CAPPING SYSTEM FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY

SYSTEME DE RECOUVREMENT POUR ENSEMBLE TETE D'IMPRESSION A JET D'ENCRE

English Abstract

A capping mechanism is disclosed for a pagewidth printhead assembly having a
pagewidth printhead (51) and a plurality of nozzles located along the
printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the
printhead. The capping mechanism comprises a capping member (82) having a
length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead (51) and an
actuating mechanism (90) arranged to effect linear transitioning of the
capping member (82) from a non-capping first position (fig. 9B) to a second
position (fig. 9C) at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the printhead.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un mécanisme de recouvrement pour un ensemble tête d'impression de largeur de page comportant une tête d'impression de largeur de page (51) et une pluralité de buses positionnées le long de la tête d'impression pour distribuer de l'encre sur un support d'impression lorsqu'il est transporté devant la tête d'impression. Le mécanisme de recouvrement comprend un élément de recouvrement (82) ayant une longueur correspondant sensiblement à celle de la tête d'impression (51) et un mécanisme d'actionnement (90) agencé pour effectuer une transition linéaire de l'élément de recouvrement (82) d'une première position, dite de non-recouvrement (figure 9B), à une seconde position (figure 9C) dans laquelle l'élément de recouvrement vient en prise avec la tête d'impression de manière à recouvrir les buses.

Claims

116
CLAIMS
1. A capping mechanism for a pagewidth printhead assembly having-
a) two confronting pagewidth printheads and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along each printhead and arranged in use to
deliver ink
onto opposite surfaces of print media as it is transported past the
printheads, and
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) capping members having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
printheads, and
ii) actuating means arranged to effect linear movement of the capping members
in a
first direction and linear movement of each printhead in a second direction to
a position at
which nozzle capping engagement is effected between the capping members and
respective
ones of the printheads, the first and second directions being non-parallel.
2. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuating means is
arranged to effect linear transitioning of each capping member from a non-
capping first
position to a second position at which each capping member is located in
nozzle capping
engagement with the respective printhead.
3. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each capping member is
formed effectively as a one-piece member.
4. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each capping member
comprises conjoined capping member portions having an aggregate length
corresponding
substantially to that of the respective printhead.
5. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each capping member
comprises a body portion formed from a rigid material and a capping portion
having a) an
integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b) a cavity surrounded
by the lip
portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround
the nozzles
collectively.

117
6. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each capping member is
arranged to be connected to a suction device whereby material may be sucked
from the
nozzle environment of the respective printhead.
7. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein a chamber is located
within
each capping member and is connected in fluid passage communication with the
cavity and
wherein the chamber is arranged to be connected to a suction device whereby
material may
be sucked from the nozzle environment of the respective printhead.
8. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein a second actuating
means is
provided for effecting movement of the printheads to the second position.
9. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second actuating
means
is arranged to impart linear movement to the printheads.
10. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second actuating
means
is arranged to impart arcuate movement to the printheads.
11. The capping mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein each capping member is
positioned in confronting relationship with the respective printhead and
wherein the
actuating means is arranged to move the capping members in a direction normal
to the
printheads when effecting linear transitioning of the capping members from the
first to the
second position.

Description

CA 02588631 2009-10-14
CAPPING SYSTEM FOR INKJET PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general terms to Inkjet printers and more
particularly to a
mechanism for and a method of capping a pagewidth printhead assembly for an
Inkjet
printer. By "pagewidth" printhead assembly is meant one having a printhead
which has a
length which extends across substantially the full width of (paper, card,
textile or other)
media to be printed and which, whilst remaining in a stationary position, is
controlled to
deposit printing ink across the full print width of advancing print media.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Inkjet printers have a series of nozzles from which individual ink droplets
are ejected to
deposit on print media to form desired printed images. The nozzles are
incorporated in
various types of print heads and their proper functioning is critical to the
creation of quality
images. Thus, any partial or total blockage of even a single nozzle may have a
significant
impact on a printed image, particularly in the case of a pagewidth printer.
The nozzles are prone to blockage due to their exposure to ever-present paper
dust and
other particulate matter and due to the tendency of ink to dry in the nozzles
during, often
very short, idle periods. That is, ink which is awaiting delivery from a
nozzle forms a
meniscus at the nozzle mouth and, when exposed to air, the ink solvent is
evaporated to
leave a nozzle blocking deposit.
Servicing systems are conventionally employed for maintaining the
functionality of print
heads, such systems providing one or more of the functions of capping, purging
and wiping.
Capping involves the covering of idle nozzles to preclude exposure of ink to
drying air.
Purging is normally effected by evacuating a capping chamber, thereby sucking
deposits
from the print head that block or have the potential to block the nozzles.
Wiping is
performed in conjunction with the capping and/or purging functions and
involves gently
sweeping a membrane across the face of the print head.

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The majority of conventional Inkjet printers employ a reciprocating carriage
which carries
a print head (often in the form of a cartridge) and which is driven to
traverse across the
width of a momentarily stationary page or portion of print media. In these
printers,
service stations are provided at one side of the printing zone and, on
command, the print
head is traversed to the service station where it is docked for such time as
servicing is
performed and/or the printer is idle.
The above described servicing system cannot feasibly be employed in relation
to
pagewidth printers which, as above mentioned, have a stationary print head
assembly
that extends across the full width of the printing zone. The print head
assembly effectively
defines the print zone and it cannot be moved outside of that zone for
servicing.
Furthermore, a pagewidth print head has a significantly larger surface area
and contains
a vastly greater number of nozzles than a conventional Inkjet print head,
especially in the
case of a large format printer, all of which dictate an entirely different
servicing approach
from that which has conventionally been adopted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the at least one print head,
(ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one print head in an arcuate direction from a first to a second
position and
(iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one capping member in a direction normal to the at least one
print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the
of the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
Optionally at least one capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece
member.
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Optionally the at least one capping member comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an
aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print
head.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises a body portion formed
from a rigid material and a
capping portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip
portion and b) a cavity surrounded by
the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to
surround the nozzles collectively.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
In a further aspect the present invention provides printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) two opposed pagewidth print heads and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the print heads, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) two capping members located adjacent respective ones of the
print heads and having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the print heads,
(ii) first actuating mechanisms arranged to move the respective
print heads in an arcuate direction from a first to a second
position and
(iii) second actuating mechanisms arranged to move the capping
members rectilinearly in directions normal to the respective
print heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the
respective print heads when the respective print heads are in the
second position.
Optionally each of the capping members is formed effectively as a one-piece
member.
Optionally each of the capping members comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an aggregate
length corresponding substantially to that of the respective print heads.
Optionally each of the capping members comprises a body portion formed from a
rigid material and a capping
portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b)
a cavity surrounded by the lip
portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround
the nozzles collectively.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer wherein:
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the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping member is located adjacent the print heads and has a length
corresponding substantially
5 to that of the print heads;
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
print heads from the
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to interpose the capping member
between the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from but confronting the
print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a motor drive arranged for caroming
engagement with the
capping member to effect its linear transitioning from the non-capping first
position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the at
least one print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the at least
one print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member from the
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head; and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
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the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from the print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of
the capping member
from the non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:the pagewidth print
head assembly has a
single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the
print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the print
head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member in an
arcuate direction from the non-capping first position to a second position at
which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the second actuating
mechanism is arranged to move
the at least one capping member in an arcuate second direction opposite to
that of the first direction to effect
nozzle capping engagement of the at least one print head when the at least one
print head is in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one print head
in an arcuate first
direction from the first position to the second position and a third position;
and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one capping
member in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position and to
permit purging of the nozzles when
the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
. a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier
and having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
capping member and
the at least one print head to a position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
at least one print head, the
flexible sheet-like material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a
portion of the material is in use
drawn to locate, as the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
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b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the at least one print head,
(ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one print head in an arcuate direction from a first to a second
position and
(iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one capping member in a lateral direction relative to the at least
one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the
of the at least one print head when the at least one print head is
in the second position.
Optionally the at least one capping member is formed effectively as a one-
piece member.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an
aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print
head.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises a body portion formed
from a rigid material and a
capping portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip
portion and b) a cavity surrounded by
the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to
surround the nozzles collectively.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) two opposed pagewidth print heads and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the print heads, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
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(i) two capping members located adjacent respective ones of the
print heads and having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the print heads,
(ii) first actuating mechanisms arranged to move the respective
print heads in an arcuate direction from a first to a second
position and
(iii) second actuating mechanisms arranged to move the capping
members rectilinearly in a lateral direction relative to the
respective print heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the
respective print heads when the respective print heads are in the
second position.
Optionally each of the capping members is formed effectively as a one-piece
member.
Optionally each of the capping members comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an aggregate
length corresponding substantially to that of the respective print heads.
Optionally each of the capping members is formed from an elastomeric material
and has a body portion, an
integrally formed lip portion and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and
wherein the lip portion is
peripherally configured to surround the nozzles collectively.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping member is located adjacent the print heads and has a length
corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads;
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
print heads from the
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to interpose the capping member
between the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from but confronting the
print head; and
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the capping mechanism further has a motor drive arranged for caroming
engagement with the
capping member to effect its linear transitioning from the non-capping first
position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
5 In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the at
least one print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the at least
one print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member from the
10 non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member
is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head; and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from the print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of
the capping member
from the non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the
print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the print
head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member in an
arcuate direction from the non-capping first position to a second position at
which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the second actuating
mechanism is arranged to move
the at least one capping member in an arcuate second direction opposite to
that of the first direction to effect
nozzle capping engagement of the at least one print head when the at least one
print head is in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one print head
in an arcuate first
direction from the first position to the second position and a third position;
and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one capping
member in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position and to
permit purging of the nozzles when
the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
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an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
capping member and
the at least one print head to a position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
at least one print head, the
flexible sheet-like material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a
portion of the material is in use
drawn to locate, as the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate; as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one printhead.
In a third aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) two opposed pagewidth print heads and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it
is transported past the print heads, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) a capping member located adjacent the print heads and having
a length corresponding substantially to that of the print heads,
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(ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative
movement of the print heads from a printing first position to a
spaced-apart second position and
(iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the
capping member between the print heads to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the second position.
Optionally the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect rectilinear
movement of the capping member
in a lateral direction, relative to the print heads, when moving the capping
member from the location adjacent
the print heads to the position at which the capping member is interposed
between the print heads.
Optionally the capping member has two oppositely directed capping portions,
respective ones of which are
arranged to engage in nozzle capping engagement with respective ones of the
print heads when in the second
position.
Optionally the capping member comprises a body portion formed from a rigid
material and on which the
capping portions are located, wherein each capping portion has a) an
integrally formed elastomeric material
lip portion and b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip
portion is peripherally configured
to surround the nozzles collectively on the respective print heads.
and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the nozzles
collectively on the respective
print heads.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
Optionally wherein the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship
when in the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from the first
to the second positions; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the capping member in a
direction normal to
the print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from the first
to the second positions; and
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the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the capping member in a
lateral direction
relative to the print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print
head when the print head is in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the
print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the print
head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member from the
non-capping first position to a capping second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from the first
to the second positions; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the capping member in an
arcuate second
direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
first direction from the
first position to the second position and a third position; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the capping member in an
arcuate second
direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second position and to permit purging of the nozzles when
the print head is in the third
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the print head,
and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
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an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a capping second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
5 In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping
mechanism has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the print head and having a longitudinal length
corresponding
substantially to that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the print head, and
10 an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member
from a non-capping first
position to a second capping position at which the capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement
with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
15 the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
capping member and
the print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
print head.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet like material
and has a width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the
capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the
capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the print head, and the body portion having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the
print head.
In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
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(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a single pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) a capping member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head and located in a non-capping
first position spaced-apart from but confronting the print head, and
(ii) a motor drive arranged for camming engagement with the capping
member to effect its linear transitioning from the first position to a
second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement
with the print head.
Optionally the actuating mechanism
is arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member in a
direction normal to the direction of transport of print media past the
print head.
Optionally the capping member when
in the first position is located below the print head and wherein the
capping member is raised from the first position to the second
position to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises a body portion formed from a rigid
material and a capping portion
having
a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion,
and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the print
head nozzles..
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
Optionally the capping mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a
direction normal to the
print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second position.
Optionally the capping mechanism further has:
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a lateral
direction relative to
the print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second
position.
Optionally the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the
capping member and
arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the
print head.
Optionally in the capping mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the print head,
and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the print head.
Optionally the capping mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from
the non-capping first position to the second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
capping member and
the print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a portion of the
material is in use drawn to locate, as
the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
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the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the
capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the print head, and the body portion having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the
print head.
In a fifth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping/purging mechanism having-
(i) a capping member associated with the at least one print head,
the capping member having a length corresponding substantially
to that of the at least one print head and being located in a non-
capping first position adjacent the at least one print head,
(ii) purging means associated with the capping member and
arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle
environment of the at least one print head, and
(iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of
the capping member from the first position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a single pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the print head, and
(b) a capping/purging mechanism having-
(i) a capping member associated with the print head,
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the capping member having a length corresponding substantially
to that of the print head and being located in a non-
capping first position adjacent the print head,
(ii) purging means associated with the capping member and
arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle
environment of the print head, and
(iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of
the capping member from the first position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
Optionally the capping member when in the first position is located in spaced-
apart confronting relationship
to the print head.
Optionally the actuating mechanism
is arranged to effect linear transitioning of the capping member from the
first position to the second position.
Optionally the purging means includes a suction device that is arranged to
suck purged material
from the nozzle environment of the print head.
Optionally the capping member is formed with
a) an elastomeric material a lip portion and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion,
and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the
print head nozzles.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
Optionally a chamber is located within the capping member and is connected in
fluid passage communication
with the cavity, and wherein the chamber is arranged to be connected to a
suction device whereby, material
may be sucked from the nozzle environment of the print head.
Optionally the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member in a
direction normal to the direction of transport of print media past the print
head.
