Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
  • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
  • B41J2/01—Ink jet
  • B41J2/135—Nozzles
  • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
  • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
  • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
  • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
  • B41J2/01—Ink jet
  • B41J2/135—Nozzles
  • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
  • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
  • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
  • B41J2/16544—Constructions for the positioning of wipers
  • B41J2/16547—Constructions for the positioning of wipers the wipers and caps or spittoons being on the same movable support
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
  • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
  • B41J2/01—Ink jet
  • B41J2/135—Nozzles
  • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
  • B41J2/16585—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to inkjet printers and, more particularly, to servicing mechanisms for inkjet printers.
• Typical, small inkjet printers for home and/or office use include a print head provided with liquid ink from an ink supply. During operation, the print head ejects ink drops through a plurality of orifices or nozzles toward a print medium (e.g. a sheet of paper) thereby providing a printing pattern on the print medium.
• the orifices are generally configured in one or more arrays so that properly sequenced ejection of ink from the orifices causes characters or other images to be printed on the print medium as the print head and the print medium are moved relative to each other.
• Page-wide printers are constructed with a page-wide print head that includes page wide print arrays allowing for the entire width of the desired image to be printed without requiring movement of the page- wide print head. In other words, the page- wide print arrays span the entire width of the target print medium. Page- wide print heads thus require substantially more nozzles than commonly used inkjet printers.
• An issue among inkjet printers involves the improper operation of one or more nozzles of the print head due to particulate accumulation and/or residual ink.
• the preferred embodiments below provide a printer system that includes a print head assembly that ejects a printing solution from a fixed position during a print period and a conveying mechanism operable to convey an operations assembly along a path.
• the operations assembly executes servicing functions on the print head assembly during a non-print period.
• the print head assembly remains in the fixed position during the non-print period and the operations assembly provides support for a print medium during the print period.
• the printer system includes print means for ejecting a printing solution from a fixed position during a print period and conveying means for conveying operating means along a path, where the operating means executes servicing functions on the print means during a non-print period.
• the print means remains in the fixed position during the non-print period and the operating means provides support for a print medium during the print period.
• the conveying means may include a drive belt.
• the conveying means may also include a rotating element.
• the print means includes a page- wide print head.
• the conveying means is operable to convey the operating means in one of a first direction and a second direction, where the second direction is opposite of the first direction.
• the operating means includes a wiper, a capping element, and a support element.
• the wiper, the capping element, and the support element are mounted on the conveying means.
• the conveying means positions the capping element to engage the print means.
• the conveying means positions the wicker element substantially adjacent to the print means.
• the conveying means positions the wiper to engage the print means.
• system further comprises driving means for rotating the conveying means based on instructions from a control module.
• the control module one of stores the instructions in memory or receives the instructions from an external source.
• FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary printing system
• FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of an exemplary printing system according to the to the present disclosure
• FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the exemplary
• FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating steps of operating the exemplary printing
• module refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute ASIC
• ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit
• processor shared, dedicated, or group
• memory that executes instructions
• the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure.
• the embodiments described herein are related to printing systems such as inkjet printers that employ service stations or assemblies for maintaining proper operation of print heads and are merely exemplary in nature.
• the present disclosure describes an operational system that enables a print head to be serviced without requiring the print head to be driven outside the print zone, thereby enhancing the maintenance routine as well as minimizing the print system's size and effective cost.
• the printing system 10 includes a print media transport assembly 12 which moves and/or routes a print medium 14 move through a print media path, a carriage assembly 16 which moves a carriage 18 that transports a print head 20 relative to the print medium 14, and a service station assembly 22 which maintains functionality of the print head 20.
• the printing system 10 may include additionally assemblies such as a scanning/fax assembly.
• the print media transport assembly 12 includes a print medium introduction assembly 24 that introduces the print medium 14 into the print system, a drive or feed roller assembly 26 which advances the print medium 14 through the print system, and a print path motor 28 which operates the print medium introduction assembly 24 and the feed roller assembly 26.
• the carriage assembly 16 typically includes a carriage 18 that carries the print head 20 and a carriage motor 30 that operates the carriage.
• the print head 20 holds the nozzles 32 relative to the print medium 14.
• the service station assembly 22 typically includes a service station motor 34 which operates functions (i.e., service functions) of the service station assembly 22 discussed in more detail below.
• a problem common among conventional inkjet printers involves the improper operation of one or more nozzles of a print head due to ink drying on the nozzles. Additionally, particles of debris may accumulate around the nozzles which interfere with proper nozzle operation. Therefore most conventional inkjet printers utilize a service station assembly, as depicted in FIG. 1, to perform maintenance or servicing functions including, but not limited to, removal and replacement of "nozzle caps", wiping the nozzles, and/or "spitting" of ink through nozzles to ensure proper operation of the print head. Caps (e.g., rubber elements) are used to cover the nozzles while not in use in order to prevent the ink from drying within or in the vicinity of the nozzles.
• Caps e.g., rubber elements
• Periodic wiping of the nozzle surfaces with a wiping element such as one or more rubber blades serves to remove excess ink from the nozzles.
