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Servicing system for an inkjet printhead |
| RE40294 |
Servicing system for an inkjet printhead
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| Patent Drawings: | |
| Inventor: |
Rhoads, et al. |
| Date Issued: |
May 6, 2008 |
| Application: |
09/859,692 |
| Filed: |
May 17, 2001 |
| Inventors: |
Rhoads; William Wistar (Ramona, CA)
Johnson; Eric Joseph (Sacramento, CA)
Drogo; Frank (Bonsall, CA)
Ferraro; John (San Diego, CA)
Martinson; Paul Eliot (San Diego, CA)
Castle; Steven Todd (Philomath, OR)
Mattis; Eric Stephen (San Diego, CA)
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| Assignee: |
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (Houston, TX) |
| Primary Examiner: |
Nguyen; Thinh |
| Assistant Examiner: |
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| Attorney Or Agent: |
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| U.S. Class: |
347/33; 347/29; 347/31 |
| Field Of Search: |
347/22; 347/28; 347/23; 347/29; 347/31; 347/32; 347/33; 15/256.05; 134/169R; 400/701 |
| International Class: |
B41J 2/165 |
| U.S Patent Documents: |
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| Foreign Patent Documents: |
0 465 260; 0 513 833; 0 671 272; 0 714 775; 2055328; 59-14693; 59-14962; 59-45162; 59-45163; 59-209876; 2-202452; 3-90362; 3-99857; 403227647; 4-37556; 404039055; 4-307256; 4-338552; 5-162320; 406000964; 6-234221; WO 89/03769 |
| Other References: |
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| 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. |
| Claim: |
We claim:
1. A .[.wet wiping.]. system for .Iadd.servicing .Iaddend.a printhead having an orifice plate, comprising: a moveable container having a reservoir .[.of.]. .Iadd.for.Iaddend.treatment fluid disposed therein; a .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block of porous material disposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container for absorbing .Iadd.treatment fluid .Iaddend.by capillary action .[.said reservoir of treatment fluid.]. ;.[.another.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.block of porous material partially disposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to facilitate transfer of treatment fluid to the orifice plate whensaid .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container and printhead move relative to one another; said .[.another.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.block of porous material having substantially greater capillary action than said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block of porous materialso that a distal end portion of .[.the another.]. .Iadd.said second .Iaddend.block .[.is.]. .Iadd.may be .Iaddend.continuously supplied with treatment fluid from said reservoir for facilitating the transfer of treatment fluid to the orifice plate; anda wiper mounted adjacent said moveable container for engaging the orifice plate when said moveable container and printhead move relative to one another; said moveable container and printhead moving a sufficient distance relative to one another in atleast one .[.relative axes.]. .Iadd.direction .Iaddend.so that a sufficient amount of the treatment fluid from said distal end portion .[.of a transfer element is.]. .Iadd.may be .Iaddend.transferred to the orifice plate for transporting driedprinthead residue therefrom as said wiper engagingly travels across the orifice plate; and wherein said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block of porous material .[.is a block of open cell foam that.]. substantially fills said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container.
2. .[.A wet wiping.]. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.system .[.according to.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.claim 1, wherein said .[.another.]. .Iadd.distal end portion of said second .Iaddend.block of porous .[.materials.]. .Iadd.material .Iaddend.includes anapplicator, said applicator having a first portion in fluid communication with said reservoir to draw fluid from said reservoir, and said applicator having a tip configured and positioned for directly contacting at least one of said elements to apply areproducible quantity of servicing fluid onto said at least one element, servicing fluid being transferred to the tip of the applicator by capillary action and said applicator being located adjacent to .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.cap.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.distal end portion .Iaddend.contacts said printhead when said printhead is capped.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein said printer further comprises a reciprocally moveable carriage for carrying the printhead, said carriage being moveable between a first limit and a second limit of travel along a guide rod.Iadd., .Iaddend. wherein said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.moveable container .Iaddend.is mounted for movement on said guide rod to apply treatment fluid to said wiper as said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.moveable container .Iaddend.is moved along said rod by contact with saidcarriage.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.distal end portion .Iaddend.is located within said cap.
