Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6820961
-
Patent Number
6,820,961
-
Date Filed
Friday, June 28, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 23, 200419 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An ink collection assembly includes an ink collection chimney defined, at least in part, by a tubular. The tubular structure has a proximal end and a distal end. The tubular structure extends from the proximal end a first distance to the distal end. The distal end defines an opening for receiving waste ink. A hydrophobic foam is positioned in the tubular structure. With the hydrophobic foam positioned in the tubular structure, the tubular structure includes a hollow portion located between the hydrophobic foam and the proximal end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and, more particularly, to a device for collecting waste ink in an ink jet printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
During printing with an ink jet printer, an ink jet printhead ejects very tiny ink droplets in order to provide the best print quality. The ink droplets are so small that if they do not impact a surface within a short distance of leaving the nozzles, they tend to drift away in a cloud of mist. During the printing of the ejected ink droplets onto a sheet of print medium, such as paper, ink mist drifting is not an issue because the paper is only about 1.00 mm to 1.25 mm away from the printhead. However during an ink spit maintenance operation performed in a maintenance cycle for the printhead, typically there is a much greater distance to cover before the ink reaches the features designed to receive the ejected ink on the maintenance sled. In this empty space, an ink mist cloud can form and float into other areas of the printer. Over time, this ink misting collects on the inside of the covers, some even escaping through holes in the printer covers to form splotches on the outside of the covers.
One attempt to reduce ink misting is to provide a rotating drum in order to give the ink a place to collect. The drum turns so that the ink drips off into an ink well and a clean surface is positioned for the next spit. It is also possible to disable the mechanism for the drum rotation, and to allow the ink to drip around the sides as it collects on the top. In general, however, the drum provides a curved surface, concave down, that the ink strikes and then runs off, to be collected beneath the drum for evaporative dispersion. Such rotating and stationary drums are attached to the maintenance sled.
It is also known to provide the maintenance sled with a chimney into which the spit ink can be directed. The chimney is intended to surround the ink mist cloud and thereby prevent its movement into other areas of the printer. The ink mist collects on the inside walls of the chimney and flows down toward an ink collection area underneath the sled. Such chimneys are affixed to the maintenance sled.
The above-referenced drum and chimney configurations must be designed such that, as the maintenance sled moves upward, the top of the drum or chimney does not physically contact or otherwise interfere with the printhead. Thus, the top of the drum or chimney must be maintained at a distance during the spitting of the printhead that is equal to the vertical distance the sled travels before other maintenance functions are performed, such as capping. A problem with this implementation of the drum or chimney is that with this rather large gap, the mist cloud is not completely captured in the chimney or collected by the drum, and can escape the maintenance area.
What is needed in the art is a device for preventing the drifting of a cloud of ink mist after a spit maintenance operation of an ink jet printhead.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device for reducing or preventing the drifting of a cloud of ink mist after a spit maintenance operation of an ink jet printhead.
In one form thereof, the invention relates to an ink collection assembly. The ink collection assembly includes an ink collection chimney defined, at least in part, by a tubular structure. The tubular structure has a proximal end and a distal end. The tubular structure extends from the proximal end a first distance to the distal end. The distal end defines an opening for receiving waste ink. A hydrophobic foam is positioned in the tubular structure. With the hydrophobic foam positioned in the tubular structure, the tubular structure includes a hollow portion located between the hydrophobic foam and the proximal end.
In another form thereof, the invention relates to an ink jet printer. The ink jet printer includes a frame and a printhead carrier system coupled to the frame. The printhead carrier system includes a printhead carrier for carrying at least one printhead. An ink collection chimney is defined, at least in part, by a tubular structure, and has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the tubular structure is coupled to the frame. The tubular structure extends from the proximal end a first distance to the distal end. The distal end defines an opening for receiving waste ink from the at least one printhead. A hydrophobic foam is positioned in the tubular structure. The tubular structure includes a hollow portion located between the hydrophobic foam and the proximal end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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:
FIG. 1
is a pictorial representation of a portion of an ink jet printer including one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2A
is a sectioned side view of a waste ink collection assembly of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 2B
is a top view of a waste ink collection assembly of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a pictorial representation of a portion of an ink jet printer including another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4A
is an exploded sectioned side view of a waste ink collection assembly of
FIG. 3
; and
FIG. 4B
is a top view of a waste ink collection assembly of
FIG. 3
with the foam and felt inserts removed.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to
FIG. 1
, there is shown a printer
10
including a printer frame
12
, a printhead carrier system
14
, a media sheet feed system
16
, a controller
18
, a mid-frame
22
, a maintenance wiper and capping station
24
, and a waste ink collection device
26
. Each of printhead carrier system
14
, media sheet feed system
16
, controller
18
, mid-frame
22
, maintenance wiper and capping station
24
, and waste ink collection device
26
is coupled, either directly or indirectly, to printer frame
12
.
Printhead carrier system
14
includes a printhead carrier
28
for carrying a color printhead
30
and a mono, e.g., black, printhead
32
, and a pair of guide rods
34
.
Printhead carrier system
14
is guided by the pair of guide rods
34
. The axes
34
a
of guide rods
34
define a bi-directional scanning path for printhead carrier
28
, and thus, for convenience the bidirectional scanning path will be referred to as bidirectional scanning path
34
a
. Printhead carrier
28
is connected to a carrier transport belt
36
that is driven by a carrier motor
38
via drive pulley
40
to transport printhead carrier
28
in a reciprocating manner along guide rods
34
. Carrier motor
38
can be, for example, a direct current (DC) motor or a stepper motor. Carrier motor
38
has a rotating carrier motor shaft
42
that is attached to drive pulley
40
.
A color ink reservoir
44
is provided in fluid communication with color printhead
30
, and a black ink reservoir
46
is provided in fluid communication with black printhead
32
. Printhead carrier system
14
and printheads
30
,
32
may be configured for unidirectional printing or bi-directional printing.
The reciprocation of printhead carrier
28
transports ink jet printheads
30
,
32
across a print medium sheet
48
, such as paper, along bi-directional scanning path
34
a
to define a print zone
50
of printer
10
. This reciprocation occurs in a main scan direction
52
that is parallel with bi-directional scanning path
34
a
, and is also commonly referred to as the horizontal direction. During each scan of printhead carrier
28
, print medium sheet
48
is held stationary by media sheet feed system
16
.
Media sheet feed system
16
includes an index roller
54
and a corresponding index pinch roller assembly
56
, including a plurality of pinch rollers
58
. An exit roller unit (not shown) may be provided to supplement media sheet feed system
16
in transporting print medium sheet
48
through print zone
50
. In the embodiment shown, index roller
54
is driven by a drive unit
60
to transport print medium sheet
48
in a sheet feed direction
57
, depicted by an “X” representing that the direction of travel is from the plane of
FIG. 1
toward the reader. Pinch rollers
58
are idler rollers, and apply a biasing force to hold print medium sheet
48
in contact with driven index roller
54
. Drive unit
60
includes a drive source, such as a stepper motor, and an associated drive mechanism, such as a gear train or belt/pulley arrangement.
Controller
18
is electrically connected to printheads
30
,
32
via a printhead interface cable
62
. Controller
18
is electrically connected to carrier motor
38
via interface cable
64
. Controller
18
is electrically connected to drive unit
60
via interface cable
66
.
Controller
18
, which includes a microprocessor, with associated random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM), executes program instructions to effect the generation of control signals which are supplied to printhead carrier system
14
and media sheet feed system
16
to effect the printing of an the image on print medium sheet
48
, such as paper.
Maintenance wiper and capping station
24
operates in a well known manner, which can be briefly summarized as follows. Maintenance wiper and capping station
24
includes (not shown) a maintenance sled that is movable relative to printer frame
12
in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. Attached to the maintenance sled is a pair of printhead caps, and a pair of printhead wipers. During a wiping operation, the wipers are raised to a height to permit contact with printheads
30
,
32
. As printhead carrier
28
is moved over maintenance wiper and capping station
24
, the pair of wipers clean, by wiping, the external surface of printheads
30
,
32
, respectively. During a capping operation, the pair of printhead caps is raised to a height to cover and seal around with printheads
30
,
32
, respectively. For performing a printhead spit maintenance operation, however, carrier
28
is transported across print zone
50
, to waste ink collection device
26
.
In the embodiment shown, waste ink collection device
26
is located such that print zone
50
is interposed between the maintenance wiper and capping station
24
and waste ink collection device
26
, i.e., maintenance wiper and capping station
24
and waste ink collection device
26
are located on opposite sides of print zone
50
.
Waste ink collection device
26
is primarily intended for the collection of pigment-based inks, but can be used for dye-based inks. In the illustrated embodiment of
FIG. 1
, there is shown a waste ink collection assembly
68
for collecting color ink ejected from color printhead
30
, and a waste ink collection assembly
70
for collecting waste ink ejected from black printhead
32
. Alternatively, through appropriate control logic for positioning printheads
30
and/or
32
, a single ink collection assembly, such as waste ink collection assembly
68
, could be used for either or both of printheads
30
,
32
that ejects ink during the spit maintenance cycle. However, having two independent waste ink collection assemblies
68
,
70
can be advantageous when one of the inks, such as the black ink, is a pigment based ink and the other ink is a dye based ink.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, waste ink collection assembly
68
includes a ink collection chimney
72
that is connected to a base
74
. Waste ink collection assembly
70
includes an ink collection chimney
76
that is connected to a base
78
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, ink collection chimney
72
is mechanically connected to mid-frame
22
, and thus in turn, is indirectly coupled to printer frame
12
, via base
74
. For example, mid-frame
22
and ink collection chimney
72
may be molded as a unitary structure. Ink collection chimney
76
, as shown, is mechanically coupled to printer frame
12
via base
78
. While it is contemplated that other types of mechanical coupling is possible, with respect to the present invention, ink collection chimney
72
and ink collection chimney
76
are coupled to be in fixed relation to printer frame
12
, and in turn, are maintained at a fixed distance from printheads
30
,
32
, when printhead carrier
28
is transported over waste ink collection device
26
. In a preferred implementation of the invention, the clearance between ink collection chimneys
72
,
76
and printheads
30
,
32
, respectively, is approximately 1.0 millimeters (mm).
Since each of waste ink collection assembly
68
and waste ink collection assembly
70
are substantially identical, for ease of discussion, only waste ink collection assembly
68
will be described in detail below with respect to
FIGS. 2A and 2B
. In addition, as mentioned above, in some implementations of the present feature only one waste ink collection assembly, such as waste ink collection assembly
68
, will be used, so as to minimize costs and part count.
FIG. 2A
is a sectioned side view of waste ink collection assembly
68
.
FIG. 2B
is a top view of waste ink collection assembly
68
. From
FIGS. 1
,
2
A and
2
B, it can be seen that ink collection chimney
72
is defined by a tubular structure
73
attached to base
74
. Tubular structure
73
is not limited to any particular geometric cross sectional shape, and may be, for example, a square tube, a rectangular tube, oval tube, a cylinder, etc. Characteristic of all such tubular structures, however, is its open interior.
As shown in
FIG. 2A
, tubular structure
73
has a proximal end
82
and a distal end
84
. Tubular structure
73
extends from proximal end
82
a distance L
1
to distal end
84
. Proximal end
82
of tubular structure
73
is attached to base
74
. Referring to
FIGS. 2A and 2B
, distal end
84
of ink collection chimney
72
defines an opening
86
for receiving waste ink, such as waste ink ejected from printhead
30
. Opening
86
is dimensioned to be just slightly larger that the nozzle pattern of the largest printhead that ink collection chimney
72
is to accommodate, so that ink ejected from the nozzles of the printhead, such as printhead
30
, will be directed into opening
86
. As shown in
FIG. 2B
, opening
86
is substantially rectangular in shape.
Extending into tubular structure
73
a distance L
2
from distal end
84
toward proximal end
82
is a hydrophobic foam
88
, such as for example, a polyether foam having a porosity within a range of 10 to 40 pores per inch (ppi). In one embodiment of the invention, hydrophobic foam
88
has a porosity of 18 ppi. A hollow elongate portion
90
of tubular structure
73
has a length L
3
and serves as an ink mist accumulator section. By the term “hollow” it is meant that there is substantially no intervening material between walls of the tubular structure in that portion of ink collection chimney
72
. For example, hollow elongate portion
90
is substantially void of hydrophobic foam
88
. An absorption pad
92
, such as for example, a felt pad, is positioned adjacent proximal end
82
and extends into ink collection chimney
72
a distance L
4
from proximal end
82
toward distal end
84
. The optimal distances L
1
, L
2
, L
3
and L
4
are selected empirically to provide the least amount of back draft of ink mist out of opening
86
. However, the distance L
3
will be greater than zero millimeters, and more preferably, distance L
3
will be at least two times that of distance L
2
. L
2
can range from 5 to 17 millimeters (mm). L
3
can range from 10 to 34 mm. L
4
can range from 2 to 8 mm. L
1
is the sum of L
2
+L
3
+L
4
. As a specific example, the distance L
1
may be 20 mm, the distance L
2
may be 5 mm, the distance L
3
may be 13 mm and the distance L
4
may be 2 mm.
During the spit maintenance operation, waste ink is spit from the nozzles of printhead
30
. The waste ink ejected from printhead
30
passes through opening
86
, and passes into and through hydrophobic foam
88
. Hydrophobic foam
88
serves as a filter to collect and direct the ink mist into hollow elongate portion
90
, and serves as a one way valve to prevent ink mist from being drafted out of opening
86
following conclusion of the spit maintenance operation as printhead carrier
28
moves away from waste ink collection device
26
. Hollow elongate portion
90
of ink collection chimney
72
serves as an ink mist accumulator to accommodate the received ink mist, as the ink mist begins to form larger droplets which begin to collect on the inside surface
94
of hollow elongate portion
90
of ink collection chimney
72
, which in turn drain down to absorption pad
92
.
FIG. 3
shows another embodiment of the invention with respect to an ink jet printer
100
. The primary difference between printer
100
and the previously described ink jet printer
10
is the inclusion of a single waste ink collection assembly
110
sized to simultaneously accommodate two printheads, such as printheads
30
and
32
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, waste ink collection assembly
110
includes a ink collection chimney
112
that is connected to a base
114
. Ink collection chimney
112
is mechanically coupled to printer frame
12
via base
114
. Alternatively, ink collection chimney
112
is mechanically coupled to mid-frame
22
, and thus is also indirectly coupled to printer frame
12
. While it is contemplated that other types of mechanical coupling is possible, with respect to the present invention, ink collection chimney
112
is coupled so as to be in fixed relation to printer frame
12
, and in turn, is maintained at a fixed distance from printheads
30
and
32
when printhead carrier
28
is transported over waste ink collection device
110
. In a preferred implementation of the invention, clearance between ink collection chimney
112
and printheads
30
and
32
is approximately 1.0 mm.
FIG. 4A
is an exploded sectioned side view of waste ink collection assembly
110
.
FIG. 4B
is a top view of waste ink collection assembly
110
with hydrophobic foam
132
removed to expose the interior thereof From
FIGS. 3
,
4
A and
4
B, it can be seen that ink collection chimney
112
is defined by an irregular shaped tubular structure
113
and a base
114
. Preferably, irregular shaped tubular structure
113
has a rectangular cross section. As shown in
FIG. 4A
, tubular structure
113
has a proximal end
116
and a distal end
118
. Tubular structure
113
extends from proximal end
116
a distance L
11
to distal end
118
. Proximal end
116
of tubular structure
113
is connected to base
114
. Referring to
FIG. 4B
, distal end
118
of tubular structure
113
defines an opening
120
for receiving waste ink, such as waste ink ejected from printheads
30
and
32
. Opening
120
is dimensioned to be slightly larger that the combined nozzle pattern of printheads
30
and
32
, so that ink ejected from the nozzles of printheads
30
and
32
will be directed into opening
120
. As shown in
FIG. 4B
, opening
120
is substantially rectangular in shape.
The irregular shaped tubular structure
113
includes a tapered portion
122
and a hollow elongate portion
124
. Tapered portion
122
includes an inner surface
126
and hollow elongate portion
124
includes an inner surface
128
. Inner surface
126
intersects inner surface
128
at an angle
130
, such as for example, in the range of 30 to 60 degrees, and more preferably, at an angle of about 45 degrees. Tapered portion
122
of ink collection chimney
72
has a length L
12
. Hollow elongate portion
124
has a length L
13
and serves as an ink mist accumulator section.
Extending into ink collection chimney
112
a distance L
14
from distal end
118
toward proximal end
116
is hydrophobic foam
132
, such as for example, an eighteen ppi polyether foam. As shown, hydrophobic foam
132
is wedge-shaped, i.e., has a triangular cross section, having a taper selected to match angle
130
, and having a height, distance L
14
, that is greater than distance L
12
. Accordingly, when hydrophobic foam
132
is positioned in ink collection chimney
112
, a tip
134
of hydrophobic foam
132
extends beyond tapered portion
122
into hollow elongate portion
124
along an axis of symmetry
136
of ink collection chimney
112
.
An absorption pad
138
is positioned adjacent proximal end
116
, and extends into ink collection chimney
112
a distance L
15
from proximal end
116
toward distal end
118
. Absorption pad
138
may be, for example, a felt pad. The optimal distances L
11
, L
12
, L
13
, L
14
and L
15
are selected empirically to provide the least amount of back draft of ink mist out of opening
120
. L
12
can range from 5 to 17 mm. L
13
can range from 10 to 34 mm. L
15
can range from 2 to 8 mm. Thus, the range of L
14
will depend, in part on length L
12
. L
11
is the sum of L
12
+L
13
+L
15
. However, the distance L
13
will be greater than zero, and more preferably, distance L
13
will be at least two times that of distance L
12
.
During the spit maintenance operation, waste ink is spit from the nozzles of printheads
30
and
32
. The waste ink ejected from printheads
30
and
32
passes through opening
120
, and passes into and through foam
132
. Foam
132
serves as a filter to collect and direct the ink mist into hollow elongate portion
124
, and serves as a one way valve to prevent ink mist from being drafted out of opening
120
following conclusion of the spit maintenance operation as printhead carrier
28
moves away from waste ink collection device
110
. Hollow elongate portion
124
of ink collection chimney
112
serves as an ink mist accumulator to accommodate the received ink mist, and the accumulated ink mist begins to form larger droplets that collect on inner surface
128
of hollow elongate portion
124
of ink collection chimney
112
, which in turn drain down to absorption pad
138
.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A waste ink collection assembly, comprising:an ink collection chimney defined, at least in part, by a tubular structure, said tubular structure having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular structure extending from said proximal end a first distance to said distal end, said distal end defining an opening for receiving waste ink; a hydrophobic foam positioned in said tubular structure, said hydrophobic foam configured to pass an ink mist; and with said hydrophobic foam positioned in said tubular structure, said tubular structure including a hollow portion being located between said hydrophobic foam and said proximal end.
- 2. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic foam is a polyether foam.
- 3. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said hollow portion serves as an ink mist accumulator section.
- 4. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 1, further comprising an absorption pad adjacent said proximal end of said tubular structure.
- 5. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 4, wherein said absorption pad is a felt pad.
- 6. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said hollow portion has a length, said length being greater than zero millimeters.
- 7. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 6, wherein said hydrophobic foam extends into said tubular structure a second distance, and wherein said length is at least two times that of said second distance.
- 8. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said opening is substantially rectangular.
- 9. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 1, wherein said opening is sized to simultaneously accommodate two independent printheads.
