Cleaner

Embodiments of a cleaner are disclosed.

BACKGROUND

The quality of inkjet printing may sometimes be favorably affected by servicing inkjet printheads. Devices for servicing printheads are sometimes large and may permit undesirable quantities of aerosol to escape from the device for servicing the printheads. Moreover, in some applications securing a device for servicing a printhead may be difficult.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1schematically illustrates a portion of imaging device100, according to an example embodiment. In this example embodiment, the imaging device100includes a media transport mechanism102, printheads104, and a carriage108. The media transport mechanism102, the printheads104, and the carriage108, operate under control of a suitable controller110.

The controller110operates to cause the media transport mechanism102to advance media112in the direction of arrow116through a printzone adjacent the printheads104. The media112may comprise, for example, paper, transparencies, Mylar, cardboard, or other suitable media. As the media112advances adjacent the printheads104, one or more of the printheads eject fluid, such as ink, an adhesive, or other suitable fluid, onto the media112. The printheads104eject fluid onto the media112in response to control signals received from the controller110.

The printheads104are illustrated as being stationary in that the printheads104do not move significantly while ejecting fluid onto the media112. Rather, the printheads104remain in a generally fixed position while the media112passes adjacent the printheads104. As shown inFIG. 1, the printheads104may be arranged in staggered fashion such that there is some overlap between the printheads104in the direction of media movement116. This printhead configuration may be referred to as a “page wide array” of printheads since the printheads104may have an overall dimension that spans an entire width of the media112. In some embodiments, however, the printheads104may be configured differently. For example, the printheads104, in some embodiments, may not span an entire width of the media112. The printheads104, in some embodiments, may lie in a common horizontal plane and, in other embodiments, may lie in a common vertical plane. Pursuant to other embodiments, however, the printheads104may be arranged in arcuate, or some other non-planar, fashion. With reference toFIG. 1, in some embodiments, the printheads104may be configured to move in a direction normal to the page for adjusting printhead to media spacing, for servicing, or both.

The controller110generally comprises a processing unit configured to direct the operation of one or more components of imaging device100. For purposes of the disclosure, the term “processing unit” shall mean a conventionally known or future developed processing unit that executes sequences of instructions contained in a memory. Execution of the sequences of instructions causes the processing unit to perform steps such as generating control signals. The instructions may be loaded in a random access memory (RAM) for execution by the processing unit from a read only memory (ROM), a mass storage device, or some other persistent storage. In other embodiments, hard wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the functions described.

Controller110is not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software, or to any particular source for the instructions executed by the processing unit. In some embodiments, the controller110controls operation of the media transport102, the printheads104, and the carriage108. Instructions for performing the methods disclosed herein may be stored in computer readable media, such as in the form of firmware, at the controller110.

Cleaners120are shown as being positioned at the carriage108. As shown inFIG. 1, the carriage108supports members130. The members130may comprise magnets in some embodiments and, in other embodiments, the members130may be formed of a magnetic material. The members130may be used, in some embodiments, for securing a cleaner120to the carriage108via magnetic force. One or more of the cleaners120may include a member132, which may comprise a magnet or a magnetic material. In embodiments where the members130comprise magnets, the members132are formed of a magnetic material. Likewise, in embodiments where the members130are formed of a magnetic material, the members132may comprise magnets. As such, when the cleaners120are positioned such that the members132are adjacent corresponding members130, a magnetic force between the corresponding members130and132secures the cleaner120to the carriage108.

In addition, and as discussed below, the cleaners120may optionally include grooves (FIGS. 2,4,5) formed in the sides thereof that engage with the carriage108to datum the cleaners120within the carriage108. The carriage108may include protrusions that engage the grooves formed in the sides of the carriage to aid in maintaining and positioning the cleaner within the carriage108.

