200932553 ^ 九、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係有關於印表機領域且特別是頁寬噴墨印表機 【先前技術】 本案申請人已發展出廣範圍的印表機，其使用頁寬列 Φ 印頭，而非傳統的往復列印頭設計。頁寬設計增加列印速 率，因爲列印頭不須橫越頁面往復運動以沉積一列影像。 頁寬列印頭單純地沉積墨水在媒介上，因爲其高速地運動 通過媒介。此等列印頭已能夠以每分鐘約60頁的速率執行 全彩（full c〇l〇r)1 600 dpi的列印，此速度在以前用傳統噴 墨印表機是無法達到的。 高列印速度需要一大的供墨流率。不只是流率要高而 已，將墨水沿著一頁寬列印頭的整個長度配送比給墨至一 〇 相對小的往復式列印頭要複雜許多。 爲了要延長列印頭的壽命，絕大部分的噴墨印表機都 加入某些種類的維護設施。在列印頭沒有使用的時候蓋住 列印頭是其中一種簡單的方式。將列印頭加蓋可讓噴嘴上 的墨水不會乾掉。然而，這無法將已經附著在該噴嘴面上 的紙張灰塵或其它污染物清除掉。最有效的方式爲，用一 適當的表面擦拭該噴嘴面來清除這些微粒。用一擦拭表面 來清除灰塵與污染物可將噴嘴面清潔，但該擦拭表面本身 最終亦需要加以清潔。 -5- 200932553 【發明內容】 因此，本發明提供一種用於噴墨印表機之列印頭維護 設施’該噴墨印表機具有一頁寬列印頭及一用來將媒介基 材片饋送於一媒介饋送方向上的媒介路徑，其中該頁寬列 印頭具有一噴嘴面其界定一細長形的噴嘴陣列延伸在該媒 介基材的列印寬度上，該列印頭維護設施包含： 0 一擦拭器構件，其延伸在該噴嘴陣列的長度上； —吸收墊’其延伸在該擦拭器構件的長度上；及 一維護驅動器，用來移動該擦拭器構件使得該擦拭器 構件擦拭該噴嘴陣列及接著擦拭該吸收墊。 在該擦拭器構件擦拭該噴嘴陣列之後將該擦拭器構件 移動橫過該吸收墊可清潔該擦拭器構件且防止污染物的累 積。藉由將該吸收墊做成和該擦拭器構件本身一樣長，該 吸收墊可更快速且有效率地清潔該擦拭器構件。該吸收墊 Q 的體積比一較短的吸收墊大，該較短的吸收墊必需被拖拉 於該擦拭器構件的長度上用以實施清潔作業。因爲有大的 體積，所以該吸收墊可吸收更多的墨水且可將灰塵散佈在 一更廣的表面積上。因此，該吸收墊更換的頻率可較低。 較佳地，該吸收墊具有一清潔表面其接觸該擦拭器構 件，該接觸表面被一編織的物質所覆蓋，該編織的物質具 有小於2丹尼（denier)的線。在特佳的實施例中，該編織的 物質是微纖維。在一些實施例中，該吸收墊具有一發泡材 核心。 -6- 200932553 較佳地’該維護驅動器被建構來將該擦拭器構件繞著 一延伸橫貫該媒介饋送方向的軸線轉動，使得該擦拭器構 件移動於一圓弧上。在一更佳的形式中，該噴嘴面與該吸 收墊被設置在該圓弧上。在一特佳的形式中，該吸收墊上 的一接觸表面是彎曲的用以與該圓弧相對應。較佳地，該 圓弧在該噴嘴面處平行於該媒介饋送方向。 較佳地，該擦拭器構件具有一彈性刮片其遠端邊緣被 ❹ 建構成在與該噴嘴面接觸時會撓曲。在一更佳的形式中， 該列印頭維護設施進一步包含一設置在該圓弧上的刮刀， 其延伸橫貫該媒介饋送方向，其中在使用該維護驅動器來 將該擦拭器構件移動於該噴嘴面上，然後通過該刮刀使得 該彈性刮片撓曲用以通過該刮刀的期間及在該彈性刮片與 該刮刀脫離的時候，該彈性刮片會彈回至其靜止的形狀藉 以將污染物拋離它的表面。在一特佳的形式中，該擦拭器 構件的彈性刮片在接觸該吸收墊之前先與該刮刀接觸。 Q 在一些實施例中，該擦拭器構件具有多個刮片其被安 裝成可彼此獨立地運動。在此態樣中，該刮片被分隔成個 別的刮片區段。每一區段都能夠相對於其鄰近的區段移動 ，所以在接觸力量上的任何不一致都將不會造成在其它刮 片區段內的彎曲或捲曲。以此方式，接觸壓力在該噴嘴面 被保持且該噴嘴面可被有效地清潔。 較佳地，該等刮片被設置成平行列，每一列都延伸在 該媒介基材的寬度上。在一更佳的形式中’在該等平行列 的一列中的刮片被設置成它們沒有與位在該等平行列的一 200932553 相鄰列中的刮片對齊。在一特佳的形式中，在每一平行列 中的刮片與相鄰的刮片被間隔開一間隙，其可容許相鄰刮 片的獨立運動。 較佳地’該維護驅動器可將該擦拭器構件朝向及遠離 該噴嘴面升高及降低。在一些較佳的實施例中，該維護設 施進一步包含一管狀底座，該擦拭器構件被安裝到該管狀 底座的外部上。在一些實施例中，該維護設施進一步包含 0 一吸墨器其安裝在該管狀底座的外部上。在一更佳的形式 中’該維護設施進一步包含一加蓋器及列印壓盤其被安裝 在該管狀底座的外部上。較佳地，該管狀底座具有多孔性 材料於中央穴室中及孔，用以建立流體聯通於該擦拭器構 件與該多孔性材料之間。在特佳的形式中，該擦拭器構件 爲一模製的彈性元件。 較佳地，該內底座爲一管狀底座。在一更佳的形式中 ，該管狀底座爲一金屬擠製件。較佳地，該外底座爲分開 〇 的金屬模件的組件，這些金屬模件透過一體地形成在每一 金屬模件上之互補的形態（formations)而彼此相互嚙合。 非必要地，該等互補的形態提供一插接式（bayonet type) 耦接，使得該等分開的金屬模件相對彼此的縱向移動會與 該耦接件嚙合或脫離。該內及外底座是用鋁製成的。非必 要地，該內底座爲一擠製的鋼管。在一特佳的形式中，該 擦拭器構件是該等維護站中的一個維護站。 在一特佳的形式中，該等維護站中的一者爲一集墨器 (spittoon)其具有一用來承接被射出的墨水之吸收件。較 200932553 佳地’一多孔性材料被包容在一介於該內與外底座之間的 中央穴室內。較佳地’該多孔性材料爲一多孔性硬質聚合 物。 較佳地’該頁寬列印頭具有多個列印頭1C，每一列 印頭1C都被對準橫貫該媒介饋送方向。藉由將列印頭IC 安裝在一條橫越該列印頭的單一直線上，該細長形的噴嘴 陣列就不會在平行於該媒介饋送方向上延伸的很遠。有鑑 於此’該擦拭器構件橫越該列印頭的移動長度可被縮短。 這可讓擦拭作業更快速且有關噴嘴上的接觸壓力可更容易 被控制。 較佳地’該等維護站中的一個維護站爲一列印頭加蓋 器。在此形式中’用來升高及降低該管狀底座的驅動機構 係獨立於轉動該管狀底作的驅動機構之外。 【實施方式】 © 印表機流體工學系統 圖1是圖2 A和2 B中所述之列印引擎所用之流體工學 的示意圖。如前所述，列印引擎具有噴墨印表機的主要機 械構造。建構週邊構造（例如外殼、饋紙盤、紙收集盤、 、、等），使其適合印表機（例如相片印表機、網路印表機 、或蘇活印表機）的特定列印要求。申請人揭露在共同繫 屬中的申請案USSN 1 1 /68 8 863 (我們的案號RRE 001US) 之相片印表機，是使用圖1之流體工學系統之噴墨印表機 的例子。該共同共同繫屬中的申請案的內容於此倂入作爲 -9- 200932553 參考。USSN 1 1/87271 9號案（我們的案號SBF 009US)中詳 細描述該系統的作業和其個別組件，其內容於此倂入作爲 參考號。 簡言之，印表機流體工學系統具有列印頭組合體2, 墨水罐4經由上游墨水管線8供給墨水至列印頭組合體2。 廢棄墨水經由下游墨水管線排至廢墨水罐1 8。爲了簡化， 所以只顯示單一墨水管線。實際上，列印頭具有多條墨水 0 管線供全彩列印。上游墨水管線8具有關閉閥10，用於選 將列印頭組合體2擇性地與泵12和/或墨水罐4隔離。泵12 用於主動塡注或溢滿（flood)列印頭組合體2。泵12也用於 建立墨水罐4內的負壓。在列印期間，藉由氣泡點規制器6 維持負壓。 列印頭組合體2是液晶聚合物模組20，其支撐一系列 的列印頭積體電路30 ;以黏性晶粒附接薄膜（未示出）固定 該等列印頭積體電路30。列印頭積體電路30具有陣列的墨 Q 水噴射噴嘴，用於噴射墨水液滴至正在通過的媒介基板22 。噴嘴是以真實1600 dpi(亦即1600 npi的噴嘴節距）或更 大解析度列印的微電子機械構造。USSN 1 1/246687(我們 的案號MNN 001US)中詳細地描述合適列印頭積體電路30 的製造和構造，其內容倂入於此作參考。液晶聚合物模組 20具有在入口 36和出口 38之間延伸的主通道24。主通道24 饋給一系列延伸至液晶聚合物模組20下側的細通道28。細 通道28經由晶粒附接薄膜內之雷射切除孔而將墨水供給至 列印頭積體電路30。 -10 - 200932553 在主通道24上方的是一系列未塡注的空氣凹穴26。設 計這些凹穴以在塡注列印頭期間侷限一袋的空氣。該等空 氣袋給予系統一些順應性，以吸收和阻尼墨水中的壓力高 點和液壓衝擊。印表機是具有大數目噴嘴快速地發射的高 速頁寬印表機。此印表機快速率地消耗墨水，且突然結束 列印工作或甚至只是一頁的結束，意涵朝向（和經過）列印 頭組合體2運動的一行墨水必須幾乎瞬間停止。如果沒有 〇 空氣凹穴26提供的順應性，則墨水的動量會溢滿列印頭積 體電路3 0的噴嘴。再者，後續的「反射波」會產生足以去 除噴嘴塡注的強負壓。 列印引擎 圖2A顯示使用列印匣2類型之列印引擎3。列印引擎3 是噴墨印表機的內部構造，所以其不包括任何外部殼體、 墨水罐、或媒介饋給和收集盤。使用者將閂126上升或下 Q 降，以插入或移除列印頭匣2。列印引擎3和列印頭匣2上 的接點形成電性連接，且分別藉由承座120、入口歧管48 、和出口歧管50形成流體耦合。 藉由主驅動輥186和排出饋給輥178，將媒介片體饋給 經過列印引擎。主驅動輥186被主驅動皮帶輪和編碼器碟 1 8 8所驅動。排出饋給輥1 7 8被排出驅動皮帶輪1 8 0所驅動 。藉由媒介饋給皮帶182，使排出驅動皮帶輪180和主驅動 皮帶輪188同步。媒介饋給馬達190經由輸入驅動皮帶192 供給動力給主驅動皮帶輪188。 -11 - 200932553 主驅動皮帶輪188具有編碼器碟，驅動皮帶輪感測器 184讀取編碼器碟。驅動軸桿186、178之迴轉數和速率的 相關資料，被送至列印引擎控制器（PEC)。列印引擎控制 器（未示出）被安裝至主印刷電路板（PCB)194，且是用於控 制印表機作業的主要微處理器。 圖2B顯示已移除列印頭匣後的列印引擎3，以顯露每 一承座120中的孔122。每一孔122容置入口歧管和出口歧 管上的其中之一嘴52(見圖5)。如上所述，墨水罐具有任 意位置和構造，但是簡單地連接至入口耦合器中承座120 後面處的中空嵌入口 124(見圖8)。在出口耦合器後面處的 嵌入口 124，連通至廢墨水罐18(見圖1)中的廢棄墨水出口 補強支承表面128被固定至列印引擎3的受壓金屬殼體 1 96。這些提供用於將列印頭匣設置在列印引擎內的參考 點。他們也被設置用於在安裝時對作用在匣2上的壓縮負 〇 載，提供正相反的支承表面。當歧管嘴（下述）打開列印引 擎中的關閉閥（下述）時，流體耦合器120推抵著匣之入口 歧管和出口歧管。匣2上之閂126的壓力，也正相反於支承 表面128。設置支承表面128使其直接相反於匣2中的壓縮 負載，可降低匣內的彎曲和變形最後’此幫助噴嘴相對 於媒介饋給路徑的經確定位°其亦保護匣內強度較弱的機 構免於損壞。 列印頭匣 -12- 200932553 圖3是完整的列印頭匣2的透視圖。列印頭匣2具有頂 模組44和可移除的保護罩42。頂模組44具有中央腹板供構 造性勁度，且用於提供具紋理的夾持表面5 8，以在插入和 移除期間操縱匣。在安裝於印表機內之前，保護罩42的底 部保護列印頭積體電路（未示出）和整列的接點。蓋體56 — 體成形於底部，並覆蓋墨水入口和出口（見圖5的54和52) 〇 圖4顯示移除保護罩42的列印頭組合體2，以暴露在底 表面上的列印頭積體電路和在側表面上的整列接點3 3。將 保護罩丟至回收廢棄物、或將保護罩裝配到換下來的列印 頭匣，以包住殘留墨水的洩漏。圖5是列印頭組合體2的局 部分解透視圖。已移除頂罩以顯露入口歧管48和出口歧管 50，已移除入口圍板和出口圍板46、47以較清楚地暴露五 個入口嘴52和五個出口嘴54。入口和出口歧管48、50形成 每一個別入口及出口和液晶聚合物內主通道（見圖6之24) Q 之間的流體連接。主通道延伸液晶聚合物的長度，且主通 道饋給在液晶聚合物模組下側上的一系列細通道。一列空 氣凹穴26形成在每一主通道24的上方。如上關於圖1所述 ，藉由壓縮空氣凹穴26內的空氣，而阻尼墨水中的衝擊波 或壓力脈衝。 圖6是沒有入口或出口歧管或頂罩模組之列印頭組合 體的分解透視圖。每一種墨水顏料用的主通道24和其相關 的空氣凹穴26，分別形成在通道模組68和凹穴模組72內。 晶粒附接薄膜66黏複製通道模組68的底部。晶粒附接薄膜 -13- 200932553 66將列印頭積體電路30安裝至通道模組’使得通道模組68 下側上的細通道經由貫穿薄膜的小雷射切除孔而和列印頭 積體電路30呈流體連通。 因爲液晶聚合物的勁度及熱膨脹係數的原因’所以通 道模組68和頂罩模組72兩者都是由液晶聚合物所模製成型 ，且液晶聚合物的熱膨脹係數和矽的熱膨脹係數緊密地匹 配。可瞭解的是，例如頁寬列印頭的相對長構造’應該使 列印頭積體電路30的矽基板和其支撐構造之間的任何熱膨 脹差異最小化。 列印頭維護轉盤 參考圖7，顯示剖面透視圖。該剖面是穿過圖2A所示 的線7-7。列印頭匣2插入列印引擎3內，使得其出口歧管 50和嵌入口 124呈流體連通，該嵌入口 124引導至印表機成 品內之廢棄墨水罐（通常位於列印引擎的基座）。液晶聚合 Q 物模組20支撐列印頭積體電路30緊鄰著延伸穿過列印引擎 的媒介饋給路徑22。 列印頭維護轉盤150和其相關的驅動機構，位在媒介 饋給路徑22的相反側上。安裝列印頭維護轉盤150用於繞 著管狀驅動軸桿156旋轉，列印頭維護轉盤150也被建構用 於朝向和遠離列印頭積體電路30運動。藉由升高轉盤150 朝向印頭積體電路30，轉盤外部上的各種列印頭維護站呈 現至列印頭。維護轉盤150可旋轉地安裝在舉升構造170上 ，其安裝至舉升構造軸桿1 5 6，所以其能相對於列印引擎3 -14- 200932553 的其餘構造樞轉。舉升構造170包括一對舉升臂158(只顯 示一支舉升臂，另一支舉升臂設在舉升構造軸桿156的相 反端）。每一舉升臂158具有凸輪嚙合表面168，例如低摩 擦材料的輥或墊。凸輪（下文詳述）固定至轉盤驅動軸桿 160，用於以該軸桿160轉動。舉升臂158被偏壓進入和轉 盤舉升驅動軸桿160上的凸輪嚙合，使得轉盤舉升馬達（下 述）能藉由旋轉軸桿1 60而運動轉盤朝向和遠離列印頭。 0 維護轉盤150繞管狀軸桿166的旋轉，是獨立於轉盤舉 升驅動。轉盤驅動軸桿166嚙合轉盤旋轉馬達（下述），使 得無論其從列印頭縮回或朝向列印頭前進，其皆能被轉動 。當轉盤朝向列印頭前進時，擦拭器刮片1 62運動經過媒 介饋給路徑22，以擦拭列印頭積體電路30。當轉盤150從 列印頭撤回時，轉盤150可重複地轉動，使得擦拭器刮片 (wiper blade)162嚙合刮刀（doctor blade)154和清潔墊 152 。此也在下文詳細討論。 〇 現在參考圖8，剖面7-7顯示在平面視圖中，以較清楚 地描述維護轉盤舉升驅動。轉盤舉升驅動軸桿160顯示呈 轉動，使得舉升凸輪172藉由凸輪嚙合表面168將舉升臂 158向下推動。舉升軸桿160被轉盤舉升正齒輪174驅動， 該轉盤舉升正齒輪174依序被轉盤舉升蝸輪176驅動。以鍵 將蝸輪17固定至轉盤舉升馬達的輸出軸桿（下述）。 隨著舉升臂158將舉升構造170向下拉，維護轉盤150 從列印頭積體電路30撤離。在此位置中，轉盤50旋轉時， 沒有維護站接觸列印頭積體電路30。但是轉盤會帶動擦拭 -15- 200932553 器刮片162接觸刮刀（doctor blade)154和具吸收性的清潔墊 152° 刮刀（doctor blade) 刮刀1 5 4結合清潔墊1 5 2工作，以廣泛地清潔擦拭器刮 片162。清潔墊152從擦拭器刮片162的擦拭接觸面擦拭紙 塵和乾掉的墨水。但是小墨水珠和污物會形成刮片1 6 2的 尖聰’該尖端不接觸清潔塾152的表面。 爲了去除此墨水和塵，將刮刀1 5 4安裝在列印引擎3內 ’以在刮片1 6 2擦拭過列印頭積體電路3 0以後但在接觸清 潔墊152以前，使刮刀154接觸刮片162。當擦拭器刮片162 接觸刮刀154時’擦拭器刮片162撓曲成弧形以便通過。因 爲擦拭器刮片162是彈性體材料，所以當其一脫離刮刀154 時’便彈回至其靜止的直形狀。快速地彈回至其靜止的形 狀，會從擦拭器刮片162(特別是從尖端）投射出塵和其他 ❹ 污物。 普通的工作者會瞭解，當擦拭器刮片162接觸清潔墊 152時也會撓曲，且一旦擦拭器刮片162脫離墊時，也同樣 地會彈回至其靜止的形狀。但是刮刀154放射狀地安裝成 在轉盤150的中心軸桿166較接近而在清潔墊152處較遠離 。此配置使得當擦拭器刮片162通過時會更彎曲，且當彈 回至靜止的形狀時，給污物更多的動量。因爲清潔墊152 接觸前導刮片使拖在後面的刮片不當地擦過清潔墊152, 所以不可能將清潔墊152單純地運動至更靠近轉盤軸桿166 -16- 200932553 ，以使擦拭器刮片162更彎曲。 清潔墊 清潔墊152是具吸收性的發泡體，其被形成爲對應於 擦拭器刮片162之圓形路徑的弧形。當以編織材料覆蓋墊 1 52，以在擦拭刮片時提供許多密集的聚集接觸點，使墊 152更有效率地清潔。因此，編織材料之線的尺寸應相對 0 地小，例如小於2丹尼（denier)。具有線尺寸約1丹尼之微 纖維材料的工作狀況特別佳。 清潔墊152延伸擦拭器刮片162的長度，擦拭器刮片 162也延伸頁寬列印頭的長度。頁寬清潔墊152同時清潔擦 拭器刮片的全部長度，其減少每一擦拭作業所需的時間。 再者，頁寬清潔墊的長度固有地提供大體積的吸收性材料 ，用於保持相對大量的墨水。因爲有較大的吸收墨水能力 ，所以較不須常常更換清潔墊152。 ❹ 加蓋於列印頭 圖9顯示具有安裝至維護轉盤150之加蓋維護站198的 加蓋列印頭積體電路30的第一階段。當舉升凸輪172向下 推在舉升臂158上時，維護轉盤150從列印頭積體電路30撤 離。維護轉盤150連同維護編碼器碟2 04被旋轉，直到第一 轉盤旋轉感測器200和第二轉盤旋轉感測器202決定：列印 頭加蓋器正面對列印頭積體電路3 0。 如圖10所示，舉升軸桿160轉動凸輪172，以致舉升臂 -17- 200932553 158向上運動，以使維護轉盤150向列印頭積體電路30前進 。加蓋器維護站1 9 8嚙合液晶聚合物模組20的下側，以將 列印頭積體電路30的噴嘴密封在相對潮濕的環境中。普通 的工作者會瞭解：此防止（至少延長）噴嘴免於乾掉和阻塞 去除列印頭的蓋 圖1 1顯示去除蓋以準備列印的列印頭積體電路3 0。旋 轉舉升軸桿160，以致舉升凸輪172將轉盤舉升臂158向下 推。加蓋維護站198運動離開液晶聚合物模組20，以暴露 列印頭積體電路3 0。 擦拭列印頭 圖12顯示正被擦拭器刮片162擦拭的列印頭積體電路 3 〇。當加蓋站1 98被旋轉離開列印頭時，擦拭器構件的刮 Q 片162接觸液晶聚合物模組20的下側。當轉盤150繼續旋轉 時，擦拭器刮片被拉經過列印頭積體電路3 0的噴嘴面，以 擦掉任何紙塵、乾掉的墨水 '或其他污物。擦拭器刮片 1 62由彈性體材料形成，所以當他們擦拭通過列印頭積體 電路時，其彈性地撓曲和彎曲。當每一擦拭器刮片的尖端 被彎曲時，每一刮片的側表面和噴嘴面形成擦拭接觸。可 瞭解的是：刮片的寬廣平坦側表面和噴嘴面有較大的接觸 ，且更有效率地清除掉污物。 -18- 200932553 擦拭器刮片清理（清潔） 圖1 3、1 4顯示正被清潔的擦拭器刮片1 62。如圖1 3所 示，在擦拭器刮片162擦拭列印頭積體電路30之後，擦拭 器刮片162立即被旋轉通過刮刀154。刮刀154的功能在上 文附標題「刮刀」中較詳細地討論。 在將擦拭器刮片1 62拖拉經過刮刀1 54以後，附著在刮 片的任何殘留塵和污物，被具吸收性的清潔墊152所移除 0 。此步驟顯示在圖14中。 在此過程期間，列印壓盤維護站206正好相對著列印 頭積體電路30。如果想要的話，藉由旋轉舉升凸輪172能 舉升轉盤，使得噴嘴能發射進入吸收性材料20 8 »混合在 墨水噴嘴的任何顏料立即被淨化。鑽削進入管狀底座1 66 之側面的孔（未示出），提供吸收性材料208和在轉盤軸桿 166之中心凹穴內的多孔材料210之間的流體連通。被材料 208所吸收之墨水，被拉入多孔材料210內且被多孔材料 〇 210所保持。爲了使多孔材料210流乾，轉盤150可設有真 空附接點（未示出），以排掉廢棄墨水。 轉盤150帶著乾淨的擦拭器刮片繼續旋轉（見圖15)， 直到列印壓盤206再度位在列印頭積體電路30的對面。然 後如圖1 6所示，轉盤朝向列印頭積體電路3 0上升，以預備 列印。沿著媒介饋給路徑22饋給媒介基板片體並通過列印 頭積體電路30。就滿版出血（full bleed ;列印至媒介片體 的極邊）列印而言，媒介基板能保持離開壓盤206，以致其 不會因墨水過度噴灑而弄髒。可瞭解的是，吸收性材料 -19- 200932553 • 208設置在列印壓盤206的凹陷部份內’以致任何過度噴灑 的墨水（通常在紙兩側邊緣約1毫米）被保持離開可接觸媒 介基板的表面。 在列印工作結束時或在印表機將進入待命模式之前’ 轉盤150在旋轉中從列印頭積體電路30撤離’以致列印頭 加蓋維護站198再度呈現至列印頭。如圖17所示’舉升軸 桿160轉動舉升凸輪158，以致舉升凸輪158將列印頭加蓋 Q 維護站運動進入和液晶聚合物模組20的下側密封嚙合。 列印頭維護轉盤 圖18、19、20、和21顯示隔離的維護轉盤。圖18是顯 示擦拭器刮片162和列印壓盤206透視圖。圖19是顯示列印 頭加蓋器198和擦拭器刮片162的透視圖。圖20是顯示維護 轉盤之零組件的分解圖。圖2 1是顯示完全組合後之零組件 的剖視圖。 ❹ 維護轉盤具有四個列印頭維護站：列印壓盤206、擦 拭器構件162、和集墨器（spittoon)/吸墨器220。每一維護 站安裝至其自己的外部底座組件。外部底座組件安裝在轉 盤管狀軸桿166的周圍，且彼此相互嚙合以鎖固至軸桿上 。在管狀軸桿166的一端是轉盤編碼器碟2 04和轉盤正齒輪 212’轉盤正齒輪212被下述的轉盤旋轉馬達（未示出）所驅 動。管狀軸桿被固定至正齒輪或隨同其旋轉。各列印頭維 護站藉由其穩固地壓縮夾在軸桿的外部，而隨同管狀軸桿 一起旋轉。 -20- 200932553 擦拭器刮片外部底座組件2 1 4是鋁擠製品（或其他合適 的合金）’建構擦拭器刮片外部底座組件214以牢固地固持 擦拭器刮片1 62。類似地，其他的外部底座組件是金屬擠 製品’用於牢固地安裝個別維護站的較軟彈性體和/或吸 收性多孔材料。用於列印壓盤2 1 6和列印頭加蓋器1 98的外 部底座組件，沿著每一縱向邊緣具有一系列相同的鎖固耳 部226。擦拭器構件外部底座組件21 4和集墨器/吸墨器外 0 部底座組件218，具有互補的卡栓類型槽，用於容置鎖固 耳部226。每一卡栓槽具有鄰接耳部鎖固槽230的耳部進出 孔228。將鎖固耳部226插入鄰近外部底座組件的耳部進出 孔228 ’然後彼此相對地縱向滑動組件，以將其鎖固至底 座管狀軸桿166上。 爲了改善每一維護站和底座片軸桿166之間的摩擦和 鎖固嚙合，每一列印頭維護站設有一元件，該元件具有形 成在其一側上的弧形軸桿嚙合表面23 4。集墨器/吸墨器外 Q 部底座組件2 1 8具有相對大的吸收性集墨器/吸墨器構件 220，其也具有形成在其內面上的弧形軸桿嚙合表面234。 同樣地’用於列印頭加蓋器1 98的外部底座組件和各擦拭 器刮片162的共通基座，具有弧形軸桿嚙合表面234。 —般的工作者會瞭解，使用相互鎖固構造將外部底座 夾持至內部底座，可使加工和組合時間降至最低，維持小 的公差用於精密地安裝維護站構造。在者，外部底座組件 可組合成不同的組態。能改變擦拭器刮片外部底座組件 214和集墨器/吸墨器底座組件21 8位置。類似地，列印頭 -21 - 200932553 加蓋器198和列印壓盤206可交換。以此方式，維護站可以 其安裝在特殊印表機內最佳的方式而組合。 射出成型聚合物轉盤底座 圖22至28顯示另一實施例的列印頭維護轉盤。這些圖 是只顯示轉盤和列印頭匣之下部分的示意剖面。應瞭解的 是，維護驅動系統需要簡單且直接的修飾，以適合於此實 Q 施例的轉盤。 圖2 2顯示鄰近列印頭維護轉盤1 5 0之列印頭匣2的液晶 聚合物模組2 0，該轉盤1 5 0以列印壓盤2 0 6呈現至列印頭積 體電路30。爲了清楚起見，圖29隔離地顯示列印壓盤206 。在使用中，沿著媒介饋給路徑22饋給片狀的媒介基板。 在列印頭積體電路3 0的噴嘴和媒介饋給路徑22之間的是列 印間隙244。爲了維持列印品質，列印頭積體電路的噴嘴 面和媒介表面之間的間隙2 4 4，應儘可能地靠近設計期間 0 明定的公稱値。在市面上買得到的印表機中，此間隙約爲 2毫米。但是因爲列印技術再進步，所以一些印表機具有 約1毫米的列印間隙。 隨著數位攝影術的普受歡迎，對彩色影像之滿版出血 列印的需求愈來愈大。「滿版出血列印」是列印至媒介表 面的極邊緣。此經常造成一些「越界噴灑（或過度噴灑； over spray)」，其中被射出的墨水未噴中在媒介基板的邊 緣’而沉積在支撐列印壓盤上。然後，此越界噴灑的墨水 會弄髒在後續的片狀媒介上。 -22- 200932553 圖22所示的配置處理這兩個議題。液晶聚合物模組20 上的紙引導件23 8，界定列印期間的列印間隙244。但是， 列印壓盤206具有形成在其硬塑膠基座模組上的引導表面 2 46。引導表面246引導片體的前緣朝向排出驅動輥或其他 驅動機件。因爲片狀媒介和列印壓盤206之間的最小接觸 ，所以大幅減少滿版出血列印期間被越界噴灑之墨水弄髒 的可能性。再者，將液晶聚合物模組20上的紙引導件238 φ 設置在緊鄰列印頭積體電路3 0處，準確地維持噴嘴至媒介 表面的間隙244。 在申請人之範圍中的一些印表機使用此技術以提供 0.7毫米的列印間隙244。但是藉由使鄰近列印頭積體電路 3 0之囊狀材料240的小珠變扁平，可減少上述間隙。藉由 安裝至液晶聚合物模組20外部的可撓印刷電路板242，將 電源和資料傳輸至列印頭積體電路3 0。可撓印刷電路板 242的接點，藉由一列導線架（未示出）而電性地連接至列 Q 印頭積體電路30的接點。爲了保護導線架，導線架被包覆 在稱爲囊狀物之環氧樹脂材料中。申請人已發展出多種技 術，用於使導線架的外型輪廓和覆蓋導線架之珠狀囊狀物 240變扁平。此允許進一步減少列印間隙244。 列印壓盤206具有凹陷或中心凹穴248，其正對著列印 頭積體電路30的噴嘴。任何越界噴灑的墨水，都會在壓盤 206的此區域內。遠離壓盤之其餘部分而在此區域形成凹 陷，確保媒介基板不會被濕的越界噴灑墨水弄髒。中心凹 穴248的表面和吸收性纖維元件25 0呈流體連通。纖維性元 -23- 200932553 件250和在底座236之中心內的多孔材料254，也藉由毛細 管252呈流體連通。越界噴灑的墨水被吸入纖維元件25〇內 ，且被毛細作用經由管25 2抽入多孔材料254內。 圖23顯示轉盤150轉動’使得列印頭塡注站262呈現至 列印頭積體電路3 0。圖3 0顯示隔離的列印頭塡注站2 7 2和 其構造特徵。列印頭塡注站具有圍繞著塡注接觸墊258的 彈性體裙部2 5 6 ’其由多孔材料形成。彈性體裙部和塡注 Q 接觸墊—起成型而與剛性聚合物基座260 —起，剛性聚合 物基座260牢固地安裝至射出形型底座23 6。 當更換列印頭匣2時’其需要被塡注墨水。眾所週知 塡注過程是浪費的’因爲墨水通常被強迫穿過噴嘴，直到 整個列印頭構造已流放任何的氣泡爲止。當從延伸經過列 印頭之許多導管清除空氣的期間，已浪費非常大量的墨水 〇 爲了解決此問題，升高維護轉盤150使得塡注接觸墊 〇 258覆蓋列印頭積體電路30的噴嘴。當在壓力下塡注噴嘴 陣列時，保持接觸墊258抵著噴嘴，大幅地減少流放經過 噴嘴之墨水量。多孔材料局部地阻擋噴嘴，以限制墨水流 。但是來自噴嘴之空氣流所受到的限制少很多，所以整個 塡注過程並沒有因爲多孔材料所產生的流動阻礙而延遲。 彈性體裙部256密封地抵注液晶聚合物模組22的下側，以 擷取從接觸墊258下側流出的過量墨水。形成在剛性聚合 物基座260中的流動孔264，允許被墊25 8吸收的墨水和任 何過量的墨水，流至吸收性纖維元件2 5 0 (和列印壓盤2 0 6 -24- 200932553 • 所用者相同）。如同列印壓盤206，纖維元件25〇內的墨水 藉由毛細管252被抽入射出成形底座236中的多孔材料254 內。 藉由使用列印頭塡注站262，大幅地減少被浪費的墨 水量。如果沒有塡注站’則當塡注頁寬列印頭時，每一種 顏料被浪費的墨水量通常約爲2毫升·，如果有塡注站262， 則每一種顏料被浪費的墨水量減少至約0.1毫升。 0 塡注接觸墊25 8不須由多孔材料形成，反而可由和圍 繞裙部25 6相同的彈性材料形成。