Patent ID: 6416161
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A wiper blade mechanism usable in a maintenance station of an ink jet printer having at least one printhead, comprising:at least one wiper blade, each wiper blade having a leading edge and trailing edge and being engageable with the at least one printhead so as to remove at least one of ink and debris from the at least one printhead; a translation actuating mechanism, that drives the at least one wiper blade in between at least first and second positions, the first position being closer to the at least one printhead than the second position; at least one blotter constructed to direct at least one of the ink and debris towards the first position as the wiper blade is moved from the second position to the first position; and a scraper bar positioned between the first and second positions, such that the leading edge of the at least one wiper blade is biased against the scraper bar as the at least one wiper blade is moved from the first position to the second position, subsequently passes under the scraper bar and returns to a substantially undeformed state, and the trailing edge of the at least one wiper blade is biased against the scraper bar as the at least one wiper blade is moved from the second position to the first, subsequently passes under the scraper bar and returns to a substantially undeformed state, the scraper bar is constructed to direct at least one of the ink and debris towards the at least one blotter subsequent to at least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge returning to an unbiased state.