support for supporting the recording medium in a position facing the recording head, and opening portions for collecting ink discharged from the recording head at the edges of the recording medium in the width direction. With the structure thus arranged, this ink jet recording apparatus is capable of recording up to the edges of the recording medium in high quality without staining the recording medium.

Abstract: A technique for handling residual ink that is from time to time present on the orifice plate of an ink-jet print cartridge. In one preferred embodiment, an ink-jet print cartridge is equipped with an ink-receptive member, such as an absorbent pad. The pad is located so that a service station wiper will move the residual ink from the orifice plate and spread it across the pad. The pad absorbs the ink. In essence, the ink is sequestered on the cartridge, in the pad. The exterior surface of the pad dries quickly so that there is little likelihood of developing a tacky area over the pad to which fibers may stick and degrade print quality.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises first recovery means for recovering the black ink discharge portion for discharging black ink, second recovery means for recovering the color ink discharge portion for discharging color ink, a waste liquid collection member provided with a waste liquid absorbent for absorbing waste liquid exhausted from the first recovery means and the second recovery means, and a waste liquid correction frame for housing the waste liquid absorbent; a first waste liquid carrying path for carrying waste liquid exhausted from the first recovery means to the waste liquid collection member, nd a second waste liquid carrying path for carrying waste liquid exhausted from the second recovery means to the waste liquid collection member.

Abstract: A modular ink absorbent system for channeling waste ink spit from a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism to a permanent storage location while isolating the ink from contaminating other components in the mechanism. An absorbent core has a spit target that receives the waste ink and an exit surface. A pair of support walls of a flexible or rigid, fluid impervious material sandwich the core between them. The exit surface is in fluid communication with the storage location and the support walls channel the ink from the target surface to the permanent storage location. The support walls have mounting structures which mate easily with mounting structures on the printer service station frame to accurately locate the target from the printhead. A method of conducting ink spit through a printing mechanism, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a modular ink absorbent system, are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for a wiper blade mechanism usable in a maintenance station of an ink jet printer, including at least one printhead cap, a scraper, a cam shaft, a drive gear mechanism, at least one wiper blade, and a spittoon.

Abstract: A cleaning blade cleaner assembly is provided for contacting, scraping, wiping and wicking residual liquid ink from a printhead cleaning blade immediately after the printhead cleaning blade has wiped and cleaned an ink jet printhead within an ink jet printer. The cleaning blade cleaner assembly includes a support frame and a rigid scraping member mounted to the support frame. The rigid scraping member has a body portion, and a scraping edge adjoining the body portion for making scraping and wiping contact with printhead cleaning blade during relative motion between the printhead cleaning blade and the rigid scraping member.

Abstract: A method and system for a vacuum and ink manifold usable in a maintenance station of an ink jet printer, including at least one printhead maintenance cap, a pump generating negative pressure, a waste accumulator, and a manifold. The waste accumulator is designed specifically for the combination of dye and pigment inks to maintain the combined waste ink in a transportable fluid state.

Abstract: A slit extending from a waste ink inlet position (indicated by a cross mark) in one direction is formed in a waste ink absorber of the waste ink tank. Thereby, the leakage of waste ink from a waste ink storage is avoidable by the improvement in the waste ink absorbing performance through a simple and inexpensive constitution.

Abstract: An ink mist controller for a maintenance station including spit louvers and a spit wheel which serve as accumulating surfaces. A flow of air directs ink mist through the louvers and around the spit wheel. Mist that is not attracted to a surface is carried to a manifold which filters, then exhausts, air to the environment, thereby preventing contamination of articles surrounding the printer. Color ink droplets are ejected onto the spit louvers. Low pressure is created between and below the louvers, which increases air and mist velocity over the entire spit zone. An unrestricted air curtain occurs on three sides of the color printhead to further control the location of mist deposit. Black ink is ejected onto the spit wheel which holds the mist deposit during evaporation. At defined intervals, the spit wheel rotates a fraction of a revolution. A scraper removes the non-volatile residue from the wheel during rotation. An air curtain is created on all four sides of the spit wheel to direct mist to this surface.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises: at least one recording head having a face on which a plurality of nozzle orifices are formed, the recording head mounted on a carriage to be moved reciprocatively in the widthwise direction of a recording sheet; a capping device disposed in a non-print region of the recording head, the capping device including at least one cap unit for sealing the nozzle-formed surface of the recording head in cooperation with the movement of carriage; and a plurality of suction pumps for applying negative pressure in the interior space of the cap unit via suction tubes while the cap unit seals the nozzle-formed surface in cooperation with at least one drive source. The number of the suction pumps is at least equal to the number of the cap unit.

