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US 2021/0260877 A1Published application
Service media and methods for cleaning printheads
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorHiroshi Nishimura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A service media and method for cleaning printheads. In one embodiment, a method of cleaning includes inserting a service media beneath one or more printheads, inflating the service media so that an absorbent material of the service media contacts a nozzle surface of the printheads, and deflating the service media.
Claims20
A method of cleaning one or more printheads, the method comprising:
- inserting a service media beneath the one or more printheads;
- inflating the service media so that an absorbent material of the service media contacts a nozzle surface of the one or more printheads while the service media is held stationary to perform blotting of the nozzle surface;
- and
- deflating the service media.
1 more element
A method of cleaning an array of printheads in a continuous-feed printer, the method comprising:
- inserting a service media beneath the array of the printheads;
- inflating the service media so that an absorbent material of the service media contacts a nozzle surface of the printheads in the array, wherein the service media is held stationary when inflated;
- purging the printheads with the service media inflated;
- and
- deflating the service media.
2 more elements
A cleaning apparatus for one or more printheads, the cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a service media configured for insertion beneath the one or more printheads, the service media comprising:
- a backing member;
- an absorbent material;
- and
- an inflatable bladder disposed between the backing member and the absorbent material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.