Optionally the capping member when in the first position is located below the
print head and wherein the
capping member is raised from the first position to the second
position to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a
direction normal to the at
least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one
5 print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
10 a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a
lateral direction relative to
the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the at
least one print head when the at least
one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
15 the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and
a plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping member is located adjacent the print heads and has a length
corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads;
20 a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the
print heads from a printing
first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between
the print heads to
effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the print heads
are in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a motor drive arranged for camming
engagement with the
capping member to effect its linear transitioning from the non-capping first
position to the second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
In a fu ther aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a capping second position at
which the capping
member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head;
and
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an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping member is located in the non-capping first position spaced-apart
from the print head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of the
capping member from the
non-capping first position to the second position at which the capping member
is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the capping
member in an arcuate
direction from the non capping first position to the second position at which
the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate
second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first position to a second position and a third position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate
second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position and to permit purging of
the nozzles when the at least one
print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
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a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from
the non capping first position to the second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
the non-capping
first position to the second position at which the capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the at
least one print head to a position at which the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with
the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
at least one print head, the
flexible sheet-like material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a
portion of the material is in use
drawn to locate, as the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head; and
the capping/purging mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up
spent capping material
following a capping operation.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a sixth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) two offset pagewidth print heads and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the print heads, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the
capping members having lengths corresponding substantially
to those of the print heads and each said capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position
at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the associated print head, and
(ii) an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping
members and arranged to effect transitioning of each of the
capping members from its first position to its second position.
Optionally the print heads are orientated in mutually opposite directions and
are arranged to deliver ink onto
opposite faces of print media as it is transported between the print heads
Optionally the capping members when in the first position are located in
vertical spaced relationship to the
respective print heads and are located one at each side of the plane of print
media feed through the printer.
Optionally the respective actuating mechanisms are arranged to effect
transitioning of the associated capping
members in a direction normal to the direction of transport of print media
past the respective print heads.
Optionally each said capping member comprises
a) an elastomeric material lip portion and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion,
and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the
print head nozzles.
Optionally each said capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece
member.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a
direction normal to the
print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a lateral
direction relative to
the print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has purging means
associated with the capping member and arranged to receive material that is
purged from the nozzle
environment of the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
first direction from a first
to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping members in an
arcuate second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the print head when the print
head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print heads in an arcuate
first direction from a first
position to a second position and a third position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping members in an
arcuate second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the print head when the print
head is in the second position and to permit purging of the nozzles when the
print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the print head,
and
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a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
5 a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially
to that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from
the non-capping first position to the second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the print head and having a longitudinal length
corresponding
substantially to that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
the non-capping
first position to the second position at which the capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement
with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the
print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print
head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a portion of the
material is in use drawn to locate, as
the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the
capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
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a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the print head, and the body portion having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the
print head.
In a seventh aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a single pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) a capping member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head and located in a non-capping
first position spaced-apart from the print head, and
(ii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect arcuate transitioning
of the capping member from the first position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement
with the print head.
Optionally the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member in a direction
approximately normal to the direction of transport of print media past the
print head.
Optionally the capping member when in the first position is located below the
print head and wherein the
capping member is raised in the arcuate direction from the first position to
the second position to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises:
a) an elastomeric material lip portion and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion,
and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the
print head nozzles.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
Optionally the capping mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a
direction normal to the
print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second position.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a lateral
direction relative to
the print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in the non-capping first position adjacent the
print head; and
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the print
head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in the non-capping first position adjacent the
print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the print
head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the capping
member in an arcuate
direction from the non-capping first position to the second position at which
the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
first direction from a first
to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate
second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the print head when the print
head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
first direction from a first
position to a second position and a third position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate
second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the print head when the print
head is in the second position and to permit purging of the nozzles when the
print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the print head,
and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from
the non-capping first position to the second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the print head and having a longitudinal length
corresponding
substantially to that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
the non-capping
first position to the second position at which the capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement
with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the
print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print
head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a portion of the
material is in use drawn to locate, as
the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the
capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the print head, and the body portion having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the
print head.
In an eighth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a single pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the print head, and
(b) a capping/purging mechanism having-
(i) a capping member associated with the print head,
the capping member having a length corresponding substantially
to that of the print head and being located in a non-
capping first position adjacent the print head,
(ii) purging means associated with the capping member and
arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle
environment of the print head, and
(iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of
the capping member in an arcuate direction from the first position
to a second position at which the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
Optionally the capping member when in the first position is located in spaced-
apart substantially confronting
relationship to the print head.
Optionally the purging means includes a suction device that is arranged to
suck purged material
from the nozzle environment of the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises
a) an elastomeric material a lip portion and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion,
and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the
print head nozzles.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
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Optionally a chamber is located within the capping member and is connected in
fluid passage communication
with the cavity, and wherein the chamber is arranged to be connected to a
suction device whereby material
may be sucked from the nozzle environment of the print head.
5 Optionally the actuating mechanism
is arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member in a
direction approximately normal to the direction of transport of print media
past the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer wherein the capping member
when in the first position is located
10 below the print head and wherein the capping member is raised in the
arcuate direction from the first position
to the second position to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
15 second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a
direction normal to the
print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
20 a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
direction from a first to a
second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a lateral
direction relative to
the print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of the print head when the
print head is in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
located in the non-capping first
position spaced-apart from the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
first direction from a first
to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate
second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the print head when the print
head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism further has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the print head in an arcuate
first direction from a first
position to a second position and a third position; and
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a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate
second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the print head when the print
head is in the second position and to permit purging of the nozzles when the
print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the print head,
and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from
the non-capping first position to the second position at which the capping
member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the print head and having a longitudinal length
corresponding
substantially to that of the print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
the non-capping
first position to the second position at which the capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement
with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the
print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print
head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
print head, the flexible sheet-like
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material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a portion of the
material is in use drawn to locate, as
the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the
capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head; and
the capping/purging mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up
spent capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the print head, and the body portion having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the
print head.
In a ninth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the at least one print head,
(ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one print head in a arcuate first direction from a first to a second
position and
(iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one capping member in an arcuate second direction opposite to
that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when the at least one print head is in
the second position.
Optionally the at least one capping member is formed effectively as a one-
piece member.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an
aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print
head.
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Optionally wherein the at least one capping member comprises a body portion
formed from a rigid material
and a capping portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip
portion and b) a cavity
surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally
configured to surround the nozzles
collectively.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) two opposed pagewidth print heads and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the print heads, and
(b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) two capping members located adjacent respective ones of the
print heads and having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the print heads,
(ii) first actuating mechanisms arranged to move the respective
print heads in an arcuate first direction from a first to a second
position and
(iii) second actuating mechanisms arranged to move the capping
members in an arcuate second direction opposite to that of the
first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of the
respective print heads when the respective print heads are in the
second position.
Optionally each of the capping members is formed effectively as a one-piece
member.
Optionally each of the capping members comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an aggregate
length corresponding substantially to that of the respective print heads.
Optionally each of the capping members comprises a body portion formed from a
rigid material and a capping
portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b)
a cavity surrounded by the lip
portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround
the nozzles collectively.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
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Optionally the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one
capping member in a
direction normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
Optionally the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one
capping member in a lateral
direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping member is located adjacent the print heads and has a length
corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads;
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
print heads from the
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to interpose the capping member
between the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the at
least one print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the at least
one print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member from the
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head; and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from the print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of
the capping member
5 from the non-capping first position to a second position at which the
capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
10 the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the
print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the print
head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping member in an
arcuate direction from the non-capping first position to a second position at
which the capping member is
15 located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one print head
in an arcuate first
direction from the first position to the second position and a third position;
and
20 the second actuating mechanism is arranged to permit purging of the nozzles
when the at least one
print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
25 print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
30 member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
35 In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping
mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
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an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
capping member and
the at least one print head to a position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member is
formed from a flexible sheet-
like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length of the
at least one print head, the
flexible sheet-like material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a
portion of the material is in use
drawn to locate, as the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a tenth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
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(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping/purging mechanism having-
(i) at least one capping/purging member having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
(ii) a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one print head in a arcuate first direction from a first position to
a second position and a third position, and
(iii) a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least
one capping/purging member in an arcuate second direction
opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print head when the at least one
print head is in the second position and to permit purging of the
nozzles when the at least one print head is in the third position.
Optionally the at least one capping/purging member is formed effectively as a
one-piece member.
Optionally the at least one capping/purging member comprises conjoined member
portions having an
aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print
head.
Optionally the at least one capping/purging member comprises a body portion, a
lip portion formed from an
elastomeric material, a capping cavity surrounded by the lip portion, a
purging chamber also surrounded by
the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to
surround the print head nozzles.
Optionally the capping cavity and the purging chamber form integral portions
of the capping/purging
member.
Optionally the purging chamber in the at least one capping/purging member is
connected to a suction device.
Optionally the purging chamber is connected to the suction device by a way of
an extractor tube.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) two opposed pagewidth print heads and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads and
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arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the print heads, and
(b) a capping/purging mechanism having-
(i) two capping members located adjacent respective ones of the
print heads and having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the print heads,
(ii) first actuating mechanisms arranged to move the respective
print heads in an arcuate first direction from a first to second and
third positions and
(iii) second actuating mechanisms arranged to move the capping
members in an arcuate second direction opposite to that of the
first direction to effect nozzle capping engagement of the
respective print heads when the respective print heads are in the
second position and to permit purging of the nozzles when the
print heads are in the third position.
Optionally each said capping/purging member is formed effectively as a one-
piece member.
Optionally each said capping/purging member comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an
aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of each of the print
heads.
Optionally each said capping/purging member has a body portion, a lip portion
formed from an elastomeric
material, a capping cavity surrounded by the lip portion, a purging chamber
also surrounded by the lip
portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround
the print head nozzles.
Optionally the capping cavity and the purging chamber form integral portions
of the capping/purging
member.
Optionally the purging chamber in each said capping/purging member is
connected to a suction device.
Optionally the purging chamber is connected to the suction device by a way of
an extractor tube.
Optionally the print heads are disposed in confronting relationship when in
the first position.
Optionally the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one
capping/purging member in a
direction normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
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Optionally the second actuating mechanism is arranged to move the at least one
capping/purging member in a
lateral direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping/purging member is located adjacent the print heads and has a
length corresponding
substantially to that of the print heads;
the first actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
print heads from the
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to interpose the capping/purging
member between the
print heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when
the print heads are in the second
position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping/purging member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent
the at least one print
head;
the capping/purging mechanism further has purging means associated with the
capping/purging
member and arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle
environment of the at least one print
head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping/purging member
from the non-capping first position to a second position at which the
capping/purging member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head; and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
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the capping/purging member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-
apart from the print
head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of
the capping/purging
member from the non-capping first position to a second position at which the
capping/purging member is
5 located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping/purging member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent
the print head;
10 the capping/purging mechanism further has purging means associated with the
capping/purging
member and arranged to receive material that is purged from the nozzle
environment of the print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the
capping/purging member in
an arcuate direction from the non-capping first position to a second position
at which the capping/purging
member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
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an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping/purging member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and
has a width
corresponding substantially to the length of the at least one print head; and
the second actuating mechanism is arranged to effect relative movement of the
capping/purging
member and the at least one print head to a position at which the
capping/purging member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
member is formed from a flexible
sheet-like material and has a width corresponding substantially to the length
of the at least one print head, the
flexible sheet-like material being provided as a replaceable roll from which a
portion of the material is in use
drawn to locate, as the capping/purging member, in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print
head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping/purging member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and
has a width
corresponding substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the
flexible sheet-like material being
provided as a replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use
drawn to locate, as the
capping/purging member, in nozzle capping engagement with the at least one
print head; and
the capping/purging mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up
spent capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
member comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In an eleventh aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping/purging mechanism associated with the at least one print
head and comprising-
(i) a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding
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substantially to that of the at least one print head,
(ii) a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
(iii) a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid
passage communication with a suction device,
(iv) a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the
turret selectively to position the capping member or the purging
chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least one print head,
and
(v) a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of
the turret whereby an aligned one of the capping member and the
purging chamber is selectively positioned in engagement with the
at least one print head.
Optionally a longitudinally extending platen also is carried by the turret and
wherein the first actuating
mechanism is arranged to effect rotation of the turret to a position at which
the platen is located in aligned
spaced-apart relationship with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head and arranged
in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported past the
print head, and
(b) a capping/purging mechanism associated with the print head and
comprising-
(i) a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head,
(ii) a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
(iii) a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid
passage communication with a suction device,
(iv) a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the
turret selectively to position the capping member or the purging
chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least one print head,
and
(v) a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of
the turret whereby an aligned one of the capping member and the
purging chamber is selectively positioned in engagement with the
the print head.
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Optionally a longitudinally extending platen also is carried by the turret and
wherein the first actuating
mechanism is arranged to effect rotation of the turret to a position at which
the platen is located in aligned
spaced-apart relationship with the print head.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member and
has a length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises conjoined member portions having an
aggregate length
corresponding substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises a body portion, a lip portion formed
from an elastomeric material
and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is
peripherally configured to surround
the print head nozzles.
Optionally the purging chamber comprises a longitudinally extending member and
has a length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally the purging chamber comprises conjoined member portions having an
aggregate length
corresponding substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally the purging chamber comprises a body portion, a lip portion formed
from an elastomeric material
and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is
peripherally configured to surround
the print head nozzles.
Optionally the turret has a generally triangular cross-section and wherein the
platen, the capping member and
the purging chamber are located on respective sides of the turret.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a direction
normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a lateral
direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
a capping member located adjacent the print heads and having a length
corresponding
substantially to that of the print heads,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the print
heads from a
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between
the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and
located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from but confronting the
print head, and
a motor drive arranged for caroming engagement with the capping member to
effect its
linear transitioning from the first position to a second position at which the
capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a capping member associated with the at least one print head, the capping
member having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head and being
located in a non-capping first
position adjacent the at least one print head,
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is purged
from the nozzle environment of the at least one print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
from the first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
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the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
5 a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping
members having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head, and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
10 transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
15 a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and
located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from the print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of the capping
member
from the first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
a capping member associated with the print head, the capping member having a
length
corresponding substantially to that of the print head and being located in a
non-capping first position
adjacent the print head,
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
in an
arcuate direction from the first position to a second position at which the
capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
4 0 print head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
at least one capping/purging member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the at
least one print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first position to a second position and a third position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping/purging
member in an
arcuate second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect
nozzle capping engagement of the at
least one print head when the at least one print head is in the second
position and to permit purging of the
nozzles when the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the second actuating
mechanism is arranged to effect
rotation of the turret to move the capping member from a non-capping first
position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the at
least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the at least
one print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at
least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding substantially
to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-like material
being provided as a replaceable roll
from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the capping
member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping/purging
mechanism has:
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
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replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head, and
a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent capping material following a capping
operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a twelfth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the at least one print
head and comprising-
(i) a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding
substantially to that of the at least one print head,
(ii) a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret
and
(iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the
turret to move the capping member from a non-capping first position
to a second position at which the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head.
