Method for servicing an inkjet print head on a hand held printer

• US 8,251,488 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Mealy, James, Andrews, Jonathan Neal, Simmons, Asher
• Primary Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/209,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 347/29, 347/32, 347/33, 347/109
• US Class Current: 347/33
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16505 Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16511 Constructions for cap positioning B41J2/16547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16538 with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence

Abstract

A hand-held printer that includes an inkjet array having a plurality of inkjets is disclosed. The hand-held printer may include an inkjet cap sized to cooperatively engage the inkjet array, wherein the inkjet cap is movable between and open position and a closed position, and a plurality of wipers carried by the inkjet cap, wherein each of the plurality of wipers is configured to engage one of the plurality of inkjets as the inkjet cap moves from the open position to the closed position; and wherein each of the plurality of wipers includes a gasket configured to form a seal adjacent to one of the plurality of inkjets.

Claims

1. A method for servicing a printer, the method comprising:

transitioning a cap from an open position to a closed position;

sliding a wiper adjacent to a printing element, wherein the wiper is carried by the cap and is configured to engage the printing element as the cap moves from the open position to the closed position; and

sealing a gasket around the printing element, wherein the gasket abuts the wiper and is carried by the cap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sliding the wiper comprises removing printing substance accumulated near the printing element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the printing element comprises an inkjet.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein sliding the wiper comprises sliding a leading edge of the wiper near the printing element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the leading edge defines a curvilinear surface.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein sliding the wiper comprises sliding a trailing edge of the wiper near the printing element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the trailing edge defines a sharp edge.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking the cap in the closed position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein locking the inkjet cap includes engaging a spring-loaded locking mechanism.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transitioning the cap further comprises guiding the cap along a cam.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cam defines a wipe phase and a seal phase as the cap moves between the open position and the closed position.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disengaging the wiper from the printing element; and

disengaging the gasket from the printing element.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transitioning the cap from the closed position to the open position.

14. A method for servicing a printer, the method comprising:

transitioning a cap from an open position to a closed position;

sliding a wiper adjacent to a printing element, wherein the wiper is molded from a deformable material, is carried by the cap and is configured to engage the printing element as the cap moves from the open position to the closed position;

sealing a gasket around the printing element, wherein the gasket abuts the wiper and is carried by the cap; and

creating a vacuum by the cooperative deformation of the wiper and gasket against the printing element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein creating a vacuum comprises:

compressing the wiper and the gasket against the printing element; and

decreasing the compression of the wiper and the gasket against the printing element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein compressing the wiper and the gasket against the printing element forces air out of a sealed space created by the sealing the gasket around the printing element.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein decreasing the compression of the wiper and the gasket against the printing element increases a volume of the sealed space while maintaining a constant amount of air within the sealed space.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein decreasing the compression of the wiper and the gasket results in a lowering of pressure within the sealed space;

and

wherein the lowering of the pressure results in preventing nozzles of the printer from drying.

19. A method of servicing a printer the method comprising:

transitioning a cap from an open position to a closed position;

sliding the wiper adjacent to the printing element, wherein the wiper is carried by the cap and is configured to engage the printing element as the cap moves from the open position to the closed position;

sealing a gasket around the printing element, wherein the gasket abuts the wiper and is carried by the cap;

disengaging the wiper from the printing element;

disengaging the gasket from the printing element;

transitioning the cap from the closed position to the open position; and

sliding the wiper adjacent to the printing element as the cap moves from the closed position to the open position.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sliding the wiper as adjacent to the printing element as the cap moves from the closed position to the open position comprises removing printing substance accumulated near the printing element.