在此情況，接觸墊258需 要具有特殊的表面粗糙度。嚙合列印頭積體電路30之噴嘴 面的表面，應爲2至4微米尺度的粗糙，但是爲20微米尺度 的順暢和平順。此類型的表面粗糙度允許空氣從噴嘴面和 接觸墊之間逃脫，但是只有小量的墨水逃脫。 圖24顯示維護轉盤15 0的擦拭站266呈現至列印頭積體 電路30。擦拭站獨立地顯示在圖31中。擦拭站266也是共 〇 同模製的構造，其具有被支撐在硬塑膠基座270上的軟彈 性體擦拭刮片268。爲了擦拭列印頭積體電路30的噴嘴面 ，轉盤底座23 6被升高然後旋轉，所以擦拭器刮片268擦過 噴嘴面。通常旋轉轉盤底座236，使得擦拭器刮片268朝向 囊狀小珠擦拭。如同在申請人共同共同繫屬中之檔案編號 RRE015US的申請案（倂入作交互參考）中所討論者，可設 計囊狀小珠的輪廓用於幫助塵和污物卡在擦拭器刮片2 6 8 的面上。但是如果證明在兩個方向中擦拭更有效率’則可 容易地將維護驅動（未示出）建構成用於在兩個方向中轉動 -25- 200932553 * 底座236。類似地，藉由改變旋轉的數目’很容易改變擦 拭經過列印頭積體電路3 〇的次數。程式設計維護驅動’以 執行每一擦拭作業。 在圖25中顯示維護轉盤150的列印頭加蓋器272呈現至 列印頭積體電路30。圖32獨立地顯示加蓋器’以較清楚地 例示其構造。加蓋器2 72具有由軟彈性體材料形成的周圍 密封274。周圍密封274和其硬塑膠基座276共同模製。在 0 印表機閒置時，列印頭加蓋器272降低噴嘴乾掉的速率。 周圍密封274和液晶聚合物模組20下側之間的密封不需完 全地不透空氣，因爲加蓋器正被用於以吸力塡注列印頭。 事實上，硬塑膠基座276應包括空氣呼吸器孔278，使得噴 嘴不會因去除列印頭的蓋子時所造成的吸力而溢滿氾濫。 爲了蓋住列印頭，旋轉底座23 6直到列印頭加蓋器272呈現 至列印頭積體電路30。然後升高底座236 ’直到周圍密封 2 7 4嚙合列印頭匣2。 0 圖26顯示包括擦拭器刮片清潔墊152。如同上文第一 實施例所述，清潔墊1 5 2安裝在印表機內，使得當維護轉 盤150旋轉時，擦拭器刮片268運動經過墊152的表面。藉 由設置清潔墊152的位置，使得底座23 6須從列印頭積體電 路30縮回，以允許擦拭器刮片268接觸清潔墊，且以相對 高速的速率轉動底盤236，用以廣泛地清潔擦拭器刮片268 ，而和列印頭積體電路30無任何損害性接觸。再者，可用 介面活性劑濕潤清潔墊1 52，以更容易從擦拭器刮片表面 移除污物。 -26- 200932553 * 圖27獨立地顯示射出成型底座236。底座相對於穿過 中心縱長軸線2 82而延伸的二平面呈對稱。此對稱是重要 的，因爲，如果沿著頁寬列印頭之長度而延伸的射出成型 底座23 6不對稱，則當其冷卻時，有變形和彎曲的傾向。 因爲具有對稱的剖面，所以當底座冷卻時，其收縮也是對 稱的。 底座236具有形成在其外部表面的四個維護站安裝承 0 座276，該等承座276都相同，所以其能容至各種維護站 206、266、262、272其中任何一個。以此方式，各維護站 變成可互換的模組，且可改變各維護站呈現至列印頭的順 序，以適合不同的印表機。再者，如果修改各維護站本身 ，則其標準承座確保維護站只須最少的設備更換便能容易 地倂入現有的生產線內。以黏劑將維護站固定在承座內， 但是其他的方法（例如超音波點熔接或機械式相互嚙合）也 合適。 Q 如圖28所示，模具設有四個滑塊278和一個中央芯部 2 88。每一滑塊278具有柱狀構造280以形成導管，該導管 將纖維芯墊連接至中心凹穴內的多孔材料219。用於每一 滑塊的拉引線是從底座23 6輻射狀地向外，而芯部28 8是縱 向地縮回（可瞭解的是，芯部不是精密的圓柱，而是截頭 圓錐，以提供需要的通氣）。聚合物組件的射出成型非常 適合於大量且低成本的生產。再者，底座的對稱構造和均 勻收縮維持良好的公差，以保持維護站平行於列印頭積體 電路而延伸。但是其他的製造技術也可能，例如壓縮聚合 -27- 200932553 物粉末的衝擊波或類似者。再者，增加親水性的表面處理 ’可幫助墨水流至毛細管252，且終極地流至底座236內的 多孔材料210。在一些印表機設計中，建構底座用於連接 真空源，以從多孔材料2 1 0週期性地排出墨水。 五個維護站實施例 圖34顯示列印頭維護轉盤150的實施例，其具有五個 Q 不同的維護站：列印壓盤206、列印頭擦拭器266、列印頭 加蓋器272、塡注站262、和集墨器284。集墨器284(獨立 地顯示在圖33)具有相對簡單的構造…集墨器面284呈現平 坦至列印頭，且具有孔（未示出）供與保持在其塑膠基座內 的纖維元件250呈流體連通。 五站維護轉盤150附加一個集墨器284，以允許印表機 使用主要的墨水淨化當作維護系統的一部分。圖22-25的 四站轉盤，使用列印壓盤206和/或加蓋器272提供次要的 墨水淨化或「吐出循環（spitting cycle)」。在列印工作期 間，於噴嘴面擦拭以後或當頁間吐出（inter-page spit)時， 使用次要吐出循環，以保持噴嘴潮濕。但是如果列印頭需 要從去除塡注、嚴重的顏料混合、大尺寸的噴嘴乾掉等情 況回復，則可能需要主要的吐出循環-…因爲該情況已超 出壓盤或加蓋器的能力。 集墨器284具有在其面286內的大孔或一系列的保持肋 ，以將纖維芯材料250保持在應塑膠基座內。此將纖維元 件250保持非常開放於潛在的墨水密集噴灑。纖維元件250 -28- 200932553 的一個面壓抵著毛細管252，以增加流至底座236之中心凹 穴內的多孔材料254。 S承座底座23 6是使用彼此成72度的五個滑塊或彼此 成6 0度的六個滑塊而射出成型。類似地，具有超過五個站 的維護轉盤也可能。如果噴嘴面有聚集乾掉墨水的傾向， 則指單獨使用擦拭器仍難以移除。在這些情況時，印表機 可·需要一個用於將墨水溶劑或其他清潔流體噴射至噴嘴面 Q 上的站（未示出）。然而，此能併入或附加至集墨器。 擦拭器變化例 圖3 5至46顯示擦拭器能採用的一系列不同構造。擦拭 列印頭的噴嘴面試移除紙塵、溢出墨水、乾掉墨水、或其 他污物的有效方式。一般的工作者會瞭解，可能有無數的 不同擦拭器構造，其中多數不適合用於任何特殊的印表機 。功能性的效率（亦即清潔列印頭）必須權衡生產成本、希 〇 望的作業壽命、尺寸及重量限制條件、和其他考量因素。 單一接觸刮片 圖35顯示具有安裝在硬塑膠基座2 70內之單一彈性體 刮片290的擦拭器維護站266，使得刮片垂直於媒介饋給方 向延伸。沿著噴嘴陣列之長度延伸的單一擦拭器刮片，是 具有低生產和組合成本的單純擦拭配置。有鑑於此，單一 刮片擦拭器適合於印表機和價格範圍的底端。較高的生產 量需要有效率的製造技術和印表機組件的簡易組裝。此必 -29- 200932553 須對單元的作業壽命、或擦拭器清潔列印頭的速率及效率 做一些妥協折衷。但是單一刮片設計是袖珍的，且如果刮 片不能一次橫越中有效率地清潔噴嘴表面，則維護驅動能 簡單地重複擦拭作業，直到列印頭乾淨爲止。 多個接觸刮片 圖36、43 A、43B、和46顯示具有多個平行刮片的擦 拭器維護站266。在圖36中，兩個相同的平行刮片292垂直 於媒介饋給方向延伸。兩個刮片292分離地安裝至硬塑膠 基座270，以獨立地作業。在圖46中，各刮片並不相同。 第一和第二刮片（分別爲294和296)具有不同寬度（或不同 的橫截面輪廓）和硬度計値（硬度和黏彈性）。可將每一刮 片最佳化，以移除特殊類型的污物。但是各刮片分離地安 裝在硬塑膠基座2 70中，用於獨立地作業。相對地，圖 43A和43B之多個刮片元件具有較小且較短的刮片300， 其全部安裝之共同的彈性體基座29 8，該彈性體基座298固 定至硬塑膠基座270。此爲大致更順應的構造，其在每一 擦拭中有相對大的表面積接觸噴嘴面。但是細且軟的刮片 比較大且較堅固的刮片磨耗損壞的速率更快。 由於多個平行刮片擦過噴嘴面，所以擦拭器構件的單 一次橫越會聚集更多的塵和污物。雖然多刮片的設計比單 一刮片較不袖珍，但是每一擦拭作業較快且更有效率。因 此，在列印工作期間，在各頁之間能擦拭列印頭；且在列 印工作之前所執行的初期維護事項，在短時間內完成。 -30- 200932553 單一歪斜刮片 圖37顯示具有安裝在硬塑膠基座270之單一刮片302的 擦拭器維護站270，使得刮片3 02相對於擦拭方向呈歪斜。 可瞭解的是，擦拭方向垂直於塑膠基座27 0的縱長延伸。 單一擦拭器刮片是具有低生產和組合成本的簡單擦拭 配置。再者，藉由將刮片安裝成歪斜於擦拭方向，則在擦 拭器構件橫越期間的任何時間，噴嘴面只和刮片的一個區 段接觸。由於只有一個區段接觸噴嘴面，所以刮片不會因 爲沿著其整個長度的不一致接觸壓力而弄皺或捲曲。此確 保擦拭器刮片和全部的噴嘴面之間足夠的接觸壓力，且不 須精密地對齊刮片使其完全平行於噴嘴面。此允許寬鬆的 製造公差，以致可使用較大量的低成本生產技術。此必須 對增加擦拭器構件必須行經的距離以清潔列印頭做一些妥 協折衷。增加該距離因此每一擦拭作業所需的時間。但是 降低製造成本比這些潛在的缺點更重要。 獨立的接觸刮片 圖38顯示具有安裝在硬塑膠基座270內之二被分段的 刮片3 04的擦拭器維護站266。每一個別的刮片區段306組 成安裝在硬塑膠基座270內的完整刮片3 04，用於彼此相對 地獨立運動。將每一刮片3 04中的個別刮片區段3 06設置成 相對於擦拭方向彼此不對齊。以此方式，因爲位於兩刮片 區段306之間的間隙內而未被第一刮片304擦拭的噴嘴，會 -31 - 200932553 ' 被第二刮片304內的刮片區段3 06擦拭。 以單一長刮片擦拭頁寬列印頭的噴嘴面會無效率。刮 片和噴嘴面之間不一致的接觸壓力，會造成刮片沿其長度 的某些區段彎曲或捲曲。在這些區段中的接觸壓力會不足 ，或者刮片和噴嘴面之間能沒有接觸。被分割成個別刮片 區段的擦拭器刮片，能解決此問題。每一區段能相對於其 相鄰區段而運動，所以接觸力的任何不一致性不會造成刮 φ 片之其他區段的彎曲或捲曲。以此方式，接觸壓力被維持 在噴嘴面，且噴嘴面是乾淨的。 具有多個歪斜刮片的噴嘴面擦拭器 在圖39中，擦拭器維護站266具有安裝在硬塑膠基座 2 70內的一系列獨立刮片3 08，以致該等刮片傾斜於擦拭方 向。設置各刮片3 08使得每一刮片（相對於擦拭方向）的橫 向範圍（X)和其相鄰刮片的橫向範圍（Y)有一些重疊（Z)。 Q 藉由將擦拭器刮片安裝成歪斜於擦拭方向，則在擦拭器構 件橫越期間的任何時間，噴嘴面只和刮片的一個區段接觸 。由於只有一個區段接觸噴嘴面，所以刮片不會因爲沿著 其整個長度的不一致接觸壓力而弄皺或捲曲。此確保擦拭 器刮片和全部的噴嘴面之間足夠的接觸壓力，且不須對齊 刮片使其精密地平行於噴嘴面。此允許寬鬆的製造公差， 以致可使用較大量的低成本生產技術。單一歪斜刮片可達 到此目的，但是會增加擦拭器構件必須行經的距離以清潔 列印頭，因此增加每一擦拭作業所需的時間。有鑑於此， -32- 200932553 本發明使用一系列相鄰的歪斜刮片’每—個別刮片擦拭噴 嘴陣列的對應部份。在某些應用中，多個刮片比單一刮片 涉及較高的製造成本，但是袖珍設計和較快的作業比這些 潛在的缺點更重要。 具有陣列墊的擦拭器 在圖40和44中，擦拭器維護站266使用陣列的接觸墊 3 1 0，而不是任何的刮片構造。個別墊3 1 2可爲個別安裝進 入硬塑膠基座2 7 0內之一組短圓柱彈性體材料、或類似於 常常使用於矽晶圓清潔用之格式的圓柱狀軟纖維刷。如上 所述，以單一長接觸表面擦拭頁寬列印頭的噴嘴表面會無 效率。擦拭表面和噴嘴面之間的不一致接觸壓力，會使接 觸壓力不足或不存在某些區域內。 使用已被分割成陣列3 1 0之個別接觸墊的擦拭表面， 允許每一墊相對於相鄰墊運動，所以不一致的接觸力會改 變其量，使每一墊個別地壓縮和變形。一個墊的相對高壓 縮，不須傳輸壓縮力致其相鄰的墊。以此方式，均勻的接 觸壓力被維持在噴嘴面，且更有效率地清潔噴嘴面。 正弦刮片 在圖41所示的擦拭維護站266中，單一刮片314安裝進 入硬塑膠基座270，使刮片跟隨正弦路徑。如前所述，以 單一長接觸表面擦拭頁寬列印頭的噴嘴面會沒有效率。擦 拭表面和噴嘴面之間的不一致接觸壓力，會使接觸壓力不 -33- 200932553 足或不存在某些區域內。接觸壓力會變化的其中一個理由 是：擦拭器表面相對於噴嘴面的不準確運動。如果在擦拭 作業期間的整個行程長度中，用於擦拭表面的支撐構造不 完全平行於噴嘴面，則低接觸壓力的區域可能無法適當地 被清潔。如同在歪斜安裝刮片的相關解釋，藉由將擦拭器 刮片的位置設置爲相對於饋給擦拭方向和列印頭噴最面成 傾斜’則可避免上述問題。以此方式，在擦拭作業的任何 0 時間’只有一部分的擦拭器刮片接觸噴嘴面。此外，刮片 和擦拭方向之間的小角度，改善了擦拭的清潔和效率。當 刮片呈傾斜地在噴嘴面上運動時，刮片和噴嘴面之間更多 的接觸點，進行更佳的污物移除。此改善了不一致之接觸 壓力所造成的任何問題，但是於每一擦拭作業中，需要擦 拭器刮片行經更長的行程。如上所述，擦拭器表面相對於 噴嘴面的不準確運動，是不足之接觸壓力的來源。增加擦 拭器行程的長度，不利於袖珍設計。 〇 使用具有鋸齒形或正弦形的擦拭器刮片，以傾斜於媒 介饋給方向的多個擦拭器區段擦拭噴嘴面。此構造也使得 擦拭器構件相對於列印頭的行程長度，小得足以保持準確 和袖珍。 具有非線性接觸表面的單一刮片 圖42顯示的擦拭維護站266，其具有二線性區段彼此 成一角度且歪斜於擦拭方向地安裝在硬塑膠基座27〇上。 如即所述’以單一長接觸表面擦拭頁寬列印頭的噴嘴面， -34- 200932553 會造成在某些區域內接觸壓力不足或不存在。使刮片相對 於擦拭方向和列印頭噴嘴面成角度，意指在擦拭作業期間 的任何時間，只有一部分的擦拭器刮片接觸噴嘴面。此使 得接觸壓力更均勻，但是在每一擦拭作業中，擦拭器刮片 需要行經更長的行程。如上所述，擦拭器表面相對於噴嘴 面的不準確運動，是接觸壓力不足的來源。增加擦拭器行 程的長度，只增加此不準確的風險。 Q 藉由使用具有角形或彎曲形的擦拭表面，使得以傾斜 於媒介饋給方向的擦拭器區段擦拭大部份的噴嘴面，同時 減少擦拭器構件相對於列印頭的行程長度。一般的工作者 會瞭解，接觸刮片可具有淺V形或U形。再者，如果刮 片3 18的前緣是兩直線區段（或U形刮片之彎曲區段）的交 點，則申請人已發現刮片有較少的磨損，因爲對和噴嘴面 接觸的初始點提供額外的支撐。 Q 纖維墊 圖45顯示具有安裝至硬塑膠基座270之纖維墊320的列 印頭擦拭器維護站266。纖維墊3 20用於擦拭噴嘴面特別有 效。墊呈現許多和噴嘴面接觸的點，使得纖維能機械性嚙 合固體污物，且藉由毛細作用將例如墨水溢流等流體污物 吸掉。但是，一且纖維墊已清潔噴嘴面，則難以從纖維墊 移除污物。在很多次的擦拭作業以後，纖維墊裝滿許多的 污物，且不再有效率地清潔噴嘴面。但是就希望具有短作 業壽命的印表機或允許更換擦拭器的印表機而言，纖維墊 -35- 200932553 會提供最有效率的擦拭器。 組合式擦拭器維護站 可瞭解的是，藉由具有上述擦拭構造的組合，一些列 印頭設計會被最有效率地清潔。例如單一刮片組合一系列 歪斜刮片、或具有纖維墊在其間的一系列平行刮片。藉由 依據個別的優點和強度而選擇特定的擦拭構造，可推導出 U 組合式擦拭器維護站。 列印頭維護設施驅動系統 圖47至50較詳細地顯示媒介饋給驅動和列印頭維護驅 動。圖48獨立地顯示列印頭維護轉盤150和驅動系統。所 顯示的維護轉盤150是以擦拭器刮片162呈現至列印頭（未 示出）。圖48所示的透視圖顯露紙排出引導件322引導至排 出驅動輥178。在擦拭器刮片162的另一側，顯示主驅動輥 Q 軸桿18 6從主驅動輥皮帶輪33 0延伸。此皮帶輪被主驅動輥 皮帶192驅動，主驅動輥皮帶19嚙合媒介饋給馬達190。媒 介饋給驅動皮帶182使主驅動輥186和排出輥178的旋轉同 步。 圖49的分解透視圖較詳細地顯示個別組件。特別是此 透視圖最佳地圖解已平衡的轉盤舉升機構。轉盤舉升驅動 軸桿160在兩個相同的轉盤舉升凸輪之間延伸。轉盤舉升 軸桿160的一端以鍵固定至轉盤舉升正齒輪174。正齒輪 174咬合蝸輪176，轉盤舉升馬達3 24驅動蝸輪176。轉盤舉 -36- 200932553 升旋轉感測器3 3 4提供回饋至列印引擎控制器（未示出）’ 其能藉由凸輪172的角位移決定轉盤從列印頭的位移。 轉盤舉升凸輪172藉由凸輪嚙合輥168而接觸個別的轉 盤舉升臂158(可瞭解的是，凸輪嚙合輥可爲低摩擦材料的 表面，例如高密度聚乙烯（HDPE))。因爲各凸輪172相同’ 且同樣安裝至轉盤舉升軸桿160 ’所以轉盤舉升臂158的位 移也相同。圖47是取自圖2A之線7-7的剖視圖，且移除列 印頭匣2和列印頭維護轉盤150。此圖提供轉盤舉升正齒輪 174、其鄰接的舉升凸輪172、和對應的轉盤舉升臂158的 清楚視圖。因爲各舉升臂158和轉盤150的中點等距離，所 以當舉升和降下轉盤時，轉盤舉升驅動完全地平衡和對稱 。此用於保持各種類印頭維護站平行於列印頭積體電路的 縱長向。 轉盤旋轉驅動最佳地圖解在圖5〇之放大局部分解透視 圖。轉盤旋轉馬達326安裝至轉盤舉升構造170的側面。步 進馬達感測器328提供關於馬達326之速率和旋轉的回饋至 列印引擎控制器（PEC)。轉盤旋轉馬達326驅動惰輪3 32， 惰輪3 3 2驅動在轉盤舉升構造17 0之遮掩側上的減速齒輪（ 未示出）。減速齒輪咬合轉盤正齒輪212，以鍵將轉盤正齒 輪212安裝至轉盤底座以旋轉。 因爲轉盤旋轉和轉盤舉升是由分離的獨立驅動所控制 ，且每一驅動是由提供關於馬達速率和旋轉之回饋給列印 引擎控制器的步進馬達供給動力，所以印表機具有廣範圍 的維護程序供選擇。可用兩方向其中的任一方向和以可變 -37- 200932553 ' 速率驅動轉盤旋轉馬達326，因此可在兩方向其中的任一 方向擦拭噴嘴面，且擦拭器刮片可在兩方向中抵著吸收性 墊152而被清潔。此會特別有用，如果紙塵和其他污物傳 到噴嘴面而和噴嘴面上的表面不規則性機械式地嚙合。在 相反方向的擦拭，常常會去除掉此等機械式地嚙合。當擦 拭器刮片162和噴嘴面進行接觸時降低擦拭器刮片162的速 率，然後當刮片脫離噴嘴面時才增加其速率，此方式也有 φ 用。當擦拭器刮片和噴嘴面初始接觸時確實能減緩其速率 ，然後在擦拭時才增加速率。 類似地，擦拭器刮片162運動通過刮刀154的速率可比 擦拭器刮片運動通過清潔墊152上方的速率更快。可在兩 方向且在其中任一方向以任何次數的迴轉擦拭擦拭器刮片 1 62。再者，各維護站呈現至列印頭的順序，可容易地程 式化於列印引擎控制器內，和/或留給使用者裁量。 此處僅以例子的方式描述本發明。一般的工作者可容 ❹ 易地認知未脫離寬廣發明槪念之精神和範圍的許多變化和 修飾。 【圖式簡單說明】 現在藉由只當作例子的方式，並參考附圖，描述本發 明的較佳實施例，其中： 圖1是印表機流體工學系統的示意槪要視圖； 圖2A是安裝在印表機之列印引擎之本發明列印頭匣 的透視圖； -38- 200932553 圖2B顯示沒有安裝列印頭匣的列印引擎，以暴露入 口和出口墨水耦合器； 圖3是本發明完整列印頭匣的透視圖； 圖4顯示圖3之列印頭匣，且已移除保護蓋； 圖5是圖3之列印頭匣內列印頭組合體的局部分解透視 面 ♦ 圖* 圖6是沒有入口或出口其管或頂蓋模組之列印頭組合 〇 體的分解透視圖； 圖7是取自圖2A之線7-7的列印引擎剖面透視圖； 圖8是取自圖2A之線7-7的列印引擎剖視圖，顯示維 護轉盤拉著擦拭器刮片通過刮刀； 圖9是顯示維護轉盤拉著擦拭器刮片通過吸收性清潔 墊以後的剖視圖； 圖10是顯示舉升維護轉盤以使加蓋器維護站蓋住列印 頭的剖視圖； 〇 圖1 1是顯示降下維護轉盤以除去列印頭之蓋子的剖視 圖： 圖1 2是顯示擦拭器刮片擦拭列印頭之噴嘴面的剖視圖 » 圖13是顯示維護轉盤轉回其圖8所示之起始位置的剖 面視圖，其中擦拭器刮片已被拉過刮刀，以彈掉尖端區域 的污物； 圖1 4是顯示擦拭器刮片已被拉過吸收性清潔墊的剖視 圖； -39- 200932553 圖1 5是顯示轉動維護轉盤以將列印頭加蓋器呈現至列 印頭的剖視圖； 圖1 6是顯示舉升維護轉盤以將列印壓盤呈現至列印頭 的剖視圖； 圖1 7是顯示舉升轉盤以使加蓋器密封列印頭積體電路 之方式的剖視圖； 圖1 8是隔離之維護轉盤的透視圖； 圖19是隔離之維護轉盤的另一透視圖，顯示轉盤驅動 正齒輪； 圖2 0是隔離之維護轉盤的分解透視圖； 圖2 1是經過轉盤長度之中間點的剖視圖； 圖22是第二實施例之維護轉盤的示意剖視圖，維護轉 盤呈現列印壓盤至列印頭； 圖23是第二實施例之維護轉盤的示意剖視圖，且列印 頭塡注站嚙合列印頭； 圖24是第二實施例之維護轉盤的示意剖視圖，且擦拭 器刮片嚙合列印頭； 圖25是第二實施例之維護轉盤的示意剖視圖，且集墨 器呈現至列印頭； 圖2 6是第二實施例之維護轉盤的示意剖視圖，且當擦 拭器刮片在吸收性墊上被清潔時，列印壓盤呈現至列印頭 圖27是用在第二實施例之維護轉盤內之射出成型芯部 的剖視圖， -40- 200932553 圖2 8是從第二實施例之維護轉盤的新部移除射出成型 模具的示意剖視圖； 圖2 9是隔離地顯示列印壓盤維護站的剖視圖； 圖3 0是隔離地顯示列印頭加蓋器維護站的剖視圖； 圖3 1是隔離地顯示擦拭器刮片維護站的剖視圖； 圖3 2是隔離地顯示列印頭塡注站的剖視圖； 圖3 3是隔離地顯示吸墨站的剖視圖； U 圖34是第三實施例維護轉盤的示意剖視圖； 圖3 5是第一實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖3 6是第二實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖3 7是第三實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖3 8是第四實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖39是第五實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖4 0是第六實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖41是第七實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； Q 圖42是第八實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖43 A和43B是第九實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖4 4是第十實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖4 5是第十一實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖4 6是第十二實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖4 7是列印引擎的剖面透視圖，且無列印匣供維護轉 盤用； 圖4 8是顯示列印引擎所用之獨立驅動組合體的透視圖 -41 - 200932553 圖49是圖48所示獨立驅動組合體的分解透視圖；和 圖5 0是圖49所示之分解透視圖左端的放大視圖。 【主要元件符號說明】 2 :列印頭組合體（列印頭匣） 3 :列印引擎 4 :墨水罐 6 :規制器 8 :上游墨水管線 1 〇 :關閉閥 12 :泵 1 6 :下游墨水管線 1 8 :廢墨水罐 20 :液晶聚合物模組 22 :媒介基板（媒介饋給路徑） 24 :主通道 26 :凹穴 2 8 :細通道 3 0 :列印頭積體電路 3 3 :接點 36 :入口 38 :出口 42 :保護罩 44 :頂模組（頂罩） -42- 200932553 46 :入口圍板 47 :出口圍板 4 8 :入口歧管 50 :出口歧管 52 :入口嘴 54 :出口嘴 56 :蓋體 5 8 :夾持表面 6 6 :晶粒附接薄膜 6 8 :通道模組 72 :凹穴模組 120 :承座（流體耦合器） 122 ：孔 1 24 :嵌入口 126 ：閂 1 2 8 :補強支承表面 150 :列印頭維護轉盤 152 :清潔墊 154 :刮刀 156:管狀驅動軸桿（舉升構造軸桿） 158 :(凸輪）舉升臂 160 :轉盤驅動軸桿（舉升軸桿） 162 :擦拭器刮片 166:轉盤驅動軸桿（中心軸桿；管狀底座） -43- 200932553 168 :凸輪嚙合表面（輥） 170 :(轉盤）舉升構造 172 :(轉盤）舉升凸輪 174:轉盤舉升正齒輪 176 :轉盤舉升蝸輪 178 :排出饋給輥（驅動軸桿） 180 :排出驅動皮帶輪 q 182 :媒介饋給皮帶 184 :驅動皮帶輪感測器 1 8 6 :主驅動輥（軸桿） 188 :編碼器碟（主驅動皮帶輪） 190 :媒介饋給馬達 192 :輸入驅動皮帶 194 :主印刷電路板 196 :受壓金屬殼體 Q 1 98 :列印頭加蓋器（加蓋維護站） 200 :第一轉盤旋轉感測器 202 :第二轉盤旋轉感測器 2 04 :維護編碼器碟（轉盤編碼器碟） 206 :列印壓盤維護站 2 0 8 :吸收性材料 2 1 〇 :多孔材料 212 :轉盤正齒輪 2 1 4 :擦拭器刮片外部底座組件 -44- 200932553 2 1 8 :集污器/吸墨器外部底座組件 2 1 9 :多孔材料 2 2 0 :吸收性集墨器/吸墨器構件 226 :鎖固耳部200932553 ^ IX. Description of the Invention [Technical Fields of the Invention] The present invention relates to the field of printers and in particular to pagewidth inkjet printers. [Prior Art] The applicant has developed a wide range of printers, Use the page width column Φ head instead of the traditional reciprocating head design. The page width design increases the print rate because the print head does not have to traverse the page to rewind to deposit a column of images. The page width print head simply deposits ink on the medium because it moves at high speed through the medium. These printheads have been able to perform full-color (full c〇l〇r) 1 600 dpi printing at a rate of approximately 60 pages per minute, which was previously unachievable with conventional inkjet printers. High print speeds require a large ink flow rate. Not only is the flow rate high, it is much more complicated to dispense ink along the entire length of a single wide print head than to feed a relatively small reciprocating print head. In order to extend the life of the print head, most inkjet printers are added to certain types of maintenance facilities. Covering the print head when the print head is not in use is one of the simple ways. Cap the print head so that the ink on the nozzle does not dry out. However, this does not remove paper dust or other contaminants that have adhered to the nozzle face. The most effective way is to wipe the nozzle face with a suitable surface to remove the particles. Use a wipe surface to remove dust and contaminants to clean the nozzle face, but the wipe surface itself will eventually need to be cleaned. -5- 200932553 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printer having a one-page wide print head and a medium substrate sheet Feeding a media path in a media feed direction, wherein the pagewidth printhead has a nozzle face defining an elongated array of nozzles extending over a print width of the media substrate, the printhead maintenance facility comprising: 0 a wiper member extending over the length of the nozzle array; an absorbent pad 'extending over the length of the wiper member; and a maintenance driver for moving the wiper member such that the wiper member wipes the wiper member The nozzle array and then the wiper pad. Moving the wiper member across the absorbent pad after the wiper member wipes the nozzle array cleans the wiper member and prevents accumulation of contaminants. By making the absorbent pad as long as the wiper member itself, the absorbent pad can clean the wiper member more quickly and efficiently. The absorbent pad Q has a larger volume than a shorter absorbent pad which must be pulled over the length of the wiper member for performing the cleaning operation. Because of the large volume, the absorbent pad absorbs more ink and spreads the dust over a wider surface area. Therefore, the frequency of replacement of the absorbent pad can be lower. Preferably, the absorbent pad has a cleaning surface that contacts the wiper member, the contact surface being covered by a woven material having a line of less than 2 denier. