Abstract:
A printhead maintenance station comprises a base including a spitting zone, a maintenance sled movable relative to the base, a wiper assembly for cleaning a printhead orifice plate, a capping assembly for capping a printhead orifice plate, a pick motor operating a paper picking assembly and the maintenance sled and the capping assembly, and, wherein the maintenance station provides for spitting, wiping, and capping of a printhead orifice plate.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    None. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENTIAL LISTING, ETC. 
       [0003]    None. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to ink jet printing mechanisms. More particularly, the present invention relates to an integrated ink jet maintenance and paper pick system. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    All-in-one machines typically perform functions such as printing, scanning, copying, and faxing in either a stand alone fashion or in conjunction with a personal computer and define a growing market for peripheral devices. These devices eliminate clutter in a business or home office by combining the desirable functionality of various machines into a single unit, while maintaining an affordable cost. Various all-in-one machines currently in the marketplace use thermal inkjet technology as a means for printing received fax documents, original documents, and copied or scanned images or text. 
         [0008]    Thermal inkjet printing devices, as part of all-in-one or multi-function peripherals, utilize consumable inkjet cartridges in fluid communication with a printhead to record text and images on a print media. The printhead typically moves on a carriage relative to the media path and a control system activates the printhead to selectively eject ink droplets onto the print media. A heater chip heats the printhead causing selective ejection of ink for printing an image, such as text, photo, line art or some combination thereof. 
         [0009]    Various ink jet print systems utilize a maintenance or service station which includes a wiper mechanism for wiping away particles accumulated on the printhead orifice plate, and a receptacle or spittoon into which the printhead periodically fires to purge dried or plugged nozzles. The spittoon collects ink droplets sprayed from the printhead during the clearing process. The service station may also include a mechanism to cap the printhead nozzles when the pen is not printing. Typically, the cap mechanism encloses the exposed outer surface of the orifice plate defining the nozzle array, to help prevent drying of the ink at the nozzles, and prevent contamination with dust. 
         [0010]    In prior art ink jet printers having the above discussed technology, the wiping action is typically “east/west” wiping. The term east/west is not to be understood as literal but merely a designation of directional movement along one axis within a printer. Such east/west motion utilizes the existing motion of a print carriage within an ink jet printer to maintain the orifice plate of the printhead. 
         [0011]    In new designs, the printhead heater chips require that the orientation of printhead wiping occur in a perpendicular “north/south” direction. Again, the term north/south should not be taken literally, but instead should be understood as a direction which is generally perpendicular to the printhead operating motion previously described as east/west. This design should also provide a capping function as well as allow for spitting of the printhead. 
         [0012]    As with many printing devices, efficiency is an important parameter for performance. The media throughput is an important measure of efficiency. The addition of a pick motor, separate of the feed motor, is known to increase efficiency. However, additional motors cause increased manufacturing cost which is undesirable. Therefore it is preferable to utilize an existing motor to operate the maintenance system. 
         [0013]    What is needed is a maintenance system which allows for the wiping maintenance function to be performed in a preselected direction of movement. It is also preferable that the maintenance system be driven by a motor which also drives the media picking system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    A printhead maintenance station for a printer having a print carriage movable along a first axis including at least one print cartridge, the print cartridge having a printhead, comprises a printhead maintenance sled movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, a lifting assembly having a cap which may be moved from the sled along a third axis, a motor driving a media picking assembly and the printhead maintenance station. The printhead maintenance station further comprises a wiping assembly attached to the sled and movable along the second axis. The printhead maintenance station further comprises a sled drive assembly driving said sled and the capping and wiping assemblies. The sled drive assembly further comprises a base rack. The base rack has a cam follower engaged by a cam. The printhead maintenance station further comprises a biasing element connected to the base rack. The printhead maintenance station further comprises at least one cam cap lift biased by the biasing element. The at least one cam cap lift is a monochrome cam cap lift and a color cam cap lift. The printhead maintenance station further comprises a pinion gear engaging said base rack, wherein said base rack and pinion drive said sled along said second axis. The motor drives a cam, the cam engages a cam follower on the base rack to operate the maintenance station. 
