EP 1018430 A1 20000712 - Inkjet ink solvent application system
Title (en)
Inkjet ink solvent application system
Title (de)
System zum Zuführen von Tintenlösungsmittel für Tintenstrahldrucker
Title (fr)
Système d'application de solvant d'encre pour imprimante à jet d'encre
Publication
Application
Priority
US 22744999 A 19990108
Abstract (en)
A replaceable inkjet printhead cleaner service station system (70) has separate replaceable cleaning units (80, 82, 84, 86) for maintaining each printhead (60, 62, 64, 66) in an inkjet printing mechanism (20), which has a pallet (72) that moves the cleaning units. Each cleaning unit (80, 82, 84, 86) has a printhead wiper (125), a printhead snout wiper (190), a capping system (170), a spittoon (108), and an ink solvent application system (134), all supported by a base (102). The application system (134) has a reservoir body (132) impregnated with an ink solvent (130), and an applicator wick (135) located to apply the solvent (130) to the printhead (60) when an edge (200) of the printhead is brought into contact with the wick. A wiper (126, 128) wipes the solvent across the printhead (60), with excess ink solvent (130) and ink residue (218, 224) falling from the printhead and wiper into an auxiliary wiper chamber (220) defined by the base (102), eliminating the need for cumbersome wiper scrapers. A method is provided for cleaning an inkjet printhead (60), along with a printing mechanism (20) employing such a system. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
B41J 2/165 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
B41J 2/16552 (2013.01)
Citation (applicant)
- US 5278584 A 19940111 - KEEFE BRIAN J [US], et al
- US 4683481 A 19870728 - JOHNSON SAMUEL A [US]
- US 5276970 A 19940111 - WILCOX DARREN W [US], et al
- US 5712668 A 19980127 - OSBORNE WILLIAM S [US], et al
- US 5448270 A 19950905 - OSBORNE WILLIAM S [US]
- US 5146243 A 19920908 - ENGLISH KRIS M [US], et al
Citation (search report)
- [A] WO 9845122 A1 19981015 - HEWLETT PACKARD CO [US], et al
- [A] EP 0709204 A1 19960501 - HEWLETT PACKARD CO [US]
- [A] EP 0576175 A2 19931229 - CANON KK [JP]
- [A] EP 0558219 A2 19930901 - HEWLETT PACKARD CO [US]
- [A] EP 0780232 A2 19970625 - HEWLETT PACKARD CO [US]
- [A] EP 0711667 A1 19960515 - FULLMARK INT USA INC [US]
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE FR GB
DOCDB simple family (publication)
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 00300045 A 20000106; JP 36620899 A 19991224