In some printing systems, imagers are provided with replaceable printheads that may be dedicated to one or more inks. To print with a different ink, the printhead may be removed from the imager. When not being used by the imager, the printhead may dry out or become damaged unless properly stored.
Storage units 14 are each configured to store a cartridge 16 and a printhead servicer 18 when not in use by a printing system. Cartridge 16 is a device configured to store and deposit printing material, such as ink, upon a medium, such as paper or other suitable material. Cartridge 16 generally includes storage chamber 20 and printhead 22. Storage chamber 20 is the portion of cartridge 16 that stores printing material to be deposited. Printhead 22 is the portion of cartridge 16 through which printing material is ejected. Cartridge 16 may be any suitable cartridge of use in commercial, industrial, or home printing systems.
Printhead servicer 18 constitutes a device configured to cap printhead 22 so as to inhibit air flow to printhead 22. In one embodiment, servicer may perform other functions such as providing a wiper or spittoon. In other embodiments, fewer functions may be provided by servicer 18. In one embodiment, servicer 18 forms a substantially air tight seal about printhead 22. Printhead servicer 18 includes capper 24, which caps printhead 22 by sealing the perimeter of printhead 22 with its edges to form a substantially airtight seal. This capping may reduce or prevent the printing material stored inside cartridge 16 from drying out during storage. Capper 24 de-caps printhead 22 when cartridge 16 is to be used for printing.
In one example embodiment, printhead servicer 18 is the same device used to service cartridge 16 when in use by a printing system and thus both the cartridge 16 and printhead servicer 18 may be removed from a printing system for storage. In another embodiment, printhead servicer 18 may be a different printhead servicer than is used in a printing system. In other embodiments, printhead servicer 18 may include additional elements to maintain, protect, or service cartridge 16 so that print quality may be maintained when cartridge 16 is used for printing. In still other embodiments, capper 24 may be omitted from printhead servicer 18.
Storage units 114 each retain an example cartridge 116 and an example printhead servicer 118 as shown in
Cover 26 encloses storage units 114 on tray 112 to protect storage units 114 from harm, as may be caused by dust, for example, and to secure storage units 114 in wells 28. In one embodiment, cover 26 is an integrally molded single unitary thermoplastic body. In other embodiments, tray 112 may be made of another material such as a non-thermoresistive plastic or a metal. In still other embodiments, cover 26 may be omitted, with storage units 114 left open to the environment while stored on tray 114.
Printhead servicer 118 is configured to slide in and out of storage unit 114 as shown by the broken lines (
Handle 40 projects from an end of printhead servicer 118 and is configured for easy grasping of printhead servicer 118 for removal from storage unit 114. In other embodiments, handle 40 may be omitted and printhead servicer 118 may be inserted and removed by other means. Grooves 42 include a pair of grooves, one on each side of printhead servicer 118 (opposite side groove not shown), that are used to guide printhead servicer 118 into storage unit 114.
Ferrous section 44 allows printhead servicer 118 to be secured within storage unit 114 upon insertion by magnetic attraction with magnet 32. In one embodiment, ferrous section 44 may be a ferrous plate. In other embodiments, ferrous section 44 may be of other configurations such as a post or button. Magnet 32 may be any suitable magnet sized to allow retention in storage unit 114 as shown in
Spittoon 46, wipers 48 sponge 50 and wick 52 service a printhead while the printhead is in a printing device. Spittoon has an opening configured to receive fluid, such as ink, spit by cartridge 116 to reduce clogging or ink buildup Wipers 48 are made of generally flexible elastomeric blades configured to wipe cartridge 116. Sponge 50 is filled with any non-evaporating oil such as polyethylene glycol for wick 52 Wick 52 lubricates wipers 48 prior to wipers 48 wiping the nozzles of the printhead to increase the effectiveness of such wiping and to reduce damage, such as scratches, to the nozzles from dried ink and dust.
Capper 124 is configured to seal the perimeter of printhead 122 of cartridge 116 by compressing elastic edges, such as rubber, of capper 124 in order to form a substantially airtight seal. This capping is intended to prevent the printing material stored inside cartridge 116 from drying out during storage. In particular, when printhead servicer 118 is inserted into storage unit 114, storage unit 114 urges cartridge 116 and servicer 118 towards one another such that the elastic edges of capper 124 are forced against printhead 122 of inserted cartridge 116, to compressing the elastic portion of capper 124 around printhead 122 to create the substantially airtight seal as shown in
Vent hole 56 is a portion of capper 124 held in place by rubber sealing 58 that functions to maintain air pressure within cartridge 116 when printhead 122 is capped. In particular, vent hole 56 permits escape of air to prevent or reduce air pressure spikes and undesirable injection of air into the nozzles which may otherwise deprime the nozzles and interfere with subsequent printing operations.
Although printhead servicer 118 is illustrated as providing spitting, wiping, and capping functions, printhead servicer 118 may provide fewer or greater of such servicing operations. In one example embodiment, printhead servicer 118 is the same device used to service cartridge 116 when in use by a printing system and thus both the cartridge 116 and printhead servicer 118 may be removed from a printing system for storage. In another embodiment, printhead servicer 118 may be a different printhead servicer than is used in a printing system.
As shown by
Clasp 76 cooperates with half 66 to secure magnet 32 within housing 60. In other embodiments, clasp 76 may be omitted where other means or mechanisms are used to secure magnet 32.
