Print head management accessories
AssigneeKateeva, Inc.
InventorAlexander Sou-Kang Ko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of inkjet printers, and methods of operating inkjet printers, are described herein. The inkjet printers include a substrate support a print support comprising a printhead assembly movably coupled to a printhead assembly support disposed across the substrate support, and a printhead management unit comprising a first printhead cleaner having a first areal extent and a second printhead cleaner having a second areal extent different from the first areal extent. The first and second printhead cleaner can be used in cleaning processes to optimize the cleaning process.
Claims20
An inkjet printer, comprising:
- a substrate support;
- a print support comprising a printhead assembly support disposed across the substrate support and supporting a printhead assembly;
- and
- a printhead management unit disposed at one side of the substrate support, the printhead management unit comprising a first printhead cleaner having a first areal extent and a second printhead cleaner having a second areal extent different from the first areal extent.
A method of operating an inkjet printer, comprising:
- obtaining data representing performance of nozzles of a plurality of printheads of the inkjet printer, the printheads arranged in groups, each group having a plurality of printheads;
- determining, from the data, any groups that need cleaning due to nozzle performance that does not meet a standard;
- defining a cleaning process comprising using a single-group cleaner of the inkjet printer, a multi-group cleaner of the inkjet printer, or both to clean the groups that need cleaning;
- and
- using the single-group cleaner, the multi-group cleaner, or both according to the cleaning process.
An inkjet printer, comprising:
- a substrate support extending in a longitudinal direction of the inkjet printer;
- a print support comprising a printhead assembly support disposed across the substrate support and supporting a printhead assembly that is movable along the printhead assembly support in a transverse direction of the inkjet printer;
- and
- a printhead management unit disposed on a station support at one side of the substrate support, the printhead management unit comprising a first printhead cleaner having a first areal extent and a second printhead cleaner having a second areal extent different from the first areal extent, wherein the printhead management unit is movable along the station support in the longitudinal direction of the inkjet printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.