Printhead capping mechanism with rotary platen assembly
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pagewidth inkjet printer is described which includes printhead 11 with a plurality of print nozzles 30 for ejecting ink drops towards a print medium. A space is defined between the nozzles and a nozzle guard 43 with a series of apertures 44 aligned with the nozzles. During printing operation, positive air pressure is supplied to this space, the air exiting the space through the apertures, preventing blockage by paper dust. When not printing, the air supply is closed off by air valve member 66 and a capping member 80 on a rotary platen 14 contacts the printhead to maintain a closed atmosphere at the surface of the nozzles, reducing drying of ink on the nozzles.
Claims13
An inkjet print engine assembly, comprising:
- an inkjet printhead assembly, comprising:
- (a) an ink distribution assembly that is in fluid communication with an ink supply;
- (b) at least one printhead that is mounted on the ink distribution assembly, the, or each, printhead having at least one printhead chip that incorporates a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzles;
- and
- (c) at least one nozzle guard, wherein each of the at least one nozzle guards defines a plurality of micro-apertures, each of the at least one nozzle guards being mounted adjacent one or more of the at least one printhead chips such that each micro-aperture is in fluid communication with a corresponding nozzle so that ink ejected from the nozzles passes through the respective corresponding micro-apertures;
- a rotary platen assembly that is mounted for rotation about an axis, the rotary platen assembly comprising:
- (d) an axially extending platen surface;
- and
- (e) an axially extending capping arrangement, the capping arrangement being disposed on the platen assembly at a position circumferentially spaced from the platen surface;
- and
- a drive mechanism configured to rotate the platen assembly about its axis, thereby enabling the platen surface and the capping arrangement to selectively be moved into operative engagement with the printhead assembly, the capping arrangement including a sealing structure that is shaped and dimensioned to engage the printhead assembly in a region about the, or each, printhead, so that the, or each, printhead is sealed from the environment when the capping arrangement is in said operative condition, without the sealing structure being in contact with the micro-apertures when the capping arrangement is in the operative position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.