Patent ID: 6481822
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A maintenance system for servicing a plurality of printing components mounted in predetermined locations on a printer carriage comprising:a carriage for holding the printing components in the predetermined locations, said carriage movable in a scanning axis direction; a guide member for supporting said carriage in different servicing positions in proximity to a service station; multiple servicing elements on the service station; a first group of one or more of said servicing elements which are aligned for a first operational mode with at least one of the printing components when said carriage is in a first servicing position; a second group of one or more of said servicing elements which are aligned for a second operational mode with at least another of the printing components when said carriage is in a second servicing position; a motor coupled to said servicing elements for moving said first group and said second group of said servicing elements along a path substantially perpendicular to said scanning axis direction in order to provide interaction of said first group with at least one of the printing components during said first operational mode and in order to provide interaction of said second group with at least another of the printing components during said second operational mode; and wherein said first group of said-servicing elements are excluded from interaction with said at least another of the printing components during said first operational mode, and said second group of said servicing elements are excluded from interaction with said at least one of the printing components during said second operational mode.