Print apparatus and methods
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMarcel Llorach To, Ricardo Sanchis Estruch, Eduardo Martin Orue
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Print apparatus comprises: a platen to support a print substrate; a print head to apply print agent to a print substrate supported by the platen, the print head being movable relative to the platen to vary a distance therebetween; and a suction device having an inlet, the suction device to draw air from between the print head and the platen and into the inlet. The inlet of the suction device is movable with the print head to vary a clearance between the inlet and the platen.
Claims13
Print apparatus comprising:
- a platen to support a print substrate;
- a print head to apply print agent to a print substrate supported by the platen, the print head being movable relative to the platen to vary a distance therebetween;
- and
- a suction device having an inlet, the suction device to draw air from between the print head and the platen and into the inlet;
- wherein the inlet of the suction device is movable with the print head to vary a clearance between the inlet and the platen, wherein the suction device moves independent of the print head, wherein the inlet is an open end of a nozzle, the suction device being to draw air from between the print head and the platen through the nozzle, and wherein the print head is part of a print head assembly, wherein the nozzle is supported to adopt a standby position in which the open end of the nozzle is between the print head assembly and the platen, and wherein the print head assembly is to move relative to the platen to engage the nozzle and move it from the standby position to an engaged position, whereby the open end of the nozzle moves towards the platen.
Print apparatus comprising a print head assembly to apply print agent to a print substrate supported by a platen and a suction device to draw air from between the print head assembly and the platen through a nozzle, wherein the nozzle has an open end which is movable towards the platen by engagement of a portion of the print head assembly with a portion of the nozzle, wherein the suction device moves independently from the print head assembly, wherein the nozzle is supported to adopt a standby position in which the open end of the nozzle is between the print head assembly and the platen, and wherein the print head assembly is to move relative to the platen to engage the nozzle and move it from the standby position to an engaged position, whereby the open end of the nozzle moves towards the platen.
A method of operating a print apparatus comprising:
- moving a print head assembly towards a platen to engage a portion of a nozzle having an open end between the print head assembly and the platen, thereby causing movement of the open end of the nozzle towards the platen, wherein the nozzle moves independently from the print head assembly, wherein the nozzle draws air from between the print head assembly and the platen, wherein the nozzle is supported to adopt a standby position in which the open end of the nozzle is between the print head assembly and the platen, and wherein the print head assembly is to move relative to the platen to engage the nozzle and move it from the standby position to an engaged position, whereby the open end of the nozzle moves towards the platen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.