Printhead service station

• US 6,880,912 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Klausbruckner, Michael J, Beauchamp, Robert W, Graham, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH WEN
• Application Number:
  US10/463,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 347 22- 35
• 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 Preventing or detecting 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 substantially cylindrical member defining a channel; and

a printhead service station that is at least partially within the channel and is movable relative to the channel.

2. A drum as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical member defines first and second longitudinal ends and the channel extends substantially from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end.

3. A drum as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical member comprises a print cylinder.

4. 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 includes a spittoon and a wiper and is at least partially within the channel.

5. 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 within the print zone such that the service station can service the printhead without substantially moving the printhead relative to the print zone.

6. The image forming device of claim 5 wherein the printhead service station is movable between a first position outside the print zone and a second position within the print zone.

7. An image forming device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one printhead is a portion of a cartridge.

8. An image forming device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one printhead is mounted in a substantially fixed position relative to the rotatable drum during operation of the printhead service station.

9. An image forming device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one printhead comprises a plurality of printheads and the printhead service station is movable between a plurality of cleaning positions respectively aligned with the plurality of printheads.

10. An image forming device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of service station positions are rotatably and longitudinally offset from one another.

11. An image forming device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotatable drum includes a drive mechanism that moves the printhead service station.

12. 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 that includes a spittoon and a wiper within the print zone.

13. An image forming device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rotatable drum comprises a print cylinder.

14. A replaceable printer component comprising:

a substantially cylindrical member defining a channel; and

a printhead service station that is at least partially within the channel and is movable relative to the channel.

15. 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 into the print zone without substantially moving the printed; and

servicing the printhead with the printhead service station.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein servicing the printhead includes-wiping the printhead.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the printhead service station includes a spittoon and servicing the printhead includes spitting fluid into the spittoon.