Optionally the turret incorporates a purging chamber which is aligned with the
print head nozzles when the
capping member is in the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the print head and
comprising-
(i) a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head,
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(ii) a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret
and
(iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the
turret to move the capping member from a non-capping first position
to a second position at which the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
Optionally the turret incorporates a purging chamber which is aligned with the
print head nozzles when the
capping member is in the first position.
Optionally the turret has a longitudinally extending substantially flat land
portion that locates adjacent the
print head when the capping member is in the non-capping first position.
Optionally the capping member is carried by an eccentric land portion of the
turret.
Optionally the purging chamber is located interiorly of the turret.
Optionally the purging chamber opens to the flat land portion of the turret by
way of a port.
Optionally the purging chamber is connected to a suction device.
Optionally the flat land portion of the turret effectively forms a platen when
the capping member is in the first
position.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member and
has a length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises a body portion, a lip portion formed
from an elastomeric material
and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is
peripherally configured to surround
the print head nozzles.
Optionally the capping member comprises conjoined member portions having an
aggregate length
corresponding substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally the capping member is carried by an eccentric land portion of the
turret.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a direction
normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a lateral
direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member located adjacent the print heads and having a length
corresponding
substantially to that of the print heads,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the print
heads from a
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between
the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and
located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from but confronting the
print head, and
a motor drive arranged for caroming engagement with the capping member to
effect its
linear transitioning from the first position to a second position at which the
capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
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a capping member associated with the at least one print head, the capping
member having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head and being
located in a non-capping first
position adjacent the at least one print head,
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is purged
5 from the nozzle environment of the at least one print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
from the first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
print head.
10 In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
15 a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping
members having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head, and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
20 transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping mechanism has:
25 a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and
located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from the print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of the capping
member
from the first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with the print head, the capping member having a
length
corresponding substantially to that of the print head and being located in a
non-capping first position
adjacent the print head,
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the print head, and
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an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
in an
arcuate direction from the first position to a second position at which the
capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first position to a second position and a third position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position and to
permit purging of the nozzles when
the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the at least
one print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at
least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding substantially
to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-like material
being provided as a replaceable roll
from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the capping
member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head, and
a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent capping material following a capping
operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a thirteenth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the at least one print
head and comprising-
(i) a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and
having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of
the at least one print head,
(ii) a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to
the carrier and having a longitudinal length corresponding
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substantially to that of the at least one print head, and
(iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the
capping member from a non-capping first position to a second
position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
Optionally the carrier incorporates a purging chamber into which material
maybe purged from the print head
nozzles.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the print
head and comprising-
(i) a carrier positioned adjacent the print head and having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of
the print head,
(ii) a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to
the carrier and having a longitudinal length corresponding
substantially to that of the print head, and
(iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the
capping member from a non-capping first position to a second
position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
Optionally the carrier incorporates a purging chamber into which material may
be purged from the print head
nozzles.
Optionally the purging. chamber is connected to a suction device.
Optionally the carrier is positioned in confronting relationship to the print
head and is spaced from the print
head to form a lower margin of a passage for print media that, in use, is
transported past the print head
Optionally the capping member comprises a body portion, a lip portion formed
from an elastomeric material
and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is
peripherally configured to surround
the print head nozzles.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a direction
normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a lateral
direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member located adjacent the print heads and having a length
corresponding
substantially to that of the print heads,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the print
heads from a
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between
the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and
located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from but confronting the
print head, and
a motor drive arranged for carnming engagement with the capping member to
effect its
linear transitioning from the first position to a second position at which the
capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a capping member associated with the at least one print head, the- capping
member having a length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head and being
located in a non-capping first
position adjacent the at least one print head,
5 purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is purged
from the nozzle environment of the at least one print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
from the first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head, and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and
located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from the print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of the capping
member
from the first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with the print head, the capping member having a
length
corresponding substantially to that of the print head and being located in a
non-capping first position
adjacent the print head,
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the print head, and
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an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
in an
arcuate direction from the first position to a second position at which the
capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first position to a second position and a third position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position and to
permit purging of the nozzles when
the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the at least
one print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at
least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding substantially
to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-like material
being provided as a replaceable roll
from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the capping
member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width
corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head, and
a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent capping material following a capping
operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a fourteenth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the at least one print head and
comprising-
i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, and
ii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the capping
member and the at least one
print head to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at
least one print head.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
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(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the at least one print head and
comprising-
i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, and
ii) an actuating mechanism arranged to position the capping member in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect the present invention provides printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) two pagewidth print heads and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported between the print heads, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the print heads and comprising-
i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print heads, and
ii) an actuating mechanism arranged to position the capping member between the
two print heads and in
nozzle capping engagement with the print heads.
Optionally the capping member comprises a single layer sheet like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a multi-layer sheet like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a compressible sheet-like material.
Optionally fluid delivery means are provided for delivering a fluid to a
region between the multiple layers of
the capping member.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophobic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a closed cell thermoplastics
material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophilic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from an open cell silicone material.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a direction
normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a lateral
direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping member is located adjacent the print heads and has a length
corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the print
heads from a
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between
the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from but confronting the
print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a motor drive arranged for camming
engagement with the
capping member to effect its linear transitioning from the non-capping first
position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the at
least one print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the at least
one print head; and
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the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the capping
member from the non-
capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
5 In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
10 a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping
members having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head; and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
15 transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from the print head; and
20 the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect arcuate transitioning of the
capping member from the
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
25 the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the
print head;
the capping mechanism further has purging means associated with the capping
member and arranged
to receive material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the print
head; and
the actuating mechanism is arranged to effect transitioning of the capping
member in an arcuate
30 direction from the non-capping first position to a second position at which
the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
35 from a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
40 In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping
mechanism has:
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first position to a second position and a third position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position and to
permit purging of the nozzles when
the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the flexible sheet-
like material is provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein: -
the flexible sheet-like material is provided as a replaceable roll from which
a portion of the material
is in use drawn to locate, as the capping member, in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print
head; and
the capping mechanism further has a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent
capping material
following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a fifteenth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the at least one print head and
comprising a capping member formed
from a flexible sheet-like material and having a width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least
one print head, the flexible sheet-like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the
material is in use drawn to locate, as the capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one
print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises a single layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a multi-layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a compressible sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material, having
hydrophobic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a closed cell thermoplastics
material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophilic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from an open cell silicone material.
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Optionally a cutter mechanism is provided for selectively cutting the portion
of the material from the
replaceable roll.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the print head and comprising-
(i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to form the capping
member, and
ii) a platen positioned adjacent the print head and arranged to engage with
and position the capping member in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises a single layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a multi-layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a compressible sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophobic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a closed cell thermoplastics
material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophilic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from an open cell silicone material.
Optionally a cutter mechanism is provided for selectively cutting the portion
of the material from the
replaceable roll.
Optionally an actuating mechanism is provided to effect movement of the platen
whereby it causes the
capping member to move into nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has a first actuating
mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an arcuate direction
from a first to a second
position, and
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a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a direction
normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a lateral
direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping member is located adjacent the print heads and has a length
corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the print
heads from a
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between
the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from but confronting the
print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a motor drive arranged for camming
engagement with the
capping member to effect its linear transitioning from the non-capping first
position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the at
least one print head; and
the capping mechanism further has:
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the at least one print head; and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
from the
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
5 past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non-capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
10 located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head; and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
15 the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from the print head; and
the capping mechanism has an actuating mechanism arranged to effect arcuate
transitioning of the
capping member from the non-capping first position to a second position at
which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the
print head; and
the capping mechanism further has:
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the print head; and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
in an
arcuate direction from the non-capping first position to a second position at
which the capping
member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first position to a second position and a third position, and
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a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position and to
permit purging of the nozzles when
the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print-head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has an actuating
mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the capping member and the
at least one print head to a
position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print
head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has a take-up reel
arranged to take-up spent capping material following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a sixteenth aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head
and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the at least one print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the at least one print head and
comprising-
(i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head, and
(ii) a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent capping material following a
capping operation.
Optionally the capping member comprises a single layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a multi-layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a compressible sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophobic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a closed cell thermoplastics
material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophilic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from an open cell silicone material.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
(a) a pagewidth print head assembly having-
(i) a pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head
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and arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the print head, and
(b) a capping mechanism associated with the print head and comprising-
(i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the print head, the flexible sheet-like
material being provided as a replaceable
roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate, as the
capping member, in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head,
ii) a platen positioned adjacent the print head and arranged to engage with
and position the capping member in
nozzle capping engagement with the print head, and
(iii) a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent capping material following a
capping operation, and
Optionally the capping member comprises a single layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a multi-layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a compressible sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophobic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a closed cell thermoplastics
material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophilic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from an open cell silicone material.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a direction
normal to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping engagement of
the at least one print head when
the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate direction from
a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in a lateral
direction relative to the at least one print head to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the at least one print
head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
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the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads;
the capping member is located adjacent the print heads and has a length
corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the print
heads from a
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to interpose the capping member between
the print
heads to effect nozzle capping engagement of the two print heads when the
print heads are in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from but confronting the
print head; and
the capping mechanism further has a motor drive arranged for camming
engagement with the
capping member to effect its linear transitioning from the non-capping first
position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the at
least one print head; and
the capping mechanism further has:
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the at least one print head; and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping member
from the
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle
capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads; and
the capping mechanism has:
a capping member associated with each of the print heads, the capping members
having
lengths corresponding.substantially to those of the print heads and each said
capping member being
moveable between a non capping first position and a second position at which
the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head; and
an actuating mechanism associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to effect
transitioning of each of the capping members from its first position to its
second position.
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In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart
from the print head; and
5 the capping mechanism has an actuating mechanism arranged to effect arcuate
transitioning of the
capping member from the non-capping first position to a second position at
which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein:
10 the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head;
the capping member is located in a non-capping first position adjacent the
print head; and
the capping mechanism further has:
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the print head; and
15 an actuating mechanism arranged to effect transitioning of the capping
member in an
arcuate direction from the non-capping first position to a second position at
which the capping
member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
20 a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in
a arcuate first direction
from a first to a second position; and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in a
arcuate first direction
from a first position to a second position and a third position, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one capping member
in an arcuate
second direction opposite to that of the first direction to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the at least one
print head when the at least one print head is in the second position and to
permit purging of the nozzles when
the at least one print head is in the third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret,
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with a suction
device,
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position the capping
member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the at least
one print head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned one of
the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member carried by the turret, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret to move the
capping member from a
non-capping first position to a second position at which the capping member is
located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
has:
a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print head and having a
longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
a longitudinally extending capping member pivotally mounted to the carrier and
having a
longitudinal length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one
print head, and
an actuating mechanism arranged to effect pivoting of the capping member from
a non-capping first
position to a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping mechanism
further has an actuating
mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the capping member and the
at least one print head to a
position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one print
head.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer, wherein the capping member
comprises:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally
configured to surround
the nozzles on the at least one print head, and the body portion having a
length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print head.
In a seventeenth aspect the present invention provides a capping member for a
pagewidth print head assembly
having-
(i) at least one pagewidth printhead; and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead,
the capping member comprising:
a) a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion; and
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b) a cavity surrounded by the lip portion; wherein,
the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the nozzles on
the at least one print head, and the body portion has a length
corresponding substantially to that of the at least one printhead.
Optionally the lip portion is formed from an elastomeric material.
Optionally the body portion is formed from a rigid material.
Optionally the body portion is formed from a metal.
Optionally the body portion is formed from a plastics material.
Optionally the body portion and the lip portion are formed as a unitary
structure for the full length of the
member.
Optionally the capping portion is formed on each of two sides of the body
portion.