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the woven material is microfiber. In some embodiments, the absorbent pad has a foam core. -6- 200932553 Preferably the maintenance drive is configured to rotate the wiper member about an axis extending across the media feed direction such that the wiper member moves over an arc. In a more preferred form, the nozzle face and the absorbent pad are disposed on the arc. In a particularly preferred form, a contact surface on the absorbent pad is curved to correspond to the arc. Preferably, the arc is parallel to the media feed direction at the nozzle face. Preferably, the wiper member has an elastic blade whose distal edge is configured to flex when in contact with the nozzle face. In a more preferred form, the printhead maintenance facility further includes a doctor blade disposed on the arc extending across the media feed direction, wherein the wiper member is moved to the nozzle using the maintenance drive And then, by the scraper, the elastic blade is deflected for passage through the blade and when the elastic blade is disengaged from the blade, the elastic blade rebounds to its resting shape to thereby conceal the contaminant Throw away from its surface. In a particularly preferred form, the elastic blade of the wiper member is in contact with the blade prior to contacting the absorbent pad. Q In some embodiments, the wiper member has a plurality of wipers that are mounted to be movable independently of one another. In this aspect, the blade is divided into individual blade segments. Each segment is movable relative to its adjacent segment so any inconsistency in contact force will not cause bending or curling in other blade segments. In this way, the contact pressure is maintained at the nozzle face and the nozzle face can be effectively cleaned. Preferably, the wipers are arranged in parallel rows, each column extending over the width of the media substrate. In a preferred form, the wipers in a column of the parallel columns are arranged such that they are not aligned with the wiper in a adjacent column of 200932553 located in the parallel columns. In a particularly preferred form, the wiper in each parallel row is spaced apart from the adjacent wiper by a gap that allows for independent movement of adjacent wipers. Preferably, the maintenance drive raises and lowers the wiper member toward and away from the nozzle face. In some preferred embodiments, the maintenance device further includes a tubular base that is mounted to the exterior of the tubular base. In some embodiments, the maintenance facility further includes an ink absorber mounted on an exterior of the tubular base. In a more preferred form the maintenance facility further includes a capper and a print platen mounted on the exterior of the tubular base. Preferably, the tubular base has a porous material in the central chamber and a bore for establishing fluid communication between the wiper member and the porous material. In a particularly preferred form, the wiper member is a molded elastic member. Preferably, the inner base is a tubular base. In a more preferred form, the tubular base is a metal extrusion. Preferably, the outer base is an assembly of separate metal mold members that are intermeshing with each other through complementary formations integrally formed on each of the metal mold members. Optionally, the complementary forms provide a bayonet type coupling such that longitudinal movement of the separate metal modules relative to one another can engage or disengage the coupling. The inner and outer bases are made of aluminum. Optionally, the inner base is an extruded steel tube. In a particularly preferred form, the wiper member is a maintenance station in the maintenance stations. In a particularly preferred form, one of the maintenance stations is a spillto that has an absorbent member for receiving ink that is ejected. More than 200932553, a porous material is contained within a central chamber between the inner and outer bases. Preferably, the porous material is a porous rigid polymer. Preferably, the page wide print head has a plurality of print heads 1C, each of which is aligned across the medium feed direction. By mounting the printhead IC on a single line across the printhead, the elongated array of nozzles does not extend far in parallel to the media feed direction. It is believed that the length of movement of the wiper member across the print head can be shortened. This allows the wiping operation to be faster and the contact pressure on the nozzle to be more easily controlled. Preferably, one of the maintenance stations is a print head capper. In this form, the drive mechanism for raising and lowering the tubular base is independent of the drive mechanism that rotates the tubular base. [Embodiment] © Printer Fluid Engineering System Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the fluid engineering used in the printing engine described in Figs. 2A and 2B. As previously mentioned, the print engine has the primary mechanical construction of an inkjet printer. Construct peripheral structures (such as housings, paper trays, paper trays, etc.) to make them suitable for printing on printers such as photo printers, network printers, or printers Claim. The applicant discloses a photo printer of the application USSN 1 1 /68 8 863 (our case number RRE 001US) in the common system, which is an example of an ink jet printer using the fluid engineering system of Fig. 1. The contents of the application in the Common Commons are hereby incorporated by reference as -9-200932553. The operation of the system and its individual components are described in detail in USSN 1 1/87271 9 (our case number SBF 009US), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, the printer fluid engineering system has a printhead assembly 2 that supplies ink to the printhead assembly 2 via an upstream ink line 8. The waste ink is discharged to the waste ink tank 1 via the downstream ink line. For simplicity, only a single ink line is shown. In fact, the print head has multiple ink 0 lines for full color printing. The upstream ink line 8 has a shut-off valve 10 for selectively isolating the print head assembly 2 from the pump 12 and/or the ink tank 4. The pump 12 is used to actively dispense or flood the print head assembly 2. The pump 12 is also used to establish a negative pressure within the ink tank 4. The negative pressure is maintained by the bubble dot gauge 6 during printing. The print head assembly 2 is a liquid crystal polymer module 20 that supports a series of print head integrated circuits 30; the print head integrated circuits 30 are secured by a viscous die attach film (not shown). . The print head integrated circuit 30 has an array of ink Q water jet nozzles for ejecting ink droplets to the media substrate 22 being passed. The nozzle is a microelectromechanical construction that prints at a true 1600 dpi (ie, a nozzle pitch of 1600 npi) or greater resolution. The fabrication and construction of a suitable printhead integrated circuit 30 is described in detail in US Ser. No. 1 1/246,687, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The liquid crystal polymer module 20 has a main channel 24 extending between an inlet 36 and an outlet 38. The main channel 24 feeds a series of thin channels 28 that extend to the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. The fine channel 28 supplies ink to the printhead integrated circuit 30 via a laser cut-out hole in the die attach film. -10 - 200932553 Above the main passage 24 is a series of unfilled air pockets 26. These pockets are designed to confine a bag of air during the marking of the print head. These air bags give the system some compliance to absorb and damp the high pressure points and hydraulic shock in the ink. The printer is a high speed page wide printer with a large number of nozzles that emit quickly. This printer quickly consumes ink and abruptly ends the printing job or even the end of a page, meaning that a line of ink moving toward (and past) the print head assembly 2 must stop almost instantaneously. If there is no compliance provided by the 空气 air pocket 26, the momentum of the ink will overflow the nozzle of the printhead integrated circuit 30. Furthermore, the subsequent "reflected waves" produce a strong negative pressure sufficient to remove the nozzle. Print Engine Figure 2A shows the print engine 3 using the Print 匣2 type. The print engine 3 is the internal construction of the inkjet printer, so it does not include any outer casing, ink tank, or media feed and collection tray. The user raises or lowers the latch 126 to insert or remove the print head 匣2. The print engine 3 and the contacts on the print head 形成 2 are electrically connected and fluidly coupled by the yoke 120, the inlet manifold 48, and the outlet manifold 50, respectively. The media sheet is fed to the print engine by the main drive roller 186 and the discharge feed roller 178. The main drive roller 186 is driven by the main drive pulley and the encoder disc 18.8. The discharge feed roller 177 is driven by the discharge drive pulley 180. The discharge drive pulley 180 and the main drive pulley 188 are synchronized by the medium feed belt 182. The medium feed motor 190 supplies power to the main drive pulley 188 via the input drive belt 192. -11 - 200932553 The main drive pulley 188 has an encoder disc, and the drive pulley sensor 184 reads the encoder disc. Information on the number of revolutions and the speed of the drive shafts 186, 178 is sent to the print engine controller (PEC). A print engine controller (not shown) is mounted to the main printed circuit board (PCB) 194 and is the primary microprocessor for controlling printer operation. Figure 2B shows the print engine 3 after the print head has been removed to reveal the holes 122 in each of the sockets 120. Each of the apertures 122 houses one of the nozzles 52 on the inlet and outlet manifolds (see Figure 5). As noted above, the ink tank has any position and configuration, but is simply attached to the hollow insertion opening 124 (see Figure 8) at the rear of the socket 120 in the inlet coupler. At the insertion port 124 at the rear of the outlet coupler, the waste ink outlet reinforcing support surface 128 communicated to the waste ink tank 18 (see Fig. 1) is fixed to the pressurized metal casing 196 of the printing engine 3. These provide a reference point for setting the print head 在 within the print engine. They are also designed to provide a positive bearing surface for the compression load acting on the 匣 2 during installation. When the manifold nozzle (described below) opens the shutoff valve (described below) in the print engine, the fluid coupler 120 pushes against the inlet and outlet manifolds of the crucible. The pressure of the latch 126 on the cymbal 2 is also opposite to the bearing surface 128. The support surface 128 is disposed such that it is directly opposite the compressive load in the crucible 2, which reduces the bending and deformation in the crucible. Finally, this helps the nozzle to be positioned relative to the medium feed path. It also protects the weaker internal mechanism. Free of damage. Print head 匣 -12- 200932553 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the complete print head 匣 2. The print head cartridge 2 has a top module 44 and a removable protective cover 42. The top module 44 has a central web for structural stiffness and is used to provide a textured gripping surface 58 for manipulation of the weir during insertion and removal. The bottom of the boot 42 protects the print head integrated circuit (not shown) and the aligned contacts prior to installation in the printer. The cover 56 is integrally formed at the bottom and covers the ink inlet and outlet (see 54 and 52 of Figure 5). Figure 4 shows the printhead assembly 2 with the protective cover 42 removed for printing on the bottom surface. The header integrated circuit and the entire array of contacts 3 3 on the side surfaces. Throw the protective cover to recycle the waste or assemble the protective cover to the replaced print head to cover the leakage of residual ink. Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the print head assembly 2. The top cover has been removed to reveal the inlet manifold 48 and the outlet manifold 50, and the inlet and outlet panels 46, 47 have been removed to more clearly expose the five inlet nozzles 52 and the five outlet nozzles 54. The inlet and outlet manifolds 48, 50 form a fluid connection between each individual inlet and outlet and the main channel (see 24 of Figure 6) Q within the liquid crystal polymer. The main channel extends the length of the liquid crystal polymer and the main channel feeds a series of fine channels on the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module. An array of air pockets 26 are formed above each of the main passages 24. As described above with respect to Figure 1, the shock wave or pressure pulse in the ink is dampened by compressing the air within the air pocket 26. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the print head assembly without the inlet or outlet manifold or cap module. The primary channel 24 for each ink pigment and its associated air pockets 26 are formed in the channel module 68 and the pocket module 72, respectively. The die attach film 66 adheres to the bottom of the channel module 68. The die attach film-13-200932553 66 mounts the print head integrated circuit 30 to the channel module 'so that the thin channel on the lower side of the channel module 68 passes through the small laser cut-out hole through the film and the print head product The body circuit 30 is in fluid communication. Because of the stiffness and thermal expansion coefficient of the liquid crystal polymer, both the channel module 68 and the top cover module 72 are molded by a liquid crystal polymer, and the thermal expansion coefficient of the liquid crystal polymer and the thermal expansion coefficient of the liquid crystal polymer. Closely matched. It will be appreciated that, for example, the relatively long configuration of the pagewidth printhead' should minimize any difference in thermal expansion between the tantalum substrate of the printhead integrated circuit 30 and its support configuration. Printhead Maintenance Dial Referring to Figure 7, a cross-sectional perspective view is shown. This profile is through line 7-7 shown in Figure 2A. The print head cartridge 2 is inserted into the print engine 3 such that its outlet manifold 50 is in fluid communication with the insertion port 124, which guides the waste ink canister into the finished product of the printer (usually located on the base of the print engine) ). The liquid crystal polymerization Q module 20 supports the printhead integrated circuit 30 in close proximity to the media feed path 22 extending through the print engine. The printhead maintenance carousel 150 and its associated drive mechanism are located on opposite sides of the media feed path 22. The printhead maintenance carousel 150 is mounted for rotation about the tubular drive shaft 156, and the printhead maintenance carousel 150 is also configured for movement toward and away from the printhead integrated circuit 30. By raising the turntable 150 toward the print head integrated circuit 30, various print head maintenance stations on the exterior of the turntable are presented to the print head. The maintenance carousel 150 is rotatably mounted on the lift configuration 170 that is mounted to the lift configuration shaft 65, so it can pivot relative to the rest of the configuration of the print engines 3-14-200932553. The lift configuration 170 includes a pair of lift arms 158 (only one lift arm is shown and the other lift arm is disposed at the opposite end of the lift structure shaft 156). Each lift arm 158 has a cam engagement surface 168, such as a roller or pad of low friction material. A cam (described in detail below) is secured to the turntable drive shaft 160 for rotation with the shaft 160. The lift arm 158 is biased into cam engagement with the disc lift drive shaft 160 such that the turntable lift motor (described below) can move the dial toward and away from the print head by rotating the shaft 160. 0 The rotation of the maintenance dial 150 about the tubular shaft 166 is independent of the turntable lift drive. The turntable drive shaft 166 engages the turntable rotary motor (described below) so that it can be rotated regardless of whether it is retracted from the print head or toward the print head. As the turntable is advanced toward the printhead, the wiper blade 162 moves through the media feed path 22 to wipe the printhead integrated circuit 30. When the turntable 150 is withdrawn from the print head, the turntable 150 is repeatedly rotated such that the wiper blade 162 engages the doctor blade 154 and the cleaning pad 152. This is also discussed in detail below. 〇 Referring now to Figure 8, sections 7-7 are shown in plan view to more clearly describe the maintenance dial lift drive. The turntable lift drive shaft 160 is shown in rotation such that the lift cam 172 pushes the lift arm 158 downward by the cam engagement surface 168. The lift shaft 160 is driven by a turntable spur gear 174 that is sequentially driven by the turntable lift worm 176. Use the key to secure the worm gear 17 to the output shaft of the turntable lift motor (described below). As the lift arm 158 pulls the lift configuration 170 down, the maintenance carousel 150 is withdrawn from the printhead integrated circuit 30. In this position, when the turntable 50 is rotated, no maintenance station contacts the print head integrated circuit 30. However, the turntable will drive the wiper -15-200932553 wiper blade 162 contact doctor blade 154 and absorbent cleaning pad 152 ° doctor blade scraper 1 5 4 work together with cleaning pad 1 5 2 to extensively clean Wiper blade 162. The cleaning pad 152 wipes the paper dust and the dried ink from the wiping contact surface of the wiper blade 162. However, the small ink beads and dirt will form the tip of the blade 116. The tip does not touch the surface of the cleaning pad 152. In order to remove this ink and dust, the doctor blade 154 is installed in the printing engine 3' to contact the blade 154 after the blade 162 wipes the head integrated circuit 30 but before contacting the cleaning pad 152. The blade 162. When the wiper blade 162 contacts the blade 154, the wiper blade 162 is flexed into an arc for passage. Since the wiper blade 162 is an elastomeric material, it snaps back to its stationary straight shape as soon as it is released from the blade 154. Quickly bounces back to its still shape, which projects dust and other dirt from the wiper blade 162 (especially from the tip). Conventional workers will appreciate that the wiper blade 162 will also flex when it contacts the cleaning pad 152, and will again bounce back to its resting shape once the wiper blade 162 is released from the pad. However, the doctor blade 154 is radially mounted closer to the center shaft 166 of the turntable 150 and further away from the cleaning pad 152. This configuration makes it more curved as the wiper blade 162 passes, and gives more momentum to the dirt when it bounces back to a stationary shape. Since the cleaning pad 152 contacts the leading blade so that the trailing blade is improperly wiped past the cleaning pad 152, it is impossible to simply move the cleaning pad 152 closer to the turntable shaft 166 -16-200932553 to make the wiper blade 162 is more curved. Cleaning Pad The cleaning pad 152 is an absorbent foam that is formed into an arc corresponding to the circular path of the wiper blade 162. When the pad 152 is covered with a woven material to provide a plurality of dense gathered contact points when wiping the blade, the pad 152 is more efficiently cleaned. Therefore, the size of the thread of the woven material should be small relative to 0, for example less than 2 denier. The working condition of the microfiber material having a wire size of about 1 Danny is particularly good. The cleaning pad 152 extends the length of the wiper blade 162 and the wiper blade 162 also extends the length of the page width printhead. The page width cleaning pad 152 simultaneously cleans the entire length of the wiper blade, which reduces the time required for each wiping operation. Moreover, the length of the page wide cleaning pad inherently provides a large volume of absorbent material for holding a relatively large amount of ink. Because of the greater ability to absorb ink, it is less necessary to replace the cleaning pad 152 frequently. ❹ Capped on the print head Figure 9 shows the first stage of the capped print head integrated circuit 30 with the capped maintenance station 198 mounted to the maintenance carousel 150. When the lift cam 172 is pushed down on the lift arm 158, the maintenance dial 150 is withdrawn from the print head integrated circuit 30. The maintenance carousel 150 is rotated in conjunction with the maintenance encoder disk 206 until the first carousel rotation sensor 200 and the second carousel rotation sensor 202 determine that the print head capper is facing the print head integrated circuit 30. As shown in Fig. 10, the lift shaft 160 rotates the cam 172 such that the lift arms -17-200932553 158 move upward to advance the maintenance dial 150 toward the print head integrated circuit 30. The capper maintenance station 198 engages the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20 to seal the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit 30 in a relatively humid environment. Conventional workers will understand that this prevents (at least prolongs) the nozzle from being dried and blocked. Removing the lid of the printhead Figure 1 1 shows the printhead integrated circuit 30 that is removed to prepare for printing. The lift shaft 160 is rotated such that the lift cam 172 pushes the turn arm lift arm 158 downward. The capping maintenance station 198 moves away from the liquid crystal polymer module 20 to expose the print head integrated circuit 30. Wiping the print head Fig. 12 shows the print head integrated circuit 3 正 being wiped by the wiper blade 162. When the capping station 1 98 is rotated away from the printhead, the wiper blade 162 of the wiper member contacts the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. When the turntable 150 continues to rotate, the wiper blade is pulled through the nozzle face of the