Inkjet printer and capping method
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorTakamasa Usui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet printer includes a recording head having a nozzle face provided with a nozzle for discharging an ink to form an image on a recording medium, and a detachable cap for capping the nozzle face. The cap of the inkjet printer is provided with an annular rim and an annular groove, which are provided along a periphery of the cap, the groove being opposed to the nozzle face in a state where the cap is abutted against the nozzle face. In the inkjet printer, a during non-image-forming period, the rim of the cap is abutted against the nozzle face, thus capping the nozzle face.
Claims32
An inkjet printer comprising:
- a recording head having a nozzle face provided with a nozzle for discharging an ink to form an image on a recording medium;
- and
- a detachable cap for capping the nozzle face, the cap including an annular rim and an annular groove which are provided along a periphery of the cap, the groove being opposed to the nozzle face in a state where the cap is abutted against the nozzle face.
A capping method for capping a nozzle face, provided with a nozzle for discharging an ink to form an image on a recording medium, by using a detachable cap including an annular rim and an annular groove which are provided along a periphery of the cap, the groove being opposed to the nozzle face in a state where the nozzle face is capped by the cap, the method comprising the steps of:
- opposing the nozzle face to the cap;
- supplying a fluid to the groove;
- abutting the rim against the nozzle face by moving the cap toward the nozzle face;
- and
- holding a position of the cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.