Abstract: There are provided a waste ink reservoir and an ink jet printer incorporating the waste ink reservoir. A waste ink absorber has a top surface, for receiving waste ink from the print head at the top surface, and then absorbing the waste ink for storage therein. The waste ink absorber has a plurality of ink absorbent boards arranged in a vertically layered structure and formed with respective through holes vertically extending therethrough, such that adjacent through holes of absorbent boards at each pair of respective adjacent layers are displaced from each other, thereby allowing the adjacent through holes to partially communicate with each other. A waste ink container accommodates the waste ink absorber.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, a head unit composed of a recording head and a ink tank is mounted on a carriage with an ejection port surface facing upward. The recording head records an image on a lower surface of a medium to be recorded by ejecting ink upward from ejecting ports. A preliminary ejection receiver is disposed outside of a region where an image can be recorded on the medium to be recorded to receive ink preliminarily ejected from the recording head in order to maintain and recover an ink ejection performance of the recording head. The preliminary ejection receiver has an opening acting an inlet for the preliminarily ejected ink. Further, a ceiling surface, which inclines with respect to a horizontal direction and on which the ink preliminarily ejected into the preliminary ejection receiver deposits, is disposed above the opening. With this arrangement, ink ejected into the preliminary ejection receiver is prevented from leaking from the opening.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a supply of ink, a print head, a cap, a waste tank and a control system. The print head is operatively connected to the supply of ink and ejects drops of ink to form an image. The cap is arranged to receive waste ink from the print head during maintenance operations. The waste tank is operatively connected to the cap for storing the waste ink. The control system is operatively connected to the print head for keeping an estimate of a volume of waste ink that has been discharged into the waste tank and adjusting the waste ink estimate to compensate for evaporation of the waste ink.

Abstract: A process of, and apparatus for controlling waste ink from an ink jet printer printhead, transfers waste ink to an absorptive diaper, and at least intermittently forces air across the absorptive diaper to promote evaporation of certain volatile ink components from the transferred ink. Waste ink may be received and temporarily retained on a plurality of spaced apart inclined louvers located above the absorptive diaper, and air conveyed across and between the louvers to promote evaporation of certain volatile components from the received ink.

Abstract: A discharge port is formed in a bottom surface of ink tank. The ink tank is made to communicate with a waste ink tank by connecting the discharge port to the waste ink tank in a position lower than the discharge port, and a part of connection member is openable/closable by a valve. If the connection member is opened, ink is discharged from the discharge port of the ink tank to the waste ink tank. If impurities are deposited on the bottom surface of the ink tank, the impurities can be discharged with ink from the discharge port to the waste ink tank, thereby clogging in the nozzle head due to impurities can be reliably prevented.

Abstract: A slit extending from a waste ink inlet position (indicated by a cross mark) in one direction is formed in a waste ink absorber of the waste ink tank. Thereby, the leakage of waste ink from a waste ink storage is avoidable by the improvement in the waste ink absorbing performance through a simple and inexpensive constitution.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer has a frame, a carriage, a waste ink collecting box and waste ink spreading device. The paper feeder is mounted to one side of the frame, while a discharge device is mounted to the other side of the frame. The carriage is provided with at least one ink cartridge and is transversely reciprocated between a printing area and a service area along a guide rod that is horizontally mounted to the frame. The waste ink collecting box is for collecting waste ink discharged from the ink cartridge in the service area. The waste ink spreading device uniformly spreads the waste ink heaped in the waste ink collecting box. The waste ink spreading device may have a waste ink spreader.