• periodic firing of ink through the nozzles is performed prior to depositing ink on a surface of a print medium in order to clean out (i.e., unblock) the nozzles in an effort to ensure normal ink flow.
• the printing system 10 like most conventional inkjet printers, includes the carriage motor 30 to translate the carriage 18 in a perpendicular direction relative the direction of advancement of the print medium 14.
• the carriage 18 i.e., the print head 20
• the carriage motor 30 may further drive the carriage 18 to be positioned over the service station assembly 22, past a border of the print medium 14, in order for the print head 20 to be serviced.
• the service station assembly 22 includes a capping system (not shown) that, as discussed above, operates to cover the nozzles 32 while the nozzles 32 are not in use
• the print head 20 executes the spitting process.
• the spitting process may include firing a variable number of ink droplets through each respective nozzle of nozzles 32.
• the fired ink is collected by a reservoir portion or receptacle (not shown), such as a spittoon, of the service station assembly 22.
• additional receptacles may be positioned beneath the print medium 14 to collect ink overspray generated during borderless, or edge-to-edge, printing known as "full bleed" printing.
• the service station assembly 22 further includes one or more wipers (not shown) to wipes the nozzles 32 of the print head 20 in order to remove ink residue as well as any debris that has accumulated on the nozzles 32.
• the carriage 18 Upon initiation of a print job (i.e., a printing operation), the carriage 18 is driven back over the print zone of the print medium 14.
• the print head 20 passes back and forth (i.e., traverses) across the print zone along a direction of motion, referred to as
• carriage motion in FIG. 1, while the nozzles 32 eject ink to form a desired image on the print medium 14.
• the carriage 18 Upon completion of a print operation, the carriage 18 is driven towards the service station assembly 22 for servicing.
• Page- wide printers utilize a page- wide print head that includes page-wide array(s) of nozzles that span the entire width of the print medium. In other words, an entire width of a desired image can be printed without requiring the page- wide print head to traverse a print zone of a print medium as noted above.
• page-wide print heads require an increased number (e.g., thousands) of nozzles relative to the number employed by typical inkjet printers (e.g., home office printers).
• FIG. 2 a simplified front view of a first embodiment of a printer system 100 is shown.
• the printer system 100 includes a page-wide inkjet print system, though the present disclosure anticipates various other embodiments of inkjet printers.
• the printer system 100 may implement an operational system of the present disclosure.
• the printer system 100 includes an operations assembly 102, or assembly 102, having a capping element 104, wipers 106, and a support element 108, referred to collectively as the assembly elements.
• the assembly elements are respectively mounted on an inner surface 109 of a conveying mechanism (e.g., a drive belt 110) such that movement of the drive belt 110 along a rotational path translates to movement of the assembly elements along the same rotational path.
• a conveying mechanism e.g., a drive belt 110
• the exemplary printer system 100 may include additional elements including, but not limited to, print media handling and movement assemblies, support and guidance assemblies, drive motors, and other functional modules such as detection and/or sensing modules. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the printer system 100 may include other assembly elements driven by the drive belt 110 and that the arrangement and/or spacing of the respective assembly elements about the drive belt 110 may be varied.
• the printer system 100 includes one or more print heads 112 which eject a printing solution (e.g. ink) through a plurality of orifices or nozzles 114 in the direction of a print medium 116 in order to generate a desired image on the print medium 116.
• the print head 112 includes a page-wide print head.
• the nozzles 114 are arranged in one or more columns or arrays (e.g., page- wide print arrays) and may include a variable number of nozzles.
• the print medium 116 may include, but is not limited to, any suitable sheet material such as paper, card stock, transparencies, Mylar, or cloth.
• the capping element 104 functions to cover the nozzles 114 while the nozzles are not in use (i.e., during non-print periods).
• the capping element 104 may include a pliable, latex based plastic though other materials are contemplated.
• the wipers 106 operate to wipe the nozzles 114 of the print head 112 to remove ink residue (e.g., ink that has hardened in or in the vicinity of the nozzles 114) as well as any particulate matter that has accumulated on the nozzles 114 that may block the passageways (not shown) of the nozzles 114.
• the wipers 106 typically sweep across the nozzles 114 during non-print periods and/or during transitional periods between print periods and non-print periods.
• the wipers 106 may include a variable number of wipers and may be comprised of rubber.
• the support element 108 engages or supports the print medium 116 such that print medium 116 is positioned substantially adjacent to the print head 112.
• the support element 108 is arranged in close proximity to the print head 112 although other arrangements are anticipated.
• the support element 108 includes structures such as ribs or teeth to position the print medium 116.
• the support element 108 further includes a wicking material (e.g. a high density foam-like material) to absorb ink overspray resulting from full bleed printing on the print medium 116 as well as to collect excess ink fired from the nozzles 114 during spitting operations.
• at least one assembly element operates in conjunction with the print head 112 during both print and non-print operations of the printer system 100.
• the printer system 100 may include additional components mounted to the drive belt 110 such as an additional wicking element 118 shown in phantom.
