Capping system for a printhead
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A capping system for a printhead, comprising:
- a frame including first and second surfaces, said second surface inclined with respect to said first surface; and
a sealing member adapted for movement on said frame between a nominal position and a sealing position in contact with the printhead, said sealing member including a first support member adapted for rotational movement with respect to said first surface of the frame, and a second support member adapted for translational movement with respect to said second surface.
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Abstract
A capping system for a printhead comprises a frame including first and second surfaces, said second surface inclined with respect to said first surface, and a sealing member adapted for movement on said frame between a nominal position and a sealing position in contact with the printhead, said sealing member including a first support member adapted for rotational movement with respect to said first surface of the frame, and a second support member adapted for translational movement with respect to said second surface.
132 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A capping system for a printhead, comprising:
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a frame including first and second surfaces, said second surface inclined with respect to said first surface; and
a sealing member adapted for movement on said frame between a nominal position and a sealing position in contact with the printhead, said sealing member including a first support member adapted for rotational movement with respect to said first surface of the frame, and a second support member adapted for translational movement with respect to said second surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A capping system for sealing around ink-ejecting nozzles of a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism that defines a printmedia feed plane, comprising:
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a support that includes a first recess including a first contacting surface positioned substantially parallel to the printmedia feed plane and a second recess including a second contacting surface inclined with respect to the printmedia feed plane; and
a cap movably mounted on said support between a rest position and a sealing position wherein the cap surrounds the nozzles of the printhead, the cap including a first projection captured by said first recess and a second projection captured by said second recess, wherein in an absence of contact of the cap with the printhead said first projection contacts said first contacting surface, said second projection contacts said second contacting surface, and said second contacting surface biases said cap in said printmedia feed plane and into the rest position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. The capping system according to claim 64 wherein said second surface defines an angle with respect to said printmedia feed plane in a range of fifteen to forty-five degrees.
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14. A method of sealing ink ejecting nozzles of a printhead, comprising:
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providing a cap support that defines a support plane, the cap support including a first surface parallel to said support plane and a second surface inclined with respect to said support plane;
providing a cap coupled to said cap support at said first surface and at said second surface, wherein said second surface biases said cap into an initial position;
contacting said cap with a printhead such that said cap is de-coupled from said first surface and said second surface, and such that said cap seals around the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An inkjet printing mechanism, comprising:
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a printhead having ink-ejecting nozzles and being movable between a printzone that defines a print feed direction and a printhead servicing region;
a sled positioned in said servicing region and including first and second surfaces, said second surface sloped with respect to said print feed direction; and
a sealing member secured to said sled and being movable between a rest position and a sealing position around the printhead nozzles, the sealing member including a first leg pivotally contacting said first surface in the rest position and a second leg slidably contacting the second surface in the rest position, and wherein in the sealing position said printhead contacts said sealing member such that said first leg and said second leg are removed from contact with said sled.
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20. A system for capping the ink-ejecting nozzles of a printhead in an inkjet printing apparatus, comprising:
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means for capping the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead;
means for moving the capping means from a nominal position into a capping position against the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead;
means for biasing the capping means into said nominal position when said capping means is not positioned against the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead; and
means for pivoting the capping means with respect to the printhead as the capping means is moved from the nominal position into the capping position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A capping system for sealing around ink-ejecting nozzles of a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism, comprising:
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a cap frame including ramped grooves therein;
a cap sled secured to said cap frame at said ramped grooves so as to move from a rest position to a capping position, said cap sled including a first set of recesses each including a contact surface positioned parallel to a printmedia feed direction of the printing mechanism, and a second set of recesses each including a biasing surface positioned at an acute angle with respect to the printmedia feed direction, and a stop surface positioned perpendicular to the printmedia feed direction;
a cap base including a first set of outwardly extending projections captured within said first set of recesses, a second set of outwardly extending projections captured within said second set of recesses, wherein said first set of projections each include a rounded surface adapted for pivotal movement against said contact surfaces;
a cap secured to said cap base and manufactured of an elastomeric material, said cap being adapted for sealing the nozzles of an inkjet printhead when said cap is in a sealing position; and
a biasing element positioned between said cap sled and said cap base, said biasing element biasing said first set of projections against corresponding ones of said contact surfaces and biasing said second set of projections against corresponding ones of said biasing surfaces and said stop surfaces when said cap is in a nominal position.
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25. A cap sled for supporting a cap adapted for sealing around the nozzles of an inkjet printhead, comprising:
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a base that defines a plane;
a first region adapted for securing the cap thereto and including a biasing surface inclined with respect to said plane; and
a second region adapted for securing the cap thereto and including a pivoting surface adapted to facilitate pivotal movement of a cap with respect to said cap sled as the cap is moved from a nominal position to a sealing position around the nozzles of an inkjet printhead. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A capping system for sealing the pens of an inkjet printing mechanism, comprising:
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a cap base including a plurality of outwardly extending legs, each leg defining a rounded upper contacting surface; and
a cap secured to said cap base and manufactured of an elastomeric material, said cap being adapted for sealing the pens of an inkjet printing mechanism when said cap is in a sealing position. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification