Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-11
2003-03-18
Hsieh, Shih-wen (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
C347S029000, C347S030000, C347S033000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06533387
ABSTRACT:
THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to inkjet printers, and more particularly to an inkjet printing system using a single motor for print media advance and carriage motion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional inkjet printing system includes a printhead and an ink supply which supplies liquid ink to the printhead. The printhead, commonly referred to as a pen, ejects ink drops through a plurality of orifices or nozzles and toward a print medium, such as a sheet of paper, so as to print onto the print medium. Typically, the orifices are arranged in one or more arrays such that properly sequenced ejection of ink from the orifices causes characters or other images to be printed upon the print medium as the printhead and the print medium are moved relative to each other.
As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, a conventional inkjet printing system
200
includes a print media transport assembly
210
which moves and/or routes the print medium through a print media path, a carriage assembly
220
which moves the printhead relative to the print medium, and a service station assembly
230
which maintains functionality of the printhead. The print media transport assembly typically includes a paper pick-up assembly
212
which brings the print medium into the printing system, a drive or feed roller assembly
214
which advances the print medium through the printing system, and a paper path motor
216
which operates the paper pick-up assembly and the feed roller assembly. The carriage assembly typically includes a carriage
222
which carries the printhead and a carriage motor
224
which operates the carriage. Furthermore, the service station assembly typically includes a service station motor
232
which operates functions of the service station assembly.
FIG. 2
illustrates a method
300
of operation of the conventional inkjet printing system. At step
302
, the inkjet printing system gains operational control of a print job. Next, at step
304
, the printhead is uncapped and wiped by operation of the service station assembly. Operation of the service station assembly in step
304
requires operation of the service station motor. Next, at step
306
, the print medium is pulled into the printing system by operation of the print media transport assembly. Operation of the print media transport assembly in step
306
requires operation of the paper path motor. Next, at step
308
, the carriage is moved to a “Ready” position by operation of the carriage assembly. Operation of the carriage assembly in step
308
requires operation of the carriage motor.
To begin printing the print job, the print medium is moved into position by operation of the print media transport assembly at step
310
. Operation of the print media transport assembly in step
310
requires operation of the paper path motor. Next, at step
312
, the carriage is moved across the print medium by operation of the carriage assembly to print a print swath. Operation of the carriage assembly in step
312
requires operation of the carriage motor. As such, steps
310
and
312
are repeated until the print job is completed.
Once the print job is completed, the print medium is kicked from the printing system by operation of the print media transport assembly at step
314
. Operation of the print media transport assembly in step
314
requires operation of the paper path motor. Next, at step
316
, the carriage is moved to a “Rest” position by operation of the carriage assembly. Operation of the carriage assembly in step
316
requires operation of the carriage motor. Finally, at step
318
, the printhead is wiped and capped by operation of the service station assembly. Operation of the service station assembly in step
318
requires operation of the service station motor.
Operation of the conventional inkjet printing system, therefore, requires operation of three separate motors. More specifically, operation of the conventional inkjet printing system requires operation of a paper path motor, a carriage motor, and a service station motor. Unfortunately, the requirement of three motors adds to the size, complexity, and cost of the conventional inkjet printing system.
Accordingly, a need exists for an inkjet printing system which is smaller or performs more functions for the same size, simpler to manufacture, and/or less expensive to manufacture. In particular, a need exits for an inkjet printing system which utilizes a single motor to control operation of multiple printing functions such as moving a print carriage, advancing a print medium, and/or maintaining a printhead.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention provides an inkjet printing system. The inkjet printing system includes a print media transport assembly adapted to route a print medium through the inkjet printing system, a carriage assembly adapted to hold an inkjet printhead assembly and traverse the print medium, and a motor operatively coupled to both the print media transport assembly and the carriage assembly. As such, the motor is adapted to drive both the print media transport assembly and the carriage assembly.
In one embodiment, the motor is configured to sequentially operate the print media transport assembly and the carriage assembly.
In one embodiment, the motor is adapted to advance the print medium and move the inkjet printhead assembly. In one embodiment, the motor is adapted to advance the print medium in a first direction and move the inkjet printhead assembly in a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment, the motor is configured to rotate a portion of the print media transport assembly in the first direction and reciprocate a portion of the carriage assembly in the second direction.
In one embodiment, the print media transport assembly includes a first shaft and at least one roller mounted on the first shaft, and the carriage assembly includes a second shaft and a carriage slidably mounted on the second shaft. As such, the at least one roller is adapted to contact the print medium and the carriage is adapted to carry the inkjet printhead assembly.
In one embodiment, the inkjet printing system further includes a service station assembly adapted to at least one of wipe, cap, and uncap the inkjet printhead assembly. As such, the motor is operatively coupled to and adapted to drive each of the print media transport assembly, the carriage assembly, and the service station assembly.
In one embodiment, the inkjet printing system includes a first power transmission path defined between the motor and the carriage assembly, and a second power transmission path defined between the motor and the print media transport assembly. As such, the motor is operatively coupled to the carriage assembly via the first power transmission path and operatively coupled to the print media transport assembly via the second power transmission path.
In one embodiment, the inkjet printing system includes a third power transmission path defined between the motor and a service station assembly of the inkjet printing system. As such, the motor is operatively coupled to the service station assembly via the third power transmission path. In one embodiment, the third power transmission path includes the second power transmission path.
In one embodiment, the inkjet printing system includes a first power transmission arrangement interposed between the motor and the carriage assembly. The first power transmission arrangement includes a first coupling configured to selectively connect and disconnect the motor with the carriage assembly. In one embodiment, the first power transmission arrangement further includes a power transmission element configured to transfer rotational power of the motor to a reciprocatable element of the carriage assembly.
In one embodiment, the inkjet printing system includes a second power transmission arrangement interposed between the motor and the print media transport assembly. The second power transmission arrangement includes a second coup
Salcido, Jr. Salvador
Simmons Laura Elisabeth
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Hsieh Shih-wen
LandOfFree
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