Printhead capping arrangement

• US 6,988,784 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH WEN
• Application Number:
  US11/026,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 347/22, 347/28, 347/29, 347/20, 347/49, 347/42, 347/53
• US Class Current: 347/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0005 Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/70 cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16505 Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16517 Cleaning of print head nozzles B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/53 for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 : adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02402 : Arrangements for positioning heads, e.g. with respect to other elements of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

Microelectromechanical pagewidth printheads include a very large number of ink ejection nozzles fabricated upon a silicon wafer. Ink stored in the printhead subsequent to a printing operation is vulnerable to becoming undesirably viscous thereby causing inconsistent printing. In order to address this problem the present invention provides a printhead recapping mechanism. The mechanism includes a base portion, that includes a solenoid coil and a movable capping portion which incorporates magnetically attractive material responsive to the coil. A spring biases the capping portion to a quiescent capping position when the printhead is not in use. During printing operations a current is applied to the solenoid coil to overcome the biasing spring and draw the capping portion from the capping position.

Claims

1. A printer assembly including:

a pagewidth printhead; and

a recapping mechanism arranged to cap the pagewidth printhead during periods of non-use, the recapping mechanism including;

a base portion;

at least one solenoid coil fast with the base portion; and

a capping portion arranged to cap and uncap the pagewidth printhead in response to operations of the solenoid coil;

wherein the at least one solenoid coil comprises a single elongate coil disposed on a surface of the base portion.

2. A printer assembly including:

a pagewidth printhead; and

a recapping mechanism arranged to cap the pagewidth printhead during periods of non-use, the recapping mechanism including;

a base portion;

at least one solenoid coil fast with the base portion; and

a capping portion arranged to cap and uncap the pagewidth printhead in response to operations of the solenoid coil;

wherein the capping portion assumes a printhead capping position in response to cessation of current through the solenoid coil and wherein the capping portion includes a biasing member arranged to force the capping portion to the capping position upon cessation of the current through the solenoid coil.

3. A printer assembly according to claim 2, wherein the capping portion includes magnetically attractive material that is drawn to the solenoid coil upon application of current to the coil.

4. A printer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the capping portion includes an elastomeric member arranged to form a seal about the pagewidth printhead in the capping position.