Optionally a purging chamber is formed within the member.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the at
least one print head,
and
the capping mechanism has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate
direction from a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism, the capping member being adapted to be moved by
the
second actuating mechanism in a direction normal to the at least one print
head to effect nozzle
capping engagement of the of the at least one print head when the at least one
print head is in the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the at
least one print head,
and
the capping mechanism has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate
direction from a first to a second position, and
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a second actuating mechanism, the capping member being adapted to be moved by
the
second actuating mechanism in a lateral direction relative to the at least one
print head to effect
nozzle capping engagement of the of the at least one print head when the at
least one print head is in
the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two opposed pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads,
the capping member is adapted to be located adjacent the print heads and has a
length corresponding
substantially to that of the print heads, and
the capping mechanism has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect relative movement of the print
heads from a
printing first position to a spaced-apart second position and
a second actuating mechanism, the capping member being adapted to be
interposed between
the print heads by the second actuating mechanism to effect nozzle capping
engagement of the two
print heads when the print heads are in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head,
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and is adapted
to be located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from but
confronting the print head, and
the capping mechanism has a motor drive arranged for caroming engagement with
the capping
member, the capping member being adapted to be linear transitioned by the
motor drive from the first to a
second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping/purging mechanism of a
printer comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and is
adapted to be located in a non-capping first position adjacent the at least
one print head, and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the at least one print head, and
an actuating mechanism, the capping member being adapted to be transitioned by
the
actuating mechanism from the first position to a second position at which the
capping member is
located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
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In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has two offset pagewidth print heads and a
plurality of nozzles
located along each of the print heads and arranged in use to deliver ink onto
print media as it is transported
past the print heads,
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to those of the
print heads and is
adapted to be associated with one of the print heads and to be moveable
between a non-capping first position
and a second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the
associated print head, and
the capping mechanism has an actuating mechanism associated with the capping
member, the
capping member being adapted to be transitioned by the actuating mechanism
from its first position to its
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head,
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and is adapted
to be located in a non-capping first position spaced-apart from the print
head, and
the capping mechanism has an actuating mechanism, the capping member being
adapted to undergo
arcuate transitioning by the actuating mechanism from the first position to a
second position at which the
capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping/purging mechanism of a
printer comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein: -
the pagewidth print head assembly has a single pagewidth print head,
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head and is adapted
to be located in a non-capping first position adjacent the print head, and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
purging means associated with the capping member and arranged to receive
material that is
purged from the nozzle environment of the print head, and
an actuating mechanism, the capping member being adapted to be transitioned by
the
actuating mechanism in an arcuate direction from the first position to a
second position at which the
capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the at
least one print head,
and
the capping mechanism has:
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a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate first
direction from a first to a second position, and
a second actuating mechanism, the capping member being adapted to be moved by
the
second actuating mechanism in an arcuate second direction opposite to that of
the first direction to
5 effect nozzle capping engagement of the at least one print head when the at
least one print head is in
the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping/purging mechanism of a
printer comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
10 the capping member has a length corresponding substantially to that of the
at least one print head,
and
the capping/purging mechanism has:
a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the at least one print head in an
arcuate first
direction from a first position to a second position and a third position, and
15 a second actuating mechanism, the capping member being adapted to be moved
by the
second actuating mechanism in an arcuate second direction opposite to that of
the first direction to
effect nozzle capping engagement of the at least one print head when the at
least one print head is in
the second position and to permit purging of the nozzles when the at least one
print head is in the
third position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping/purging mechanism of a
printer comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, the capping/purging
mechanism being associated with
the at least one print head and comprising a rotatable turret having a
longitudinal length corresponding
substantially to that of the at least one print head, wherein:
the capping member is a longitudinally extending capping member adapted to be
carried by the
turret, and
the capping/purging mechanism further comprises:
a purging chamber carried by the turret and connected in fluid passage
communication with
a suction device,
a first actuating mechanism arranged to effect rotation of the turret
selectively to position
the capping member or the purging chamber in alignment with the nozzles of the
at least one print
head, and
a second actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the turret whereby
an aligned
one of the capping member and the purging chamber is selectively positioned in
engagement with the
at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, the capping mechanism being
associated with the at least one
print head and comprising a rotatable turret having a longitudinal length
corresponding substantially to that of
the at least one print head, wherein:
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the capping member is a longitudinally extending capping member adapted to be
carried by the
turret, and
the capping mechanism further comprises an actuating mechanism arranged to
effect rotation of the
turret, the capping member being adapted to move with the turret from a non-
capping first position to a
second position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one
print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, the capping mechanism being
associated with the at least one
print head and comprising a carrier positioned adjacent the at least one print
head and having a longitudinal
length corresponding substantially to that of the at least one print head,
wherein:
the capping member is a longitudinally extending capping member adapted to be
pivotally mounted
to the carrier and to have a longitudinal length corresponding substantially
to that of the at least one print
head, and
the capping mechanism further comprises an actuating mechanism, the capping
member being
adapted to be pivoted by the actuating mechanism from a non-capping first
position to a second position at
which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the at
least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, and
the capping mechanism is associated with the at least one print head and
comprises an actuating
mechanism, the capping member and the at least one print head being adapted to
be relatively moved by the
actuating mechanism to a position at which the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with
the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the capping mechanism is associated with the at least one print head, and
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping member for incorporation in a
capping mechanism of a printer
comprising the pagewidth print head assembly, wherein:
the capping member is formed from a flexible sheet-like material and has a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one print head, the flexible sheet-
like material being provided as a
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replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to
locate, as the capping member, in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head, and
the capping mechanism is associated with the at least one print head and
comprises a take-up reel
arranged to take-up spent capping material following a capping operation..
In an eighteenth aspect the present invention provides a capping mechanism for
a pagewidth print head
assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth print head and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print
media as it is transported past the at least one print head, and
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print
head, and
ii) actuating means arranged to effect linear relative transitioning of the at
least one capping member and the
at least one print head to a position at which nozzle capping engagement is
effected between the at least one
capping member and the at least one print head.
Optionally the actuating means is arranged to effect linear transitioning of
the at least one capping member
from a non-capping first position to a second position at which the at least
one capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism for a pagewidth
print head assembly having-
a) a pagewidth print head and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the print head and arranged in use to
deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the print head,
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
print head, and
ii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect linear transitioning of the
capping member from a non-capping
first position to a second position at which the capping member is located in
nozzle capping engagement with
the print head.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
Optionally the capping member comprises conjoined capping member portions
having an aggregate length
corresponding substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally the capping member comprises a body portion formed from a rigid
material and a capping portion
having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b) a
cavity surrounded by the lip portion,
and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the nozzles
collectively.
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Optionally the capping member is arranged to be connected to a suction device
whereby material may be
sucked from the nozzle environment of the print head.
Optionally a chamber is located within the capping member and is connected in
fluid passage communication
with the cavity and wherein the chamber is arranged to be connected to a
suction device whereby material
may be sucked from the nozzle environment of the print head.
Optionally a second actuating mechanism is provided for effecting movement of
the print head to the second
position.
Optionally the second actuating mechanism is arranged to impart linear
movement to the print head.
Optionally the second actuating mechanism is arranged to impart arcuate
movement to the print head.
Optionally the capping member is positioned in confronting relationship with
the print head and wherein the
actuating mechanism is arranged to move the capping member in a direction
normal to the print head when
effecting linear transitioning of the capping member from the first to the
second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism for a pagewidth
print head assembly having-
a) two confronting pagewidth print heads and
b) a plurality of nozzles arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as
it is transported past the print heads,
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member associated with each of the print heads and having a
length corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads, and
ii) actuating mechanisms arranged to effect linear transitioning of each of
the capping members from a non-
capping first position to a second position at which each said capping member
is located in nozzle capping
engagement with the associated print head.
Optionally each of the capping members is formed effectively as a one-piece
member.
Optionally each of the capping members comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an aggregate
length corresponding substantially to that of the print head.
Optionally each of the capping members comprises a body portion formed from a
rigid material and a capping
portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b)
a cavity surrounded by the lip
portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to
surround'the nozzles collectively.
Optionally further actuating mechanisms are provided for effecting movement of
the print heads to the second
position.
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Optionally the further actuating mechanisms are arranged to impart linear
movement to the print heads.
Optionally the further actuating mechanisms are arranged to impart arcuate
movement to the print heads.
Optionally the capping members are positioned in confronting relationship with
the respective print heads
when the print heads are in the second position and wherein the actuating
mechanisms are arranged to move
the respective capping members in directions normal to the associated print
heads when effecting linear
transitioning of the capping members from the first to the second position.
Optionally the capping members are positioned laterally with respect with the
respective print heads when the
print heads are in the second position and wherein the actuating mechanisms
are arranged to move the
respective capping members in a lateral direction when effecting linear
transitioning of the capping members
from the first to the second position.
Optionally a further actuating mechanism is provided for imparting linear
movement to at least one of the
print heads, wherein the capping members are positioned laterally with respect
to the print heads when in the
first position and wherein the capping members are moved laterally to a
position between the print heads
when transiting linearly from the first to the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism for a pagewidth
print head assembly having-
a) two offset pagewidth print heads and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along each of the print heads and arranged
in use to deliver ink onto print
media as it is transported past the print heads,
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member associated with each of the print heads and having a
length corresponding substantially
to that of the print heads, and
ii) actuating mechanisms arranged to effect linear relative transitioning of
each of the associated capping
members and print heads to a position at which the capping members is located
in nozzle capping
engagement with the associated print heads.
Optionally the actuating mechanisms are arranged to effect linear
transitioning of each of the capping
members from a non-capping first position to a second position at which each
said capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement with the associated print head.
Optionally the capping members are positioned in confronting relationship with
the respective print heads and
wherein the actuating mechanisms are arranged to move the respective capping
members in directions normal
to the associated print heads when effecting linear transitioning of the
capping members from the first to the
second position.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
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(a) a print head assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth print head and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print
media as it is transported past the at least one print head, and
5 (b) a capping mechanism having-
i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one print
head, and
ii) actuating means arranged to effect linear relative transitioning of the at
least one capping member and the
at least one print head to a position at which nozzle capping engagement is
effected between the at least one
10 capping member and the at least one print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a method of capping a pagewidth print
head assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth print head and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one print head and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print
15 media as it is transported past the at least one print head;
and wherein the method comprises:
effecting linear relative transitioning of the at least one print head and at
least one associated capping member
to a position at which the at least one capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at
least one print head.
In a nineteenth aspect the present invention provides a a capping mechanism
for a printhead having a plurality
of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print media which, in use, is
transported past the printhead, the
capping mechanism comprising actuating means arranged to move the printhead in
an arcuate direction away
from a transport plane of the print media, from a printing first position to a
capping second position, and a
capping member which is arranged to engage in nozzle capping engagement with
the printhead when the
printhead is in the second position.
In another aspect there is provided a printer comprising
a) at least one printhead having a plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver
ink onto print media which, in use, is
transported past the printhead, and
b) a capping mechanism having actuating means arranged to move the printhead
in an arcuate direction away
from a transport plane of the print media, from a printing first position to a
capping second position, and a
capping member which is arranged to engage in nozzle capping engagement with
the printhead when the
printhead is in the second position.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism for a pagewidth
printhead assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead and arranged in use to
deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the printhead;
the capping mechanism comprising-
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i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
printhead, and
ii) actuating means arranged to move the at least one printhead in an arcuate
direction away from the transport
plane of the print media, from a printing first position to a second position-
at which the at least one capping
member is engaged in nozzle capping engagement with the at least one
printhead.
Optionally the at least one capping member is formed effectively as a one-
piece member.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an
aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises a body portion formed
from a rigid material and a
capping portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip
portion and b) a cavity surrounded by
the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to
surround the nozzles collectively of
the associated printhead.
Optionally the at least one capping member is arranged to be connected to a
suction device whereby material
may be sucked from the nozzle environment of the associated printhead.
Optionally a purging chamber is located within the at least one capping member
and is arranged to be
connected to a suction device whereby material may be sucked from the nozzle
environment of the printhead.
Optionally a further actuating mechanism is provided to effect movement of the
at least one capping member
from a non-capping position to the second position.
Optionally the further actuating mechanism is arranged to impart linear
movement to the at least one capping
member.
Optionally the further actuating mechanism is arranged to impart arcuate
movement to the at least one
capping member.
Optionally the at least one capping member is positioned in confronting
relationship with an associated said
printhead when the printhead is in the second position and wherein the further
actuating mechanism is
arranged to move the at least one capping member in a direction normal to the
associated printhead when
effecting linear movement of the at least one capping member from the non-
capping position to the second
position.
Optionally the at least one capping member is positioned adjacent to and
laterally with respect to the at least
one printhead, and wherein the further actuating mechanism is arranged to move
the at least one capping
member in a lateral direction to the second position.
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In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism for a pagewidth
printhead assembly having-
a) two pagewidth printheads and
b) a plurality nozzles located along each of the printheads and arranged in
use to deliver ink onto print media
as it is transported past the printheads;
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member associated with each of the printheads and having a length
corresponding substantially to
that of the printheads, and
ii) actuating means arranged to move each of the printheads in an arcuate
direction away from the transport
plane of the print media, from a printing first position to a second
position.at which the capping member is
engaged in nozzle capping engagement with the associated printhead.
Optionally each capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
Optionally each capping member comprises conjoined capping member portions
having an aggregate length
corresponding substantially to that of the printhead.
Optionally each capping member comprises a body portion formed from a rigid
material and a capping
portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b)
a cavity surrounded by the lip
portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround
the nozzles collectively..
Optionally each capping member is arranged to be connected to a suction device
whereby material may be
sucked from the nozzle environment of the associated printhead.
Optionally a purging chamber is located within each capping member and is
arranged to be connected to a
suction device whereby material may be sucked from the nozzle environment of
the associated printhead.
Optionally a further actuating mechanism is provided to effect movement of
each of the capping members
from a non-capping position to the second position.
Optionally the further actuating mechanism is arranged to impart linear
movement to each of the capping
members.
Optionally the further actuating mechanism is arranged to impart arcuate
movement to each of the capping
members.
Optionally each of the capping members is positioned in confronting
relationship with the associated said
printhead when the printhead is in the second position and wherein the further
actuating mechanism is
arranged to move each of the capping members in a direction normal to the
associated printhead when
effecting linear movement of the capping members from the non capping position
to the second position.
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Optionally each of the capping members is positioned adjacent to and laterally
with respect to an associated
one of the printheads, and wherein the further actuating mechanism is arranged
to move each of the capping
members in a lateral direction to the second position.
In a aspect the present invention provides a printer comprising:
a) printhead assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth printhead and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the printhead; and
b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the at least one printhead, and
ii) actuating means arranged to move the at least one printhead in
an arcuate direction away from the transport plane of the print
media, from a printing first position to a second position at which
the at least one capping member is engaged in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one print head.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of capping a
printhead having a plurality of
nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print media which, in use, is transported
past the printhead; the method
comprising moving the printhead, in an arcuate direction away from a transport
plane of the print media, from
a printing first position to a capping second position and engaging the
printhead with a capping member
which in nozzle capping engagement when the printhead is in the second
position.
In another aspect the present invention provides a method of capping a
pagewidth printhead assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality of nozzles arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as
it is transported past the printhead;
the method comprising moving the at least one printhead in an arcuate
direction away from the transport plane
of the print media, from a printing first position to a second position at
which a capping member is engaged in
nozzle capping engagement with the at least one printhead.
In a twentieth aspect the present invention provides a capping/purging
mechanism for a pagewidth printhead
assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth printhead, and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print
media as it is transported past the at least one printhead;
and the capping/purging mechanism comprising-
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i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding substantially to
that of the at least one
printhead,
ii) means arranged to move the at least one printhead and/or the at least one
capping member to a position at
which the at least one capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one
printhead, and
iii) at least one purging chamber arranged to receive material that is purged
from the at least one printhead.
Optionally the at least one capping member is formed effectively as a one-
piece member.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises conjoined capping member
portions having an
aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead.
Optionally the at least one capping member comprises a body portion formed
from a rigid material and a
capping portion having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip
portion and b) a cavity surrounded by
the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to
surround the nozzles collectively.
Optionally the at least one purging chamber is connectible to a suction
device.