printhead integrated circuit 30 to wipe off any paper dust, dried ink, or other contaminants. The wiper blades 1 62 are formed of an elastomeric material so that they elastically flex and bend as they wipe through the printhead integrated circuit. When the tip end of each wiper blade is bent, the side surface of each blade forms a wiping contact with the nozzle face. It can be understood that the wide flat side surface of the blade has a large contact with the nozzle face, and the dirt is removed more efficiently. -18- 200932553 Wiper blade cleaning (cleaning) Figure 1 3, 14 shows the wiper blade 1 62 being cleaned. As shown in Fig. 13, after the wiper blade 162 wipes the print head integrated circuit 30, the wiper blade 162 is immediately rotated through the doctor blade 154. The function of the blade 154 is discussed in more detail in the title "Scraper" above. After the wiper blade 1 62 is pulled past the blade 1 54 , any residual dust and dirt adhering to the blade is removed by the absorbent pad 152 0 . This step is shown in Figure 14. During this process, the print platen maintenance station 206 is just opposite the print head integrated circuit 30. If desired, the carousel can be lifted by rotating the lift cam 172 so that the nozzle can be launched into the absorbent material 20 8 » Any pigment mixed in the ink nozzle is immediately purified. A hole (not shown) that is drilled into the side of the tubular base 1 66 provides fluid communication between the absorbent material 208 and the porous material 210 within the central pocket of the turntable shaft 166. The ink absorbed by the material 208 is drawn into the porous material 210 and held by the porous material 〇 210. In order to allow the porous material 210 to drain, the turntable 150 may be provided with a vacuum attachment point (not shown) to drain the waste ink. The turntable 150 continues to rotate with a clean wiper blade (see Figure 15) until the print platen 206 is again positioned opposite the printhead integrated circuit 30. Then, as shown in Fig. 16, the turntable is raised toward the print head integrated circuit 30 to prepare for printing. The media substrate sheet is fed along the medium feed path 22 and passed through the print head integrated circuit 30. In the case of full bleed printing to the extreme side of the media sheet, the media substrate can remain away from the platen 206 so that it does not become soiled by excessive ink spray. It will be appreciated that the absorbent material -19-200932553 • 208 is disposed within the recessed portion of the printing platen 206 so that any oversprayed ink (typically about 1 mm on either side of the paper) is retained away from the contactable medium. The surface of the substrate. At the end of the printing job or before the printer will enter the standby mode, the turntable 150 is withdrawn from the printhead integrated circuit 30 during rotation so that the printhead capping maintenance station 198 is again presented to the printhead. As shown in Fig. 17, the lift shaft 160 rotates the lift cam 158 such that the lift cam 158 moves the print head cap Q maintenance station into sealing engagement with the lower side of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. Printhead Maintenance Dial Figure 18, 19, 20, and 21 show the isolated maintenance dial. Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the wiper blade 162 and the print platen 206. Figure 19 is a perspective view showing the print head capper 198 and the wiper blade 162. Figure 20 is an exploded view showing the components of the maintenance carousel. Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view showing the components after complete assembly.维护 The maintenance carousel has four printhead maintenance stations: a print platen 206, a wiper member 162, and a spreader/ink absorber 220. Each maintenance station is mounted to its own external base assembly. The outer base assembly is mounted about the tubular tubular shaft 166 and engages one another to lock onto the shaft. At one end of the tubular shaft 166 is a turntable encoder disc 02 and a turntable spur gear 212'. The turntable spur gear 212 is driven by a turntable rotary motor (not shown) described below. The tubular shaft is fixed to or rotates with the spur gear. Each of the print head maintenance stations rotates with the tubular shaft by virtue of its firm compression and clamping on the outside of the shaft. -20- 200932553 Wiper Blade External Base Assembly 2 1 4 is an aluminum extruded article (or other suitable alloy) ' Constructs a wiper blade outer base assembly 214 to securely hold the wiper blade 1 62. Similarly, other external base components are metal extrusions's softer elastomeric and/or absorbent porous materials for securely mounting individual service stations. An outer base assembly for printing platen 2 16 and print head capper 1 98 has a series of identical locking ears 226 along each longitudinal edge. The wiper member outer base assembly 214 and the ink collector/ink extractor outer base assembly 218 have complementary latch-type slots for receiving the locking ears 226. Each of the card slot has an ear access opening 228 that abuts the ear lock slot 230. The locking ears 226 are inserted into the ear access holes 228' adjacent the outer base assembly and then longitudinally slid relative to each other to lock them to the base tubular shaft 166. In order to improve the friction and locking engagement between each of the maintenance stations and the base plate shaft 166, each of the printhead maintenance stations is provided with an element having an arcuate shaft engagement surface 234 formed on one side thereof. The ink collector/ink extractor Q base assembly 2 1 8 has a relatively large absorbent ink collector/ink extractor member 220 that also has an arcuate shaft engaging surface 234 formed on its inner face. Similarly, the common base assembly for the print head capper 1 98 and the common base of each wiper blade 162 have a curved shaft engagement surface 234. As a general practitioner will understand, using an interlocking construction to clamp the outer base to the inner base minimizes machining and assembly time and maintains small tolerances for precise installation of the maintenance station configuration. In this case, the external base components can be combined into different configurations. The wiper blade outer base assembly 214 and the ink collector/ink extractor base assembly 21 can be changed. Similarly, the print head -21 - 200932553 capper 198 and print platen 206 are interchangeable. In this way, the maintenance station can be combined in the best way it can be installed in a special printer. Injection Molding Polymer Turntable Base Figures 22 through 28 show a printhead maintenance carousel of another embodiment. These figures are schematic sections showing only the portion of the turntable and the print head. It should be understood that the maintenance drive system requires a simple and straightforward modification to accommodate the turntable of this real Q example. Figure 2 2 shows the liquid crystal polymer module 20 of the print head 匣 2 adjacent to the print head maintenance dial 150, which is presented to the print head integrated circuit 30 by the print platen 206. . For the sake of clarity, Figure 29 shows the print platen 206 in isolation. In use, a sheet of media substrate is fed along the media feed path 22. Between the nozzle of the print head integration circuit 30 and the medium feed path 22 is a print gap 244. In order to maintain print quality, the gap between the nozzle face of the print head IC circuit and the media surface 24 4 should be as close as possible to the nominal 値 defined during design period 0. In commercially available printers, this gap is approximately 2 mm. However, because of the advancement of printing technology, some printers have a printing gap of about 1 mm. With the popularity of digital photography, the need for full-page bleeding printing of color images is growing. "Full Version Bleed Print" is the extreme edge printed to the media surface. This often results in some "over-spraying", in which the ejected ink is not sprayed on the edge of the media substrate and deposited on the support printing platen. Then, the ink that has been sprayed across the boundary will stain on the subsequent sheet medium. -22- 200932553 The configuration shown in Figure 22 addresses these two issues. A paper guide 23 8 on the liquid crystal polymer module 20 defines a printing gap 244 during printing. However, the print platen 206 has a guide surface 2 46 formed on its rigid plastic base module. The leading surface 246 guides the leading edge of the sheet toward the discharge drive roller or other drive mechanism. Because of the minimal contact between the sheet media and the print platen 206, the likelihood of soiling by the ink that has been sprayed across the boundary during full-scale bleeding printing is greatly reduced. Further, the paper guide 238 φ on the liquid crystal polymer module 20 is disposed in close proximity to the print head integrated circuit 30 to accurately maintain the gap 244 between the nozzle and the medium surface. Some printers in the applicant's range use this technique to provide 0. 7 mm print gap 244. However, by making the beads of the capsular material 240 adjacent to the print head integrated circuit 30 flat, the gap can be reduced. Power and data are transferred to the printhead integrated circuit 30 by a flexible printed circuit board 242 mounted to the outside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. The contacts of the flexible printed circuit board 242 are electrically connected to the contacts of the column Q head integrated circuit 30 by a series of lead frames (not shown). To protect the leadframe, the leadframe is wrapped in an epoxy material called a bladder. Applicants have developed a variety of techniques for flattening the contour of the leadframe and the beaded bladder 240 covering the leadframe. This allows the printing gap 244 to be further reduced. The print platen 206 has a recessed or central recess 248 that faces the nozzle of the print head integrated circuit 30. Any ink that is sprayed across the boundary will be in this area of the platen 206. Recesses are formed in this area away from the rest of the platen, ensuring that the media substrate is not soiled by wet, out-of-bound spray ink. The surface of the central pocket 248 is in fluid communication with the absorbent fibrous element 25 0 . The fibrous element -23- 200932553 piece 250 and the porous material 254 in the center of the base 236 are also in fluid communication by the capillary tube 252. The ink that has been sprayed across the boundary is drawn into the fiber member 25A and is drawn into the porous material 254 via the capillary 25 2 by capillary action. Figure 23 shows the turn of the turntable 150 such that the printhead picking station 262 is presented to the printhead integrated circuit 30. Figure 30 shows the isolated printhead station 2 7 2 and its construction features. The print head dispensing station has an elastomeric skirt 2 5 6 ' surrounding the immersion contact pad 258 which is formed of a porous material. Elastomeric skirt and licking Q The contact pad is formed to be mounted with the rigid polymer base 260, and the rigid polymer pedestal 260 is securely mounted to the ejection shaped base 236. When the print head 匣 2 is replaced, it needs to be inked. It is well known that the beating process is wasteful because the ink is usually forced through the nozzle until the entire print head configuration has drained any bubbles. A very large amount of ink has been wasted during the removal of air from the plurality of conduits extending through the printhead. To address this problem, the maintenance carousel 150 is raised such that the contact pad 258 covers the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit 30. When the nozzle array is inflated under pressure, the contact pad 258 is held against the nozzle, greatly reducing the amount of ink that is discharged through the nozzle. The porous material partially blocks the nozzle to limit the flow of ink. However, the air flow from the nozzle is subject to much less restriction, so the entire injection process is not delayed by the flow barrier created by the porous material. The elastomeric skirt 256 sealingly abuts the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 22 to draw excess ink from the underside of the contact pad 258. A flow aperture 264 formed in the rigid polymer susceptor 260 allows the ink absorbed by the pad 258 and any excess ink to flow to the absorbent fiber component 250 (and the print platen 2 0 6 -24- 200932553) • The same is used.) As with the printing platen 206, the ink within the fiber element 25 is drawn into the porous material 254 in the forming base 236 by the capillary 252. By using the print head 塡 station 262, the amount of wasted ink is drastically reduced. If there is no injection station, the amount of ink that is wasted for each type of pigment is usually about 2 ml when the page is widened. If there is a station 262, the amount of ink wasted by each pigment is reduced to About 0. 