Abstract: An airtight elastic cap of an ink-jet recording head and a storage container employing the airtight elastic cap provide high airtightness between a nozzle face and the airtight cap and minimizes ink leak from the recording head even when the head is mounted or dismounted, or when a storage environment changes suddenly. The airtight elastic cap includes a body and an inside wall provided inside thereof. A portion of the wall defines a first space and another portion defines a second space positioned continuously to a center of the first space. The storage container includes a container body that houses the ink-jet recording head and the airtight elastic cap, placed within the container body, that abuts against and protects an ink emission face of the ink-jet recording head while the ink-jet recording is housed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head for recording by discharging ink on a recording medium and a plurality of waste ink storage members connected in series for receiving waste ink from only one recording head and provided within empty space in the apparatus. The waste ink is exhausted by a discharge recovery process in order to maintain a state of ink discharge in said recording head at least in a good condition. Each waste ink storage member includes an aperture on its surface covered with a breathable fabric to allow air into the ink storage member.

Abstract: A vacuum platen and method for use thereof in a printing device are disclosed. An apparatus embodiment includes a first surface having a plurality of first apertures therethrough, a labyrinth configured to include a plurality of passageways each of which is fluidly coupled to at least one of the first apertures, and a second surface having a plurality of second apertures therethrough each of which is fluidly coupled to the vacuum source and at least one of the passageways thereby establishing an airflow from the first apertures, through the passageways, and out the second apertures. The vacuum platen also includes at least one receptacle in each of the passageways, each receptacle configured to collect debris from the airflow as it travels through the labyrinth.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an ink jet printing apparatus which assures that even though malfunctions of leakage of ink and leakage of treatment liquid occur, an operation of the printing apparatus and each printing operation to be performed by the printing apparatus are not adversely affected.

Abstract: An inkjet service station includes a spittoon housing having a chopper containing compartment and a residual ink receiving compartment. The chopper containing compartment and the residual ink receiving compartment are separated by a wall having a passageway disposed therein. A lever having an opening formed in it is mounted within the chopper containing compartment for moving pivotally in a forward direction through the passageway and into the residual ink receiving compartment for accumulating spitted residual ink on a top surface thereof during printhead servicing. Upon completion of printhead servicing, the lever moves pivotally backward through the passageway to facilitate the removal of at least a portion of the accumulated spitted residual ink therefrom so that the portion falls into the residual ink receiving compartment.

Abstract: A spittoon system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to handle waste inkjet ink spit from an inkjet printhead during a nozzle clearing, purging or “spitting” routine. The spittoon system includes a frame defining a spittoon chamber having an entrance mouth, and a chimney passageway extending between the mouth and the chamber. A hard porous plastic liner lines this passageway from the mouth and into the chamber, with the liner material having no troublesome fibers projecting from a spit target platform so the platform can be located closer to the printhead than the earlier fiberous liners. This close spit target to printhead spacing, along with a larger spit target area traps inkjet aerosol and misdirected ink droplets ejected during a spitting routine. A method of purging ink residue from an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a spittoon system, are also provided.

Abstract: In a pre-ejected ink receiving device including a waste ink absorber for receiving ink dropped from a pre-ejection as waste ink, since ink mist flows are not controlled properly, the conventional ink-jet recording apparatus has a big problem of contamination, caused by flown up ink mist from a pre-eject port and flown out ink mist from a gap between the pre-eject port and the waste ink absorber, which is accumulated in the recording apparatus by repeated recording operations.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes a rotary drum for holding a print medium, a print head for printing an image by ejecting ink onto the print medium held on the rotary drum, an ink receiving unit facing the print head at a non-printing time to receive ink ejected from the print head, and an ink collecting section for collecting ink from the ink receiving unit. Particularly, the ink collecting section includes a blade member for wiping out ink which is remaining on the ink receiving unit without being collected after ejection of ink.