The cleaners120may be oriented differently in different embodiments. For example, in embodiments where the printheads104lie in a common vertical plane and eject fluid, such as ink, in a substantially horizontal direction, the cleaners120may also be oriented vertically. In a specific example, the cleaners120may be vertically arranged such that the handle152is oriented with the handle152on top and the member132on bottom. In this configuration, the member132is at an end of the cleaner120that faces the direction of gravity and the handle152is at an opposite end of the cleaner that faces away from the direction of gravity. When the cleaner120is disposed in this position, fluid may pool in pocket region634(FIG. 6) of the cavity208.

The cleaners120, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, also include a capping device142, a wiping station144, and a spitting station146. As the carriage108moves in the direction158, the cleaners120each pass adjacent, or under, an associated one of the printheads104. Also, as the carriage108moves in the direction158, one or more of the cleaners120service one or more of the printheads104. The cleaners120are arranged in a staggered configuration that substantially matches the staggered configuration of the printheads104. The printheads104are capped at the capping device142and are wiped at the wiping station144. The printheads104may also perform a spitting operation at the spitting station146. To reduce aerosol from escaping the spitting station146, a shield (not shown) may be formed about the perimeter of the spitting station146to engage, or come close to, the associated printhead104during spitting. Additional details regarding the shield are described below.

Each of the cleaners120are also shown as including a handle152that is configured to pivot or fold. In particular, to reduce the effective length of the cleaner120, the handle152is secured to the cleaner120in a pivotable, or rotatable, fashion to permit the handle152to be pivoted or rotated to a folded position during operation of the device100. The handle152may also be pivoted, or rotated, to an un-folded, or extended position for manual gripping during insertion or removal of the cleaner120from the carriage108.

FIGS. 2-7illustrate an example embodiment of a cleaner120including capping device142, wiping station144, and spitting station146. The cleaner120includes a body202that may comprise a molded plastic component, although the construction and material of the body202may vary.

The handle152is shown as being pivotally secured to the body202. In the example embodiment illustrated, protrusion206extends from side209of the body202and may be integrally formed with the body202. The handle152is pivotally attached to the protrusion206by pin204(FIG. 3) such that the handle pivots or rotates about axis210. InFIG. 2, the handle152is shown in a folded position. The handle152may also be rotated relative to the body202such that the surface212of the handle152is substantially parallel to surface214of the body202.FIG. 7illustrates the handle152in the extended or un-folded position. In the extended position, the handle152may be manually gripped and pulled to remove the cleaner120from the carriage108(FIG. 1).

Grooves270may be optionally formed in opposing sides of the cleaner120. The grooves270may be configured to engage with the carriage108to serve as a datum structure to aid in positioning the cleaners120within the carriage108. The carriage108may include protrusions (not shown) that engage the grooves formed in the sides of the carriage to aid in maintaining and positioning the cleaner within the carriage108.

The spitting station146includes a spittoon cavity208formed in the body202. The cavity208may or may not include optional absorbent material218, such as foam in the cavity. The cavity208is open at surface214of the body202. A shield212is positioned about the opening at the surface214and, in some embodiments, extends about an entire circumference of the opening. The shield212may be constructed as a resilient, compliant, member and may be formed of an elastomer, such as EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene monomer). In some embodiments, the material from which the shield is formed has a Shore A Scale hardness in the range of 35-80. In other embodiments, the material from which the shield is formed has a Shore A Scale hardness in the range of 70-80. Forming the shield212as set forth above, may provide a shield212that is sufficiently compliant such that the printhead104is not substantially damaged, in some embodiments, if the printhead104contacts the shield during servicing.

A lip220(FIG. 3) of the body202engages a ridge222(FIG. 3) formed adjacent an end of the shield212. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the shield212is held in the opening formed in surface214by engagement of the ridge222and the lip220. In some embodiments, the shield212is connected to the body202by heat staking, although other suitable methods may be alternatively employed.