         [0015]    A printhead maintenance station comprises a base including a spitting zone, a maintenance sled movable relative to the base, a wiper assembly for cleaning a printhead orifice plate, a capping assembly for capping a printhead orifice plate, a pick motor operating a paper picking assembly and the maintenance sled and the capping assembly, and, wherein the maintenance station provides for spitting, wiping, and capping of a printhead orifice plate. The printhead operating motion is transverse to a media feed direction and the maintenance sled moves in the media feed direction. The maintenance sled is movable to reveal the spitting zone. The printhead orifice plate moves in an east-west orientation and the maintenance sled moves in a north-south orientation. The maintenance sled moves the wiper assembly in a direction which is perpendicular to the motion of the printhead orifice plate. 
         [0016]    A print device maintenance station comprises a maintenance sled. The maintenance sled has a capping assembly and a wiper, wherein the maintenance station converts a first rotary input motion to a first linear motion, the first linear motion to a second rotary motion, and the second rotary motion to a second linear motion to move the maintenance sled. The print device maintenance station further comprises a cam cap lift engaging a capping assembly. The sled moves from a spitting zone to a capping zone. The print device maintenance station wherein the maintenance sled moves along an axis which is perpendicular to an axis of movement of a print cartridge. The print device maintenance station further comprises a media pick assembly wherein a pick motor operates the media pick assembly and the maintenance station. In the print device maintenance station, the first rotary input causes movement of the maintenance sled and movement of a capping assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary peripheral device with L-shaped media feed path; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away perspective view of the interior of the peripheral device of  FIG. 1  depicting the carriage and ink cartridges; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of interior portions of the printer portion of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the motor driving the pick system and the maintenance station base; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of gear train driving the pick system and the maintenance station; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the maintenance station base including sled drive system; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the sled drive system; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the maintenance station base and sled disposed in a first position for printhead capping; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the maintenance station base and sled of  FIG. 8  disposed in a second position for printhead capping; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view  FIG. 9  from an opposite side; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the sled, wipers and caps used with the maintenance station; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the printhead positioned above the maintenance station and the sled positioned for spitting; and, 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective of  FIG. 11  with the sled moved to a second position for wiping and capping of the printhead. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
         [0032]    In addition, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention include both hardware and electronic components or modules that, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading of this detailed description, would recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronic based aspects of the invention may be implemented in software. As such, it should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be utilized to implement the invention. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other alternative mechanical configurations are possible. 
         [0033]    The term image as used herein encompasses any printed or digital form of text, graphic, or combination thereof. The term output as used herein encompasses output from any printing device such as color and black-and-white copiers, color and black-and-white printers, and so-called “all-in-one devices” that incorporate multiple functions such as scanning, copying, and printing capabilities in one device. Such printing devices may utilize ink jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation, laser, and any other suitable print formats. The term button as used herein means any component, whether a physical component or graphic user interface icon, that is engaged to initiate output. 
         [0034]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an all-in-one or multi-function peripheral device  10  is shown having an upper scanner portion  12  and a lower printer portion  20 , depicted generally by the housing. The multi-function peripheral device  10  is shown and I 5  described herein, however one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading of the instant specification that the present invention may be utilized with a stand alone printer, copier, scanner or other peripheral device utilizing a media feed system. The peripheral device  10  further comprises a control panel  11  having a plurality of buttons  29  for making command selections or correction of error conditions. The control panel  11  may include a graphics display to provide a user with menus, choices or errors occurring with the system. 
