HYBRID PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE SYSTEM FOR WIPING AND PRIMING
First Claim
1. A maintenance system for maintaining an elongate inkjet printhead, the maintenance system comprising:
- a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead, the carriage comprising a maintenance member having a primary suction nozzle facing inkjet nozzles of the printhead and a wiper adjacent the primary suction nozzle;
a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage longitudinally along the printhead; and
an engagement mechanism for urging the wiper and the printhead into engagement with each other,wherein, in use, the wiper contacts a non-printing part of the printhead and the primary suction nozzle is spaced apart from the printhead.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A maintenance system for maintaining an elongate inkjet printhead. The maintenance system includes: a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead, the carriage including a maintenance member having a primary suction nozzle facing inkjet nozzles of the printhead and a wiper adjacent the primary suction nozzle; a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage longitudinally along the printhead; and an engagement mechanism for urging the wiper and the printhead into engagement with each other. During use, the wiper contacts a non-printing part of the printhead and the primary suction nozzle is spaced apart from the printhead.
3 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A maintenance system for maintaining an elongate inkjet printhead, the maintenance system comprising:
-
a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead, the carriage comprising a maintenance member having a primary suction nozzle facing inkjet nozzles of the printhead and a wiper adjacent the primary suction nozzle; a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage longitudinally along the printhead; and an engagement mechanism for urging the wiper and the printhead into engagement with each other, wherein, in use, the wiper contacts a non-printing part of the printhead and the primary suction nozzle is spaced apart from the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of maintaining an inkjet printhead comprising the steps of:
-
traversing a carriage having a maintenance member longitudinally along the printhead, the maintenance member comprising a primary suction nozzle facing inkjet nozzles of the printhead and a wiper adjacent the primary suction nozzle; applying a vacuum pressure to inkjet nozzles of the printhead using the primary suction nozzle, the primary suction nozzle being spaced apart from the printhead; and simultaneously wiping a non-printing portion of the printhead using a wiper of the maintenance member, the wiper being positioned adjacent the primary suction nozzle and contacting the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
Specification