1 ml. The 0 contact pad 25 8 does not have to be formed of a porous material, but may instead be formed of the same elastic material as the skirt 25 6 . In this case, the contact pad 258 needs to have a special surface roughness. The surface of the nozzle face of the mating print head integrated circuit 30 should be rough on a 2 to 4 micron scale, but smooth and smooth on a 20 micron scale. This type of surface roughness allows air to escape from between the nozzle face and the contact pad, but only a small amount of ink escapes. Figure 24 shows the wiping station 266 of the maintenance carousel 150 presented to the print head integrated circuit 30. The wiping station is shown separately in Figure 31. The wiping station 266 is also of a co-molded construction having a soft elastomer wiping blade 268 supported on a hard plastic base 270. In order to wipe the nozzle face of the print head integrated circuit 30, the turntable base 23 is raised and then rotated, so the wiper blade 268 is wiped over the nozzle face. The turntable base 236 is typically rotated such that the wiper blade 268 is wiped toward the bladder. The contours of the capsular beads can be designed to aid in the application of dust and dirt to the wiper blade 2, as discussed in the application for the file number RRE015US (incorporated for cross-referencing) in the Applicant's Common Ownership. 6 8 on the face. However, if it is proven that wiping in both directions is more efficient, then a maintenance drive (not shown) can be easily constructed for rotation in both directions - 25 - 200932553 * base 236. Similarly, the number of times of wiping through the print head integrated circuit 3 is easily changed by changing the number of rotations'. The program maintains the drive' to perform each wipe. The print head capper 272, which shows the maintenance dial 150 in Fig. 25, is presented to the print head integrated circuit 30. Fig. 32 shows the capper '' independently to exemplify its configuration. The capper 2 72 has a peripheral seal 274 formed of a soft elastomeric material. The surrounding seal 274 is co-molded with its hard plastic base 276. When the printer is idle, the printhead capper 272 reduces the rate at which the nozzles are dried. The seal between the perimeter seal 274 and the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20 need not be completely airtight because the capper is being used to draw the printhead with suction. In fact, the rigid plastic base 276 should include an air respirator aperture 278 so that the nozzle does not overflow with the suction caused by removing the lid of the printhead. To cover the printhead, the base 23 is rotated until the printhead capper 272 is presented to the printhead integrated circuit 30. The base 236' is then raised until the surrounding seal 274 engages the print head 匣2. 0 Figure 26 shows a wiper blade cleaning pad 152. As described in the first embodiment above, the cleaning pad 152 is mounted in the printer such that the wiper blade 268 moves past the surface of the pad 152 as the maintenance dial 150 rotates. By providing the position of the cleaning pad 152, the base 23 must be retracted from the printhead integrated circuit 30 to allow the wiper blade 268 to contact the cleaning pad and to rotate the chassis 236 at a relatively high rate for a wide range of The wiper blade 268 is cleaned without any damaging contact with the printhead integrated circuit 30. Further, the cleaning pad 154 can be wetted with a surfactant to more easily remove dirt from the wiper blade surface. -26- 200932553 * Figure 27 shows the injection molding base 236 independently. The base is symmetrical with respect to two planes extending through the central longitudinal axis 2 82 . This symmetry is important because if the injection molding base 23 extending along the length of the page width print head is asymmetrical, there is a tendency to deform and bend as it cools. Because of the symmetrical profile, when the base is cooled, its contraction is also symmetrical. The base 236 has four maintenance station mounting brackets 276 formed on its outer surface, all of which are identical so that they can accommodate any of the various maintenance stations 206, 266, 262, 272. In this way, each maintenance station becomes an interchangeable module and the order in which each maintenance station is presented to the print head can be changed to suit different printers. Furthermore, if the maintenance stations themselves are modified, their standard seating ensures that the maintenance station can easily break into existing production lines with minimal equipment replacement. The maintenance station is fixed in the socket with an adhesive, but other methods (such as ultrasonic point welding or mechanical mutual engagement) are also suitable. Q As shown in Fig. 28, the mold is provided with four sliders 278 and a central core 2 88. Each slider 278 has a cylindrical configuration 280 to form a conduit that connects the fiber core pad to the porous material 219 within the central pocket. The pull lead for each slider is radially outward from the base 236, while the core 28 8 is longitudinally retracted (it is understood that the core is not a precision cylinder but a truncated cone to Provide the required ventilation). Injection molding of polymer components is well suited for large and low cost production. Furthermore, the symmetrical construction and uniform shrinkage of the base maintains good tolerances to maintain the maintenance station extending parallel to the printhead integrated circuit. However, other manufacturing techniques are also possible, such as shock waves of compression polymerization -27-200932553 powder or the like. Furthermore, the increased hydrophilic surface treatment can help the ink flow to the capillary 252 and ultimately to the porous material 210 within the base 236. In some printer designs, a base is constructed for connection to a vacuum source to periodically vent ink from the porous material 210. Five Maintenance Station Embodiments FIG. 34 shows an embodiment of a printhead maintenance carousel 150 having five different Q maintenance stations: a print platen 206, a print head wiper 266, a print head capper 272, The station 262, and the ink collector 284. The ink collector 284 (shown separately in Figure 33) has a relatively simple construction... the ink collector face 284 presents a flat to print head and has holes (not shown) for the fiber elements held in its plastic base 250 is in fluid communication. A five-station maintenance carousel 150 is attached to an ink collector 284 to allow the printer to use the primary ink purge as part of the maintenance system. The four station turntable of Figures 22-25 provides a secondary ink purge or "spitting cycle" using the print platen 206 and/or the capper 272. During the printing job, a secondary discharge cycle is used to keep the nozzle wet after wiping the nozzle face or inter-page spit. However, if the print head needs to be recovered from removal of the sputum, severe pigment mixing, large size nozzles, etc., a major discharge cycle may be required - because the condition has exceeded the capacity of the platen or capper. The ink collector 284 has a large aperture or series of retaining ribs in its face 286 to retain the fiber core material 250 within the plastic base. This keeps fiber element 250 very open to potential ink intensive spraying. One face of the fiber elements 250-28-200932553 is pressed against the capillary 252 to increase the flow of porous material 254 into the central pocket of the base 236. The S-bearing base 23 6 is injection molded using five sliders at 72 degrees to each other or six sliders at 60 degrees to each other. Similarly, a maintenance carousel with more than five stations is also possible. If the nozzle face has a tendency to gather away from the ink, it is still difficult to remove using the wiper alone. In these cases, the printer may require a station (not shown) for ejecting ink solvent or other cleaning fluid onto the nozzle face Q. However, this can be incorporated or attached to the ink collector. Wiper Variations Figures 3 through 5 show a range of different configurations that the wiper can take. Wipe the nozzle of the print head to interview an effective way to remove paper dust, spill ink, dry ink, or other dirt. The average worker will understand that there may be countless different wiper configurations, many of which are not suitable for any particular printer. Functional efficiency (ie, cleaning the print head) must weigh production costs, operational life expectancy, size and weight constraints, and other considerations. Single Contact Blade Figure 35 shows a wiper maintenance station 266 having a single elastomer blade 290 mounted within a hard plastic base 2 70 such that the blade extends perpendicular to the media feed direction. A single wiper blade extending along the length of the nozzle array is a simple wipe configuration with low production and assembly costs. For this reason, a single wiper wiper is suitable for the bottom of the printer and price range. Higher throughput requires efficient manufacturing techniques and easy assembly of printer components. This must be -29- 200932553. There must be some compromise between the operating life of the unit or the speed and efficiency of the wiper cleaning the print head. However, the single blade design is pocket-sized, and if the blade does not effectively clean the nozzle surface in one traverse, the maintenance drive can simply repeat the wiping operation until the print head is clean. Multiple Contact Blades Figures 36, 43 A, 43B, and 46 show a wiper maintenance station 266 having a plurality of parallel blades. In Fig. 36, two identical parallel blades 292 extend perpendicular to the media feed direction. Two blades 292 are separately mounted to the hard plastic base 270 to operate independently. In Fig. 46, the respective blades are not the same. The first and second blades (294 and 296, respectively) have different widths (or different cross-sectional profiles) and durometers (hardness and viscoelasticity). Each wiper can be optimized to remove a particular type of dirt. However, the blades are separately mounted in the hard plastic base 2 70 for independent operation. In contrast, the plurality of wiper elements of FIGS. 43A and 43B have smaller and shorter wipers 300 that are all mounted with a common elastomeric base 29 8 that is secured to the hard plastic base 270 . This is a substantially more compliant configuration with a relatively large surface area in each wipe that contacts the nozzle face. However, the thin and soft blade has a faster and more robust blade wear rate. Since a plurality of parallel blades are wiped across the nozzle face, a single traverse of the wiper member collects more dust and dirt. Although the design of multiple wipers is less compact than a single wiper, each wipe is faster and more efficient. Therefore, during the printing job, the print head can be wiped between pages; and the initial maintenance items performed