         [0035]    The printer portion  20  includes two media trays for media throughput. Extending from the rear of the printer portion  20  is an input tray  22  for retaining media prior to printing. Extending from the front of the printer portion  20  is an output tray  24  for retaining media after a print process. The input and output trays  22 ,  24  of the printer portion  20  define start and end positions of a media feedpath  21  ( FIG. 2 ) within the printer portion  20 . The media trays  22 ,  24  each retain a preselected number of sheets defining a stack of media (not shown) which will vary in thickness based on the media type. One skilled in the art will understand that the media feedpath  21  illustrated is an L-shaped media feedpath due to the depicted configuration. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that the integrated maintenance and media pick system may be used in a C-shaped media feedpath configuration. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an interior cut-away perspective view of the all-in-one device  10  is depicted. For clarity, much of the interior of the printer portion  20  is removed. The printer portion  20  may include various types of printing mechanisms including dye-sublimation, ink-jet or laser printing. For ease of description, the exemplary printer portion  20  may be an inkjet printing device although such description should not be considered limiting. With the interior of the exemplary embodiment shown, the printing portion  20  includes a carriage  26  having a position for placement of at least one print cartridge  28 .  FIG. 2  depicts two print cartridges  28  which may be, for instance, a color cartridge for photos and a black cartridge for text or other monochrome printing. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the color cartridge may include three inks, i.e., cyan, magenta and yellow inks. Alternatively, in lower cost machines, a single cartridge may be utilized wherein the three inks, i.e., cyan, magenta and yellow inks are simultaneously utilized to provide the black for text printing or for photo printing. As a further alternative, a single black color cartridge may be used. During advancement media moves from the input tray  22  to the output tray  24  in a substantially L-shaped path along the media feedpath  21  beneath the carriage  26  and cartridges  28 . As the media M moves into a printing zone, beneath the at least one ink cartridge, the media M moves in a first Y-direction (North-South) and the carriage  26  and the cartridges  28  move in a second X-direction (East-West) which is transverse to the movement of the media M. During this movement, ink is selectively ejected onto the media to form an image. The figure also depicts the maintenance station  50  at the opposite end of the travel path from the depicted position of carriage  26  and cartridges  28 . 
         [0037]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the scanner portion  12  generally includes an ADF scanner  13 , a scanner bed  17  and a lid  14  which is hingedly connected to the scanner bed  17 . Beneath the lid  14  and within the scanner bed  17  may be a transparent platen (not shown) for placement and support of target or original documents for manually scanning. Along a front edge of the lid  14  is a handle  15  for opening of the lid  14  and placement of the target document on the transparent platen (not shown). Adjacent the lid  14  is an exemplary duplexing ADF scanner  13  which automatically feeds and scans stacks of documents which are normally sized, e.g. letter, legal, or A4, and suited for automatic feeding. Above the lid  14  and adjacent an opening in the ADF scanner  13  is an ADF input tray  18  which supports a stack of target media or documents for feeding through the auto-document feeder  13 . Beneath the input tray  18 , the upper surface of the lid  14  also functions as an output tray  19  for receiving documents fed through the ADF scanner  13 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exploded perspective view of the interior portions of the printer portion  20  is depicted. The printer portion  20  comprises a universal base  30 . The base  30  includes the feed path  21  ( FIG. 2 ) disposed between the input tray  22  and the output tray  24  as well as a mid-frame  32  disposed along the feed path  21 . Adjacent the mid-frame  32  and above the feed path  21  is the print carriage  26  wherein two print cartridges  28  are disposed. Adjacent the mid-frame  32  is a center feed pick system  34  which is movable toward and away from the input tray  22  in order to feed media along the feed path  21 . The base  30  also comprises the maintenance station  50  at one end near an end of the print carriage  26  travel path. The carriage  26  and cartridges  28  are shown in a position opposite that shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    Above the universal base  30  is a base cover  44  upon which the scanner portion  12  may be positioned. Beneath the universal base  30  are lower housing members  46  of the printer portion  20 . Behind the base  30  is a rear base cover  48  which includes a power adaptor unit  49  for powering the peripheral device  10 . Thus, the base cover  44 , rear base cover  48  and lower housing all form portions of the peripheral  10  housing. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the transmission for the pick system  34  and the maintenance station  50 . The base  30 , pick system  34  and maintenance station  50  are all depicted from the opposite side of the base shown in  FIG. 3 . Extending from the base  30  is a transmission  36  comprising a transmission wall  38  and a prime mover or motor  40 . The motor  40  may be a bi-directional motor, for example, a Minebea-Matsushita motor having model number PM355-048. The motor  40  drives the pick system  34  and the maintenance station  50  and therefore should be operable in two rotational directions. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the maintenance station  50 , pick system  34  and the transmission  36  are depicted from the opposite side shown in  FIG. 4 . The figure depicts the maintenance station  50  and center feed pick system  34  engaging the transmission  36 . The pick system  34  includes an auto-compensating arm  35  and a pick roller  37 . The motor  40  includes a shaft with a pinion gear  40 a which drives a pick system gear train  41  and a maintenance station gear train  43 . The maintenance station gear train  43  and pick system gear train  41  are separated by a clutch  42 . The clutch  42  operates so that when the motor  40  turns in a first direction, the pick system  34  is driven. When the motor  40  turns in the second opposite direction, the maintenance station  50  is driven. The pick system gear train  41  receives input from rotation of the clutch  42  in a first direction which drives gears positioned within an auto-compensating arm  35 . Auto-compensating mechanisms are known to one skilled in the art and therefore are only described generally. The gears within the arm  35  are clearly shown in  FIG. 4  and cause rotation of the roller  37 , shown in  FIG. 5 . During rotation of the clutch  42  in the first direction, the arm  35  and roller  37  are caused to pivot at the connection to the transmission wall  38  such that the roller  37  rotates and the arm  35  pivots toward the media stack in the tray  22 . This causes the uppermost sheet in the media tray  22  to be picked and fed into the media path  21  ( FIG. 2 ). On the opposite side of the clutch  42 , toward a maintenance base  52 , rotation of the maintenance station gear train  43  is caused by rotation of motor  40  in the second opposite direction. The maintenance station gear train  43  causes rotation of the maintenance drive gear  54 , which is extending from the base and pivotally connected thereto. One skilled in the art will realize that alternative transmission designs may be utilized. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of the maintenance station base  52  including sled driving system or assembly  60  is depicted. The maintenance station base  52  is generally rectangular in shape with side walls extending upwardly to define a volume therein. The maintenance system drive gear  54  is connected to a shaft  56  which extends through the side wall of the maintenance station base  52 . A bearing or bushing may be utilized to provide the rotational positioning of the shaft  56  within the side wall of the base  52  so that rotation of the maintenance station gear train  43 , which is caused by a second rotation direction of motor  40 , in turn causes rotation of the gear  54  and shaft  56 . Rotation of the shaft  56  drives a sled drive system  60  which is best shown in reference to  FIG. 7 . Opposite the maintenance station drive gear  54 , along the shaft  56 , is an input cam  62 . The cam  62  drives the sled drive system  60 , which allows operation of the maintenance station  50 . 
         [0043]    Also depicted on two sides of a longitudinal axis of the base  52  are clearing areas or spittoons  55 . The spittoons  55  are generally open areas within the volume of the base  52  and clear of moving parts wherein ink may be cleared from the print cartridges  28  above. The spittoons collect cleared ink from the cartridges  28  and provide a location where the ink can dry without negatively impacting print quality and printer performance. One skilled in the art will understand that such clearing or spitting process should not occur in an area where media moves, such as the feedpath  21 , since the cleared ink may contaminate media moving through such area. Accordingly, the spittoon  55  is integrated in the maintenance area for such clearing process. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an exploded perspective view of the sled drive system  60  is depicted. The cam  62  provides rotational input to a base rack  64  which is slidably positioned within base  52  and adjacent the pivot  58 . The base rack  64  comprises an opening  66 , which acts as a follower and receives a corresponding portion of cam  62  causing motion of the base rack  64 . The rotation of the cam  62  is converted to linear motion of the base rack  64  within the maintenance station base  52 . Along the base rack  64 , opposite the follower  66 , is a rack  68  comprising teeth which engage a pinion  57  ( FIG. 8 ) connected to the base gear  59  ( FIGS. 6 and 8 ). As the base rack  64  moves linearly, the rack  68  engages the pinion  57  to rotate rack gear  59  at a pivot  58 . Between the follower  66  and rack  68  is a shaft opening  69  which receive a pivot shaft  70 . Extending over the pivot shaft  70  is a biasing element  72 . As indicated in the exemplary embodiment, the biasing element  72  is exemplified by a torsion spring having an opening with a diameter allowing positioning of the biasing element  72  over the pivot shaft  70 . One end of the biasing element  72  is engaging the base rack  64 . The other end of the biasing element  72  is engaging at least one cam cap lift. The at least one cam cap lift is depicted as one mono-cam cap lift  74  and one color-cam cap lift  75 . It should be understood that the biasing element  72  engages one of the lifts  74 ,  75  causing movement in both of the lifts  74 ,  75 . However, it is well within the scope of the present embodiment that the mono-cam cap lift  74  and color-cam cap lift  75  each have a biasing element and be able to move independently of the other. The pivot shaft  70  includes key seats engaging keys disposed within openings  76  of each cap lift  74 ,  75 . Alternatively, set screws or other torque converting structures may be utilized to connect the shaft  76  to the lifts  74 ,  75 . Accordingly, the pivot shaft  70  may rotate from the biasing force of element  72  within the shaft opening  69  so that cap lifts  74 ,  75  rotate relative to the base rack  64 . Each of the lifts  74 ,  75  further comprise ramps  77  and lift cups  78 . One, or both, of the mono-cam cap lifts  74  and color-cam cap lifts  75  comprise a cam arm  79  which engages the cam  62  at a pre-selected position during the rotation of the cam  62 . During such engagement, the cam cap lifts  74 ,  75  are urged upwardly against the force of biasing element  72  causing rotation of the cam cap lifts  74 ,  75  relative to the base rack  64 . 
         [0045]    As previously indicated, and with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , rotation of the maintenance drive gear  54  causes operation of the maintenance station  50 . Such rotation transmits rotation of the drive shaft  56  to the cam  62 . Rotation of the cam in a clockwise direction within the follower opening  66  causes engagement of the cam  62  at certain positions within the follower  66  thereby causing linear translational movement of the base rack  64 . The cam  62  engages a vertical wall  66   a  causing motion of the follower opening  66 , and base rack  64 , away from the rack gear  59 , rotatably connected to the maintenance station base  52  at the pivot  58 . As the cam  62  rotates, the cam  62  engages a second vertically oriented wall  66   b  of the follower opening  66 . This causes the base rack  64  to move in the opposite direction such that the follower opening  66  moves toward the rack gear  59  within the maintenance station base  52 . When the cam  62  clears the second vertical wall  66   b,  the cam  62  enters a radiused portion  66   c  of the follower  66  which equals the radius of the cam  62  motion such that the base rack  64  is stationary. As this cam  62  movement continues, the cam  62  engages the cam arm  79  of one of the cam cap lifts  74 ,  75 . Such motion provides a force on the lifts  74 ,  75  causing the lifts  74 ,  75  to pivot against the biasing element  72  and relative to the base rack  64 . As a result, a lift cup  78  on each cam cap lift  74 ,  75 , moves substantially vertically through an arc from a lower position to an upper position against the biasing force of element  72 . As the cam  62  continues rotating through the radiused portion  66   c  of the follower  66 , the cam  62  clears the cam arm  79 . As the cam  62  clears the cam arm  79 , the biasing element  72  causes the cam cap lifts  74 ,  75  to return to their normally disposed downward positions relative to the base rack  64 . Next, the cam  62  engages the first vertical wall  66   a  causing the base rack  64  to move in the opposite direction as the previous move such that the follower opening  66  moves away from the rack gear  59 . The process continues with further rotation of the maintenance station drive gear  54  and cam  62 . It should be understood that the movement of the base rack  64  is north-south movement (Y-direction of  FIG. 2 ) transverse to the media feed direction, which is east-west movement (X-direction of  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of the maintenance station  50  is depicted from the opposite side of that shown in  FIG. 6 . The station  50  is further shown with a sled  80  thereon which moves relative to the maintenance station base  52  due to