.[.6. The system of claim 4, wherein said reservoir of treatment fluid is mounted on said guide rod..].
7. The system of claim .[.6.]. .Iadd.4.Iaddend., further comprising: a biasing .[.spring.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for biasing said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.moveable container .Iaddend.to a certain position adjacent a certain side of saidwiper.
8. The system of claim 2, wherein said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.wiper .Iaddend.further comprises a first wiper having an applicator portion.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first wiper is flexed by contact with said printhead to move said applicator portion into engagement with said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.distal end portion of said second block of porous material.Iaddend..
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second wiper adjacent said .[.applicator.]. .Iadd.distal end portion .Iaddend.on a side opposite said first wiper, whereby said .[.printhead is.]. .Iadd.orifice plate may be .Iaddend.wiped bysaid second wiper prior to application of servicing fluid to said .[.printhead.]. .Iadd.orifice plate .Iaddend.by said applicator portion of said first wiper.
11. .[.A wet wiping.]. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.system .[.according to.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.claim 1, wherein said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block .[.of open cell foam.]. is elastometric .Iadd.open cell foam.Iaddend..
12. .[.A wet wiping.]. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.system .[.according to.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.claim 1, wherein said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container includes a .[.small.]. vent .[.hole.]. for allowing air to enter said .Iadd.moveable.Iaddend.container as fluid is withdrawn therefrom by capillary action.
13. .[.A wet wiping.]. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.system .[.according to.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.10.Iaddend., wherein said .[.another.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.block of porous material is disposed in a space between said wiper andsaid transfer .[.element.]. .Iadd.portion.Iaddend..
14. .[.A wet wiping.]. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.system .[.according to.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.claim 13, wherein said transfer .[.element.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.squeezes said .[.another.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.block of porous material when movedlaterally by said printhead with a sufficient amount of force to cause said sufficient amount of treatment fluid to expel upwardly from said distal end portion onto said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.wiper for subsequent engagement with said orifice plate as saidprinthead moves along a given path of travel into wiping engagement with said wiper.
15. .[.A wet wiping.]. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.system .[.according to.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.claim 14, wherein said transfer .[.element.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.is .[.an.]. elastomeric .[.transfer element.]. .
16. A system for servicing a portion of a printhead of an inkjet .[.printer.]. .Iadd.printing mechanism .Iaddend.having a printhead reciprocally moved by a carriage, a cap for capping said printhead and a wiper .[.positioned to move withrespect to the.]. .Iadd.for wiping said .Iaddend.printhead .[.in wiping contact therewith to remove unwanted accumulations when the printhead and the wiper are moved with respect to each other by movement of at least one of two elements consisting ofthe printhead and the wiper.]. .Iadd.during relative movement of said printhead and said wiper.Iaddend., said system comprising: a source of printhead servicing fluid including a fluid reservoir; and an applicator .[.at least partially formed of awicking material having a first portion.]. in fluid communication with said reservoir to draw fluid from said reservoir, and said applicator having a tip configured and positioned for directly contacting .[.at least one of said elements.]. .Iadd.saidwiper .Iaddend.to apply a reproducible quantity of servicing fluid onto said .[.at least one element.]. .Iadd.wiper.Iaddend., servicing fluid being transferred to the tip of the applicator by capillary action .[.and said applicator being locatedadjacent to said cap.]. ; wherein said printer further comprises: a reciprocally movable carriage which moves between a first limit and a second limit of travel along a guide rod, and a printhead carried by said carriage wherein said applicator iscarried by said guide rod as to move with a printer carriage to wipingly contact said wiper element; wherein said source of servicing fluid is stationary and is mounted adjacent a path of travel of said printhead carriage; .[.and.]. a pump for pumpingservicing fluid from said source to said applicator; and wherein the pump is actuated by movement of said carriage, said applicator being dosed by moving the carriage to a position to actuate said pump and in a coordinated manner moving the applicatorto a position where said applicator receives said treatment fluid pumped from said stationary source of servicing fluid.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said pump is located at a limit of reciprocal movement of the carriage and further comprising a spigot in fluid communication with said pump, said spigot located so as to dispense servicing fluid to saidapplicator when said actuator is positioned at said limit of reciprocal movement.