before the print job are completed in a short time. -30- 200932553 Single Skew Scraper Figure 37 shows a wiper maintenance station 270 having a single wiper blade 302 mounted on a hard plastic base 270 such that the wiper blade 302 is skewed relative to the wiping direction. It can be appreciated that the wiping direction extends perpendicular to the length of the plastic base 27 0 . A single wiper blade is a simple wipe configuration with low production and assembly costs. Further, by mounting the blade to be skewed in the wiping direction, the nozzle face is only in contact with one section of the blade at any time during the traverse of the wiper member. Since only one section contacts the nozzle face, the wiper does not wrinkle or curl due to inconsistent contact pressure along its entire length. This ensures sufficient contact pressure between the wiper blade and the entire nozzle face without the need to precisely align the wiper so that it is completely parallel to the nozzle face. This allows for loose manufacturing tolerances so that larger quantities of low cost production techniques can be used. This must be a compromise between increasing the distance the wiper member must travel to clean the print head. Increase this distance and therefore the time required for each wipe job. But reducing manufacturing costs is more important than these potential shortcomings. Separate Contact Blade Figure 38 shows a wiper maintenance station 266 having two segmented blades 310 mounted in a hard plastic base 270. Each individual wiper section 306 constitutes a complete wiper 310 that is mounted within the hard plastic base 270 for independent movement relative to one another. The individual wiper segments 306 in each wiper blade 3 04 are arranged to be out of alignment with each other with respect to the wiping direction. In this manner, the nozzles that are not wiped by the first wiper blade 304 in the gap between the two wiper segments 306 can be wiped by the wiper segment 306 in the second wiper blade 304. It is inefficient to wipe the nozzle face of the page wide print head with a single long wiper. Inconsistent contact pressure between the wiper blade and the nozzle face can cause the blade to bend or curl along certain sections of its length. The contact pressure in these sections may be insufficient or there may be no contact between the wiper and the nozzle face. A wiper blade that is divided into individual wiper segments can solve this problem. Each segment can move relative to its adjacent segment, so any inconsistency in contact forces does not cause bending or curling of the other segments of the blade. In this way, the contact pressure is maintained on the nozzle face and the nozzle face is clean. Nozzle Face Wiper with Multiple Skew Blades In Figure 39, the wiper maintenance station 266 has a series of individual wipers 308 mounted within the hard plastic base 2 70 such that the wipers are inclined to the wiping direction. Each of the blades 308 is provided such that there is some overlap (Z) between the lateral extent (X) of each blade (relative to the wiping direction) and the lateral extent (Y) of its adjacent blade. Q By mounting the wiper blade to be skewed in the wiping direction, the nozzle face is only in contact with a section of the blade at any time during the traversing of the wiper member. Since only one section contacts the nozzle face, the wiper does not wrinkle or curl due to inconsistent contact pressure along its entire length. This ensures sufficient contact pressure between the wiper blade and the entire nozzle face without the need to align the wiper so that it is precisely parallel to the nozzle face. This allows for loose manufacturing tolerances so that larger quantities of low cost production techniques can be used. A single skewed blade can achieve this, but it increases the distance that the wiper member must travel to clean the printhead, thus increasing the time required for each wipe. In view of this, the present invention uses a series of adjacent skewed blades's to wipe the corresponding portions of the array of nozzles. In some applications, multiple wipers involve higher manufacturing costs than a single wiper, but pocket design and faster work are more important than these potential drawbacks. Wiper with Array Pad In Figures 40 and 44, the wiper maintenance station 266 uses the array of contact pads 310, rather than any blade configuration. The individual pads 3 1 2 can be individually mounted into a set of short cylindrical elastomeric materials within the rigid plastic base 210 or similar to a cylindrical soft fiber brush that is often used in the format of wafer cleaning. As described above, it is inefficient to wipe the nozzle surface of the page wide print head with a single long contact surface. Inconsistent contact pressure between the wiping surface and the nozzle face can result in insufficient or no contact pressure in certain areas. The use of a wiping surface that has been divided into individual contact pads of the array 310 allows each pad to move relative to the adjacent pad, so that inconsistent contact forces change its amount, causing each pad to compress and deform individually. The relative high pressure of a pad does not require the transmission of compressive forces to cause adjacent pads. In this way, uniform contact pressure is maintained on the nozzle face and the nozzle face is more efficiently cleaned. Sinusoidal Scraper In the wiping maintenance station 266 shown in Figure 41, a single blade 314 is mounted into the hard plastic base 270 such that the blade follows a sinusoidal path. As previously mentioned, it is inefficient to wipe the nozzle face of the page wide print head with a single long contact surface. Inconsistent contact pressure between the wiper surface and the nozzle face will result in contact pressures not in the range of -33- 200932553 or in certain areas. One of the reasons for the change in contact pressure is the inaccurate movement of the wiper surface relative to the nozzle face. If the support structure for the wiping surface is not completely parallel to the nozzle face throughout the stroke length during the wiping operation, the area of low contact pressure may not be properly cleaned. As explained in the explanation of the skewed mounting blade, the above problem can be avoided by setting the position of the wiper blade to be inclined with respect to the feeding wiping direction and the ejection head. In this way, only a portion of the wiper blade contacts the nozzle face at any 0 time of the wiping operation. In addition, the small angle between the wiper and the wiping direction improves the cleaning and efficiency of the wipe. When the wiper moves obliquely over the nozzle face, there is more contact between the wiper and the nozzle face for better dirt removal. This improves any problems caused by inconsistent contact pressures, but in each wiping operation, the wiper blade is required to travel a longer stroke. As noted above, inaccurate movement of the wiper surface relative to the nozzle face is a source of insufficient contact pressure. Increasing the length of the wiper stroke is not conducive to pocket design.擦拭 Use a wiper blade with a zigzag or sinusoidal shape to wipe the nozzle face with multiple wiper segments that are inclined in the media feed direction. This configuration also allows the stroke length of the wiper member relative to the printhead to be small enough to remain accurate and compact. Single Wiper with Non-Linear Contact Surface Figure 42 shows a wiping maintenance station 266 having two linear sections at an angle to each other and mounted on a hard plastic base 27〇 obliquely to the wiping direction. If the nozzle face of the page width print head is wiped with a single long contact surface, -34-200932553 may cause insufficient or no contact pressure in some areas. Having the blade angled relative to the wiping direction and the printhead nozzle face means that only a portion of the wiper blade contacts the nozzle face at any time during the wiping operation. This makes the contact pressure more uniform, but in each wiping operation, the wiper blade needs to travel longer. As noted above, inaccurate movement of the wiper surface relative to the nozzle face is a source of insufficient contact pressure. Increasing the length of the wiper stroke only increases the risk of this inaccuracy. Q By wiping the wiper surface having an angular or curved shape, the wiper section inclined in the direction of the medium feed is wiped over most of the nozzle face while reducing the stroke length of the wiper member relative to the printhead. A general worker will appreciate that the contact blade can have a shallow V or U shape. Furthermore, if the leading edge of the blade 3 18 is the intersection of two straight segments (or curved segments of a U-shaped blade), the Applicant has found that the blade has less wear because of contact with the nozzle face. The initial point provides additional support. Q Fiber Mat Figure 45 shows a printhead wiper maintenance station 266 having a fiber mat 320 mounted to a hard plastic base 270. The fiber mat 3 20 is particularly effective for wiping the nozzle face. The pad presents a plurality of points in contact with the nozzle face such that the fibers can mechanically engage the solid soil and absorb fluid contaminants such as ink overflow by capillary action. However, once the fiber mat has cleaned the nozzle face, it is difficult to remove dirt from the fiber mat. After many wiping operations, the fiber mat is filled with a lot of dirt and the nozzle face is no longer effectively cleaned. However, fiber pads -35-200932553 provide the most efficient wiper for printers with short job life or printers that allow replacement of wipers. Combined wiper maintenance station It will be appreciated that some print head designs are most efficiently cleaned by the combination of the wipe configurations described above. For example, a single blade combines a series of skewed blades or a series of parallel blades with fiber mats therebetween. U-type wiper maintenance stations can be derived by selecting a particular wiper structure based on individual strengths and strengths. Printhead Maintenance Facility Drive System Figures 47 through 50 show the media feed drive and printhead maintenance drive in more detail. Figure 48 shows the printhead maintenance carousel 150 and the drive system independently. The displayed maintenance carousel 150 is presented to the print head (not shown) by the wiper blade 162. The perspective view shown in Fig. 48 reveals that the paper discharge guide 322 is guided to the discharge driving roller 178. On the other side of the wiper blade 162, the main drive roller Q shaft 186 is shown extending from the main drive roller pulley 33 0 . This pulley is driven by a main drive roller belt 192 which engages the medium feed motor 190. The medium feed to the drive belt 182 synchronizes the rotation of the main drive roller 186 and the discharge roller 178. The exploded perspective view of Figure 49 shows the individual components in more detail. In particular, this perspective map best illustrates the balanced turntable lift mechanism. The turntable lift drive shaft 160 extends between two identical turntable lift cams. One end of the turntable lift shaft 160 is keyed to the turntable lift spur gear 174. The spur gear 174 engages the worm gear 176 and the turntable lift motor 3 24 drives the worm gear 176. The turntable lifts -36- 200932553 liters of the rotary sensor 3 3 4 provides feedback to the print engine controller (not shown)' which can determine the displacement of the turntable from the print head by the angular displacement of the cam 172. The turntable lift cam 172 contacts the individual turn arm lift arms 158 by camming rollers 168 (it is appreciated that the camming rolls can be surfaces of low friction materials such as high density polyethylene (HDPE)). Since the cams 172 are identical' and are also mounted to the turntable lift shaft 160', the position of the turntable lift arm 158 is also the same. Figure 47 