In some embodiments, the top surface216of the shield212may contact an associated one of the printheads104during spitting so as to form a seal about printhead212. Pursuant to these embodiments, the printhead spits ink or other fluid into the cavity208while the shield212is in contact with the printhead104. In this configuration, the shield212may reduce aerosol from escaping the cavity208during the spitting operation.

In other embodiments, the top surface216of shield212is positioned closely to the printhead104during spitting, but is spaced from the printhead104such that the printhead104and the shield212do not contact during spitting. The close proximity of the printhead104and the top surface216of shield212during spitting may reduce aerosol from escaping the cavity208during the spitting operation.

The wiping station144may comprise one or more wipers. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2-5, the wiping station144includes first and second wipers240,242. As shown inFIG. 2, the wiper240may be wider than the wiper242. In some embodiments, the wiper240may be used to wipe a large width of a printhead and the wiper242may be used to wiper a smaller width of the printhead, such as the width of the printhead that corresponds with the positions of the fluid-ejecting nozzles (not shown). The wipers240,242may be formed as discrete members or may be integrally formed as shown inFIG. 3.

The capping device142may comprise a cap250having vent hole252. The cap250may be supported by resilient member256, which may comprise a spring as shown inFIG. 3. The resilient member256may be used to bias the cap250against a printhead104during capping.

An absorbent member260is positioned at retaining member262. The absorbent member260wicks wipe assisting fluid264disposed in reservoir266from the reservoir266to a contact region268. Pursuant to some embodiments, the retaining member262is a spring that biases the absorbent member260away from the surface214. In this configuration, as the printhead cleaner120moves adjacent a corresponding printhead104, the absorbent member260contacts the printhead104and transfers wipe assisting fluid to the printhead104. The wipe assisting fluid264may comprise, for example, PEG (polyethylene glycol), LEG (lipponic-ethylene glycol), DEG (Diethylene glycol), glycerin, a hygroscopic wipe assisting fluid, or other suitable wipe assisting fluid.

FIG. 6illustrates the printhead cleaner120, a portion of a carriage600, and a printhead104, in accordance with an example embodiment. As shown, the printhead cleaner120is coupled to the carriage600by magnetic force between members130and132. The carriage600includes a base portion602and a support portion604that is generally orthogonal to the base portion602. The member130is positioned at and may be supported by the support portion604of the carriage600.

An example embodiment of printhead104is shown inFIG. 6as being aligned with the spitting station146and in contact with the shield212. In this position, the printhead104may spit fluid into the cavity208. The shield212, in some embodiments, reduces or prevents aerosol from escaping the cavity208.

In some embodiments, as the carriage600and printhead cleaner120move in directions610,612, the printhead104may move in directions616,618to engage and disengage surface622of the printhead104with one or more printhead elements. For example, the printhead104may move into contact with the cap250and into wiping contact with the wipers240,242.

Pursuant to an example embodiment, during a servicing operation, the printhead cleaner120moves in direction612toward an associated printhead104and the printhead104moves in direction612so that the surface622of the printhead104contacts contact region268of the wick260. The contact region268of the wick260applies, or transfers, wipe assisting fluid from the wick to the surface622of the printhead104. The surface622of the printhead104may have an array of fluid-ejecting nozzles formed therein. The printhead cleaner120continues to move in the direction612so the surface622of the printhead104contacts one or more of the wipers240,242. In some embodiments, the printhead104may also move in one of the directions616,618so as to contact the wipers240,242at a desired location. The printhead cleaner120then moves in the direction612to the position shown inFIG. 6. The printhead104may move in one of the directions616,618so that it contacts or almost contacts the shield212. In the position shown inFIG. 6, the printhead104performs a spitting operation by ejecting fluid from the printhead104into the cavity208. After the printhead104performs the spitting operation, the printhead cleaner120may move in direction610to align the printhead104with the capping device250for capping. To engage the capping device250, the printhead104may move in the direction616. Alternatively, the printhead cleaner may continue to move in the direction612until the printhead cleaner120is outside of the print zone.