Method and apparatus for cleaning ink-jet printheads

Apparatus for cleaning first and second printheads disposed on a printhead carriage in an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a first wiper blade for wiping a first printhead;
• a second wiper blade for wiping a second printhead;
• means for selectively bringing said first wiper blade into wiping contact only with said first printhead, and for selectively bringing said second wiper blade into wiping contact only with said second printhead;
• and
• means for producing relative wiping motion between said first printhead and said first wiper blade and said second printhead and said second wiper blade,
• wherein said first wiper blade and said second wiper blade extend from a wiper body rotable about a central axis.

A method for cleaning first and second printheads disposed on a printhead carriage in an ink-jet printer comprising the steps of:

• a. ejecting ink from the first printhead while the printhead carriage is disposed in a service station area of the printer;
• b. bringing a first wiper blade into wiping contact with the first printhead before the ejected ink dries;
• c. moving the printhead carriage with a reciprocating motion to effect wiping of the first printhead by only the first wiper blade,
• d. ejecting ink from the second printhead while the printhead carriage is disposed in a service station area of the printer;
• e. bringing a second wiper blade into wiping contact with the second printhead before the ejected ink dries;
• and
• f. moving the printhead carriage with a reciprocating motion to effect wiping of the second printhead carriage by only the second wiper blade.

Apparatus for cleaning the orifice plates of first and second printheads disposed on a printhead carriage in an ink-jet printer, said printheads each being adapted to selectively expel ink onto a medium to effect recordation thereof, comprising:

• a carriage for carrying first and second printheads;
• a station for servicing said first and second printheads;
• means for moving said carriage into said service station;
• a first wiper means for cleaning the orifice plate of the first printhead;
• a second wiper means for cleaning the orifice plate of the second printhead;
• means for causing the first and second printheads to selectively expel ink from the orifice plates when the printhead carriage is disposed in the service station;
• means, responsive to movement of the printhead carriage, for selectively bringing said first wiper means into wiping contact with said first printhead orifice plate and for selectively bringing said second wiper means into wiping contact with said second printhead orifice plate before the expelled ink dries;
• and
• means for moving said printhead carriage with respect to said first and said second wiper means to produce a relative wiping motion between said first wiper means and the orifice plate of said first printhead and between said second wiper means and the orifice plate of said second printhead.

Apparatus for cleaning the orifice plates of first and second printheads disposed in a printhead carriage in an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a wiper rotatable about an axis passing through a center thereof;
• a first blade extending from said wiper in a direction generally parallel to a radius passing through said axis;
• a second blade extending from said wiper in a direction generally parallel to a radius passing through said axis;
• means responsive to movement of the printhead carriage for rotating said wiper to selectively bring said first wiper blade into contact with said first printhead and said second wiper blade into contact with said second printhead, one of said first and said second wiper blades having a radial extent greater than the other of said first and second wiper blades, said one of said wiper blades being associated with a printhead orifice plate having a greater printhead-to paper spacing than another of the printhead orifice plates;
• and
• means for moving said printhead carriage with respect to said wiper to produce selective wiping action between said first wiper blade and said first printhead and said second wiper blade and said second printhead.

Apparatus for cleaning the orifice plates of and second printheads disposed on a printhead carriage in an ink jet printer comprising:

• a frame rotatably mounted in the printer;
• a first polygonal blade rotatably mounted in said frame, said first blade being associated with the first printhead;
• a second polygonal blade rotatably mounted in said frame, said second blade being associated with the second printhead;
• means responsive to movement of the printhead carriage for pivoting said frame about an axis to position said first blade adjacent said first printhead and said second blade adjacent said second printhead;
• and
• means for moving the printhead carriage with respect to said frame to produce wiping action action between said first blade and the first printhead and said second blade and the second printhead, said moving means limiting movement of the printhead carriage to prevent wiping of the first printhead by said second wiper and the second printhead by said first wiper.

Apparatus for cleaning first and second printheads disposed on a printhead carriage in an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a first wiper blade for wiping a first printhead;
• a second wiper blade for wiping a second printhead;
• means responsive to movement of the printhead carriage for selectively bringing said first wiper blade into wiping contact only with the first printhead, and for selectively bringing said second wiper blade into wiping contact only with the second printhead;
• and
• means for moving the printhead carriage with respect to said wiper blades while retaining said wiper blades in a stationary position to produce wiping action between the first wiper blade and the first printhead and the second wiper blade and the second printhead, said moving means limiting movement of the printhead carriage to prevent wiping of the first printhead by the second wiper blade and the second printhead by the first wiper blade.