Patent ID: 6398338
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A maintenance station for an ink jet printer having at least one printhead comprising:a rotatable cam shaft having: a hold-down cam; and at least one capping cam; a rotatably mounted cam-actuated lever arm mechanism, having a hold-down cam engaging portion engageable with the hold-down cam; a capping cam engaging portion engageable with the at least one capping cam; and a lever arm portion; and a cap carriage having at least one printhead cap and a movable base wherein when the cam shaft rotates in a first direction, the cap carriage engages the cam-actuated lever arm, the lever arm portion bearing against the cap carriage to move the cap carriage from a first position where the at least one printhead cap is disengaged from the at least one printhead to a second position where the at least one printhead cap is engageable with the at least one printhead; and when the cam shaft rotates in a second direction to the first direction, the hold-down cam engages a follower and an inverted cam on the lever arm.