Ink jet printhead garage configured to perform maintenance functions
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsAdam Ahne, Jeffery Buchanan, Curtis Droege, Sam Norasak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printhead garage for receiving an ink jet printhead cartridge includes a chassis defining an opening for receiving the ink jet printhead cartridge when the ink jet printhead cartridge is not installed for use by the imaging apparatus for printing. A maintenance assembly is coupled to the chassis and configured to perform at least one printhead maintenance operation. In one embodiment, a printhead firing unit is coupled to the chassis.
Claims29
A printhead garage for receiving an ink jet printhead cartridge when said ink jet printhead cartridge is not installed for use by an imaging apparatus for printing, said ink jet printhead cartridge including a printhead having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ink jetting devices, said printhead garage comprising:
- a chassis defining an opening for receiving said ink jet printhead cartridge when said ink jet printhead cartridge is not installed for use by said imaging apparatus for printing;
- a maintenance assembly coupled to said chassis and configured to perform at least one printhead maintenance operation;
- and
- a printhead firing unit coupled to said chassis, said printhead firing unit being electrically connected to said printhead to electrically exercise said plurality of ink jetting devices.
A printhead garage for receiving an ink jet printhead cartridge when said ink jet printhead cartridge is not installed for use by an imaging apparatus for printing, said ink jet printhead cartridge including a printhead having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ink jetting devices, said printhead garage comprising:
- a chassis defining an opening for receiving said ink jet printhead cartridge when said ink jet printhead cartridge is not installed for use by said imaging apparatus for printing;
- a maintenance assembly to which a printhead capping unit and a printhead wiping unit are mounted, said printhead capping unit having at least one printhead cap and said printhead wiping unit having at least one printhead wiper;
- a user actuated operator;
- and
- an actuator mechanism coupled between said maintenance assembly and said user actuated operator, wherein when a user applies a force to said user actuated operator, an action of said actuator mechanism is transferred to said maintenance assembly to cause said maintenance assembly to proceed through a predefined printhead maintenance sequence.
A printhead garage comprising a chassis defining an opening for receiving an ink jet printhead cartridge including a printhead having a plurality of nozzles, said opening being configured such that said ink jet printhead cartridge is received with said plurality of nozzles of said printhead in a vertical up position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.