METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING INKJET PRINT HEADS USING PARKING STRUCTURES

• US 20070263026A1
• Filed: 04/28/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Inventors: Kurita, Shinichi, Shang, Quanyuan, Sun, Lizhong
• Application Number:
  US11/741,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/22
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16508 connected with the printer frame
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16552 using cleaning fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/28 for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes , envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers

Abstract

The invention provides a print head parking structure that includes a solvent and/or surface treatment bath for inkjet print heads. Print heads may be returned to the print head parking structure after a substrate has been printed, after one or more printing passes, and/or frequently enough to prevent ink from drying on or clogging the print heads. Once sealed within the print head parking structure, the print heads (or a portion thereof) may be dipped in a solvent bath or pool to dissolve or wash away any ink that has been deposited on the print heads.

Claims

1. A print head parking structure comprising:

an enclosure adapted to contain a quantity of liquid; and

a parking location adjacent the enclosure and adapted to receive a print head such that the print head is disposed within the enclosure.

2. The print head parking structure of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect when the print head is in a park location.

3. The print head parking structure of claim 1 further comprising a pool within the enclosure, the pool being adapted to be filled with solvent and flushed of used solvent.

4. The print head parking structure of claim 3 further comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect a level of liquid within the pool.

5. The print head parking structure of claim 3 wherein the pool is adapted to be filled with a surface treatment solution after the used solvent is flushed.

6. The print head parking structure of claim 3 further comprising at least one vibrational energy source adapted to impart vibrations to liquid within the pool.

7. The print head parking structure of claim 6 wherein the at least one vibrational energy source includes megasonic energy and ultrasonic energy.

8. The print head parking structure of claim 3 further comprising at least one heat source adapted to impart heat to liquid within the pool.

9. The print head parking structure of claim 3 wherein the pool further includes at least one spray nozzle adapted to spray the print head with solvent.

10. The print head parking structure of claim 1 further comprising an actuator adapted to move the pool to engage a print head.

11. The print head parking structure of claim 1 further comprising a seal adapted to sealably couple the print head parking structure to a print head received at the parking location.

12. The print head parking structure of claim 11 wherein the seal is made from a material that is unreactive to at least one of:

a) an ink, b) a solvent, c) a print head surface treatment, d) any chemical that may be used with the parking structure, and e) any process that may be used with the parking structure.

13. The print head parking structure of claim 11 wherein the seal is adapted to conform to a surface of the print head.

14. The print head parking structure of claim 1 wherein the liquid includes a coating material adapted to improve the jetting reliability of the print head.

15. The print head parking structure of claim 1 further comprising a parking station adapted to dry the print head with compressed air.

16. The print head parking structure of claim 1 wherein the parking structure is coupled to a moving platform adapted to position the parking structure directly under the print head.

26. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the surface treatment solution comprises a mixture of alkyl thiol and ionic alkyl thiol dissolved in a solvent.

17. A method of treating a print head in a parking structure comprising:

filling an enclosure with a quantity of a liquid;

detecting a level of liquid within the enclosure; and

receiving a print head within the enclosure, such that the print head is submerged in the liquid.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

sealing the print head within the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the liquid comprises a solvent.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the liquid comprises a surface treatment solution.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

imparting vibrations to the liquid in the enclosure via a vibrational energy source.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

spraying the print head with the liquid.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

removing the print head from the parking station.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

ascertaining whether ink remains on the print head after removing the print head from the parking station.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

returning the print head to the parking structure for additional cleaning if ink remains on the print head.