Printhead service station

• US 6,663,215 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HP Inc.
• Inventors: Graham, Victor, Beauchamp, Robert W, Klausbruckner, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH WEN
• Application Number:
  US10/046,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20030081043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 347/22, 347/29, 347/30, 347/33, 347/35, 347/103, 347/213, 347/28, 399/159
• US Class Current: 347/22
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/04 Roller platens
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/057 Structure of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0057 where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/165 Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles

Abstract

An image forming device having a rotatable drum, at least one printhead mounted adjacent to the rotatable drum, and a printhead service station. The printhead and rotatable drum together define a print zone in which fluid travels from the printhead towards the rotatable drum, and the printhead service station is within the print zone.

Claims

1. A drum capable of being used in an image forming device including a printhead, comprising:

a print cylinder defining a channel; and

a printhead service station that is at least partially within the channel.

2. A drum as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print cylinder includes a plurality of embedded cells.

3. A drum capable of being used in an image forming device including a printhead, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical member defining a longitudinal axis and a channel that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis; and

a printhead service station that is at least partially within the channel.

4. A drum as claimed in claim 3, wherein the substantially cylindrical member comprises a print cylinder.

5. A drum capable of being used in an image forming device including a printhead, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical member defining a channel; and

a printhead service station that is at least partially within the channel, has first and second positions relative to the channel, and is capable of moving between the first and second positions.

6. A drum as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a drive mechanism that moves the printhead service station relative to the channel.

7. A drum as claimed in claim 6, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a worm gear.

8. A drum as claimed in claim 6, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a motor carried by the substantially cylindrical member.

9. A drum as claimed in claim 5, wherein the substantially cylindrical member comprises a print cylinder.

10. An image forming device, comprising:

a print cylinder having a plurality of embedded cells;

at least one printhead mounted adjacent to the print cylinder, the printhead and print cylinder together defining a print zone in which fluid travels from the printhead towards the print cylinder; and

a printhead service station within the print zone.

11. An image forming device, comprising:

a rotatable drum;

at least one printhead mounted adjacent to the rotatable drum, the printhead and rotatable drum together defining a print zone in which fluid travels from the printhead towards the rotatable drum; and

a printhead service station carried by the rotatable drum within the print zone.

12. An image forming device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rotatable drum defines a channel and the printhead service station is at least partially within the channel.

13. An image forming device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the printhead service station is movable within the channel.

14. An image forming device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rotatable drum comprises a print cylinder.

15. An image forming device, comprising:

a rotatable drum including a channel;

at least one printhead mounted adjacent to the rotatable drum, the printhead and rotatable drum together defining a print zone in which fluid travels from the printhead towards the rotatable drum;

a printhead service station within the print zone and movable within the channel; and

a worm gear that moves the printhead service station relative the channel.

16. A method of servicing a printhead mounted adjacent to a rotatable drum such that a print zone in which fluid travels from the printhead towards the rotatable drum is defined between the printhead and the rotatable drum, the method comprising:

moving a printhead service station associated with the rotatable drum into the print zone, including rotating the rotatable drum until the printhead service station is rotationally aligned with the printhead; and

servicing the printhead with the printhead service station.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein moving the printhead service station into the print zone further includes moving the printhead service station relative to the rotatable drum.