(19)
(11) EP 0 913 264 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
21.07.1999 Bulletin 1999/29

(43) Date of publication A2:
06.05.1999 Bulletin 1999/18

(21) Application number: 98308809.7

(22) Date of filing: 28.10.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B41J 2/165
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 28.10.1997 SG 3808697

(71) Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Company
Palo Alto, California 94304 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • NG, Keng Leong
    Singapore 520106 (SG)
  • Siow, We-Lym Darren
    Singapore 310205 (SG)
  • Lim, Eng Kuan
    Singapore 380128 (SG)

(74) Representative: Powell, Stephen David et al
WILLIAMS, POWELL & ASSOCIATES 4 St Paul's Churchyard
London EC4M 8AY
London EC4M 8AY (GB)

   


(54) Inkjet printhead service station


(57) A timing cam driven service station services a pair of inkjet cartridges, such as interchangeable first and second inkjet cartridges when installed with a third inkjet cartridge, in a dual-cartridge carriage of an inkjet printing mechanism. The interchangeable cartridge system uses a black ink cartridge and a full color cartridge with full-colorant concentrations of colored ink for printing graphics and text. For printing photographic type images, the black cartridge is replaced with an imaging cartridge that carries ink formulations having reduced colorant concentrations to provide near photographic quality images. The service station has a timing cam drive that selectively translationally moves caps and wipers to service the installed printheads, including the capability to independently wipe each printhead for optimum servicing, as well as the capability to simultaneously wipe both installed printheads to speed servicing during a print job. The timing cam drive also drives a carriage lock to secure a carriage carrying the printheads in a fixed position when the printheads are capped. A method is also provided of servicing inkjet printheads installed in the printing mechanism.






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