Abstract: A waste ink absorbing body for an ink jet printer of the present invention includes a stack of unique blotting papers. Apertures are formed in each blotting paper such that they partly overlap each other when the blotting papers are stacked. Waste ink is allowed to efficiently infiltrate into the blotting papers to all the corners due to capillary caused by the overlapping apertures.

Abstract: Flushing regions for receiving ink droplets to be ejected when flushing signal is supplied to a recording head are provided in both of non-print regions situated at both sides of print region in order to prevent throughput during the flushing operation from deteriorating. A guide member having a slant surface is disposed between the recording head and an ink absorbing member to which the ink landed on the slant surface flows in order to reduce in size of the ink absorbing member. A porous sheet member closely faced to nozzle orifices of the recording head for receiving the ink droplets ejected therefrom is provided in order to prevent undesired mist of fine ink droplets from generating. A plurality of plate members closely faced to the nozzle orifices are provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the flight direction of the ink droplets in order to prevent the undesired mist from generating. The flushing operation is performed so as to prevent solidification of the ejected ink.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and a method of flushing a recording head of the same are provided. A recording medium is fed along a predetermined feeding passage in a predetermined feeding direction. An ink jet recording head is arranged in a manner movable along a with of the recording medium, in directions orthogonal to the predetermined feeding direction, for effecting printing on the recording medium while moving within a range of printing motion which is larger than a width of the recording medium. Further, the ink jet recording head is controlled such that the ink jet recording head ejects ink droplets toward an area aside from the recording medium within the range of printing motion to carry out a flushing operation of ejecting ink droplets regardless of contents to be printed during a printing process.

Abstract: An ink cartridge 2 with a waste ink absorbing function includes a division room 70 formed in the interior portion of a cartridge case 30 for storing a waste ink absorbing member 20, and a plastic film 60 forming at least part of the division room 70. By cutting or peeling off the plastic film 60, the waste ink absorbing member 20 stored within can be replaced, which simplifies the replacement of the waste ink absorbing member 20. After replacement, the plastic film 60 may be mounted onto the cartridge case 30. Use of the plastic film is economical when compared with a structure in which a plastic plate is mounted onto a cartridge case. Also, the ink cartridge 2 can be reduced in size and weight as a whole.

Abstract: The invention provides a printing apparatus of a portable type, for example, having a carriage capable of moving print heads back and forth in a printing area in the main scanning directions while the print heads, aligned in the main scanning directions, eject inks onto a print sheet, and ink collecting devices for collecting waste ink ejected from nozzles of the print heads during a flushing operation where the nozzle openings are cleaned by ejecting the inks. In one embodiment, a first flushing a for the flushing operation is provided outwardly of the right-side end of the printing area. The first flushing area has an area corresponding to the right-side one of the two print heads. A second flushing area is provided outwardly of the left-side end of the printing area, and has an area corresponding to the left-side print head. Provision of the divided flushing areas reduces the area needed for the movements of the carriage.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for cleaning the printhead of a continuous ink jet printing system. A cleaning fluid is introduced and used to flush ink residues and debris from the interior of the drop generator, the exterior of the orifice plate, the charge plate face and the catcher face. This system and method removes dried ink residues and other debris and deposits by providing a cleaning fluid with a low surface tension to dissolve or flush away the unwanted material from the orifices. This is particularly advantageous in that the flushing and rinsing is accomplished without mechanical contact which could abrade or damage the orifices.

