Patent ID: 6203135
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A maintenance system for servicing a plurality of printing components mounted in predetermined spaced-apart locations on a printer carriage comprising:a carriage for holding the printing components in the predetermined locations;a guide member for supporting said carriage in proximity to a service station;multiple servicing elements on the service station which each perform a same function;a first group of said servicing elements which are positioned for interactive alignment with at least one of the printing components during a given time period for a first servicing mode;a second group of said servicing elements which are positioned for interactive alignment with at least another of the printing components during another time period for a second servicing mode;a first motor coupled to said carriage for moving said carriage from a first servicing place for said first servicing mode to a second servicing place for said second servicing mode, said first motor also moving said carriage in a scan axis direction and from a print zone to said first servicing place;a second motor coupled to said servicing elements for moving said servicing elements along a path while said carriage is stationary during said first servicing mode and said second servicing mode; andwherein said first group of said servicing elements are in a non-aligned inactive position during said another time period, and said second group of said servicing elements are in a non-aligned position during said given time period.