- 10. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 9, wherein said two independent printheads comprises a color printhead and a black printhead.
- 11. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 1, said tubular structure including a tapered portion and an elongate portion, said tapered portion having a first inner surface and said elongate portion having a second inner surface, said first inner surface intersecting said second inner surface at an angle.
- 12. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 11, wherein said angle is in a range of 30 to 60 degrees.
- 13. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 11, wherein said elongate portion is substantially hollow.
- 14. The waste ink collection assembly of claim 13, wherein said hydrophobic foam is wedge shaped, and wherein a tip of said hydrophobic foam extends into said elongate portion from said tapered portion.
- 15. An ink jet printer, comprising:a frame; a printhead carrier system coupled to said frame, said printhead carrier system including a printhead carrier for carrying at least one printhead; an ink collection chimney, said ink collection chimney being defined, at least in part, by a tubular structure, said tubular structure having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said tubular structure being coupled to said frame, said tubular structure extending from said proximal end a first distance to said distal end, said distal end defining an opening for receiving waste ink from said at least one printhead; a hydrophobic foam positioned in said tubular structure, said hydrophobic foam configured to pass an ink mist; and said tubular structure including a hollow portion being located between said hydrophobic foam and said proximal end.
- 16. The ink jet printer of claim 14, wherein said hydrophobic foam is a polyether foam.
- 17. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said hollow portion serves as an ink mist accumulator section.
- 18. The ink jet printer of claim 15, further comprising an absorption pad adjacent said proximal end of said tubular structure.
- 19. The ink jet printer of claim 18, wherein said absorption pad is a felt pad.
- 20. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said hollow portion has a length, said length having a range of 10 millimeters to 34 millimeters.
- 21. The ink jet printer of claim 20, wherein said hydrophobic foam extends into said tubular structure from said distal end a second distance, said length is at least two times that of said second distance.
- 22. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said opening is substantially rectangular.
- 23. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said opening is sized to simultaneously accommodate two independent printheads.
- 24. The ink jet printer of claim 23, wherein said two independent printheads comprises a color printhead and a black printhead.
- 25. The ink jet printer of claim 15, said tubular structure including a tapered portion and an elongate portion, said tapered portion having a first inner surface and said elongate portion having a second inner surface, said first inner surface intersecting said second inner surface at an angle.
- 26. The ink jet printer of claim 25, wherein said angle is in a range of 30 to 60 degrees.
- 27. The ink jet printer of claim 25, wherein said elongate portion is substantially hollow.
- 28. The ink jet printer of claim 25, wherein said hydrophobic foam is wedge shaped, and wherein a tip of said hydrophobic foam extends into said elongate portion from said tapered portion.
- 29. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said printhead carrier transports said at least one printhead along a bi-directional scanning path to define a print zone, said ink jet printer further comprising a maintenance station for performing at least printhead wiping operations, said print zone being located between said maintenance station and said ink collection chimney.
- 30. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said ink collection chimney is positioned stationary with respect to said frame.
- 31. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said ink collection chimney is positioned stationary with respect to a mid-frame.
- 32. The ink jet printer of claim 31, wherein said printhead carrier carries a first printhead, said carrier transporting said first printhead to be positioned over said opening of said ink collection chimney during a spit maintenance operation.
- 33. The ink jet printer of claim 31, wherein said printhead carrier carries a first printhead and a second printhead, said carrier transporting each of said first printhead and said second printhead to be positioned over said opening of said ink collection chimney during a spit maintenance operation.
- 34. The ink jet printer of claim 33, wherein said first printhead and said second printhead are simultaneously positioned over said opening of said ink collection chimney during said spit maintenance operation.
- 35. The ink jet printer of claim 31, wherein said printhead carrier carries a first printhead and a second printhead, and further comprising a second ink collection chimney, wherein said carrier transports said first printhead over the first ink collection chimney and said carrier transports said second printhead over said second ink collection chimney, during spit maintenance operations.
- 36. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said frame includes a mid-frame frame to which said ink collection chimney is attached.
US Referenced Citations (5)