Ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism and method of assembling same

• US 6,347,858 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Griffin, Todd R., Sharma, Ravi, Faisst, Charles F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US09/195,727
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 347/22, 347/33, 347/31, 347/8, 347/93, 347/104, 347/28-29, 347/30
• US Class Current: 347/22
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16547 the wipers and caps or spittoons being on the same movable support
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16552 using cleaning fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads

Abstract

An ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism, and method of assembling same. The printer comprises a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices. The orifices are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head. A vacuum hood capable of sealingly surrounding at least one of the orifices has having a first passageway therethrough capable of being disposed in communication with the orifice for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel by way of the orifice. A solvent delivering wiper is connected to the hood and has a second passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The second passageway delivers a liquid solvent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface. Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while the wiper flushes contaminant from the surface. A vacuum canopy is connected to the wiper and has a third passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The canopy vacuums the solvent and entrained contaminant from the surface. Moreover, a piping circuit is associated with the print head for filtering the particulate matter from the solvent and for recirculating clean solvent to the surface of the print head.

Claims

1. An ink jet printer, comprising:

(a) a print head having a surface thereon and an ink channel therein; and

(b) a cleaning mechanism associated with said print head and adapted to simultaneously clean contaminant from the surface and the ink channel.

2. The printer of claim 1, wherein said cleaning mechanism comprises a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the ink channel for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel.

3. The printer of claim 2, wherein said cleaning mechanism comprises:

(a) a solvent delivering wiper alignable with the surface for delivering a cleaning agent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface; and

(b) a vacuum pump capable of being disposed adjacent to the surface for vacuuming contaminant flushed from the surface.

4. An ink jet printer, comprising:

(a) a print head having a surface thereon surrounding an orifice in communication with an ink channel formed in said print head;

(b) a cleaning block capable of surrounding the orifice and having a first passageway in communication with the orifice for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel, said cleaning block having a second passageway alignable with the surface for delivering a cleaning agent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface, said cleaning block having a third passageway alignable with the surface for vacuuming the cleaning agent and contaminant from the surface; and

(c) a circulation circuit connected to said cleaning block for circulating the cleaning agent through said cleaning block, said circulation circuit including a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the first passageway for inducing negative pressure in the first passageway and capable of being coupled to the third passageway for inducing negative pressure in the third passageway, whereby contaminant is vacuumed from the ink channel while negative pressure is induced in the first passageway and whereby the cleaning agent and contaminant are vacuumed from the surface while negative pressure is induced in the third passageway.

5. The printer of claim 4, wherein said circuit comprises a discharge pump coupled to the second passageway for discharging the cleaning agent into the second passageway, whereby the cleaning agent is delivered to the surface while said discharge pump discharges the cleaning agent into the second passageway.

6. The printer of claim 4, further comprising:

(a) a platen associated with said print head for supporting a receiver to be printed on by said print head; and

(b) a pivot shaft connected to said platen for pivoting said platen about said pivot shaft.

7. The printer of claim 4, further comprising a translation mechanism connected to said cleaning block for translating said cleaning block across said print head.

8. The printer of claim 4, further comprising a displacement mechanism connected to said cleaning block for displacing said cleaning block to a position proximate the surface of said print head.

9. The printer of claim 4, further comprising a displacement mechanism connected to said print head for displacing said print head to a position proximate said cleaning block.

10. An ink jet printer, comprising:

(a) a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in said print head;

(b) a cleaning block associated with said print head for cleaning said print head, said cleaning block including;

(i) a vacuum hood capable of sealingly surrounding at least one of the orifices and having a first passageway formed therethrough in communication with the at least one orifice;

(ii) a solvent delivering wiper connected to said hood and having a second passageway formed therethrough alignable with the surface for delivering a liquid solvent to the surface to flush particulate matter from the surface, whereby particulate matter residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while said wiper flushes particulate matter from the surface; and

(iii) a vacuum canopy connected to said canopy and having a third passageway formed therethrough alignable with the surface to vacuum solvent and entrained particulate matter from the surface; and

(c) a piping circuit associated with said print head, said piping circuit including;

(i) a first piping segment coupled to the second passageway formed through said wiper;

(ii) a discharge pump connected to said first piping segment for discharging the solvent into the first piping segment, whereby the solvent discharges into the second passageway while the discharge pump discharges the solvent into the first piping segment;

(iii) a second piping segment coupled to the first passageway formed through said hood and the third passageway formed through said canopy; and

(iv) a vacuum pump connected to said second piping segment for inducing negative pressure in said second piping segment, whereby negative pressure is simultaneously induced in the first passageway and the third passageway while said vacuum pump induces negative pressure in said second piping segment, whereby particulate matter is vacuumed through the at least one orifice and respective ink channel while negative pressure is induced in the first passageway and whereby the solvent and entrained particulate matter are vacuumed from the surface while negative pressure is induced in the third passageway.

11. The printer of claim 10, further comprising:

(a) a platen associated with said print head for supporting a receiver to be printed on by said print head; and

(b) a pivot shaft connected to said platen for pivoting said platen about said pivot shaft.

12. The printer of claim 10, further comprising a translation mechanism connected to said cleaning block for translating said cleaning block across the surface of said print head.

13. The printer of claim 12, wherein said translation mechanism comprises a lead-screw threadably engaging said cleaning block.

14. The printer of claim 10, further comprising a displacement mechanism connected to said cleaning block for displacing said cleaning block into sealing engagement with the surface of said print head.

15. The printer of claim 10, further comprising a displacement mechanism connected to said print head for displacing said print head into contact with said cleaning block.

16. The printer of claim 10, wherein said piping circuit comprises a solvent supply reservoir connected to said discharge pump for supplying the solvent to said discharge pump.

17. The printer of claim 10, wherein said piping circuit comprises a filter coupled to said vacuum pump for capturing contaminant vacuumed from the ink channel and the surface by said vacuum pump.

18. A cleaning mechanism for cleaning an ink jet print head having a surface thereon and an ink channel therein, comprising:

(a) a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the ink channel for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel;

(b) a solvent delivering wiper alignable with the surface for delivering a cleaning agent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface; and

(c) a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the surface for vacuuming contaminant flushed from the surface.

19. A cleaning mechanism for cleaning an ink jet print head having a surface having contaminant thereon and an ink channel having contaminant therein, the ink channel terminating in an orifice on the surface, comprising:

(a) a hood capable of sealingly surrounding the orifice and having a first passageway in communication with the orifice;

(b) a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the first passageway for inducing negative pressure in the first passageway, whereby negative pressure is induced in the ink channel by way of the orifice while said vacuum pump induces negative pressure in the first passageway and whereby particulate matter is vacuumed from the ink channel by way of the orifice while negative pressure is induced in the ink channel;

(c) a solvent delivering wiper disposed near said hood and having a second passageway alignable with the surface for delivering a liquid solvent to the surface to flush particulate matter from the surface; and

(d) a canopy disposed near said wiper and having a third passageway alignable with the surface for vacuuming the solvent and particulate matter from the surface, the third passageway coupled to said vacuum pump for inducing negative pressure in the third passageway, whereby the solvent and particulate matter are vacuumed from the surface while said vacuum pump induces negative pressure in the third passageway.

20. A method of assembling an ink jet printer, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a print head having a surface thereon and an ink channel therein; and

(b) providing a cleaning mechanism associated with the print head and adapted to simultaneously clean contaminant from the surface and the ink channel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of providing a cleaning mechanism comprises the step providing a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the ink channel for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of providing a cleaning mechanism comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a solvent delivering wiper alignable with the surface for delivering a cleaning agent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface; and

(b) providing a vacuum pump capable of being disposed adjacent to the surface for vacuuming contaminant flushed from the surface.

23. A method of assembling an ink jet printer, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a print head having a surface thereon surrounding an orifice in communication with an ink channel formed in the print head;

(b) providing a cleaning block capable of surrounding the orifice and having a first passageway in communication with the orifice for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel, the cleaning block having a second passageway alignable with the surface for delivering a cleaning agent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface, the cleaning block having a third passageway alignable with the surface for vacuuming the cleaning agent and contaminant from the surface; and

(c) connecting a circulation circuit to the cleaning block for circulating the cleaning agent through the cleaning block, the circulation circuit including a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the first passageway for inducing negative pressure in the first passageway and capable of being coupled to the third passageway for inducing negative pressure in the third passageway, whereby contaminant is vacuumed from the first passageway while negative pressure is induced in the first passageway and whereby the cleaning agent and contaminant are vacuumed from the surface while negative pressure is induced in the third passageway.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of connecting a circulation circuit comprises the step of coupling a discharge pump to the second passageway for discharging the cleaning agent into the second passageway, whereby the cleaning agent is delivered to the surface while the discharge pump discharges the cleaning agent into the second passageway.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a platen associated with the print head for supporting a receiver to be printed on by the print head; and

(b) connecting a pivot shaft to the platen for pivoting the platen about the pivot shaft.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of connecting a translation mechanism to the cleaning block for translating the cleaning block across the print head.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of connecting a displacement mechanism to the cleaning block for displacing the cleaning block to a position proximate the surface of the print head.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of connecting a displacement mechanism to the print head for displacing the print head to a position proximate the cleaning block.

