Printer having L-shaped maintenance modules for plurality of printheads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10076917-B2
Application number	US-201715583006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2017
Priority date	May 2, 2016
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A printer including: a print module having a printhead for printing onto media fed along a media feed path and a maintenance module for maintaining the printhead. The maintenance module includes an L-shaped frame having a longer arm extending parallel with a longitudinal axis of the printhead and a shorter arm. The longer arm includes a capper for capping the printhead and the shorter arm includes a wiper for longitudinally wiping the printhead.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A printer comprising:
a print module having a printhead for printing onto media fed along a media feed path; and
a maintenance module for maintaining the printhead, the maintenance module comprising a fixed L-shaped frame having a longer arm extending parallel with a longitudinal axis of the printhead and a shorter arm,

wherein:
the longer arm includes a capper for capping the printhead; and
the shorter arm includes a wiper for wiping the printhead.

2. The printer of claim 1 comprising a plurality of print modules and a corresponding plurality of maintenance modules, each maintenance module maintaining a respective printhead.

3. The printer of claim 2 , wherein each L-shaped frame is partially wrapped around a respective print module.

4. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the print modules are positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement across a width of the media feed path.

5. The printer of claim 4 comprising a plurality of print modules aligned in a row across the media feed path, wherein the L-shaped frame for a first print module in the row has its shorter arm interposed between the first print module and a second adjacent print module in the row.

6. The printer of claim 1 comprising an upstream printhead positioned upstream of a downstream printhead relative to the media feed direction, wherein a first maintenance module for the upstream printhead is rotated by 180 degrees relative to a second maintenance module for the downstream printhead.

7. The printer of claim 6 , wherein the first and second maintenance modules are identical to each other.

8. The printer of claim 6 , wherein the upstream and downstream printheads are relatively proximal each other.

9. The printer of claim 8 , wherein first and second cappers of the first and second maintenance modules are positioned at opposite upstream and downstream sides of respective upstream and downstream printheads, and wherein the first and second cappers move in opposite directions towards their respective upstream and downstream printheads during capping.

10. The printer of claim 6 , wherein first and second wipers of the first and second maintenance modules are positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of respective first and second printheads, and wherein the first and second wipers move in opposite longitudinal directions long their respective first and second printheads during wiping.

11. The printer of claim 10 , wherein the first and second wipers are identical and comprise a web of wiping material having first and second wiping regions across its width, the first wiping region for wiping the first printhead and the second wiping region for wiping the second printhead.

12. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the capper is connected to a longer sidewall of the L-shaped frame via a plurality of connecting arms, the capper extending parallel with the longer sidewall and wherein the connecting arms move the capper laterally relative to the longer sidewall.

13. A maintenance module for maintaining a printhead, the maintenance module comprising a fixed L-shaped frame having a longer arm and a shorter arm,
wherein:
the longer arm includes a capper for capping the printhead; and
the shorter arm includes a wiper for wiping the printhead.

14. The maintenance module of claim 13 , wherein the capper is connected to a longer side plate of the L-shaped frame via a plurality of connecting arms, the capper extending parallel with the longer side plate, and wherein the connecting arms move the capper laterally relative to the longer side plate.

15. The maintenance module of claim 14 , wherein the capper is laterally extendable to a capping position distal from the longer side plate, and retractable to a parked position proximal the longer side plate.

16. The maintenance module of claim 14 , wherein the wiper comprises a wiper carriage, the wiper carriage being movable longitudinally and parallel with the longer arm of the L-shaped frame.

17. The maintenance module of claim 16 , wherein the wiper carriage comprises a web of wiping material for wiping the printhead.

18. The maintenance module of claim 16 , wherein the wiper carriage is connected to the longer side plate of the L-shaped frame via at least one overhead arm slidably received in a guide rail of the longer side plate.

19. The maintenance module of claim 18 , wherein the overhead arm bridges over the capper during wiping of the printhead.

Assignees

• Memjet Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Profaca Mark
• Burke David
• Sy Billy
• Alemana Gilbert
• Hibbard Christopher
• Balala Rommel

Classifications

• B41J2202/20

  Modules · CPC title

• B41J29/02

  Framework · CPC title

• B41J2/175

  Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} · CPC title

• B41J29/38

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• B41J29/377

  Cooling or ventilating arrangements · CPC title