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 2A with the print head 匣 2 and the print head maintenance carousel 150 removed. This figure provides a clear view of the turntable spur gear 174, its adjacent lift cam 172, and the corresponding turntable lift arm 158. Since each lift arm 158 is equidistant from the midpoint of the turntable 150, the turntable lift drive is fully balanced and symmetrical when the turntable is raised and lowered. This is used to maintain the longitudinal direction of the various printhead maintenance stations parallel to the printhead integrated circuit. The best map solution for the rotary drive of the turntable is shown in Fig. 5, which is an enlarged partial exploded perspective view. A turntable rotary motor 326 is mounted to the side of the turntable lift configuration 170. The step motor sensor 328 provides feedback on the rate and rotation of the motor 326 to the print engine controller (PEC). The turntable rotary motor 326 drives the idler gear 3 32, and the idler gear 3 3 2 drives a reduction gear (not shown) on the mask side of the turntable lift configuration 170. The reduction gear engages the turntable spur gear 212 to keyly rotate the turntable positive gear 212 to the turntable base for rotation. Because the turntable rotation and turntable lift are controlled by separate independent drives, and each drive is powered by a stepper motor that provides feedback on the motor speed and rotation to the print engine controller, the printer has a wide range Maintenance procedures are available for selection. The turntable motor 326 can be driven in either of two directions and at a variable -37-200932553' rate so that the nozzle face can be wiped in either direction, and the wiper blade can be pressed in both directions The absorbent pad 152 is cleaned. This can be particularly useful if paper dust and other contaminants pass to the nozzle face and mechanically engage the surface irregularities on the nozzle face. Wiping in the opposite direction often removes such mechanical engagement. When the wiper blade 162 comes into contact with the nozzle face, the speed of the wiper blade 162 is lowered, and then the speed of the wiper blade 162 is increased when it is separated from the nozzle face. This mode is also used for φ. When the wiper blade and the nozzle face are initially in contact, it does slow down the rate and then increases the rate when wiping. Similarly, the rate at which the wiper blade 162 moves through the doctor blade 154 can be faster than the rate at which the wiper blade moves past the cleaning pad 152. The wiper blade 1 62 can be wiped in any of two directions and in any of the directions. Moreover, the order in which the various maintenance stations are presented to the print head can be easily programmed into the print engine controller and/or left to the user for discretion. The invention is described herein by way of example only. The average worker can easily recognize many changes and modifications that are not divorced from the spirit and scope of the broad invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a printer fluid engineering system; Is a perspective view of the print head cartridge of the present invention mounted on the printer of the printer; -38- 200932553 Figure 2B shows the print engine without the print head cartridge to expose the inlet and outlet ink couplers; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the print head of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the print head assembly of the print head of Figure 3; Figure ** Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the print head assembly carcass without the inlet or outlet of its tube or cap module; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the print engine taken from line 7-7 of Figure 2A; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the printing engine taken from line 7-7 of Figure 2A, showing the maintenance dial pulling the wiper blade through the doctor blade; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the maintenance dial pulling the wiper blade through the absorbent cleaning pad Figure 10 is a view showing the lift maintenance dial to cover the stamper maintenance station A cross-sectional view of the head; Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the lowering of the maintenance dial to remove the lid of the print head: Figure 1 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the nozzle face of the wiper wiper wiper head » Figure 13 is a view showing the maintenance dial turned back A cross-sectional view of the starting position shown in Figure 8, wherein the wiper blade has been pulled through the blade to bounce off the dirt in the tip region; Figure 14 shows the wiper blade has been pulled through the absorbent pad Sectional view; -39- 200932553 Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the rotation of the maintenance carousel to present the print head capper to the print head; Figure 16 shows the lift maintenance carousel to present the print platen to print Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the lifter is rotated to seal the printhead integrated circuit; Figure 18 is a perspective view of the isolated maintenance turntable; Figure 19 is another view of the isolated maintenance turntable Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of the isolated maintenance dial; Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view through the intermediate point of the length of the turntable; Figure 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment, Maintenance transfer Figure 23 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment, and the print head filing station engages the print head; Figure 24 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment, And the wiper blade engages the print head; FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment, and the ink collector is presented to the print head; FIG. 26 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment, and When the wiper blade is cleaned on the absorbent pad, the print platen is presented to the print head. Figure 27 is a cross-sectional view of the injection molded core used in the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment, -40-200932553 Figure 28 Is a schematic cross-sectional view of the injection molding die removed from the new portion of the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment; FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the printing plate maintenance station in isolation; FIG. 30 is an isometric display of the head capper Figure 3 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the wiper blade maintenance station in isolation; Figure 3 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the print head inspection station in isolation; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the ink absorption station in isolation; U Figure 34 is a third embodiment of the dimension Fig. 35 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the first embodiment; Fig. 36 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the second embodiment; Fig. 37 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the third embodiment; Fig. 3 4 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the fifth embodiment; FIG. 40 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the sixth embodiment; and FIG. 41 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the seventh embodiment; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the eighth embodiment; Figures 43A and 43B are schematic views of the wiper member of the ninth embodiment; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the tenth embodiment; 11 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the twelfth embodiment; FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the print engine, and no print is provided for the maintenance turntable; Fig. 49 is an exploded perspective view of the independent drive assembly shown in Fig. 48; and Fig. 50 is an enlarged view of the left end of the exploded perspective view shown in Fig. 49. Fig. 49 is a perspective view showing the independent drive assembly used in the print engine. view. [Main component symbol description] 2 : Print head assembly (print head 匣) 3 : Print engine 4 : Ink tank 6 : Regulator 8 : Upstream ink line 1 〇: Close valve 12 : Pump 1 6 : Downstream ink Line 1 8 : Waste ink tank 20 : Liquid crystal polymer module 22 : Media substrate (medium feed path) 24 : Main channel 26 : Pocket 2 8 : Fine channel 3 0 : Print head integrated circuit 3 3 : Point 36: Inlet 38: Outlet 42: Protective cover 44: Top module (top cover) -42- 200932553 46: Inlet coaming 47: Outlet coaming plate 4 8: Inlet manifold 50: Outlet manifold 52: Inlet nozzle 54 : outlet nozzle 56 : cover body 5 8 : clamping surface 6 6 : die attach film 6 8 : channel module 72 : pocket module 120 : socket (fluid coupler) 122 : hole 1 24 : insertion port 126: Latch 1 2 8 : Reinforcement bearing surface 150: Print head maintenance turntable 152: Cleaning pad 154: Scraper 156: Tubular drive shaft (lifting structure shaft) 158: (Cam) Lift arm 160: Turntable drive shaft Rod (lifting shaft) 162: wiper blade 166: turntable drive shaft (central shaft; tubular base) -43- 200932553 168: cam engagement surface (roller) 170 : (turntable) lifting structure 172 : (turntable) lifting cam 174 : turntable lifting spur gear 176 : turntable lifting worm wheel 178 : discharge feed roller (drive shaft) 180 : discharge drive pulley q 182 : medium feed Feed belt 184 : Drive pulley sensor 1 8 6 : Main drive roller (shaft) 188 : Encoder disc (main drive pulley) 190 : Medium feed motor 192 : Input drive belt 194 : Main printed circuit board 196 : Pressed metal housing Q 1 98 : Print head capper (capped maintenance station) 200 : First turntable rotation sensor 202 : Second turntable rotation sensor 2 04 : Maintenance encoder disc (turntable encoder disc 206 : Print platen maintenance station 2 0 8 : Absorbent material 2 1 〇: Porous material 212 : Turntable spur gear 2 1 4 : Wiper blade external base assembly -44- 200932553 2 1 8 : Collector / Ink absorber external base assembly 2 1 9 : porous material 2 2 0 : absorbent ink collector / ink absorber member 226 : locking ear
228 :孑L 2 3 0 :耳鎖固槽 236 :底座 2 3 6 :射出成型底座（轉盤底座） 2 3 8 :紙引導件 240 :囊狀物（材料） 242 :可撓印刷電路板 2 44 :列印間隙 246 :引導表面 2 4 8 :中央凹部 2 50 :(吸收性）纖維元件 2 52 :毛細管 2 5 4 :多孔材料 2 5 6 :彈性體裙部 2 5 8 :塡注接觸墊 260 :基座 262 :列印頭塡注站 2 64 :流動孔 266 :擦拭站（擦拭器維護站） 268 :(彈性體）擦拭器刮片 -45- 200932553 270 :硬塑膠基座 272 :列印頭加蓋器 2 7 4 :周圍密封 2 76 :硬塑膠基座（維護站安裝承座） 278 :空氣呼吸器孔（滑塊） 280 :柱狀構造 2 8 2 :中心縱長軸線 2 84 :集墨器 2 86 ：面 2 8 8 :中央芯部 290 :刮片 292 :刮片 294 :第一刮片 2 96 :第二刮片 2 9 8 :彈性體基座 300 :刮片 302 :刮片 3 〇 4 :被分段的刮片 3 0 6 :刮片區段 3 〇 8 :刮片 310 :接觸墊 3 1 2 :墊 3 1 4 :單一刮片 3 1 8 :刮片 -46- 200932553 3 20 :纖維墊 3 22 :紙排出引導件 324 :轉盤舉升馬達 326:轉盤旋轉馬達 3 28 :步進馬達感測器 330:主驅動輥皮帶輪 3 3 2 :惰輪 〇 334 轉盤舉升旋轉感測器228 : 孑 L 2 3 0 : ear lock groove 236 : base 2 3 6 : injection molding base (turntable base) 2 3 8 : paper guide 240 : bladder (material) 242 : flexible printed circuit board 2 44 : printing gap 246 : guiding surface 2 4 8 : central recess 2 50 : (absorbent) fiber element 2 52 : capillary 2 5 4 : porous material 2 5 6 : elastic skirt 2 5 8 : injecting contact pad 260 : pedestal 262 : print head 塡 station 2 64 : flow hole 266 : wiping station (wiper maintenance station) 268 : (elastomer) wiper blade -45- 200932553 270 : hard plastic base 272 : printing Head capper 2 7 4 : Surrounding seal 2 76 : Hard plastic base (maintenance station mounting bracket) 278 : Air breathing apparatus hole (slider) 280 : Columnar structure 2 8 2 : Center longitudinal axis 2 84 : Ink collector 2 86: face 2 8 8 : central core 290 : blade 292 : blade 294 : first blade 2 96 : second blade 2 9 8 : elastomer base 300 : blade 302 : scraping Sheet 3 〇 4 : Segmented blade 3 0 6 : Blade section 3 〇 8 : Blade 310 : Contact pad 3 1 2 : Pad 3 1 4 : Single blade 3 1 8 : Blade -46- 200932553 3 20 : Fiber mat 3 22 : paper discharge guide 324 : Turntable lift motor 326: Turntable rotary motor 3 28 : Stepper motor sensor 330: Main drive roller pulley 3 3 2 : Idler 〇 334 Turntable lift rotary sensor