29. A method of assembling an ink jet printer, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head;

(b) providing a cleaning block associated with the print head for cleaning the print head, the step of providing a cleaning block including the steps of;

(i) providing a vacuum hood capable of sealingly surrounding at least one of the orifices and having a first passageway formed therethrough in communication with the at least one orifice;

(ii) connecting a solvent delivering wiper to the hood, the wiper having a second passageway formed therethrough alignable with the surface for delivering a liquid solvent to the surface to flush particulate matter from the surface, whereby particulate matter residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while the wiper flushes particulate matter from the surface; and

(iii) connecting a vacuum canopy to the wiper, the wiper having a third passageway formed therethrough alignable with the surface to vacuum solvent and entrained particulate matter from the surface; and

(c) providing a piping circuit associated with the print head, the step of providing a piping circuit including the steps of;

(i) coupling a first piping segment to the second passageway formed through the wiper;

(ii) connecting a discharge pump to the first piping segment for discharging the solvent into the first piping segment, whereby the solvent discharges into the second passageway while the discharge pump discharges the solvent into the first piping segment;

(iii) coupling a second piping segment to the first passageway formed through the hood and the third passageway formed through the canopy; and

(iv) connecting a vacuum pump to the second piping segment for inducing negative pressure in the second piping segment, whereby negative pressure is simultaneously induced in the first passageway and the third passageway while the vacuum pump induces negative pressure in the second piping segment, whereby particulate matter is vacuumed through the at least one orifice and respective ink channel while negative pressure is induced in the first passageway and whereby the solvent and entrained particulate matter are vacuumed from the surface while negative pressure is induced in the third passageway.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a platen associated with the print head for supporting a receiver to be printed on by the print head; and

(b) connecting a pivot shaft to the platen for pivoting the platen about the pivot shaft.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of connecting a translation mechanism to the cleaning block for translating the cleaning block across the surface of the print head.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of connecting a translation mechanism comprises the step of threadably engaging a lead-screw with the cleaning block.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of connecting a displacement mechanism to the cleaning block for displacing the cleaning block into sealing engagement with the surface of the print head.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of connecting a displacement mechanism to the print head for displacing the print head into contact with the cleaning block.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of providing a piping circuit comprises the step of connecting a solvent supply reservoir to the discharge pump for supplying the solvent to the discharge pump.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of providing a piping circuit comprises the step of coupling a filter to the vacuum pump for capturing contaminant vacuumed from the ink channel and the surface by the vacuum pump.

37. A method of assembling a cleaning mechanism for cleaning an ink jet print head having a surface thereon and an ink channel therein, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the ink channel for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel;

(b) providing a solvent delivering wiper alignable with the surface for delivering a cleaning agent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface; and

(c) providing a vacuum pump capable of being coupled to the surface for vacuuming contaminant flushed from the surface.

38. A method of assembling a cleaning mechanism for cleaning an ink jet print head having a surface having contaminant thereon and an ink channel having contaminant therein, the ink channel terminating in an orifice on the surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a hood capable of sealingly surrounding the orifice, the hood having a first passageway in communication with the orifice;

(b) coupling a vacuum pump to the first passageway for inducing negative pressure in the first passageway, whereby negative pressure is induced in the ink channel by way of the orifice while the vacuum pump induces negative pressure in the first passageway and whereby particulate matter is vacuumed from the ink channel by way of the orifice while negative pressure is induced in the ink channel;

(c) disposing a solvent delivering wiper near the hood, the wiper having a second passageway alignable with the surface for delivering a liquid solvent to the surface to flush particulate matter from the surface; and

(d) disposing a canopy near the wiper, the canopy having a third passageway alignable with the surface for vacuuming the solvent and particulate matter from the surface, the third passageway coupled to the vacuum pump for inducing negative pressure in the third passageway, whereby the solvent and particulate matter are vacuumed from the surface while the vacuum pump induces negative pressure in the third passageway.