Wiper for ink-jet printhead

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a wiper having a central axis of rotation and at least one resilient blade extending therefrom, said at least one blade having a distal tip;
• means for rotating said wiper about said central axis for bringing said distal tip of said at least one blade into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate;
• and
• means for removing contaminants from said at least one blade while said at least one blade is rotating, wherein said removing means comprises a liquid absorbing layer of material positioned to contact at least said distal tip of said at least one blade while said at least one blade is rotating.

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a carriage for carrying the printhead;
• a station for servicing the printhead;
• means for moving said carriage into said service station;
• a rotary wiper disposed in said service station, said wiper having a plurality of blades, each of said blades having a distal tip, said distal tips generally defining a circle having a circumference;
• means for rotating said wiper about a central axis of rotation when said carriage is disposed in said service station to bring said distal tips of said wiper blades into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate in a cleaning area, said cleaning area being generally disposed on a portion of the circumference of said circle, said means for rotating comprising means for rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said wiper in one rotary direction and for rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said wiper in an opposite rotary direction;
• and
• means generally disposed on the circumference of said circle in spaced relation with said cleaning area for removing contaminants from said wiper blades.

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a carriage containing the printhead;
• a station for serving the printhead;
• means for moving said carriage into said service station;
• a rotary wiper disposed in said service station, said wiper being rotatably disposed about a central axis, said wiper having a plurality of blades extending radially from said central axis, each of said blades having a distal tip, said distal tips generally defining a circumference of a circle;
• means for rotating said wiper about said central axis thereof when said carriage is disposed in said service station to bring said distal tips of said wiper blades into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate in a cleaning area of said service station, said cleaning area being generally disposed along a portion of the circumference of said circle, said rotating means comprising:
• a rack disposed on said printhead carriage;
• a shaft coincident with said central axis;
• and
• means coupling said rack to said shaft;
• and
• a plurality of generally rigid scraping blades disposed generally along a portion of the circumference of said circle in spaced relation with said cleaning area for removing contaminants from said wiper blades.

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a wiper having a central axis of rotation and at least one resilient blade extending from said central axis of rotation, said blade having a distal tip;
• means for rotating said wiper about said central axis for bringing said distal tip of said at least one blade into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate, wherein said rotating means comprises a rack associated with the printhead for driving a gear associated with said wiper, said means for rotating comprising means for rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said wiper in one rotary direction and for rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said wiper in an opposite rotary direction;
• and
• means for removing contaminants from said at least one blade while said at least one blade is rotating.

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a station for servicing the printhead;
• means for repeatedly moving the printhead into said service station;
• a rotary wiper disposed in said service station, said wiper having at least one blade, said at least one blade having a distal tip;
• means for rotating said rotary wiper about a central axis of rotation when the printhead is disposed in said service station to bring said distal tip of said at least one wiper blade into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate in a cleaning area, wherein rotary movement of said distal tip about said central axis of rotation generally defines a circumference of a circle;
• and
• means generally disposed in spaced relation with said cleaning area for removing contaminants from said at least one blade, said removing means comprising a plurality of rigid, scraping blades generally disposed along a portion of the circumference of a circle.

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a station for servicing the printhead;
• means for repeatedly moving the printhead into said service station;
• a rotary wiper disposed in said service station, said wiper having at least three blades each having a distal tip;
• means for rotating said rotary wiper about a central axis of rotation when the printhead is disposed in said service station to bring at least a said distal tip into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate in a cleaning area, wherein said means for rotating comprises means for coordinating rotation of said wiper with movement of the printhead such that at least three of said wiper blade distal tips are brought into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate each time that said carriage is disposed in said service station;
• and
• means generally disposed in spaced relation with said cleaning area for removing contaminants from said at least one blade.

A method for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer, comprising the steps of:

• moving the printhead from a printing area of the printer into a cleaning area of the printer separate from the printing area;
• after said moving step, first rotary wiping of the orifice plate in one rotary direction;
• and
• second rotary wiping of the orifice plate in an opposite rotary direction.

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a station for servicing the printhead;
• means for repeatedly moving the printhead into said service station;
• a rotary wiper disposed in said service station, said wiper having at least one blade, said at least one blade having a distal tip;
• means for rotating said rotary wiper about a central axis of rotation when the printhead is disposed in said service station to bring said distal tip of said at least one wiper blade into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate in a cleaning area, wherein said means for rotating comprises means for first rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said rotary wiper in one rotary direction and for second rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said rotary wiper in an opposite rotary direction;
• and
• means generally disposed in spaced relation with said cleaning area for removing contaminations from said at least one blade.

Apparatus for cleaning an orifice plate of a printhead on an ink-jet printer comprising:

• a rotary wiper, said wiper having a plurality of blades, each of said blades having a distal tip, said distal tips together generally defining a circle having a circumference;
• means for rotating said rotary wiper about a central axis of rotation to bring said distal tips of said wiper blades into wiping contact with the printhead orifice plate in a cleaning area, said cleaning area being generally disposed on a portion of the circumference of a circle, wherein said means for rotating comprises means for rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said rotary wiper in one rotary direction while moving the printhead in one linear direction in the cleaning area such that the printhead orifice plate is wiped by said rotary wiper in a direction opposite of a direction of linear motion of said printhead orifice plate, and for rotary wiping of the printhead orifice plate with said rotary wiper in an opposite rotary direction while moving the printhead in an opposite linear direction in the cleaning area such that the printhead orifice plate is wiped by said rotary wiper in a direction opposite of a direction of linear motion of said printhead orifice plate in the cleaning area;
• and
• means generally disposed on the circumference of said circle in spaced relation with said cleaning area for removing contaminants from said wiper blades.