the movement of base rack  64 . The rotation of maintenance drive gear  54  causes cam  62  rotation and linear motion of base rack  64 . The linear motion of the base rack  64  is transferred to rotary motion at the rack gear  59  by use of the rack  68  engaging the pinion gear  57 . The rack gear  59  and the pinion gear  57  are coaxially mounted at pivot  58 . The sled  80  includes a sled rack  81  which engages the rack gear  59  converting the rotary motion of the rack gear  59  to linear motion of sled  80  so that the sled  80  moves linearly within the maintenance station base  52 . The base rack  64  and sled  80  move oppositely during operation. The base  52  comprises guide portions  53  in the side wall thereof wherein fingers  82 , extending from the sled  80 , are positioned to allow guided movement of the sled  80  within the base  52 . The pinion gear  57  and rack gear  59  are sized such that the rack gear  59  drives the sled  80  in a linear motion at a speed about 2½ times that of the base rack  64  and in the opposite direction of movement of the base rack  64 . One skilled in the art will recognize that this speed parameter may be varied. In the depicted embodiment, the sled  80  is at one extreme end of its linear motion relative to the base rack  64  within the base  52  in the spitting position. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of the maintenance station base  52  and sled  80  is shown in the capping position opposite to  FIG. 8 . In addition,  FIG. 9A  shows the maintenance station  50  from the opposite side of that depicted in  FIG. 9 .  FIGS. 9 and 9A  show the sled  80  positioned closest to the maintenance station drive gear  54  when the cam  62  is positioned within the follower opening  66  and specifically within the radiused portion  66   c.  The sled  80  is stationary in this location as the cam  62  rotates through the radiused portion  66   c  because the radiused portion  66   c  matches the radius of the cam  62  rotation. In this position, the cam  62  is also shown engaging the cam arm  79 , which causes lifting of the lifts  74 ,  75  beneath openings  84 ,  85  of the sled  80 . 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , an exploded perspective view of the sled  80  is shown with wipers  88 ,  89  and caps  90 ,  91  used for maintaining a printhead in the maintenance station  50 . The sled  80 , previously described, include fingers  82  extending from the sides of the sled  80  to engage the base  52  of the maintenance station  50 . The sled  80  further comprises upper openings  84 ,  85  corresponding to the mono-cam cap lift  74  and color-cam cap lift  75 . Lifts  86 ,  87  are nested within the openings  84 ,  85 , respectively and receive input from the cam cap lifts  74 ,  75  to raise the caps  90 ,  91 . The capping assembly is generally defined by the cam cap lift  74 ,  75 , the lifts,  86 ,  87  and the caps  90 ,  91 . Within the sled openings  84 ,  85  are vertically extending guides  94  which allow the vertical motion of lifts  86 ,  87 . The guides  94  receive a complimentary part (not shown) from the lifts  86 ,  87  but other structure shapes may be utilized to limit the lifts  86 ,  87  to a single degree of freedom. Adjacent to the openings  84 ,  85  are vertically extending tongues  83  which receive wipers  88 ,  89 . The tongues  83  and wipers  88 ,  89  define wiping assemblies which function to clean the orifice plate of the printheads on cartridges  28  after the spitting process. The wipers  88 ,  89  are flexible members and may facilitate acoustical dampening in the maintenance area. The wipers  88 , 89  each include a lower main body and an upper elastic portion wherein the lower main body engages the tongue  83 . Specifically, the lower main body may include a recess or cavity where the tongue  83  is received in a frictional engagement or fastened thereto. The wipers  88 ,  89  may be formed of an elastomer such as a thermoplastic polyurethane material. Beneath the lifts  86 ,  87  are biasing elements  93  which are connected at one end to each of the lifts  86 ,  87  and at the opposite end to the elements  93  are connected to the sled  80  to bias the lifts  86 ,  87  toward the sled  80  and within the openings  84 ,  85 , respectively. 
         [0049]    Above the lifts  86 ,  87  and slidably disposed therein are caps  90 ,  91 . The lifts  86 ,  87  and caps  90 ,  91  define capping assemblies wherein the caps  90 ,  91  are sized to fit over the printheads. The caps  90 ,  91  prevent drying of the ink within the printhead, which decreases print quality. Legs depend from the caps  90 ,  91  through the lifts  86 ,  87 . Disposed between the lifts  86 ,  87  are biasing springs  95  to bias the caps  90 ,  91  and provide positive engagement between the caps  90 ,  91  and the printheads of cartridges  28 . The biasing elements  93 ,  95  in the depicted embodiment are tension and compression coil springs but it may be within the scope of the present embodiment to utilize other alternative biasing devices. 
         [0050]    As the sled  80  moves within the base  52 , the wipers  88 ,  89  engage the printheads of the cartridges  28  ( FIG. 3 ). Further, once the wiping portion of the maintenance occurs, the sled  80  is positioned within the base  52  such that the mono-cam cap lift  74  and color-cam cap lift  75  cause lifting of the lifts  86 ,  87 . The lifting occurs as the lift cups  78  engage the corresponding lift arms  92  to raise the lifts  86 ,  87  against the biasing force of the biasing elements  93 . 
         [0051]    The operation of the device is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Referring to  FIG. 11  first, the print carriage (removed for clarity) and print cartridges  28  are depicted in a home position at the maintenance station  50  and above the maintenance base  52 . Relative to the base  52 , the sled  80  is moved to the right-hand side and not directly beneath the print cartridges  28 . At the right-hand side of the base  52 , the sled  80  is clear of the spittoon portion  55  of the base  52  beneath the print cartridges  28 . The spittoon  55  is formed within the base  52  for pooling ink therein which ultimately dries and does not interfere with the moving components of the maintenance station  50 . In this position, the color and monochrome cartridges  28  may clear or spit ink from the printhead orifice plate during a maintenance process. 
         [0052]    Also depicted in  FIG. 11  is a base cover  96  which is connected to the base  52 . The cover  96  includes a rail trapping fingers  82  in the guide  53 . This defines the track for linear movement of the sled  80 . However, alternative structures are envisioned as within the scope of the present embodiment for limiting the sled  80  to a single degree of freedom along the north-south Y-axis. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the motor  40  ( FIG. 4 ) reverses to rotate in a second direction providing mechanical input to the maintenance station  50 . As a result, the base rack  64  moves toward the sled position depicted in  FIG. 11  and the sled  80  moves oppositely toward the position depicted in  FIG. 12 . During the move toward the left side of the base  52 , the wipers  88 ,  89  each engage a print cartridge  28 . Thus, the movement of the sled  80  causes a wiping motion in a north-south orientation, as opposed to the east-west movement of the cartridges  28 . 
         [0054]    With further reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  10 , as the wipers  88 ,  89  move toward and past the cartridges  28 , the color cam cap lift  74  and monochrome cam cap lift  75  move with the base rack  64  in the opposite direction. During the motion of the base rack  64  toward the right-hand side of this base  52 , the ramp portions  77  of the cam cap lifts  74 ,  75  engage the lift arms  92  of the lifts  86 ,  87 . The lifts  86 ,  87  may raise slightly due to the angle of the ramps  77  until the lift arms  92  are positioned within the lift cups  78  of the monochrome and color cam cap lifts  74 ,  75 . At this position, the sled  80  is stationary as the cam  62  begins moving through the radiused portion  66   c  of the follower opening  66 . The cam  62  engages the cam arm  79  causing lifting of the cam cap lifts  74 ,  75  as well as the lifts  86 ,  87 . As a result, the caps  90 ,  91  are also lifted from a position directly beneath each printhead to an upper position against the printheads so as to cap the printheads of the cartridges  28  and inhibit drying of ink within the orifice plate. 
         [0055]    The maintenance station  50  may also utilize a position sensing limiting switch (not shown) at one or more locations in order to locate the sled  80  position. For example, according to one embodiment a position sensing limiting switch may be positioned on the cam wheel  62  in order to locate the position of the sled  80 . Alternatively, a sensor may be positioned on the sled  80  to detect motion relative to the base  52 , in order to detect position of the sled  80  for spitting, wiping and capping. One skilled in the art will realize that various components maybe utilized to determine location of the sled  50 , wipers  88 ,  89  and caps  90 ,  91 . 
         [0056]    The foregoing description of several methods and an embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.