Abstract:
An inkjet printer includes a printer chassis, an inkjet head attached to the printer chassis, a belt connected to the inkjet head, a motor, and an ink collection device. The motor is secured to the printer chassis and meshes with the belt. The motor drives the belt in a first moving direction or a second moving direction to move the inkjet head back and forth. The ink collection device is secured to the printer chassis and includes a fan module driven for bringing undeposited ink particles generated in printing. The fan module is configured to be rotated by the belt in a single constant direction notwithstanding the direction of movement of the belt.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to inkjet printers, more particularly to an inkjet printer with an ink collection device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In an inkjet printer, many ink microparticles are generated in printing which are not deposited on the printing medium. If the ink particles are not collected in time, the inkjet particles accumulate on the components of the inkjet printer and contaminate the components. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an inkjet printer in accordance with an embodiment and shows an ink collection device disassembled from the inkjet printer. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the collecting device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the assembled collecting device of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an assembled inkjet printer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an isometric, cutaway view of the assembled inkjet printer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a circled portion VI of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an inkjet printer of an embodiment comprising a printer chassis  10 , a belt  20  which is endless, a motor  30 , an inkjet head  50 , and an ink collection device  100 . The motor  30  is secured to the printer chassis  10  to transmit the belt  20  in a first moving direction or a second moving direction reverse to the first moving direction. The inkjet head  50  is connected to the belt  20  and slidably attached to a sliding shaft  51 , which is secured to the printer chassis  10 . The inkjet head  50  slides forward or backward along the sliding shaft  51  as the belt  20  is moved in the moving direction or second moving direction. In the illustrated embodiment, only a part of the printer chassis  10  is shown. 
         [0015]    The printer chassis  10  comprises a supporting plate  11  which supports the paper in printing. The supporting plate  11  defines a through hole (not shown). The belt  20  and the inkjet head  50  are located above the supporting plate  11 , and the motor  30  is located below the supporting plate  11 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ink collection device  100  comprises a first rotating member  60 , a second rotating member  67 , a mounting member  80 , a third rotating member  70 , and a fan module  90 . 
         [0017]    The first rotating member  60  comprises a connecting portion  61  with two end portions  63  located at opposite end of the connecting portion  61 . A diameter of the connecting portion  61  is less than that of each of the two end portions  63 , thereby forming a ring slot  601  between the two end portions  63 . The first rotating member  60  defines a securing hole  603  through the two end portions  63  and the connecting portion  61 . 
         [0018]    The second rotating member  67  comprises a first rotating shaft  710  and a first gear  71  secured to one end of a first rotating shaft  710 . The first gear  71  comprises a first cone surface  711 , and a plurality of first gear teeth is formed on the first cone surface  711 . 
         [0019]    The mounting member  80  comprises a first mounting piece  81  and two second mounting pieces  82  extending downward from opposite ends of the first mounting piece  81 . The first mounting piece  81  defines a first mounting hole  811 . Each of the two second mounting pieces  82  defines a second mounting hole  821 . In an embodiment, the two second mounting pieces  82  are substantially perpendicular to the first mounting piece  81 . 
         [0020]    The third rotating member  70  comprises a second gear  72 , a third gear  73 , a first wheel  75 , a second wheel  76 , and a second rotating shaft  78 . The first wheel  75  engages with second rotating shaft  78  and is secured to the second gear  72 . The second wheel  76  engages with the second rotating shaft  78  and is secured to the third gear  73 . The second gear  72  comprises a second cone surface  721 , and the third gear  73  comprises a third cone surface  731 . A plurality of second gear teeth is formed on the second cone surface  721  and a plurality of third gear teeth is formed on the third cone surface  731 . In an embodiment, the first gear  71 , the second gear  72  and the third gear  73  are bevel gears, for example. 
