Single actuation axis printhead cleaner architecture for staggered printheads
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAntoni S. Murcia, Ted T. Lee
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Abstract
System and methods for servicing staggered printheads in an inkjet-imaging device are described. In one aspect, the color inkjet-imaging device collectively moves one or more of the staggered printheads along a single actuation axis from a respective spittoon in a particular service station to a print zone without colliding with any portion of an adjacent cleaning unit.
Claims30
An inkjet-imaging device comprising:
- staggered printheads;
- cleaning units coupled to a service station, each cleaning unit comprising components to service a particular one of the staggered printheads, each cleaning unit being offset from an adjacent cleaning unit to form a staggered cleaning unit configuration;
- and
- a processor coupled to a memory, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for collectively moving one or more of the staggered printheads along a single actuation axis from a respective spittoon in a particular service station to a print zone without colliding with one of the cleaning units.
A printhead cleaning unit for use in an inkjet printing device, the printhead cleaning unit comprising a plurality of components to service a particular one printhead of a plurality of staggered printheads, the components comprising a spittoon, a wiper, a capping unit, and a solvent dispenser, the wiper being positioned adjacent to the capping unit, the capping unit comprising a long and a short axis, a first end of the long axis being positioned adjacent the spittoon region, and a second end of the long axis unit being collinear and adjacent to the solvent dispenser.
A method to service printheads in a staggered configuration, the method comprising:
- moving a service station pallet to a forward position, the service station comprising printhead cleaning units in a staggered configuration, each cleaning unit comprising a spittoon;
- repositioning the printheads into the service station such that each printhead is over a corresponding spittoon;
- and
- spitting ink, by each printhead, into a corresponding spittoon.
A computer-readable medium to service staggered printheads in an inkjet-imaging device, the computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for:
- moving a service station pallet to a forward position, the service station comprising printhead cleaning units in a staggered configuration, each of the printhead cleaning units comprising a spittoon reservoir;
- repositioning the staggered printheads into the service station such that each printhead is over a corresponding spittoon reservoir;
- and
- spitting ink, by each printhead, into a corresponding spittoon reservoir.
A method for servicing printheads in an inkjet-imaging device, the method comprising collectively moving one or more of staggered printheads along a single actuation axis from a respective spittoon in a particular service station to a print zone without colliding with any portion of a cleaning unit of cleaning units, each cleaning unit comprising components to service a particular one of the staggered printheads, each cleaning unit being offset from an adjacent cleaning unit to form a staggered cleaning unit configuration.
A computer-readable medium comprising computer-program instructions executable by a processor for servicing printheads in an inkjet-imaging device by:
- collectively moving one or more of staggered printheads along a single actuation axis from a respective spittoon in a particular service station to a print zone without colliding with any portion of a cleaning unit of cleaning units, each cleaning unit comprising components to service a particular one of the staggered printheads, each cleaning unit being offset from an adjacent cleaning unit to form a staggered cleaning unit configuration;
- and
- responsive to moving the one or more staggered printheads to the service station, servicing the one or more staggered printheads with the cleaning units.
An inkjet imaging device comprising:
- means for collectively moving one or more of staggered printheads along a single actuation axis to a respective spittoon in a particular service station from a print zone without colliding with any portion of a cleaning unit of cleaning units, each cleaning unit comprising components to service a particular one of the staggered printheads, each cleaning unit being offset from an adjacent cleaning unit to form a staggered cleaning unit configuration;
- and
- responsive to moving the one or more staggered printheads to the service station, means for servicing the one or more staggered printheads with the cleaning units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.