Service stations with removable service modules
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAlan Shibata, Levi Holscher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an example, a service station may comprise a conveyor movable along or about a conveyor path. Example service station may further comprise a first service module removably installed on the conveyor, and a second service module removably installed on the conveyor. The conveyor may move the first service module and the second service module along the conveyor path. The example service station may further comprise a lifter disposed in a lifting zone along the conveyor path to lift one of the first service module and the second service module from a stowed position to an operating position if the first service module or the second service module is disposed in the lifting zone along the conveyor path.
Claims20
A service station, comprising:
- a conveyor movable along a conveyor path;
- a first service module removably installed on the conveyor;
- a second service module removably installed on the conveyor, the conveyor to move the first service module and the second service module along the conveyor path;
- and
- a lifter disposed in a lifting zone along the conveyor path to lift one of the first service module and the second service module from a stowed position to an operating position if the first service module or the second service module is disposed in the lifting zone along the conveyor path,
- the lifting zone disposed under a service bay disposed between a first portion and a second portion of a platen.
A service station, comprising:
- a plurality of individually removable service modules disposed on a conveyor;
- a drive member to move the conveyor along a conveyor path including in a conveying direction substantially parallel with a platen;
- and
- a lifter to individually lift one of the plurality of service modules from a stowed position to an operating position including in a lifting direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction if the one of the plurality of service modules is disposed in a lifting zone along the conveyor path.
An imaging device, comprising:
- a platen disposed under a printhead, the platen having a first portion and a second portion, and a service bay disposed in between the first portion and the second portion;
- and
- a service station disposed underneath the platen, comprising:
- a plurality of service modules removably installed on a conveyor, the plurality of service modules movable along a conveyor path into and out of a lifting zone disposed underneath the service bay;
- and
- a lifter disposed in the lifting zone to lift one of the plurality of service modules from a stowed position to an operating position if the one of the plurality of service modules is disposed in the lifting zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.