Abstract: A maintenance station for an ink jet printer includes a frame and a device, such as for example a cylindrical drum, rotatably coupled to the frame for collecting waste ink. A ratchet drive assembly is coupled to the frame for effecting rotation of the device. The ratchet drive assembly includes a ratchet gear coupled to the device, wherein the ratchet gear has a plurality of teeth. A distal end of a back-check member engages the teeth of the ratchet gear for effecting a rotation of the device in a first direction and prevents a rotation of the device in a direction opposite to the first direction. The rotation of the device is effected as the printhead cap is moved in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A maintenance mechanism for an ink jet head is provided, which is free from a problem in that remaining ink adhered to a side surface lower end of an ink jet head is adhered to a paper surface during subsequent printing to stain a printed material. The maintenance mechanism for an ink jet head is provided with ink collecting means (22) that is disposed in a side surface of a wiping device (2) for an ink jet head (1) and in the sweeping area of the ink jet head. The main part of the ink collecting means (22) is composed of an ink collecting roller case (26), a shaft (24a) having ends which are respectively supported rotatably by left and right side walls (26a, 26b) of the ink collecting roller case (26), and a pair of ink collecting rollers (24, 24) that are axially supported on the shaft (24a) in the vicinity of the left and right ends thereof. The pair of the ink collecting rollers (24, 24) are arranged such that the insides thereof are partially pressed against the end portions of the ink jet head (1).

Abstract: A small footprint device, such as an inkjet printer, having a set of printhead cartridges for applying ink droplets to a medium sheet, the printer including a housing having a pair of side plates. A platen, mounted in the housing between the side plates, helps to define a centrally disposed print zone. Sets of centrally disposed wiper openings, and cap openings, within the platen, help to facilitate, respectively, printhead cartridge wiping services before the medium sheet has passed through the print zone and printhead capping services after the medium sheet has passed through the print zone. A set of rib members extend upwardly from the platen top surface for substantially avoiding residual ink contamination on the underside of the medium sheet as it passes through the print zone.

Abstract: A waste ink pad system includes a separate first and second pad of absorbent material, each pad having a hole which is blocked by the opposing pad. The rate of evaporation of volatile components from waste ink is reduced by introducing the waste ink into the waste ink pad system at an interface between the first and second pads through a sleeve inserted into one of the blocked holes.

Abstract: An ink jet printer maintenance or cleaning system (10) for continuous ink jet printing systems having an ink collecting gutter (12) on the print head (12, 46). The maintenance or cleaning system (10) generally comprises a hydrodynamic cleaning fluid nozzle (24) disposed within the print head (12, 46), a wiper (26, 52) for engaging the print head (12, 46), and a spittoon (28, 66) for collecting discharged cleaning fluid. Relative translational movement between the wiper (26, 52) and the print head (12, 46), along with a discharge of cleaning fluid from the hydrodynamic cleaning fluid nozzle (24), cleans the ink nozzle (18) of the print head (12, 46). In a preferred embodiment, the wiper (26, 52) is disposed on the spittoon (28), which is positioned along one end of the guide shafts (16a, 16b) such that movement of the print head (12) over the spittoon (28) causes the wiper (26) to engage the print head (12) and clean the ink nozzle (18).

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes first recovering device for recovering an ejecting port of a first ink jet head, second recovering device for recovering an ejecting port of a second ink jet head, a waste liquid absorbing substance for absorbing waste liquid discharged from the first recovering device and the second recovering device, first waste liquid transferring device for transferring the waste liquid discharged from the first recovering device into the waste liquid absorbing substance, and second waste liquid transferring device for transferring the waste liquid discharged from the second recovering device into the waste liquid absorbing substance, wherein a discharge end of the first waste liquid displacing device is located in vicinity of one end of the waste liquid absorbing substance, and a discharge end of the second waste liquid displacing device is located in vicinity of other end of the waste liquid absorbing substance.

Abstract: A storage and spittoon system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to handle waste inkjet ink that has been spit from an inkjet printhead during a nozzle clearing, purging or “spitting” routine. A rotating spit wheel has a rim with a concave cross sectional shape which receives ink residue spit from the printhead. A compliant scraper is spring biased to contact the spit wheel rim at a substantially tangential orientation to scrape the ink residue from the rim as the wheel is rotated past the scraper. The scraper directs the ink residue into a storage container as a string-like strip which is then packed to into a storage container as the spit wheel rotates. A method of purging ink residue from an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a waste ink storage and spittoon system, are also provided.

