Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-04
2001-06-26
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
C347S028000, C347S036000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250736
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains generally to continuous ink jet printing systems, and more particularly to a system for cleaning and maintaining continuous ink jet print heads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ink jet printing systems require frequent maintenance and cleaning due to an accumulation of paper powder, dust, or ink of increased viscosity on and adjacent the printing nozzles of the print head. In continuous ink jet printing systems, a gutter disposed adjacent the printing nozzles is used to collect for recycling the ink not being directed to the print media. The unused ink is trapped by the gutter and directed through an ink recycling slot or channel within the print head.
In order for the gutter to effectively capture the unused ink for recycling, the gutter resides partially between the printing nozzles and the print media, which is typically paper or the like. This positioning of the gutter, while functional, causes difficulties in maintenance and cleaning of continuous ink jet printing systems, which require hydrodynamic and wipe cleaning, since the gutter partially restricts access for cleaning mechanisms and fluids from easily reaching the printing nozzles on the print head. As a result, during print head maintenance and cleaning operations, the gutter must be removed. This is an inefficient, time consuming process, and is difficult to implement cost effectively and reliably due to the required positional accuracy.
Therefore, there exists a need for a print head maintenance and cleaning system that allows hydrodynamic and wipe cleaning of the printing nozzles on the print head without the necessity of removing the gutter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the need of hydrodynamic and wipe cleaning of the printing nozzles on the print head without the necessity of removing the gutter.
An object of the invention is to provide a hydrodynamic and wipe cleaning system wherein the print head incorporates integrated hydrodynamic cleaning fluid delivery nozzles.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hydrodynamic and wipe cleaning system having a side entry wiper that is incorporated in the maintenance station.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydrodynamic and wipe cleaning system having a side entry wiper that is attached to the print head.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydrodynamic and wipe cleaning system having a spittoon to collect cleaning fluid at the maintenance station.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.
The present invention provides the advantage of an integrated cleaning fluid delivery means incorporated into the print head, along with precision wiper positioning on the print head, which functions effectively in cleaning the printing nozzles, while using existing print head translation mechanisms.
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Eastman Kodak Company
Hsieh Shih-Wen
Le N.
LandOfFree
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