18. A system for servicing a printhead of an inkjet printer, comprising: a composite wiper element having first and second impervious elastometric layers, and a layer of porous elastomeric foam sandwiched therebetween; a quantity of treatmentfluid disposed in said layer of porous elastomeric foam and in fluid communication with a normally open opening adjacent a top portion of said composite wiper element and allowing servicing fluid to flow out to assist in wiping said printhead by wipinglycontacting the composite wiper and said printhead.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein said composite wiper is deformed resiliently by contact with said printhead to expel fluid from said opening.
20. A system for servicing a printhead element of an inkjet printer wherein two elements, consisting of said printhead and a wiper element moveable with respect to the printhead in wiping contact therewith, are moved with respect to one anotherto remove unwanted accumulations from a portion of the printhead comprising: a composite wiper element having first and second impervious elastomeric layers, and a layer of fluid impregnated porous elastomeric foam sandwiched therebetween, said foamlayer containing a quantity of servicing fluid therein and being in fluid communication with a normally open opening adjacent a top portion of said composite wiper element and allowing servicing fluid to flow out to assist in wiping said printhead bywipingly contacting the composite wiper and said printhead; wherein said composite layer is resiliently deformed by contact with said printhead to expel fluid from said opening; and a separate source of servicing fluid in fluid communication with saidporous layer to replenish the servicing fluid contained in the porous layer.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein fluid is transferred to said composite wiper from said separate source by a pumping action of said composite wiper upon rebound from deformation due to wiping the printhead.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein said first and second elastomeric impervious layers are of unequal height, at least one of said layers having a tapered top which is engaged by said printhead to bend said one layer to close said opening.
23. The system of claim 21, further comprising an opening adjacent a top edge of said wiper on a side first contacted by said printhead in wiping.
24. A .[.wet wiping.]. system for .Iadd.servicing .Iaddend.a printhead .[.having an orifice plate.]. , comprising: a moveable container having a reservoir of treatment fluid disposed therein; a .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block of porous materialdisposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container for absorbing by capillary action said reservoir of treatment fluid; .[.another.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.block of porous material partially disposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.containerand extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to facilitate transfer of treatment fluid to the .[.orifice plate.]. .Iadd.printhead .Iaddend.when said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container and printhead move relative to one another; said.[.another.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.block of porous material having substantially greater capillary action than said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block of porous material so that a distal end portion of .[.the another.]. .Iadd.said second .Iaddend.block iscontinuously supplied with treatment fluid from said reservoir for facilitating the transfer of treatment fluid to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead.Iaddend.; and a wiper mounted adjacent said moveable container for engaging .[.the orificeplate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.when said moveable container and printhead move relative to one another; said moveable container and printhead moving a sufficient distance relative to one another in at least one .[.relative axes.]. .Iadd.direction .Iaddend.so that a sufficient amount of the treatment fluid from said distal end portion .[.of a transfer element.]. is transferred to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.for transporting dried printhead residuetherefrom as said wiper engagingly travels across the orifice plate for printhead cleaning purposes.
