Translational service station system for inkjet printheads

A method of servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism, comprising the steps of:

• moving the printhead along a scanning axis to a servicing position;
• translationally moving a pallet that supports a printhead servicing component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis and thereby servicing the printhead with the servicing component when the printhead is in the servicing position;
• during said servicing step, covering at least a portion of a spittoon with the pallet;
• while holding the printhead stationary in the servicing position, exposing the spittoon by moving the pallet to a spitting position;
• and
• following the exposing step, spitting ink from the printhead into the spittoon.

A method of servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism, with the printhead having an orifice plate that defines a printhead plane, comprising the steps of:

• carrying the printhead in a carriage along a scanning axis to a servicing position;
• translationally moving a pallet in a plane substantially parallel with the printhead plane to service the printhead when in the servicing position, with the pallet having a sled movably attached thereto for motion with respect to the pallet and the printhead, with the sled supporting a printhead cap, and with the sled having an engaging member to engage at least one of the carriage and the printhead;
• and
• while holding the printhead stationary in the servicing position, sealing the printhead by translationally moving the pallet in said plane until the engaging member engages at least one of the carriage and the printhead, and in response thereto, while continuing translationally moving the pallet in said plane, moving the sled away from the pallet and toward the printhead until the cap contacts and seals the printhead when the pallet has reached a capping position.

A method of servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism, comprising the steps of:

• moving the printhead along a scanning axis to a servicing position;
• translationally moving a pallet that supports a printhead wiper in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis to service the printhead when in the servicing position;
• covering at least a portion of a spittoon with the pallet;
• exposing the spittoon by moving the pallet to a spitting position;
• following the exposing step, spitting ink from the printhead into the spittoon;
• and
• after the spitting step, while holding the printhead stationary in the servicing position, wiping the printhead with the wiper by translationally moving the pallet.

A service station for servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism having a chassis, with the printhead transported by a carriage along a scanning axis to a servicing position, and with the printhead having an orifice plate that defines a printhead plane, the service station comprising:

• a frame supported by the chassis, with the frame defining a guide track extending from a printhead capping position to a printhead servicing position;
• a pallet supported by the frame guide track for translational movement to said capping position in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis to service the printhead when in the servicing position, wherein said translational movement is in a plane substantially parallel to said printhead plane;
• a sled movably attached to the pallet for motion with respect to the pallet and the printhead, with the sled having an engaging member to engage at least one of the carriage and the printhead;
• and
• a printhead cap supported by a sled;
• wherein when the printhead is in the servicing position and the pallet is translationally moved in one direction in said plane, the engaging member engages at least one of the carriage and the printhead to move the sled away from the pallet and toward the printhead until the cap contacts and seals the printhead when the pallet has reached the capping position.

An inkjet printing mechanism, comprising:

• a chassis;
• supported by the chassis, a carriage that moves along a scanning axis to a servicing position;
• an inkjet printhead transported by the carriage along the scanning axis to the servicing position, with the printhead having an orifice plate that defines a printhead plane;
• and
• a service station comprising:
• a frame supported by the chassis, with the frame defining a guide track extending from said servicing spitting position to a capping position;
• a pallet supported by the frame guide track for translational movement to said capping position in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis to service the printhead when in the servicing position, with said translational movement being in a plane substantially parallel to said printhead plane;
• a sled movably attached to the pallet for motion with respect to the pallet and the printhead, with the sled having an engaging member to engage at least one of the carriage and the printhead;
• and
• a printhead cap supported by a sled;
• wherein when the printhead is in the servicing position and the pallet is translationally moved in one direction in said plane, the engaging member is configured to engage at least one of the carriage and the printhead to move the sled away from the pallet and toward the printhead until the cap contacts and seals the printhead when the pallet has reached the capping position.

A service station for servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism having a chassis, and with the printhead having an orifice plate that defines a printhead plane, the service station comprising:

• a frame supported by the chassis, with the frame defining a guide track and a spittoon having a floor upon which a stalagmite of ink residue spit from the printhead accumulates to terminate in a top portion;
• a translationally moving pallet slideably supported by the frame guide track for translational movement in a plane substantially parallel to the printhead plane between a printhead spitting position and a printhead servicing position in which the pallet covers at least a portion of the spittoon, with the pallet having an upper surface and an undersurface which faces toward the spittoon;
• a printhead servicing component supported by the upper surface of the pallet for selective movement to the printhead servicing position to service the printhead;
• and
• a stalagmite decapitator member extending downwardly from the pallet lower surface to a level to remove the stalagmite top portion when extending above said level during movement of the pallet over the spittoon.