• the wicking element 118 may be utilized during spitting operations.
• movement of the drive belt 110 translates to movement of the assembly elements.
• a drive wheel 122 i.e., a driving element such as a motor
• the control module 120 communicates with a position encoder 124 (e.g., an optical detector) and the drive wheel 122.
• the position encoder 124 determines a respective position of the of drive belt 110 (i.e., determines the distance the drive belt 110 has advanced during operation) and generates a position signal indicating the position of the drive belt 110.
• the control module 120 activates the drive wheel 122 based on the position signal (i.e., position information) received from the position encoder 124.
• control module 120 advances the drive belt 110 by utilizing the position signal in order to align the respective assembly elements relative to the print head 112 during various functions while the print head 112 remains in a fixed position. Additionally, the control module 120 may vary the rate at which the drive belt 110 advances around its rotational path.
• the control module 120 may additionally control other elements of the printer system 100 based on the position signal. For example, the control module 120 may command the print head 112 to eject ink from the nozzles 114 at a given position based on a determined position of the drive belt 110.
• the control module 120 may further control advancement of the drive belt 110 based on predetermined servicing instructions stored in memory.
• the servicing instructions may indicate the sequence, frequency, and/or duration of each respective servicing function (e.g., capping, spitting, and/or wiping) performed by the assembly elements.
• the printer system 100 i.e., the control module 120
• an external source e.g., a user of the printer system 100
• FIG. 3 a simplified side-view of a second embodiment of a printer system 100 in shown.
• the printer system 100 includes a rotating element 150 as a conveying mechanism for the assembly elements.
• the rotating element 150 is depicted as a "wheel", various other structures are contemplated.
• Each respective servicing element is mounted on the rotating element 150.
• the rotating element 150 is operated in similar fashion as the drive belt 110. Specifically, movement of the rotating element 150 translates to movement of the assembly elements.
• a drive motor (not shown) rotates the rotating element 150 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and at a given rate.
• the control module 120 generates activation signals to control the rotational direction and the rate of rotation of the rotating element 150.
• the printer system 100 of the present embodiment further includes a position decoder (not shown) that determines a respective position of the rotating element 150 and transmits a position signal to the control module 120.
• the control module 120 selectively actuates the drive motor, thereby turning the rotating element 150 based on the position signal.
• control module 120 activates the drive motor (i.e., rotates the rotating element 150) in order to substantially align the respective assembly elements relative to the print head 112. In this manner, each respective servicing function may be performed without requiring the print head 112 to move.
• step 204 the control module 120 determines whether a print operation (i.e., a print period) has been initiated. If the control module 120 determines that a print operation has not been initiated, the method 200 proceeds to step 208. If the control module 120 determines that a print operation has been initiated, the method 200 proceeds to step 206. In step 206, the drive belt 110 is rotated to position the support element 108 substantially adjacent to the print head 112.
• a print operation i.e., a print period
• step 208 the control module 120 determines whether a wipe instruction has been processed. If the control module 120 determines that a wipe instruction has not been processed, the method 200 proceeds to step 212. If the control module 120 determines that a wipe instruction has been processed, the method 200 proceeds to step 210. In step 210, the drive belt 110 is rotated to position the wipers 106 to engage the print head 104. [0043] In step 212 the control module 120 determines whether a spitting instruction has been processed. If the control module 120 determines that a spitting instruction has not been processed, the method 200 proceeds to step 216. If the control module 120 determines that a spitting instruction has been processed, the method 200 proceeds to step 214. In step 214, the drive belt 110 is rotated to position the wicker element 118 to be substantially adjacent to the print head 104.
• step 216 the control module 120 determines whether a capping instruction has been processed. If the control module 120 determines that a capping instruction has not been processed, the method 200 returns to step 204. If the control module 120 determines that a capping instruction has been processed, the method 200 proceeds to step 218. In step 218, the drive belt 110 is rotated to position the capping element 104 to engage the print head 104. In step 220, the method 200 ends.
• components of the operational system may be implemented by one or more of: control logic, hardware, a microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, or a combination of circuits and/or logic.
• control logic hardware
• microprocessor microcontroller
• ASIC application specific integrated circuit
• the processing capability of the system may be distributed among multiple system components, such as among multiple processors and memories, optionally including multiple distributed processing systems.
• Parameters, databases, and other data structures may be separately stored and managed, may be incorporated into a single memory or database, may be logically and physically organized in many different ways, and may implemented in many ways, including data structures such as linked lists, hash tables, or implicit storage mechanisms.
• Programs and rule sets may be parts of a single program or rule set, separate programs or rule sets, or distributed across several memories and processors.

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• Ink Jet (AREA)

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• 2008
  • 2008-04-07 JP JP2010502347A patent/JP5273623B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-04-07 WO PCT/US2008/059559 patent/WO2008124679A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-04-07 CN CN2008800190371A patent/CN101678677B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-04-07 US US12/098,923 patent/US8322817B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-04-07 EP EP08733146.8A patent/EP2132039A4/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2012
  • 2012-11-27 US US13/686,609 patent/US9156268B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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