Ink jet head and cleaning device and method for the head
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorShuichi Yamaguchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cleaning solution supplying device is set in such a manner that it is communicated with a cleaning solution supply section through a cleaning solution supply pipe, and covers the end face of an ink jet head, and a cleaning solution sucking device, which is communicated with a used solution receiving section through a suction pump, is connected to a cleaning solution discharge outlet provided between the ink jet head and the ink supply passageway, so that the cleaning solution is intermittently sucked into the ink jet head through the orifices or ink filter of the latter and discharged therefrom, thereby to positively remove foreign matters from the ink jet head.
Claims11
An ink jet head system comprising:
- an ink jet head comprising:
- orifices;
- ink supply means for supplying ink;
- a filter chamber communicated with said ink supply means;
- a filter member lying in a plane and being disposed between said common ink chamber and said ink supply means;
- a plurality of ink jet passageways communicated with said filter chamber and including pressure generating means therein, said ink jet passageways also including a narrowed throttle portion;
- a cleaning solution discharge outlet formed between said filter member and said throttle portions, said discharge outlet being disposed proximate a connecting portion which connects a flow passage extending from the filter chamber and said ink jet passageways, said discharge outlet being disposed in opposition to a surface of said filter which faces away from said ink supply means and said discharge outlet defining a longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to said plane;
- and
- means for sealingly closing said cleaning solution discharge outlet.
A method of cleaning an ink jet head, said ink jet head comprising
- orifices;
- ink supply means for supplying ink having plural components;
- a filter chamber communicated with said ink supply means, a filter member lying in a plane and being disposed between said filter chamber and said ink supply means, a plurality of ink jet passageways communicated with said filter chamber and including pressure generating means therein, said ink jet passageways also including a narrowed throttle portion, a cleaning solution discharge outlet formed between said filter member and said throttle portions, said discharge outlet being disposed proximate a connecting portion which connects a flow passage extending from the filter chamber and said ink jet passageway, said discharge outlet being disposed in opposition to a surface of said filter which faces away from said ink supply means and said discharge outlet defining a longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to said plane, and means for sealingly closing said cleaning solution discharge outlet,
- said method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a cleaning solution into said ink jet head through said orifices;
- and
- simultaneously sucking and discharging said cleaning solution through said cleaning solution discharge outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.