25. A .[.wet wiping.]. system for .Iadd.servicing .Iaddend.a printhead .[.having an orifice plate.]. , comprising: a moveable container having a reservoir of treatment fluid disposed therein; a .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block of porous materialdisposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container for absorbing by capillary action said reservoir of treatment fluid; .[.another.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.block of porous material partially disposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.containerand extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to facilitate transfer of treatment fluid to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.when said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container and printhead move relative to one another; said.[.another.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.block of porous material having substantially greater capillary action than said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.block of porous material so that a distal end portion of .[.the another.]. .Iadd.said second .Iaddend.block iscontinuously supplied with treatment fluid from said reservoir for facilitating the transfer of treatment fluid to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead.Iaddend.; and a wiper mounted adjacent said moveable container for engaging .[.the orificeplate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.when said moveable container and printhead move relative to one another; said moveable container and printhead moving a sufficient distance relative to one another in at least one .[.relative axes.]. .Iadd.direction .Iaddend.so that a sufficient amount of the treatment fluid from said distal end portion .[.of a transfer element.]. is transferred to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.for transporting dried printhead residuetherefrom as said wiper engagingly travels across .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead.Iaddend.; and wherein said .[.another.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.block engages .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.when said .Iadd.moveable.Iaddend.container and printhead are moved .[.relative.]. toward one another in a vertical direction .[.only.]. .
26. A wet wiping system for a printhead .[.having an orifice plate.]. , comprising: a moveable container having a reservoir of treatment fluid disposed therein; a block of porous material disposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.containerfor absorbing by capillary action said reservoir of treatment fluid; another block of porous material partially disposed within said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to facilitate transfer oftreatment fluid to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.when said .Iadd.moveable .Iaddend.container and printhead move relative to one another; said another block of porous material having substantially greater capillary action thansaid block of porous material so that a distal end portion of the another block is continuously supplied with treatment fluid from said reservoir for facilitating the transfer of treatment fluid to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead.Iaddend.; and a wiper mounted adjacent said moveable container for engaging .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead .Iaddend.when said moveable container and printhead move relative to one another; said moveable container and printhead moving a sufficientdistance relative to one another in at least one .[.relative axes.]. .Iadd.direction .Iaddend.so that a sufficient amount of the treatment fluid from said distal end portion of a transfer element is transferred to .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.saidprinthead .Iaddend.for transporting dried printhead residue therefrom as said wiper engagingly travels across .[.the orifice plate.]. .Iadd.said printhead.Iaddend.; and further comprising a transfer element mounted at about said moveable container andspaced from said wiper for further facilitating the transfer of said sufficient amount of treatment fluid to .[.the orifice plate of the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.printhead.
.Iadd.27. A system for servicing a printhead of an inkjet printer mechanism, comprising: a service station including a cap which covers the printhead when positioned at said service station and a wiper which wipes said printhead during relativemovement of said printhead and said wiper; a source of printhead servicing fluid; and an applicator pump having a fluid outlet in said cap for applying a predetermined quantity of said fluid to said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The system of claim 27, wherein said pump is actuated by movement of said service station relative to said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The system of claim 28, wherein said pump includes a piston moved by contact of said cap with said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The system of claim 29, wherein said outlet is a duckbill valve..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The system of claim 27, wherein said pump is a low volume spray pump..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. An inkjet printing mechanism having a moveable inkjet printhead in combination with the servicing system of claim 1, said servicing system being positioned on said mechanism for servicing said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The system of claim 7, wherein said biasing member is a coil spring..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. An inkjet printing mechanism having a moveable inkjet printhead in combination with the servicing system of claim 16, said servicing system being positioned on said mechanism for servicing said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. An inkjet printing mechanism having a moveable inkjet printhead in combination with the servicing system of claim 18, said servicing system being positioned on said mechanism for servicing said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. An inkjet printing mechanism having a moveable inkjet printhead in combination with the servicing system of claim 20, said servicing system being positioned on said mechanism for servicing said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. An inkjet printing mechanism having a moveable inkjet printhead in combination with the servicing system of claim 24, said servicing system being positioned on said mechanism for servicing said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. An inkjet printing mechanism having a moveable inkjet printhead in combination with the servicing system of claim 25, said servicing system being positioned on said mechanism for servicing said printhead..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. An inkjet printing mechanism having a moveable inkjet printhead in combination with the wet wiping system of claim 26, said wet wiping system being positioned on said mechanism for servicing said printhead..Iaddend. |
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