         [0021]    The fan module  90  comprises a mounting portion  91  and a plurality of blades  93 , which cause an airflow, secured to an outer perimeter of the mounting portion  91 . An installing hole  911  is defined in the mounting portion  91 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , in assembly, the first rotating shaft  710  and the first gear  71  are placed between the two second mounting pieces  82 . The first rotating shaft  710  extends through the first mounting hole  811 . The second rotating shaft  78  is supported by the second mounting holes  821  of the second mounting piece  82 . The first cone surface  711  of the first gear  71  meshes with the second cone surface  721  of the second gear  72  and the third cone surface  731  of the third gear  73  meshes with the first gear teeth, the second gear teeth, and the third gear teeth. The mounting member  80  is secured to a bottom surface of the supporting plate  11  by known means, such as by welding or screws. The first rotating shaft  710  extends through the through hole of the supporting plate  11 . The first rotating member  60  is secured to one end of the first rotating shaft  710 . The first rotating shaft  710  is substantially perpendicular to the second rotating shaft  78 . The belt  20  is received in the ring slot  601  of the first rotating member  60  and abuts the outer perimeter of the connecting portion  61 . One end of the second rotating shaft  78  is received in the installing hole  911  of the fan module  90 , so the fan module  90  is secured to the second rotating shaft  78 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , when the motor  30  drives the belt  20  in the first moving direction (see arrow shown in  FIG. 6 ), the inkjet head  50  is slid forward along the sliding shaft  51  and the first rotating member  60  is rotated in the first rotating direction. The first rotating shaft  710  and the first gear  71  of the second rotating member  67  are also rotated in the first rotating direction. The second gear  72  and the first wheel  75  are rotated in the second rotating direction, and the third gear  73  and the second wheel  76  are rotated in the first rotating direction, the second rotating shaft  78  is rotated by the first wheel  75 , and not by the second wheel  76 , in the second rotating direction. So, the fan module  90  is rotated in the second rotating direction. In an embodiment, the first rotating direction is a clockwise direction, and the second rotating direction is a counterclockwise direction. 
         [0024]    When the motor  30  drives the belt  20  in the second moving direction, the inkjet head  50  is slid backward along the sliding shaft  51 , and the first rotating member  60  is rotated in the second rotating direction. The first rotating shaft  710  and the first gear  71 , of the second rotating member  67 , are also rotated in the second rotating direction. The second gear  72  and the first wheel  75  are rotated in the first rotating direction, and the third gear  73  and the second wheel  76  are rotated in the second rotating direction. The second rotating shaft  78  is rotated by the second wheel  76 , and not by the first wheel  75 , in the second rotating direction. So, the fan module  90  is still rotated in second rotating direction. 
         [0025]    As described above, the second rotating shaft  78  is rotated in the second rotating direction no matter the direction of rotation of the second gear  72  and the third gear  73 . 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, a wedge resilient piece (not shown) is located on each of the first wheel  75  and the second wheel  76 , and two slots (not shown) are defined in the second rotating shaft  78  corresponding to the resilient pieces. When the first wheel  75  is rotated in the second rotating direction, the wedge resilient piece of the first wheel  75  is locked in the slot of the second rotating shaft  78 , thereby rotating the second rotating shaft  78  in the second rotating direction. When the first wheel  75  is rotated in the first rotating direction, the wedge resilient piece cannot be locked in the slot of the second rotating shaft  78 , so the first wheel  75  cannot rotate the second rotating shaft  78 . Similarly, the second rotating shaft  78  is rotated by the second wheel  76  when the second wheel  76  is rotated in the first rotating direction, and cannot be rotated by the second wheel  76  when the second wheel  76  is rotated in the second rotating direction. The wedge resilient pieces and the slots can be replaced by other structures which have the same function. 
         [0027]    As described above, whether the motor  30  drives the belt  20  in the first moving direction or in the second moving direction, the fan module  90  is still rotated in the second rotating direction. When the fan module  90  is rotated in the second rotating direction, any ink microparticles suspended in the air are gathered into the ink collection device  100 . 
         [0028]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.