Optionally the at least one purging chamber is connectible to the suction
device by way of an extractor tube.
Optionally the at least one purging chamber is integrated with the at least
one capping member.
Optionally the at least one purging chamber is connected in fluid passage
communication with the at least one
capping member.
Optionally the at least one purging chamber is carried by a support that also
carries the at least one capping
member.
Optionally the at least one capping member and the at least one purging
chamber form integral portions of a
capping/purging member.
Optionally the means arranged to move the at least one printhead and/or the at
least one capping member
comprises a first actuating means arranged to move the at least one printhead
in an arcuate direction away
from the plane of print media feed through the printhead assembly and to the
position of nozzle capping
engagement.
Optionally the means arranged to move the at least one printhead and/or the at
least one capping member
comprises first and second actuating means arranged to move the at least one
printhead and the at least one
capping member in arcuate directions to the position of nozzle capping
engagement.
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Optionally the first actuating means is arranged to move the at least one
printhead to a further position at
which the purging chamber is arranged to receive material that is purged from
the at least one printhead.
Optionally the second actuating means is arranged to move the at least one
capping member to a further
5 position at which the purging chamber is arranged to receive material that
is purged from the at least one
printhead.
Optionally the means arranged to move the at least one printhead and/or the at
least one capping member
comprises an actuating means arranged to move the at least one capping member
and the at least one purging
10 chamber in a linear direction to the position of nozzle capping engagement.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping/purging mechanism for a
pagewidth printhead assembly
having-
a) a pagewidth printhead, and
15 b) a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead and arranged in use
to deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the printhead;
and the capping/purging mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the
at least one printhead,
ii) means arranged to move the capping member and/or the printhead to a
position at which the capping
20 member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead, and
iii) a purging chamber arranged to receive material that is purged from the
printhead.
Optionally the capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member.
25 Optionally the capping member comprises conjoined capping member portions
having an aggregate length
corresponding substantially to that of the printhead.
Optionally the capping member comprises a body portion formed from a rigid
material and a capping portion
having a) an integrally formed elastomeric material lip portion and b) a
cavity surrounded by the lip portion,
30 and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the
nozzles collectively.
Optionally the purging chamber is connectible to a suction device.
Optionally the purging chamber is connectible to the suction device by way of
an extractor tube.
Optionally the purging chamber is integrated with the capping member.
Optionally the purging chamber is connected in fluid passage communication
with the at least one capping
member.
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Optionally the purging chamber is carried by a support that also carries the
capping member.
Optionally the capping member and the purging chamber form integral portions
of a capping/purging
member.
Optionally the means arranged to move the printhead and/or the capping member
comprises a first actuating
means arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate direction away from the
plane of print media feed through
the printhead assembly and to the position of nozzle capping engagement.
Optionally the means arranged to move the printhead and/or the capping member
comprises actuating means
arranged to move the capping member in an arcuate direction to the position of
nozzle capping engagement.
Optionally the means arranged to move the printhead and/or the capping member
comprises an actuating
means arranged to move the capping member and the purging chamber in a linear
direction to the position of
1.5 nozzle capping engagement.
Optionally the capping member and the purging chamber are both carried by a
rotatable turret
In a further aspect there is provided a capping/purging mechanism for a
pagewidth printhead assembly
having
a) two confronting pagewidth printheads, and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead and arranged in use to
deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the printheads;
and the capping/purging mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member associated with each of the printheads and having a length
corresponding substantially to
that of the printheads,
ii) means arranged to move the printheads and the capping members to positions
at which the capping
members are located in nozzle capping engagement with the printheads, and
iii) a purging chamber associated with each of the capping members and
arranged to receive material that is
purged from the at least one printhead.
Optionally the means arranged to move the printheads and the capping members
comprise actuating means arranged to move the capping members and
the printheads in arcuate directions to the positions of nozzle capping
engagement.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising
a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth printhead, and
(ii) a plurality nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as
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it is transported past the at least one printhead, and
b) a capping/purging mechanism having-
(i) at least one capping member having a length corresponding
substantially to that of the at least one printhead,
(ii) means arranged to move the at least one printhead and/or the at
least one capping member to a position at which the at least one
capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the
plurality of chips on the at least one printhead and
(iii) at least one purging chamber arranged to receive material that is
purged from the at least one printhead.
In another aspect there is provided a method of capping and purging a
pagewidth printhead assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print
media as it is transported past the at least one printhead; -
the method comprising the steps of
i) moving the at least one printhead and/or at least one associated capping
member to a position at which the
capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the at least on
printhead and, either
simultaneously or separately,
iii) effecting purging of material from the at least one printhead by way of a
purging chamber associated with
the at least one capping member.
In a twenty first aspect the present invention provides a capping mechanism
for a pagewidth printhead
assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print
media as it is transported past the printhead;
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one printhead, and
ii) means arranged to move the capping member and/or the at least one
printhead to a position at which the
capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the at least one
printhead.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism for a pagewidth
printhead assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print
media as it is transported past the printhead;
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the at least one printhead, and -
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ii) means arranged to position the capping member in nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one
printhead.
Optionally the capping member comprises a single layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a multi-layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a compressible sheet-like material.
Optionally means are provided for delivering a fluid to a region between the
multiple layers of the capping
member.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophobic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a closed cell thermoplastics
material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophilic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from an open cell silicone material.
Optionally the capping member comprises an individual capping member:
Optionally the capping member comprises a portion of a roll of said capping
member material.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism including a said
roll of the capping member
material from which the capping member is in use fed to the position of nozzle
capping engagement with the
at least one printhead.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism including a spool
for receiving spent said capping
member material following a capping operation.
In another aspect the present invention provides a capping mechanism for a
pagewidth printhead assembly
having-
a) a pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality nozzles located along the printhead and arranged in use to
deliver ink onto print media as it is
transported past the printhead;
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and having a
width corresponding
substantially to the length of the printhead, and
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ii) a platen positioned adjacent the printhead and arranged to position the
capping member in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one printhead.
Optionally the capping member comprises a single layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a multi-layer sheet-like material.
Optionally the capping member comprises a compressible sheet-like material.
Optionally means are provided for delivering a fluid to a region between the
multiple layers of the capping
member.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophobic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a closed cell thermoplastics
material.
Optionally the capping member is formed from a sheet-like material having
hydrophilic properties.
Optionally the capping member is formed from an open cell silicone material.
Optionally the capping member comprises an individual capping member.
Optionally the capping member comprises a portion of a roll of said capping
member material.
In another aspect the present invention provides a capping mechanism including
a said roll of the capping
member material from which the capping member is in use fed to the position of
nozzle capping engagement
with the at least one printhead.
In another aspect the present invention provides a capping mechanism including
a spool for receiving spent
said capping member material following a capping operation.
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth printhead and
(ii) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the at least one printhead, and
b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material and
having a width corresponding substantially to the length of the at
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(ii) means arranged to move the capping member and/or the at least
one printhead to a position at which the capping member is located
in nozzle capping engagement with the at least one printhead.
5
In a further aspect there is provided a printer comprising:
a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having-
(i) at least one pagewidth printhead and
(ii) a plurality nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
10 arranged in use to deliver ink onto print media as it is transported
past the printhead, and
b) a capping mechanism having-
(i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet like material and
having a width corresponding substantially to the length of the at
15 least one printhead, and
(ii) means arranged to position the capping member in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one printhead.
In a further aspect there is provided a method of capping a pagewidth
printhead assembly having-
20 a) at least one pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto the
print media as it is transported past the at least one printhead;
the method comprising moving the at least one printhead and/or a capping
member having a flexible sheet-
like form to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the at least
25 one printhead.
In another aspect there is provided a method of capping a pagewidth printhead
assembly having-
a) at least one pagewidth printhead and
b) a plurality of nozzles located along the at least one printhead and
arranged in use to deliver ink onto the
30 print media as it is transported past the at least one printhead;
the method comprising positioning a capping member having a flexible sheet-
like form in nozzle capping
engagement with the at least one printhead.
In a twenty second aspect the present invention provides a capping mechanism
for a print head having a
35 plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print media which, in
use, is transported past the print head;
the capping mechanism comprising:
a) a capping member that is configured to contact the print head in nozzle
capping engagement,
b) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
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c) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and
forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head;
the capping member being pivotally mounted to the carrier and being arranged
to pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions.
In another aspect there is provided a method of capping a print head having a
plurality of nozzles arranged to
deliver ink onto print media which, in use, is transported past the print
head; the method comprising the steps
of
i) effecting movement of a carrier and a capping member carried by the carrier
from a first position remote
from the print head to a second position at which the capping member is moved
into nozzle capping
engagement with the print head,
ii) moving the carrier and the capping member through a transition position
during their movement from the
first position to the second position, and
iii) effecting pivotal movement of the capping member relative to the carrier
during a transitional movement
made by the carrier between the transition position and the second position.
Optionally the transitional movement made by the carrier is small relative to
the movement made by the
carrier between the first and second positions. _
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism for a pagewidth
print head having a plurality of
nozzles located along the print head and arranged to deliver ink onto print
media which, in use, is transported
past the print head, the capping mechanism comprising:
a) a capping member which has a length corresponding substantially to that of
the print head and which is
configured to contact the print head in nozzle capping engagement,
b) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
c) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and
forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head;
the capping member being pivotally mounted to the carrier and being arranged
to pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first
and'second positions.
Optionally the actuating mechanism is arranged to move the carrier pivotally
between the first and second
positions during a capping operation.
Optionally the carrier is pivotally mounted to a support by way of a pivotal
element having a first pivot axis,
and the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by way of a
pivoting arrangement having a second
pivot axis that is located parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis.
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Optionally the capping member has a capping element that is radially displaced
from the second pivot axis,
and the radial displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis
is small relative to the spacing
between the first and second pivot axes.
Optionally the spacing between the first and second pivot axes is of the order
of three times the radial
displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis.
Optionally the transition position is located a distance from the second
position which is small relative to the
distance between the first and second positions.
Optionally the ratio of the transitional pivotal movement of the carrier to
the total pivotal movement of the
carrier between the first and second positions is within the range 1:12 to
1:20.
Optionally the capping element comprises a substantially rigid channel-shaped
element.
Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material.
Optionally the capping element is arranged to engage with a face portion of
the carrier when the carrier is
located in the first.position whereby a recessed portion of the capping
element is effectively closed against
loss of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material, wherein the
lip is configured to locate about the print head nozzles when the capping
member is in the second position,
and wherein the lip is arranged to engage with a face portion of the carrier
when the carrier is located in the
first position whereby a recessed portion of the capping element is
effectively closed against loss of contained
moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
Optionally the capping member is provided with at least one first stop member
that is arranged to contact the
print head and thereby to effect pivoting of the capping member relative to
the carrier as the carrier makes the
transitional movement from the transition position to the second position.
Optionally the capping member is provided with at least one second stop member
that is arranged to contact
the carrier and thereby prevent pivoting of the capping member relative to the
carrier as the carrier moves
from the transition position to the first position.
Optionally the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by a pivot
shaft which extends along a
marginal edge portion of the carrier.
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Optionally a biasing device is mounted to the capping member and engages the
carrier in a manner to bias the
capping member in a direction away from nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
Optionally the biasing device comprises a torsion spring.
Optionally the carrier is mounted to the support by spaced-apart end plates
which are mounted to the print
head.
Optionally the actuating mechanism comprises an electric motor which is
coupled to the carrier and arranged
to impart pivotal motion to the carrier by way of a crank and a motion
translating mechanism.
Optionally at least one abutment is located adjacent the print head and is
operable to effect pivoting of the
capping member when the carrier approaches the first position, whereby the
capping member is moved away
from the print media feed path.
Optionally a capping element portion of the capping member is arranged to
engage with a face portion of the
carrier when the carrier is located in the first position whereby a recessed
portion of the capping element is
effectively closed against loss of contained moisture and ingress of
contaminating material.
Optionally the capping mechanism and the printhead are arranged to operate
within an inkjet printer.
Optionally the capping mechanism is configured for operative engagement with a
capping mechanism
protector which comprises a covering member arranged to engage with the
capping mechanism during
intervals when the capping mechanism is not engaged with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a capping mechanism wherein:
a) the capping mechanism is configured for operative engagement with a capping
mechanism protector
which comprises a covering member arranged to engage with the capping
mechanism during intervals when
the capping mechanism is not engaged with the print head, and
b) the capping mechanism, the capping mechanism protector and the printhead
are arranged to operate in
an inkjet printer.
In a twenty third aspect the present invention provides an inkjet printer
comprising:
a) a print head having a plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto
print media which, in use, is
transported past the print head, and
b) a capping mechanism for the print head;
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member that is configured to contact the print head in nozzle
capping engagement,
ii) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
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iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back
and forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head;
the capping member being pivotally mounted to the carrier and being arranged
to pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions.
In another aspect the present invention provides a inkjet printer comprising:
a) a pagewidth print head having a plurality of nozzles located along the
print head and arranged to deliver ink
onto print media which, in use, is transported past the print head, and
b) a capping mechanism for the print head;
the capping mechanism comprising-
i) a capping member which has a length corresponding substantially to that of
the print head and which is
configured to contact the print head in nozzle capping engagement,
ii) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
ii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and
forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head,
the capping member being pivotally mounted to the carrier and being arranged
to pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions.
Optionally the actuating mechanism is arranged to move the carrier pivotally
between the first and second
positions during a capping operation.
Optionally the carrier is pivotally mounted to a support by way of a pivotal
element having a first pivot axis,
and the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by way of a
pivoting arrangement having a second
pivot axis that is located parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis.
Optionally the capping member has a capping element that is radially displaced
from the second pivot axis,
and wherein the radial displacement of the capping element from the second
pivot axis is small relative to the
spacing between the first and second pivot axes.
Optionally the spacing between the first and second pivot axes is of the order
of three times the radial
displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis.
Optionally the transition position is located a distance from the second
position which is small relative to the
distance between the first and second positions.
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Optionally the ratio of the transitional pivotal movement of the carrier to
the total pivotal movement of the
carrier between the first and second positions is within the range 1:12 to
1:20.
Optionally the capping element comprises a substantially rigid channel-shaped
element.
Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material.
Optionally the capping element is arranged to engage with a face portion of
the carrier when the carrier is
located in the first position whereby a channel portion of the capping element
is effectively closed against loss
of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material, wherein the
lip is configured to locate about the print head nozzles when the capping
member is in the second position,
and wherein the lip is arranged to engage with a face portion of the carrier
when the carrier is located in the
first position whereby a channel portion of the capping element is effectively
closed against loss of contained
moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
Optionally the capping member is provided with a first stop member that is
arranged to contact the print head
and thereby to effect pivoting of the capping member relative to the carrier
as the carrier makes the
transitional movement from the transition position to the second position.
Optionally the capping member is provided with a second stop member that is
arranged to contact the carrier
and thereby prevent pivoting of the capping member relative to the carrier as
the carrier moves from the
transition position to the first position.
Optionally the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by a pivot
shaft which extends along a
marginal edge portion of the carrier.
Optionally a biasing device is mounted to the capping member and engages the
carrier in a manner to bias the
capping member in a direction away from nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
Optionally the biasing device comprises a torsion spring.
Optionally the carrier is mounted to the support by spaced-apart end plates
which are mounted to the print
head.
Optionally the actuating mechanism comprises an electric motor which is
coupled to the carrier and arranged
to impart pivotal motion to the carrier by way of a crank and a motion
translating mechanism.
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Optionally an abutment is located adjacent the print head and is operable to
effect pivoting of the capping
member when the carrier approaches the second position, whereby the capping
member is moved away from
the print media feed path.
Optionally a capping element portion of the capping member is arranged to
engage with a face portion of the
carrier when the carrier is located in the first position whereby a recessed
portion of the capping element is
effectively closed against loss of contained moisture and ingress of
contaminating material.
Optionally the printer further comprising a protector for the capping
mechanism, the protector comprising a
covering member arranged to engage with the capping mechanism during intervals
when the capping
mechanism is not engaged with the print head.
In a twenty fourth aspect the present invention provides a protector for a
capping facility for a print head and
which comprises a covering member which is arranged to engage with the capping
facility during intervals
when the capping facility is not engaged with the print head.
In a further aspect there is provided a method of protecting a printer capping
facility against loss of moisture
and/or ingress of contaminating material, the method comprising engaging the
capping facility with a
covering member during intervals when the capping facility is not engaged with
the print head.
In another aspect there is provided a protector for a capping facility in the
form of a capping mechanism for a
print head having a plurality of ink-delivery nozzles and wherein:
a) the capping mechanism comprises
i) a capping member that is configured to contact the print head in nozzle
capping engagement,
ii) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back
and forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head; and
b) the protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to be engaged
by the capping member when
the capping member is located in the first position.
In a further aspect there is provided a protector for a capping facility in
the form of a capping mechanism for a
pagewidth print head having a plurality of nozzles located along the print
head, and wherein:
a) the capping mechanism comprises:
i) a capping member which has a length corresponding substantially to that of
the print head and which is
configured to contact the print head in nozzle capping engagement,
ii) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back
and forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head;
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b) the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier and is arranged to
pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions; and
c) the protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to be engaged
by the capping member when
the capping member is located in the first position.
Optionally the covering member is constituted by the carrier.
Optionally the actuating mechanism is arranged to move the carrier pivotally
between the first and second
positions during a capping operation.
Optionally the carrier is pivotally mounted to a support by way of a pivotal
element having a first pivot axis,
and the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by way of a
pivoting arrangement having a second
pivot axis that is located parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis.
Optionally the capping member has a capping element that is radially displaced
from the second pivot axis,
and the radial displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis
is small relative to the spacing
between the first and second pivot axes.
Optionally the spacing between the first and second pivot axes is of the order
of three times the radial
displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis.
Optionally the transition position is located a distance from the second
position which is small relative to the
distance between the first and second positions.
Optionally the ratio of the transitional pivotal movement of the carrier to
the total pivotal movement of the
carrier between the first and second positions is within the range 1:12 to
1:20.
Optionally the capping element comprises a substantially rigid channel-shaped
element.
Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material.
Optionally the capping element is arranged to engage with a face portion of
the carrier when the carrier is
located in the first position whereby a recessed portion of the capping
element is effectively closed against
loss of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material, wherein the
lip is configured to locate about the print head nozzles when the capping
member is in the second position,
and wherein the lip is arranged to engage with a face portion of the carrier
when the carrier is located in the
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first position whereby a recessed portion of the capping element is
effectively closed against loss of contained
moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
Optionally the capping member is provided with at least one first stop member
that is arranged to contact the
print head and thereby to effect pivoting of the capping member relative to
the carrier as the carrier makes the
transitional movement from the transition position to the second position. -
Optionally the capping member is provided with at least one second stop member
that is arranged to contact
the carrier and thereby prevent pivoting of the capping member relative to the
carrier as the carrier moves
from the transition position to the first position.
Optionally the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by a pivot
shaft which extends along a
marginal edge portion of the carrier.
Optionally a biasing device is mounted to the capping member and engages the
carrier in a manner to bias the
capping member in a direction away from nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
Optionally the biasing device comprises a torsion spring.
Optionally the actuating mechanism comprises an electric motor which is
coupled to the carrier and arranged
to impart pivotal motion to the carrier by way of a crank and a motion
translating mechanism.
Optionally at least one abutment is located adjacent the print head and is
operable to effect pivoting of the
capping member when the carrier approaches the first position, whereby the
capping member is moved away
from the print media feed path.
In a further aspect there is provided a protector, wherein:
the print head has a plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print
media which, in use, is
transported past the print head; and
the capping mechanism comprises:
a) a capping member that is configured to contact the print head in nozzle
capping
engagement,
b) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
c) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and
forth between
a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with respect
to the print head and a
second position at which the capping member is located in contact with the
print head;
the capping member being pivotally mounted to the carrier and being arranged
to pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions.
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In a further aspect there is provided a protector wherein;
the print head has a plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print
media which, in use, is
transported past the print head; and
the capping mechanism comprises:
a) a capping member that is configured to contact the print head in nozzle
capping
engagement,
b) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
c) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and
forth
between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with
respect to the print
head and a second position at which the capping member is located in contact
with the print head;
the capping member being pivotally mounted to the carrier and being arranged
to pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions,
the print head, the capping mechanism and the protector being arranged for use
in an inkjet printer.
Optionally the capping mechanism and the print head are arranged for use
within an inkjet printer.
In a twenty fifth aspect the present invention provides a inkjet printer
having a protector for a capping facility
for a print head within the printer, the protector comprising a covering
member which is arranged to engage
with the capping facility during intervals when the capping facility is not
engaged with the print head.
In another aspect the present invention provides an inkjet printer having a
protector for a capping facility in
the form of a capping mechanism for a print head having a plurality of ink-
delivery nozzles and wherein:
a) the capping mechanism comprises
i) a capping member that is configured to contact the print head in nozzle
capping engagement,
ii) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back
and forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head; and
b) the protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to be engaged
by the capping member when
the capping member is located in the first position.
In a further aspect the present invention provides an inkjet printer having a
protector for a capping facility in
the form of a capping mechanism for a pagewidth print head having a plurality
of nozzles located along the
print head, and wherein:
a) the capping mechanism comprises:
i) a capping member which has a length corresponding substantially to that of
the print head and which is
configured to contact the print head in nozzle capping engagement,
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ii) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back
and forth between a first position
at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the print head
and a second position at which
the capping member is located in contact with the print head;
b) the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier and is arranged to
pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions; and
c) the protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to be engaged
by the capping member when
the capping member is located in the first position.
Optionally the covering member is constituted by the carrier.
Optionally the actuating mechanism is arranged to move the carrier pivotally
between the first and second
positions during a capping operation.
Optionally the carrier is pivotally mounted to a support by way of a pivotal
element having a first pivot axis,
and the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by way of a
pivoting arrangement having a second
pivot axis that is located parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis. -
Optionally the capping member has a capping element that is radially displaced
from the second pivot axis,
and the radial displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis
is small relative to the spacing
between the first and second pivot axes.
Optionally the spacing between the first and second pivot axes is of the order
of three times the radial
displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis.
Optionally the transition position is located a distance from the second
position which is small relative to the
distance between the first and second positions.
Optionally the ratio of the transitional pivotal movement of the carrier to
the total pivotal movement of the
carrier between the first and second positions is within the range 1:12 to
1:20.
Optionally the capping element comprises a substantially rigid channel-shaped
element.
Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material.
Optionally the capping element is arranged to engage with a face portion-of
the carrier when the carrier is
located in the first position whereby a recessed portion of the capping
element is effectively closed against
loss of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
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Optionally the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an
elastomeric material, wherein the
lip is configured to locate about the print head nozzles when the capping
member is in the second position,
and wherein the lip is arranged to engage with a face portion of the carrier
when the carrier is located in the
first position whereby a recessed portion of the capping element is
effectively closed against loss of contained
moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
Optionally the capping member is provided with at least one first stop member
that is arranged to contact the
print head and thereby to effect pivoting of the capping member relative to
the carrier as the carrier makes the
transitional movement from the transition position to the second position.
Optionally the capping member is provided with at least one second stop member
that is arranged to contact
the carrier and thereby prevent pivoting of the capping member relative to'the
carrier as the carrier moves
from the transition position to the first position.
Optionally the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by a pivot
shaft which extends along a
marginal edge portion of the carrier.
Optionally a biasing device is mounted to the capping member and engages the
carrier in a manner to bias the
capping member in a direction away from nozzle capping engagement with the
print head.
Optionally the biasing device comprises a torsion spring.
Optionally the actuating mechanism comprises an electric motor which is
coupled to the carrier and arranged
to impart pivotal motion to the carrier by way of a crank and a motion
translating mechanism.
Optionally at least one abutment is located adjacent the print head and is
operable to effect pivoting of the
capping member when the carrier approaches the first position, whereby the
capping member is moved away
from the print media feed path.
In a further aspect there is provided an inkjet printer wherein;
the print head has a plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print
media which, in use, is
transported past the print head; and
the capping mechanism comprises:
a) a capping member that is configured to contact the print head in nozzle
capping
engagement,
b) a carrier supporting the capping member, and
c) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and
forth
between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with
respect to the print
head and a second position at which the capping member is located in contact
with the print head;
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the capping member being pivotally mounted to the carrier and being arranged
to pivot relative to the carrier
during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a
transition position and the second
position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and
second positions.
The invention may be embodied in various arrangements, some of which are
described by way of illustrative
examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings-
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a printer that incorporates a
printhead assembly having two
substantially identical printheads,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of one of the printheads as seen in the
direction of a printing zone of the
printhead,
Figure 3 shows a sectional end view of one of the printheads,
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an end portion of a channelled support
member removed from the
printhead of Figure 3 and fluid delivery lines connected to the support
member,
Figure 5 shows an end view of connections made between the fluid delivery
lines and the channelled support
member of Figure 4,
Figure 6 shows a printed circuit board, with electronic components mounted to
the board, when removed from
a casing portion of the printhead of Figure 3,
Figures 7A, B and C show in block diagrammatic form a first capping mechanism,
being one that is
applicable to a printhead assembly having two printheads,
Figures 8A, B and C show in block diagrammatic form a second capping
mechanism, being one that also is
applicable to a printhead assembly having two printheads,
Figures 9A, B and C show in block diagrammatic form a third capping mechanism,
being one that also is
applicable to a printhead assembly having two printheads,
Figures 10A and B show in block diagrammatic form a fourth capping mechanism,
being one that is
applicable to a printhead assembly having a single printhead,
Figures 1 1A and B show in block diagrammatic form a fifth capping mechanism,
being one that is applicable
to a printhead assembly having a single printhead and being one that also
includes a purging facility,
Figures 12A and B show in block diagrammatic form a sixth capping mechanism,
being one that is applicable
to a printhead assembly having two offset printheads,
Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a capping member of a type suitable for
use in the mechanisms shown
in Figures 7 to12,
Figure 14 shows, in perspective, a sectional view of a portion a
printhead.chip that is mounted to the printhead
and which incorporates printing fluid delivery nozzles and nozzle actuators,
Figure 15 shows a vertical section of a single nozzle in a quiescent state,
Figure 16 shows a vertical section of a single nozzle in an initial activation
state,
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Figure 17 shows a vertical section of a single nozzle in a later activation
state,
Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a single nozzle in the activation state
shown in Figure 17,
Figure 19 shows in perspective a sectioned view of the nozzle of Figure 18,
Figure 20 shows a sectional elevation view of the nozzle of Figure 18, _
Figure 21 shows in perspective a partial sectional view of the nozzle
of Figure 16,
Figure 22 shows a plan view of the nozzle of Figure 15,
Figure 23 shows a view similar to Figure 22 but with lever arm and moveable
nozzle portions omitted,
Figure 24 illustrates data flow and functions performed by a print engine
controller ("PEC") that forms one of
the circuit components shown in Figure 6,
Figure 25 illustrates the PEC of Figure 24 in the context of an overall
printing system architecture, and
Figure 26 illustrates the architecture of the PEC of Figure 25.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
As illustrated in Figure 1, a pagewidth printhead assembly 50 composed of two
substantially identical
pagewidth printheads 51 is mounted within a printer 52, although it will be
understood from the following
description that the printhead assembly might in many applications comprise a
single printhead. The printer is
shown in outline because it may be constituted by any one of a large number of
printer types; including desk-
top, office, commercial and wide format printers. Also, the printer may
incorporate a single sheet feed system
or a roll-feed system for print media (not shown), and it may be arranged for
printing alpha-numeric,
graphical or decorative images, the latter being relevant to the printing of
textiles and wall coverings.
Each of the printheads 51 may, for example, be in the form of that which is
described in the Applicant's co-
pending US Patent Applications listed in the cross-references section above
and all of which are incorporated
herein by reference. But other types of pagewidth printheads (including
thermal or piezo-electric activated
bubble jet printers) that are known in the art may alternatively be employed.
As illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 for exemplification purposes, each of the
printheads 51 comprises four
printhead modules 55, each of which in turn comprises a unitary arrangement
of:
a) a plastics material support member 56,
b) four printhead micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) integrated circuit
chips 57 (referred to herein
simply as "printhead chips"),
c) a fluid distribution arrangement 58 mounting each of the printhead chips 57
to the support member 56, and
d) a flexible printed circuit connector 59 for connecting electrical power and
signals to each of the printhead
chips 57.
However, it will be understood that each of the printheads 51 may comprise
substantially more than four
modules 55 and/or that substantially more than four printhead chips 57 maybe
mounted to each module.
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Each of the chips (as described in more detail later) has up to 7680 nozzles
formed therein for delivering
printing fluid onto the surface of the print media and, possibly, a further
640 nozzles for delivering
pressurised air or other gas toward the print media.
The four printhead modules 55 are removably located in a channel portion 60 of
a casing 61 by way of the
support member 56, and the casing contains electrical circuitry 63 mounted on
four printed circuit boards 62
(one for each printhead module 55) for controlling delivery of computer
regulated power and drive signals by
way of flexible PCB connectors 63a to the printhead chips 57. As illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2, electrical
power and print activating signals are delivered to one end of the two
printheads 51 by way of conductors 64,
and printing ink and air are delivered to the other end of the two printheads
by fluid delivery lines 65.
However, the ink and electrical power may both be delivered to one end of the
printheads and alternative
arrangements will exist when, as is contemplated, the printhead assembly 50 is
integrated in an ink-supply
cartridge.
The printed circuit boards 62 are carried by plastics material mouldings 66
which are located within the
casing 61 and the mouldings also carry busbars 67 which in turn carry current
for powering the printhead
chips 57 and the electrical circuitry. A cover 68 normally closes the casing
61 and, when closed, the cover
acts against a loading element 69 that functions to urge the flexible printed
circuit connector 59 against the
busbars 67.
The four printhead modules 55 may incorporate four conjoined support members
56 or, alternatively, a single
support member 56 may be provided to extend along the full length of the
printhead 51 and be shared by all
four printhead modules. That is, a single support member 56 may carry all
sixteen printhead chips 57.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the support member 56 comprises an extrusion that
is formed with seven
longitudinally extending closed channels 70, and the support member is
provided in its upper surface with
groups 71 of millimetric sized holes. Each group comprises seven separate
holes 72 which extend into
respective ones of the channels 70 and each group of holes is associated with
one of the printhead chips 57.
Also, the holes 72 of each group are positioned obliquely across the support
member 56 in the longitudinal
direction of the support member.
A coupling device 73 is provided for coupling fluid into the seven channels 70
from respective ones of the
fluid delivery lines 65.
The fluid distribution arrangements 58 are provided for channelling fluid
(printing ink, air and, when required,
a fixative) from each group 71 of holes to an associated one of the printhead
chips 57. Printing fluids from six
of the seven channel 70 are delivered to twelve rows of nozzles on each
printhead chip 57 (ie, one fluid to two
rows) and the millimetric-to-micrometric distribution of the fluids is
effected by way of the fluid distribution
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arrangements 58. For a more detailed description of one arrangement for
achieving this process reference may
be made to the co-pending US Patent Applications referred to previously.
An illustrative embodiment of one printhead chip 57 is described in more
detail, with reference to Figures 14
to 23, toward the end of this drawing-related description; as is an
illustrative embodiment of a print engine
controller for the printheads 51. The print engine controller is later
described with reference to Figures 24 to
26.
A print media guide 74 is mounted to each of the printheads 51 and is shaped
and arranged to guide the print
media past the printing zone, as defined collectively by the printhead chips
57, in a manner to preclude the
print media from contacting the nozzles of the printhead chips.
The fluids to be delivered to the printheads 51 will be determined by the
functionality of the printer 52.
However, as illustrated, provision is made for delivering six printing fluids
and air to the printhead chips 57
by way of the seven channels 70 in the support member 56. The six
printing fluids may comprise:
Cyan (C) printing ink
Magenta (M) printing ink
Yellow (Y) printing ink
Black (K) printing ink
Infrared (IR) ink
Fixative.
The filtered air will in use be delivered at a pressure slightly above
atmospheric from a pressurised source (not
shown) that is integrated in the printer.
Having identified the salient features of the pagewidth printheads, various
embodiments of the capping
mechanism that characterises the invention are now described with reference to
the largely diagrammatic
illustrations contained in Figures 7 to 13.
In the mechanism shown in Figure 7A, two (duplex) printheads 51 are located
adjacent one another and
together define a gap 80 through which print media is transported in the
direction indicated by arrow 81. Two
capping members 82 are located adjacent the printheads and are inclined at an
angle of approximately 40
degrees to the direction of print media feed.
When capping is required, for example between successive print runs, the
printheads 51 are turned in an
arcuate direction through approximately 40 degrees from a printing or non-
capping first position to a nozzle
capping second position as shown in Figure 7B. Thereafter, the capping members
82 are moved rectilinearly,
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in the directions of arrows 83, to the positions shown in Figure 7C where the
capping members are located in
nozzle capping engagement with the printhead chips 57 on each of the
printheads 51.
Actuating mechanisms 84 and 85, as shown in block diagrammatic form in Figures
7B and 7C, are employed
for effecting the described movements of the printheads 51 and capping members
82. These mechanisms may
comprise geared motor drives, pneumatic actuators or other such mechanisms as
are known in the art for
effecting movement of relatively small mechanical devices.
With the mechanism as illustrated in Figures 7A to 7C, the print media may be
maintained in position
between the printheads 51 during the capping operation. Also, the capping
members 82 are moved in
directions normal to the respective printheads 51, thereby avoiding any
potential for rubbing between the
capping members and the printing zone of the printheads.
The mechanism as shown in Figures 8A to 8C is similar to that described above
and like reference numerals
are used to identify like parts. However, instead of moving the capping
members 82 in a direction normal to
the printing zones of the printheads 51, in this case the actuating mechanisms
85 effect rectilinear movement
of the capping members 82 obliquely with respect to the printing heads 51.
As in the case of the mechanism that has been described with reference to
Figures 7A to 7C, that which is
illustrated in Figures 8A to 8C may be actuated without interfering with the
movement of print media. This is
not so in the case of the mechanism that is illustrated in Figures 9A to 9C.
In the mechanism shown in Figures 9A to 9C the two printheads 51 are
positioned one above the other in the
usual way to define a gap 80 through which print media is passed, in the
direction of arrow 81, during a
printing operation. A single capping member 82 having opposed capping faces 86
is positioned adjacent the
printing heads and slightly above the path of the print media.
When capping is required, any print media that is positioned in the printer is
moved in the direction of arrow
88 by rollers 89 and the upper printhead 51 is raised (relative to the lower
printhead) by an actuating
mechanism 87, as indicated in Figure 9B. The capping member 82 is then moved
rectilinearly by the actuating
mechanism 90 to the position shown in Figure 9C, where it is located in nozzle
capping engagement with the
printhead chips 57 on both of the printheads 51. Positive engagement between
the capping member 82 and the
two printheads is effected by lowering the upper printhead onto the capping
member.
Figures 10 and 11 provide diagrammatic illustrations of capping mechanisms
that are appropriate to a printer
having a single (simplex) printing head 51. However, it will be understood
that any one of the mechanisms
that have been described with reference to Figures 7 to 9 might be adapted to
a printer having a single printing
head.
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In the Figure 10 embodiment a capping member 82 is initially located below the
plane of print media feed
through the printer and, following the extraction of any print media in the
direction indicated by arrow 88, the
capping member is moved rectilinearly upward by actuating mechanism 91 to the
position shown in Figure
10B where it is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead chips
57 on the print
head 51.
Figures 11A and 11B illustrate a capping mechanism that is similar in
construction and operation to that
shown in Figures 1 OA and B, but one which also provides for purging of
nozzles on the printhead 51. In this
embodiment a capping member 92 doubles as a purging member and it incorporates
a chamber 93 that
communicates with a capping recess 94. An extractor tube 95 extends into the
chamber 93 and is connected to
a suction pump or other such device 96 within the printer for sucking material
from the nozzle environment of
the printhead.
The mechanism that is illustrated in Figures 12A and B is different from those
described above in that it is
applicable to a printer having an offset duplex printhead assembly. However,
the construction and operation
of the mechanism is the same as that applicable to the simplex assembly as
shown in Figures 10A and B and
like reference numerals are used to identify like parts.
The capping member in its various forms has a configuration as shown in Figure
13 or an adaptation of that
configuration. Thus the capping members 82 and 92 comprise a body portion 100
and, moulded onto or
otherwise secured to the body portion, a capping portion having an integrally
formed lip portion 101 which
surrounds a cavity 102. The body portion 100 is formed from a metal such as
aluminium or from a rigid
plastics material, and the capping portion (including the lip portion 101) is
formed from an elastomeric
material.
The lip portion 101 is peripherally configured to surround the printhead chips
57 collectively and the adjacent
region of the printing zone of each or the printheads 51. Also, the cavity 102
maybe provided or be lined with
a hydrophobic material or a hydrophilic material, depending upon the function
of the capping member and
whether fluid that is purged from the printhead is to be expelled from or
retained in the capping member
The capping members'82 and 92 may be formed, effectively, as a one-piece
member with a length that
corresponds with that of a printhead to be capped or it may be formed from
conjoined shorter-length portions
that have an aggregate length corresponding to that of the printhead. Also, in
order to accommodate the
embodiment shown in Figure 9, the capping member maybe provided as a dual-
sided member with its
opposite sides formed with the lip portion 101 and the cavity 102 which are
shown in Figure 13.
One of the printhead chips 57 is now described in more detail with reference
to Figures 14 to 23.
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As indicated above, each printhead chip 57 is provided with 7680 printing
fluid delivery nozzles 150. The
nozzles are arrayed in twelve rows 151, each having 640 nozzles, with an inter-
nozzle spacing X of
32 microns. Adjacent rows are staggered by a distance equal to one-half of the
inter-nozzle spacing so that a
nozzle in one row is positioned mid-way between two nozzles in adjacent rows.
Also, there is an inter-nozzle
spacing Y of 80 microns between adjacent rows of nozzles.
Two adjacent rows of the nozzles 150 are fed from a common supply of printing
fluid. This, with the
staggered arrangement, allows for closer spacing of ink dots during printing
than would be possible with a
single row of nozzles and also allows for a level of redundancy that
accommodates nozzle failure.
The printhead chips 57 are manufactured using an integrated circuit
fabrication technique and, as previously
indicated, embody micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Each printhead chip
57 includes a silicon
wafer substrate 152, and a 0.42 micron 1 P4M 12 volt CMOS micro-processing
circuit is formed on the wafer.
Thus, a silicon dioxide layer 153 is deposited on the substrate 152 as a
dielectric layer and aluminium
electrode contact layers 154 are deposited on the silicon dioxide layer 153.
Both the substrate 152 and the
layer 153 are etched to define an ink channel 155, and an aluminium diffusion
barrier 156 is positioned about
the ink channel 155.
A passivation layer 157 of silicon nitride is deposited over the aluminium
contact layers 154 and the layer
153. Portions of the passivation layer 157 that are positioned
over the contact layers 154 have openings 158 therein to provide access to the
contact layers.
Each nozzle 150 includes a nozzle chamber 159 which is defined by a nozzle
wall 160, a nozzle roof 161 and
a radially inner nozzle rim 162. The ink channel 155 is in fluid communication
with the chamber 159.
A moveable rim 163, that includes a movable seal lip 164, is located at the
lower end of the nozzle wall 160.
An encircling wall 165 surrounds the nozzle and provides a stationery seal lip
166 that, when the nozzle 150
is at rest as shown in Figure 19, is adjacent the moveable rim 163. A fluidic
seal 167 is formed due to the
surface tension of ink trapped between the stationery seal 166 and the
moveable seal lip 164. This prevents
leakage of ink from the chamber whilst providing a low resistance coupling
between the encircling wall 165
and a nozzle wall 160.
The nozzle wall 160 forms part of lever arrangement that is mounted to a
carrier 168 having a generally U-
shaped profile with a base 169 attached to the layer 157. The lever
arrangement also includes a lever arm 170
that extends from the nozzle wall and incorporates a lateral stiffening beam
171. The lever arm 170 is
attached to a pair of passive beams 172 that are formed from titanium nitride
and are positioned at each side
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of the nozzle as best seen in Figures 19 and 22. The other ends of the passive
beams 172 are attached to the
carriers 168.
The lever arm 170 is also attached to an actuator beam 173, which is formed
from TiN. This attachment to
the actuator beam is made at a point a small but critical distance higher than
the attachments to the passive
beam 172.
As can best be seen from Figures 18 and 21, the actuator beam 173 is
substantially U-shaped in plan, defining
a current path between an electrode 174 and an opposite electrode 175. Each of
the electrodes 174 and 175 is
electrically connected to a respective point in the contact layer 154. The
actuator beam 173 is also
mechanically secured to an anchor 176, and the anchor 176 is configured to
constrain motion of the actuator
beam 173 to the left of Figures 15 to 17 when the nozzle arrangement is
activated.
The actuator beam 173 is conductive, being composed of TiN, but has a
sufficiently high electrical resistance
to generate self-heating when a current is passed between
the electrodes 174 and 175. No current flows through the passive beams 172, so
they do not experience
thermal expansion.
In operation, the nozzle is filled with ink 177 that defines a meniscus 178
under the influence of surface
tension. The ink is retained in the chamber 159 by the meniscus, and will not
generally leak out in the
absence of some other physical influence.
To fire ink from the nozzle, a current is passed between the contacts 174 and
175, passing through the
actuator beam 173. The self-heating of the beam 173 causes the beam to expand,
and the actuator beam 173
is dimensioned and shaped so that the beam expands predominantly in a
horizontal direction with respect to
Figures 15 to 17. The expansion is constrained to the left by the anchor 176,
so the end of the actuator beam
173 adjacent the lever arm 170 is impelled to the right.
The relative horizontal inflexibility of the passive beams 172 prevents them
from allowing much horizontal
movement of the lever arm 170. However, the relative displacement of the
attachment points of the passive
beams and actuator beam respectively to the lever arm causes a twisting
movement that, in turn, causes the
lever arm 170 to move generally downwardly with a pivoting or hinging motion.
However, the absence of a
true pivot point means that rotation is about a pivot region defined by
bending of the passive beams 172.
The downward movement (and slight rotation) of the lever arm 170 is amplified
by the distance of the nozzle
wall 160 from the passive beams 172. The downward movement of the nozzle walls
and roof causes a
pressure increase within the chamber 159, causing the meniscus 178 to bulge as
shown in Figure 17, although
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the surface tension of the ink causes the fluid seal 167 to be stretched by
this motion without allowing ink to
leak out.
As shown in Figure 17, at the appropriate time the drive current is stopped
and the actuator beam 173 quickly
cools and contracts. The contraction causes the lever arm to commence its
return to the quiescent position,
which in turn causes a reduction in pressure in the chamber 159. The interplay
of the momentum of the
bulging ink and its inherent surface tension, and the negative pressure caused
by the upward movement of the
nozzle chamber 159 causes thinning, and ultimately snapping, of the bulging
meniscus 178 to define an ink
drop 179 that continues outwardly until it contacts passing print media.
Immediately after the drop 179 detaches, the meniscus 178 forms the concave
shape shown in Figure 17.
Surface tension causes the pressure in the chamber 159 to remain relatively
low until ink has been sucked
upwards through the inlet 155, which returns the nozzle arrangement and the
ink to the quiescent situation
shown in Figure 16.
As can best be seen from Figure 18, the printhead chip 57 also incorporates a
test mechanism that can be used
both post-manufacture and periodically after the prin head assembly has been
installed. The test mechanism
includes a pair of contacts 180 that are connected to test circuitry (not
shown). A bridging contact 181 is
provided on a finger 182 that extends from the lever arm 170. Because the
bridging contact 181 is on the
opposite side of the passive beams 172, actuation of the nozzle causes the
bridging contact 181 to move
upwardly, into contact with the contacts 180. Test circuitry can be used to
confirm that actuation causes this
closing of the circuit formed by the contacts 180 and 181. If the circuit is
closed appropriately, it can
generally be assumed that the nozzle is operative.
As stated previously the integrated circuits of the printhead chips 57 are
controlled by the print engine
controller (PEC) integrated circuits of the drive electronics 63. One or more
PEC integrated circuits 100 is or
are provided (depending upon the printing speed required) in order to enable
page-width printing over a
variety of different sized pages or continuous sheets. As described
previously, each of the printed circuit
boards 62 carried by the support moulding 66 carries one PEC integrated
circuit 190 (Figure 24) which
interfaces with four of the printhead chips 57, and the PEC integrated circuit
190 essentially drives the
integrated circuits of the printhead chips 57 and transfers received print
data thereto in a form suitable to
effect printing.
An example of a PEC integrated circuit which is suitable for driving the
printhead chips is described in the
Applicant's co-pending US patent applications 09/575,108 (Docket No.PECO1US),
09/575,109 (Docket
No.PECO2US), 09/575,110 (Docket No. PEC03US), 09/607,985 (Docket No.PECO4US),
09/607,990 (Docket
No.PECO5US) and 09/606,999 (Docket No. PEC07US), which are incorporated herein
by reference.
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However, a brief description of the circuit is provided as follows with
reference to Figures 24 to 26.
The data flow and functions performed by the PEC integrated circuit 190 are
described for a situation where
the PEC integrated circuit is provided for driving a printhead 51 having a
plurality of printhead modules 55;
that is four modules as described above. As also described above, each
printhead module 55 provides for six
channels of fluid for printing, these being:
= Cyan, Magenta and Yellow (CMY) for regular colour
printing;
= Black (K) for black text and other black or greyscale
printing;
= Infrared (IR) for tag-enabled applications; and
= Fixative (F) to enable printing at high speed.
As indicated in Figure 24, images are supplied to the PEC integrated circuit
190 by a computer, which is
programmed to perform the various processing steps 191 to 194 involved in
printing an image prior to
transmission to the PEC integrated circuit 190. These steps will typically
involve receiving the image data
(step 191) and storing this data in a memory buffer of the computer system
(step 192) in which image layouts
may be produced and any required objects may be added. Pages from the memory
buffer are rasterized (step
193) and are then compressed (step 194) prior to transmission to the PEC
integrated circuit 190. Upon
receiving the image data, the PEC integrated circuit 190 processes the data so
as to drive the integrated
circuits of the printhead chips 57.
Due to the page-width form of the printhead assembly, each image should be
printed at a constant speed to
avoid creating visible artifacts. This means that the printing speed should be
varied to match the input data
rate. Document rasterization and document printing are therefore decoupled to
ensure the printhead assembly
has a constant supply of data. In this arrangement, an image is not printed
until it is fully rasterized and, in
order to achieve a high constant printing speed, a compressed version of each
rasterized page image is stored
in memory.
Because contone colour images are reproduced by stochastic dithering, but
black text and line graphics are
reproduced directly using dots, the compressed image format contains a
separate foreground bi-level black
layer and background contone colour layer. The black layer is composited over
the contone layer after the
contone layer is dithered. If required, a final layer of tags (in IR or black
ink) is optionally added to the image
for printout.
Dither matrix selection regions in the image description are rasterized to a
contone-resolution bi-lev bitmap
which is losslessly compressed to negligible size and which forms part of the
compressed image. The IR
layer of the printed page optionally contains encoded tags at a programmable
density.
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Each compressed image is transferred to the PEC integrated circuit 190 where
it is then stored in a memory
buffer 195. The compressed image is then retrieved and fed to an image
expander 196 in which images are
retrieved. If required, any dither may be applied to any contone layer by a
dithering means 197 and any black
bi-level layer may be composited over the contone layer by a compositor 198
together with any infrared tags
which may be rendered by the rendering means 199. The PEC integrated circuit
190 then drives the integrated
circuits of the printhead chips 57 to print the composite image data at step
200 to produce a printed image
201.
The process performed by the PEC integrated circuit 190 may be considered to
consist of a number of distinct
stages. The first stage has the ability to expand a JPEG-compressed contone
CMYK layer. In parallel with
this, bi-level IR tag data can be encoded from the compressed image. The
second stage dithers the contone
CMYK layer using a dither matrix selected by a dither matrix select map and,
if required, composites a bi-
level black layer over the resulting bi-level K layer and adds the IR layer to
the image. A fixative layer is also
generated at each dot position wherever there is a need in any of the C, M, Y,
K, or JR channels. The last
stage prints the bi-level CMYK+IR data through the printhead assembly 50.
Figure 25 shows the PEC integrated circuit 190 in the context of the overall
printing system architecture. The
various components of the architecture include:
= The PEC integrated circuit 190 which is responsible for receiving the
compressed page images for
2 0 storage in a memory buffer 202, performing the page expansion, black layer
compositing and sending the dot
data to the printhead chips 57. The PEC integrated circuit 190 may also
communicate with a master Quality
Assurance (QA) integrated circuit 203 and with an ink cartridge Quality
Assurance (QA) integrated circuit
204. The PEC integrated circuit 190 also provides a means of retrieving the
printhead assembly characteristics
to ensure optimum printing.
= The memory buffer 202 for storing the compressed image and for scratch use
during the printing of
a given page. The construction and working of memory buffers is known to those
skilled in the art and a
range of standard integrated circuits and techniques for their use might be
utilized.
= The master integrated circuit 203 which is matched to the ink cartridge QA
integrated circuit 204.
The construction and working of QA integrated circuits is also known to those
skilled in the art and a range of
known QA processes might be utilized.
The PEC integrated circuit 190 effectively performs four basic levels of
functionality:
= Receiving compressed pages via a serial interface such as an IEEE 1394.
= Acting as a print engine for producing an image from a compressed form. The
print engine
functionality includes expanding the image, dithering the contone layer,
compositing the black layer over the
contone layer, optionally adding infrared tags, and sending the resultant
image to the integrated circuits of the
printhead chips.
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= Acting as a print controller for controlling the printhead chips 57 and the
stepper motors 102, 108
and 111 of the printing system.
= Serving as two standard low-speed serial ports for communication with the
two QA integrated circuits.
In this regard, two ports are used, and not a single port, so as to ensure
strong security during authentication
procedures.
These functions are now described in more detail with reference to Figure 26,
which provides a more specific,
exemplary illustration of the PEC integrated circuit architecture.
The PEC integrated circuit 190 incorporates a simple micro-controller CPU core
204 to perform the following
functions:
= Perform QA integrated circuit authentication protocols via a serial
interface 205 between print
images.
= Run stepper motors of the printing system via a parallel interface 206
during printing to control
delivery of the print media to the printer for printing.
= Synchronize the various components of the PEC integrated circuit 190 during
printing.
= Provide a means of interfacing with external data requests (programming
registers, etc).
= Provide a means of interfacing with the printhead assemblies' low-speed data
requests (such as
reading characterization vectors and writing pulse profiles).
= Provide a means of writing portrait and landscape tag structures to an
external DRAM 207.
In order to perform the image expansion and printing process, the PEC
integrated circuit 190 includes a high-
speed serial interface 208 (such as a standard IEEE 1394 interface), a
standard JPEG decoder 209, a standard
Group 4 Fax decoder 210, a custom half-toner/compositor (HC) 211, a custom tag
encoder 212, a line
loader/formatter (LLF) 213, and a printhead interface 214 (PHI) which
communicates with the printhead
chips 57. The decoders 209 and 210 and the tag encoder 212 are buffered to the
HC 211. The tag encoder
212 allocates infrared tags to images.
The print engine function works in a double-buffered manner. That is, one
image is loaded into the external
DRAM 207 via a DRAM interface 215 and a data bus 216 from the high-speed
serial interface 208, while the
previously loaded image is read from the DRAM 207 and passed through the print
engine process. When the
image has been printed, the image just loaded becomes the image being printed,
and a new image is loaded
via the high-speed serial interface 208.
At the aforementioned first stage, the process expands any JPEG-compressed
contone (CMYK) layers, and
expands any of two Group 4 Fax-compressed bi-level data streams. The two
streams are the black layer and a
matte for selecting between dither matrices for contone dithering. At the
second stage, in parallel with the
first, any tags are encoded for later rendering in either IR or black ink.
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Finally, in the third stage the contone layer is dithered, and position tags
and the bi-level spot layer are
composited over the resulting bi-level dithered layer. The data stream is
ideally adjusted to create smooth
transitions across overlapping segments in the printhead assembly and ideally
it is adjusted to compensate for
dead nozzles in the printhead assemblies. Up to six channels of bi-level data
are produced from this stage.
However, it will be understood that not all of the six channels need be
activated. For example, the printhead
modules 55 may provide for CMY only, with K pushed into the CMY channels and
IR ignored.
Alternatively, the position tags may be printed in K if IR ink is not
employed. The resultant bi-level CMYK-
IR dot-data is buffered and formatted for printing with the integrated
circuits of the printhead chips 57 via a
set of line buffers (not shown). The majority of these line buffers might be
ideally stored on the external
DRAM 207. In the final stage, the six channels of bi-level dot data are
printed via the PHI 214.
The HC 211 combines the functions of half-toning the contone (typically CMYK)
layer to a bi-level version
of the same, and compositing the spotl bi-level layer over the appropriate
half-toned contone layer(s). If
there is no K ink, the HC 211 functions to map K to CMY dots as appropriate.
It also selects between two
dither matrices on a pixel-by-pixel basis, based on the corresponding value in
the dither matrix select map.
The input to the HC 211 is an expanded contone layer (from the JPEG decoder
205) through a buffer 217, an
expanded bi-level spotl layer through a buffer 218, an expanded dither-matrix-
select bitmap at typically the
same resolution as the contone layer through a buffer 219, and tag data at
fall dot resolution through a buffer
(FIFO) 220.
The HC 211 uses up to two dither matrices, read from the external DRAM 207.
The output from the HC 211
to the LLF 213 is a set of printer resolution bi-level image lines in up to
six colour planes. Typically, the
contone layer is CMYK or CMY, and the bi-level spotl layer is K. Once started,
the HC 211 proceeds until it
detects an "end-of-image" condition, or until it is explicitly stopped via a
control register (not shown).
The LLF 213 receives dot information from the HC 211, loads the dots for a
given print line into appropriate
buffer storage (some on integrated circuit (not shown) and some in the
external DRAM 207) and formats
them into the order required for the integrated circuits of the printhead
chips 57. More specifically, the input
to the LLF 213 is a set of six 32-bit words and a Data Valid bit, all
generated by the HC 211.
As previously described, the physical location of the nozzles 150 on the
printhead chips is in two offset rows
151, which means that odd and even dots of the same colour are for two
different lines. In addition, there is a
number of lines between the dots of one colour and the dots of another. Since
the six colour planes for the
same dot position are calculated at one time by the HC 211, there is a need to
delay the dot data for each of
the colour planes until the same dot is positioned under the appropriate
colour nozzle. The size of each buffer
line depends on the width of the printhead assembly. A single PEC integrated
circuit 190 may be employed to
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generate dots for up to 16 printhead chips 57 and, in such case, a single odd
or even buffer line is therefore 16
sets of 640 dots, for a total of 10,240 bits (1280 bytes).
The PHI 214 is the means by which the PEC integrated circuit 190 loads the
printhead chips 57 with the dots
to be printed, and controls the actual dot printing process. It takes input
from the LLF 213 and outputs data to
the printhead chips 57. The PHI 214 is capable of dealing with a variety of
printhead assembly lengths and
formats.
A combined characterization vector of each printhead assembly 50 and 51 can be
read back via the serial
interface 205. The characterization vector may include dead nozzle information
as well as relative printhead
module alignment data. Each printhead module can be queried via a low-speed
serial bus 221 to return a
characterization vector of the printhead module.
The characterization vectors from multiple printhead modules can be combined
to construct a nozzle defect
list for the entire printhead assembly and allows the PEC integrated circuit
190 to compensate for defective
nozzles during printing. As long as the number of defective nozzles is low,
the compensation can produce
results indistinguishable from those of a printhead assembly with no defective
nozzles.
Some of the features of a pagewidth printhead that incorporates the chip and
the print engine controller which
have been described above
are summarised as follows:
1. The printhead will normally have at least four colour channels.
2. The printhead will normally incorporate at least 1400 ink delivery nozzles
per inch of print width for each
colour.
3. The printhead may incorporate a total of at least 50,000 nozzles.
4. The dot printing processing rate and the drop deposition rate of the
printhead may be of the order of 109
sec -1 or greater.
5. The volume deposited per drop may be of the order of 2x10"121 or less.
6. The energy level expenditure per drop ejection may be of the order of
200x10"9 J. or less.
It will be understood that the constructional and operating principles of the
capping mechanism of the present
invention may be realised in various embodiments. Thus, variations and
modifications may be made in
respect of the embodiments as specifically described above by way of example.
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Representative Drawing