Printer having platen with particle-collection slot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11613124-B2
Application number	US-202117152599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2021
Priority date	May 12, 2017
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

A printer includes: a printhead and a platen positioned below the printhead for supporting print media conveyed along a media feed direction through a print zone. The platen has a particle-collection slot upstream of the print zone relative to the media feed direction and a dam wall at a downstream side of the particle-collection slot. The particle-collection slot and the dam wall extend transversely relative to the media feed direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A printer comprising:
a printhead; and
a platen positioned below the printhead for supporting print media conveyed along a media feed direction through a print zone, the platen having at least one particle-collection slot upstream of the print zone relative to the media feed direction and a dam wall at a downstream side of the particle-collection slot,

wherein the particle-collection slot and the dam wall extend transversely relative to the media feed direction.

2. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the particle-collection slot is divided into a plurality of discrete particle-collection traps.

3. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the platen has ribs for supporting print media and wherein upper surfaces of the ribs and the dam wall are coplanar.

4. The printer of claim 3 , wherein each rib bridges across the particle-collection slot and meets with the dam wall.

5. The printer of claim 4 , wherein each rib terminates at an upstream side of the particle-collection slot.

6. The printer of claim 5 , wherein each rib has an end portion curved downwards towards the particle-collection slot.

7. The printer of claim 6 , wherein a plurality of fins extend from the dam wall parallel with the ribs, each fin bridging across the particle-collection slot.

8. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the fins are offset from the ribs.

9. The printer of claim 8 , wherein each rib is disposed midway between a pair of fins.

10. The printer of claim 9 , wherein upper surfaces of the ribs, dam wall and fins are coplanar.

11. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the particle-collection slot is in fluid communication with a vacuum source.

12. The printer of claim 11 , wherein the particle-collection slot and dam wall are configured such that particles strike the dam wall and/or are suctioned directly into particle-collection slot.

13. A platen for supporting print media fed along a media feed direction in an inkjet printer, said platen the platen having at least one particle-collection slot upstream of a print zone relative to the media feed direction and a dam wall at a downstream side of the particle-collection slot, wherein the particle-collection slot and the dam wall extend transversely relative to the media feed direction.

14. The platen of claim 13 , wherein the particle-collection slot is divided into a plurality of discrete particle-collection traps.

15. The platen of claim 13 , wherein the platen has ribs for supporting print media and wherein upper surfaces of the ribs and the dam wall are coplanar.

16. The platen of claim 15 , wherein each rib bridges across the particle-collection slot and meets with the dam wall.

17. The platen of claim 15 , wherein each rib terminates at an upstream side of the particle-collection slot.

18. The platen of claim 17 , wherein each rib has an end portion curved downwards towards the particle-collection slot.

19. The platen of claim 17 , wherein a plurality of fins extend from the dam wall parallel with the ribs, each fin bridging across the particle-collection slot.

20. The platen of claim 19 , wherein the fins are offset from the ribs.

Assignees

• Memjet Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Balala Rommel
• Baterna Dan

Classifications

• B41J2/1714 Primary

  Conditioning of the outside of ink supply systems, e.g. inkjet collector cleaning, ink mist removal (B41J2/08, B41J2/16517, B41J2/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• B41J2/1721 Primary

  Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor · CPC title

• B41J2/185

  Ink-collectors; Ink-catchers · CPC title