Optical encoding of printhead service module

An inkjet printing system having a plurality of different inks which are respectively applied from a plurality of printhead ink nozzle arrays to media in a print zone comprising:

• a printer housing;
• multiple print cartridges each having at least one of the printhead nozzle arrays;
• a carriage mounted on said housing for scanning across the media in the print zone, with said multiple print cartridges mounted on said carriage;
• an optical sensor on said carriage;
• a printhead servicing station located outside of the print zone in a traverse path of said carriage;
• wherein said servicing station includes a plurality of servicing modules, each servicing module being dedicated for ink interaction with at least one of said nozzle arrays such that said at least one of said nozzle arrays is positioned in aligned proximity with said dedicated servicing module when said carriage moves along said path to said printhead servicing station;
• a label portion on said servicing module for displaying encoded visual indicia which are sensed by said optical sensor after said carriage moves along said traverse path to said printhead servicing station;
• and
• wherein said servicing module includes a wiper spaced apart from said label portion, and said servicing station includes positioning means for locating said wiper in a wiping position to contact said at least one of said nozzle arrays and for locating said label portion in a viewing position in aligned proximity with said optical sensor to be sensed by said optical sensor, and said positioning means includes a servicing motor for moving said servicing station along a service path for locating said label portion in said viewing position.

An inkjet printing system having a plurality of different inks which are respectively applied from a plurality of printhead ink nozzle arrays to media in a print zone comprising:

• a printer housing;
• multiple print cartridges each having at least one of the printhead nozzle arrays;
• a carriage mounted on said housing for scanning across the media in the print zone, with said multiple print cartridges mounted on said carriage;
• an optical sensor on said carriage;
• a printhead servicing station located outside of the print zone in a traverse path of said carriage;
• wherein said servicing station includes a plurality of servicing modules, each servicing module being dedicated for ink interaction with at least one of said nozzle arrays such that said at least one of said nozzle arrays is positioned in aligned proximity with said dedicated servicing module when said carriage moves along said path to said printhead servicing station;
• a label portion on said servicing module for displaying encoded visual indicia which are sensed by said optical sensor after said carriage moves along said traverse path to said printhead servicing station;
• and
• wherein said servicing module includes a cap spaced apart from said label portion, and said servicing station includes positioning means for locating said cap in a capping position to cover said at least one of said nozzle arrays and for locating said label portion in a viewing position in aligned proximity with said optical sensor to be sensed by said optical sensor, and said positioning means includes a servicing motor for moving said service station along a service path for locating said label in said viewing position.

An inkjet printing system having a plurality of different inks which are respectively applied from a plurality of printhead ink nozzle arrays to media in a print zone comprising:

• a printer housing;
• multiple print cartridges each having at least one of the printhead nozzle arrays;
• a carriage mounted on said housing for scanning across the media in the print zone, with said multiple print cartridges mounted on said carriage;
• an optical sensor on said carriage;
• a printhead servicing station located outside of the print zone in a traverse path of said carriage;
• wherein said servicing station includes a plurality of servicing modules, each servicing module being dedicated for ink interaction with at least one of said nozzle arrays such that said at least one of said nozzle arrays is positioned in aligned proximity with said dedicated servicing module when said carriage moves along said path to said printhead servicing station;
• a label portion on said servicing module for displaying encoded visual indicia which are sensed by said optical sensor after said carriage moves along said traverse path to said printhead servicing station;
• and
• wherein said servicing module includes an ink spitting receptacle spaced apart from said label portion, and said servicing station includes positioning means for locating said ink spitting receptacle in a spitting position aligned with said at least one of said nozzle arrays and for locating said label portion in a viewing position in aligned proximity with said optical sensor to be sensed by said optical sensor, and said positioning means includes a servicing motor for moving said service station along a service path for locating said label in said viewing position.

An inkjet printing system having a plurality of different inks which are respectively applied from a plurality of printhead ink nozzle arrays to media in a print zone comprising:

• a printer housing;
• multiple print cartridges each having at least one of the printhead nozzle arrays;
• a carriage mounted on said housing for scanning across the media in the print zone, with said multiple print cartridges mounted on said carriage;
• an optical sensor on said carriage;
• a printhead servicing station located outside of the print zone in a traverse path of said carriage;
• wherein said servicing station includes a plurality of servicing modules, each servicing module being dedicated for ink interaction with at least one of said nozzle arrays such that said at least one of said nozzle arrays is positioned in aligned proximity with said dedicated servicing module when said carriage moves along said path to said printhead servicing station;
• a label portion on said servicing module for displaying encoded visual indicia which are sensed by said optical sensor after said carriage moves along said traverse path to said printhead servicing station;
• and
• wherein said servicing module includes a primer connection spaced apart from said label portion, and said servicing station includes positioning means for locating said primer connection in communication with said at least one of said nozzle arrays and for locating said label portions in a viewing position in aligned proximity with said optical sensor to be sensed by said optical sensor, and said positioning means includes a servicing motor for moving said service station along a service path for locating said label in said viewing position.

A replaceable servicing module which is removably installed on a printer having an inkjet printhead comprising:

• a body having external positional datum surfaces to facilitate installation on the printer, and having multiple servicing components which have periodic interaction with an array of printhead ink nozzles mounted on a scanning carriage, wherein said servicing components are selected from the group consisting of wiper, capper, primer and spittoon;
• a compartment inside of said body and in communication with at least one of said servicing components for receiving ink from said printhead nozzles;
• and
• a label on an exterior portion of said body for storing and visually displaying indicia which stores information in an encoded form which is optically sensed by an optical sensor located on the carriage.

A method of color printing using a plurality of different printheads each having a different color ink and mounted in a scanning carriage which carries an optical sensor and traverses along a traverse path between a print zone and a servicing location separate from the print zone, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of separate servicing modules dedicated to respectively service the plurality of printheads by performing one or more of the following functions:
• wiping, capping, priming, and spitting;
• providing an information label on an exterior portion of each of the separate servicing modules;
• mounting the separate servicing modules in a servicing housing located in the servicing location;
• providing a servicing motor connected to the servicing housing;
• applying encoded visual indicia to the information label;
• actuating the servicing motor to move the servicing housing to a first location to allow performance of one of the aforesaid servicing functions;
• and
• actuating the servicing motor to move the servicing housing to a second location to position the label in a viewing location which allows the optical sensor to sense the visual indicia on the information label.