Small size ink jet printer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a small printer device having an ink jet print head of the ink-on-demand type including a nozzle, the improvement therein comprising:
- nozzle cover means for pressing against and blocking the discharge opening of said nozzle;
means for moving said nozzle cover means between a first position and a second position, said nozzle being blocked by said nozzle cover means in said first position and being unobstructed by said nozzle cover means in said second position;
a timer, said timer being in circuit with said print head and adapted to commence operation after printing is completed and to generate a signal after a preselected interval of time;
at least one supplemental function, said at least one supplemental function, when enabled, being subject to performance upon ocurrence of said timer signal; and
means for enabling said at least one supplemental function, said means for enabling cooperating with said nozzle cover means, said at least one supplemental function being enabled only when said nozzle cover means is in said second position.
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Abstract
A small size ink jet printer includes a cover which presses against the ink nozzle openings when the printer is inoperative. The printer head is electrically driven but operation of the nozzle cover is at least partially performed manually. Particularly, the nozzle covering operation which needs a large force, is often manually performed to conserve energy and reduce component size. Circuits detecting and responding to an inadvertent failure to cover the nozzles are also provided.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a small printer device having an ink jet print head of the ink-on-demand type including a nozzle, the improvement therein comprising:
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nozzle cover means for pressing against and blocking the discharge opening of said nozzle; means for moving said nozzle cover means between a first position and a second position, said nozzle being blocked by said nozzle cover means in said first position and being unobstructed by said nozzle cover means in said second position; a timer, said timer being in circuit with said print head and adapted to commence operation after printing is completed and to generate a signal after a preselected interval of time; at least one supplemental function, said at least one supplemental function, when enabled, being subject to performance upon ocurrence of said timer signal; and means for enabling said at least one supplemental function, said means for enabling cooperating with said nozzle cover means, said at least one supplemental function being enabled only when said nozzle cover means is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification