Drop-on-demand print head cleaning mechanism and method
First Claim
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1. A card processing system, comprising:
- a card input that is configured to hold a plurality of cards to be processed;
a card output that is configured to hold a plurality of processed cards;
a drop-on-demand card printing system between the card input and the card output, the drop-on-demand card printing system is configured to print on a card using ultraviolet curable ink, the drop-on-demand card printing system includes at least one drop-on-demand print head having a nozzle plate;
the drop-on-demand card printing system further includes a cleaning mechanism that is configured to clean the nozzle plate of the at least one drop-on-demand print head without the cleaning mechanism physically contacting the nozzle plate;
an ultraviolet curing station between the card input and the card output, the ultraviolet curing station is configured to cure ultraviolet curable ink applied to a card by the drop-on-demand card printing system.
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Abstract
A card processing system includes a drop-on-demand card printing system that has at least one drop-on-demand print head with a nozzle plate. An automated cleaning mechanism is provided in the drop-on-demand card printing system that is configured to clean the nozzle plate without the cleaning mechanism physically contacting the nozzle plate. Since the nozzle plate is not physically contacted by the cleaning mechanism, damage to the nozzle plate during cleaning is avoided thereby avoiding degrading the resulting print quality of the print head.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A card processing system, comprising:
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a card input that is configured to hold a plurality of cards to be processed; a card output that is configured to hold a plurality of processed cards; a drop-on-demand card printing system between the card input and the card output, the drop-on-demand card printing system is configured to print on a card using ultraviolet curable ink, the drop-on-demand card printing system includes at least one drop-on-demand print head having a nozzle plate; the drop-on-demand card printing system further includes a cleaning mechanism that is configured to clean the nozzle plate of the at least one drop-on-demand print head without the cleaning mechanism physically contacting the nozzle plate; an ultraviolet curing station between the card input and the card output, the ultraviolet curing station is configured to cure ultraviolet curable ink applied to a card by the drop-on-demand card printing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification