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US 10,518,536 B2Granted
Capping assembly for inkjet printhead
AssigneeMemjet Technology Limited
InventorPatrick McAuliffe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A capping assembly includes a capper having a perimeter seal for sealing engagement with the printhead. The capping assembly has an enclosed capping volume when the capper is sealingly engaged with the printhead, whereby the capping volume is variable in response to relative differences in pressures inside and outside the capping volume.
Claims7
A capping assembly for an inkjet printhead, the capping assembly comprising:
- a capper including a capping chamber having a perimeter seal for sealing engagement with the printhead,
- a drainage port extending from the floor of the capping chamber and a breather port defined in the capping chamber;
- and
- a bellows assembly external to the capper and connected to the breather port via a flexible breather tube,
- wherein:
- the bellows assembly is always closed to atmosphere when the capper is sealingly engaged with the printhead;
- a capping volume of the capping assembly is variable in response to relative differences in pressures inside and outside the capping volume;
- and
- the drainage port is configured to be closed during capping periods and open during at least some non-capping periods for drainage of excess ink from the capping chamber.
6 more elements
A printer comprising:
- an inkjet printhead;
- and
- a capping assembly comprising:
- a capper including a capping chamber having a perimeter seal for sealing engagement with the printhead,
- a drainage port extending from the floor of the capping chamber and a breather port defined in the capping chamber;
- and
- a bellows assembly external to the capper and connected to the breather port via a flexible breather tube,
- wherein:
- the bellows assembly is always closed to atmosphere when the capper is sealingly engaged with the printhead;
- a capping volume of the capping assembly is variable in response to relative differences in pressures inside and outside the capping volume;
- and
- the drainage port is configured to be closed during capping periods and open during at least some non-capping periods for drainage of excess ink from the capping chamber.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.