Back to results
US 7,452,053 B2Granted
Fluid aerosol extraction for service station of fluid ejection-device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsLluis Valles, Joaquim Brugue, Llorenc Valles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid ejection device includes a fluid-ejection mechanism, a scanning carriage, and a service station. The fluid-ejection mechanism is capable of ejecting fluid onto media. The scanning carriage is that on which the fluid-ejection mechanism moves while ejecting fluid onto the media. The service station is that to which the fluid-ejection mechanism is movable by the scanning carriage, and that at which fluid aerosol from the fluid-ejection mechanism is extracted by a vacuum via an airflow path from the fluid-ejection mechanism temporarily fluidically coupled to the vacuum during servicing of the fluid-ejection mechanism.
Claims22
A fluid-ejection device comprising:
- a fluid-ejection mechanism capable of ejecting fluid onto media;
- a scanning carriage on which the fluid-ejection mechanism moves while ejecting fluid onto the media;
- and,
- a service station to which the fluid-ejection mechanism is movable by the scanning carriage and at which fluid aerosol from the fluid-ejection mechanism is extracted by a vacuum via an airflow path from the fluid-ejection mechanism temporarily fluidically coupled to the vacuum during servicing of the fluid-ejection mechanism,
- wherein the service station comprises:
- a stationary chassis having a hole through a surface thereof leading to the vacuum;
- a retractable member slidably and sealably inserted within the hole of the surface of the stationary chassis, the retractable member defining the airflow path, the retractable member having a first position in which the retractable member is extended from the surface of the stationary chassis and a second position in which the retractable member is pushed downwards towards the surface of the stationary chassis;
- and,
- a movable service carriage receptive to the fluid-ejection mechanism as moved thereto by the scanning carriage, the movable service carriage movable over the stationary chassis and having a bottom surface from which a protruding portion thereof ends in a hole defining the airflow path, the protruding portion contactable with the retractable member to push the retractable member from the first position to the second position during servicing of the fluid-ejection mechanism.
6 more elements
A fluid-aerosol extraction system for a fluid-ejection device comprising:
- a retractable element having an airflow path therethrough and retractably mounted to a first part of the fluid-ejection device, the retractable element having a first position in which the retractable element is extended from the first part and a second position in which the retractable element is pushed downwards towards the first part;
- and,
- a ramped element having an airflow path therethrough and extending from a second part of the fluid-ejection device, the first part moving relative to the second part to cause the ramped element to contact the retractable element and push the retractable element from the first position to the second position,
- wherein the airflow path of the ramped element interacts with the airflow path of the retractable element in the second position to form a joined airflow path in which aerosol is transferable between the first and the second parts of the fluid-ejection device.
1 more element
A service station for a fluid-ejection device having a fluid-ejection mechanism comprising:
- a stationary chassis having a hole through a surface thereof leading to a vacuum;
- a retractable member slidably and sealably inserted within the hole of the surface of the stationary chassis, the retractable member defining an airflow path to the vacuum, the retractable member having a first position in which the retractable member is extended from the surface of the stationary chassis and a second position in which the retractable member is pushed downwards towards the surface of the stationary chassis;
- and,
- a movable carriage receptive to the fluid-ejection mechanism and movable over the stationary chassis, the movable carriage having a bottom surface from which a protruding portion thereof ends in a hole defining an airflow path from the fluid-ejection mechanism, the protruding portion contactable with the retractable member to push the retractable member from the first position to the second position,
- wherein the airflow path of the protruding portion of the bottom surface of the movable carriage interacts with the airflow path of the retractable member in the second position of the retractable path to form a joined airflow path from the fluid-ejection mechanism to the vacuum to transfer fluid aerosol from the fluid-ejection mechanism to the vacuum.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- moving a fluid-ejection mechanism to a carriage, the carriage having a surface from which a protruding portion thereof ends in a hole defining an airflow path from the fluid-ejection mechanism;
- moving the carriage relative to a stationary chassis having a hole through a surface thereof leading to a vacuum and within which a retractable member is slidably and sealably inserted to define an airflow path to the vacuum;
- pushing the retractable member down towards the surface of the stationary chassis by the protruding portion of the surface of the carriage the carriage moves relative to the stationary chassis;
- and,
- forming a joined airflow path between the hole within an extended portion of a surface of the fluid-ejection mechanism and a tube, the joined airflow path extending from the fluid-ejection mechanism to the vacuum.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.