Abstract: A borderless inkjet printer includes a hollow open end platen having a block of ink absorbent material disposed there within and exposed to a plurality of inkjet cartridges. A front set and a rear set of upstanding cockle ribs extend upwardly from the platen a sufficient distance to substantially prevent either a leading edge and a trailing edge of a sheet of print medium travel across a print zone within the printer from making contact with the absorbent material. A print engine having at least one print head travels in a rectilinear path above the print zone to eject ink droplets onto edge portions of the print medium to provide a borderless print image thereon.

Abstract: A tapered screw spittoon system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to handle waste inkjet ink residue that has been spit from an inkjet printhead during a nozzle clearing or “spitting” routine. The spittoon system has a cylindrical reservoir with a tapered screw rotatably mounted therein. The reservoir defines an entranceway opening to receive the ink residue, which then lands on a spit region of the screw. The screw has a tapered shaft which increases in diameter from the entranceway opening toward an exit opening defined by the reservoir wall at a remote location. When rotated, the tapered screw transports the ink residue from the spit region toward the exit opening. During transport, the ink residue is compacted between the screw shaft and the reservoir, and is squeezed out of the reservoir through the exit opening for permanent storage in a container surrounding the reservoir.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus, a plurality of kinds of heads are separately mounted and a waste ink container is provided. The ink level of the waste ink container is monitored, and the kind of ink jet head mounted is detected. The amount of waste ink exhausted from a mounted ink jet recording head is corrected in response to the kind of ink jet head mounted. Each kind of ink jet printhead mounted has distinct waste ink exhaust properties caused by factors such as different size of ink drops, or different number of printhead exhaust ports which affect preliminary discharge amounts of waste ink and factors such as different suction loads on the ink tanks, different flow resistances of the ink flow passages and different viscosities of the inks used in the printheads which affect suction recovery amounts of waste ink. The recovery function is corrected such that the waste ink amount exhausted from the mounted head is carried out in accordance with the mounted ink jet head.

Abstract: This patent describes a print roll for use in an instant camera device, the print roll having a ink return tray for collecting excess waste ink from the printing process. The return tray can comprises a sponge-like strip affixed to a leaf portion of the print roll.

Abstract: A waste-ink collecting apparatus comprises a collection box retaining an absorptive member for absorbing waste inks, a holding case for retaining the collection box in a detachable manner, a nozzle unit rotatably attached to the holding case and a housing for rotatably accommodating the holding case. The nozzle unit has a waste-ink nozzle for disposing waste ink and an air-discharge nozzle for discharging ink mist. When the collection box is installed in the holding case, a pressure surface placed in the holding case is pressed by the collection box via an opening in the holding case and the nozzle unit is rocked against the urging force of an a spring, setting the individual nozzles to a waste position where waste ink and ink mist can be disposed. When the collection box is pulled out of the holding case, the nozzle unit is rocked by the urging force of the a spring, setting the individual nozzles to a standby position where waste ink and ink mist cannot be disposed.

Abstract: A tapered screw spittoon system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to handle waste inkjet ink residue that has been spit from an inkjet printhead during a nozzle clearing or “spitting” routine. The spittoon system has a cylindrical reservoir with a tapered screw rotatably mounted therein. The reservoir defines an entranceway opening to receive the ink residue, which then lands on a spit region of the screw. The screw has a tapered shaft which increases in diameter from the entranceway opening toward an exit opening defined by the reservoir wall at a remote location. When rotated, the tapered screw transports the ink residue from the spit region toward the exit opening. During transport, the ink residue is compacted between the screw shaft and the reservoir, and is squeezed out of the reservoir through the exit opening for permanent storage in a container surrounding the reservoir.

Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided for ejecting ink droplet to paper fed into a recording section. The ink jet printer includes a print head. An ink intercept plate is disposed is disposal on a paper feed path. The intercept plate includes a print surface which has a slope which declines along the advancing paper feed direction. The print surface is disposed opposite the print head. A groove extends away from the print surface of the ink intercept plate for transporting unused ink away from the print surface.