Printer servicing system and method
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorBruce G. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printer includes at least one ink applicator supported in a medium-facing position in which the applicator is adapted to face the print medium when the medium is in a transport path and a first servicing tool outside the transport path and facing the at least one ink applicator, while the at least one ink applicator is in the medium-facing position. In one embodiment, the printer includes a medium transport configured to move the medium relative to the at least one ink applicator, wherein the medium transport includes the first servicing tool.
Claims49
A printer comprising:
- at least one ink applicator supported in a medium-facing position in which the applicator is adapted to face a print medium when the medium is in a transport path;
- a first servicing tool outside the transport path and facing the at least one ink applicator while the at least one ink applicator is in the medium-facing position;
- and
- a medium transport configured to move a print medium relative to the at least one ink applicator, wherein the first servicing tool is carried by the transport.
An ink applicator servicing module for use with a printer having at least one ink applicator supported in a medium-facing position in which the applicator is adapted to face a printing medium while the medium is in a transport path, the module comprising:
- a first servicing tool configured to be coupled to the printer out of the transport path in an ink applicator-facing position while the at least one ink applicator is in the medium-facing position;
- and
- abase removably coupled to the printer and supporting a plurality of servicing tools including the first servicing tool.
A method for servicing a printer ink applicator, the method comprising:
- providing at least one servicing tool on a medium transport configured to move print medium relative to the ink applicator;
- positioning the at least one servicing tool opposite an ink applicator and out of a medium transport path while the ink applicator is in a print medium-facing position;
- activating the at least one servicing tool to perform at least one servicing operation on the ink applicator;
- and
- moving the at least one servicing tool to an ink applicator facing position while the ink applicator is in the medium-facing position.
A printer comprising:
- at least one ink applicator supported in a medium-facing position in which the applicator is adapted to face a print medium;
- and
- a medium transport configured to move a print medium relative to the at least one ink applicator, the medium transport including and carrying a first servicing tool configured to perform a first servicing operation on the at least one ink applicator.
A printer comprising:
- at least one ink applicator supported in a medium-facing position in which the applicator is adapted to face a print medium when the medium is in a transport path;
- a plurality of servicing tools including a first servicing tool outside the transport path and facing the at least one ink applicator while the at least one ink applicator is in the medium-facing position;
- a base supporting the plurality of servicing tools;
- an actuator configured to move the base between a servicing position in which at least one of the plurality of tools engages the at least one ink applicator and a resting position in which a plurality of tools are out of engagement with the at least one applicator, wherein the actuator includes at least one cam surface in engagement with the base and wherein relative movement between the cam surface and the base moves the base and each of the tools supported by the base.
A printer comprising:
- at least one ink applicator supported in a medium-facing position in which the applicator is adapted to face a print medium when the medium is in a transport path;
- a plurality of servicing tools including a first servicing tool outside the transport path and facing the at least one ink applicator while the at least one ink applicator is in the medium-facing position;
- a base supporting the plurality of servicing tools;
- an actuator configured to move the base between a servicing position in which at least one of the plurality of tools engages the at least one ink applicator and a resting position in which a plurality of tools are out of engagement with the at least one applicator, wherein the actuator includes at least one cam surface in engagement with the base and wherein the at least one cam surface is configured to move relative to the base at different extents to accommodate different servicing tools.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.