Tabs 78, notches 80, protrusions 82, and fasteners 88 are used to secure half 64 with half 66. Tabs 78 and notches 80 mate with half 66 in order to secure half 64 with half 66. Protrusions 82 mate with half 66 to further secure half 64 to half 66. It should also be noted that while in the illustrated example embodiment fasteners 88 are shown to be screws, in other embodiments other fasteners, such as pins, may be used.
Ramp 84 is configured to press inserted cartridge 116 against half 66 so that cartridge 116 is held upright and secured properly. In the illustrated embodiment, ramp 84 has a sloped surface that guides cartridge 116 into storage unit 114 into position against datum 73. As cartridge 116 is inserted into storage unit 114, the sloped portion of ramp 84 makes contact with cartridge 116 to guide it inwards during insertion in order to press it against half 66. In one embodiment, ramp 84 is integrally molded as a single unitary body with half 64. In other embodiments, ramp 84 may not be integrally molded, but instead affixed in some manner to half 64. Recession 86 cooperates with half 66 to form receptacle 72, which receives and secures latch 62 in a closed position (as shown in
Half 66 includes datums 87, 88 and 90, clasp 92, tabs 94, notches 96, receptacles 98, spring 100, and recession 102. Datum 87 constitutes an edge configured to abut the side portion of cartridge 116 so as to properly locate cartridge 116 along the Y-axis as seen in
Overall, datums 73-76 and datums 87-90 facilitate proper positioning of cartridge 116 and printhead servicing unit 118 within storage unit 114. In other embodiments, such datums may have other configurations and may have other locations. In some embodiments, some of such datums may be omitted. For example, in one embodiment, more or fewer than two datum may be used on each half 64 and 66 to guide printhead servicer 118 into storage unit 114. In another embodiment, datums 76 and 90 may be of another shape such as ridges along a substantial length of halves 64 and 66. In other embodiments, datums 76 and 90 may be a part of printhead servicer 118 and grooves 42 a part of storage unit 114. In still other embodiments, datums 76 and 90 and grooves 40 may be omitted altogether.
Clasp 92 cooperates with clasp 76 to secure magnet 32 within housing 60. In other embodiments, clasps 76 and 92 may be of a different form than illustrated in
Tabs 94, notches 96, and receptacles 98 are used to secure half 66 with half 64. Tabs 94 mate with notches 80 of half 64 and notches 96 mate with tabs 78 of half 64 in order to secure half 64 with half 66. Receptacles 98 receive protrusions 82 from half 64 to further secure halves 64 and 66. In another example embodiment, more or fewer than two tabs and notches may be used on each half to secure halves 64 and 66 together. In other embodiments, tabs 78 and 94 and notches 80 and 96 may be omitted and halves 64 and 66 secured by other means. In another example embodiment, more or fewer than two protrusions 82 and receptacles 98 may be used to secure halves 64 and 66 together. In still other embodiments, protrusions 82 and receptacles 98 may be omitted and halves 64 and 66 secured together via other means.
Spring 100 is configured to press inserted cartridge 116 against datum 84 of half 64 so that cartridge 116 is held upright and secured properly. In the illustrated embodiment, spring 100 is a leaf spring integrally molded with storage unit 114. In other embodiments, spring 100 may be another type of spring, such as a compression spring, and may be non-integrally attached to storage unit 114. In another example embodiment, spring 100 and datum 84 may be reversed where datum 84 is a part of half 66 and spring 100 a part of half 64.
Recess 102 cooperates with recess 86 of half 64 to form receptacle 68, which receives and secures latch 62 in a closed position (as shown in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Member 138 holds latch 62 in a closed position. When member 138 is slid into housing 130, spring 140 provides a bias pushing member 138 outward from housing 130. When latch 62 is closed, member 138 is manually pushed inwards so it may join with receptacle 68 (shown in
Printhead servicer 118 may be the same servicer used by cartridge 116 within a printing system so that cartridge 116 and printhead servicer 118 may be kept together both when in use and in storage. Printhead servicer 118 is easily slid in and out of storage unit 114 using handle 40. When printhead servicer 118 is removed, wick 52 uses oil from sponge 50 to clean cartridge 116 using a pressure applied form wick spring 54. This cleaning may permit printhead 122 to be kept clean. Printhead servicer 118 is securely retained within storage unit 114 by the magnetic attraction given between ferrous plate 44 and magnet 32 so that it cartridge 116 is continually maintained and serviced when in storage.
When printhead servicer 118 is in storage unit 114, capper 124 effectively caps printhead 122 of cartridge 116 by sealing the perimeter of printhead 122. Storage unit 114 precisely aligns nozzles of the print cartridge 116 with capper 124 of servicing unit 118 and depresses capper 124 by a desired amount such that a desired capping force is applied about the nozzles. Vent hole 56 reduces air pressure spikes during initial capping to reduce injection of air into nozzles (and potential depriming of the nozzles).
Crane 148 is used to fill cartridge 116 (shown in
Overall, storage systems 10,110 and 210 allow for modular storage of one or more individual storage units 14 and 114, each of which holds cartridge 16 or 116 and printhead servicer 18 or 118. In the embodiment shown in
Additionally, as shown in
System 210 additionally facilitates storing crane 148, which refills cartridges 116 when in a printing system, with storage units 114. Storing crane 148 with storage units 114 allows for a central storage location of cartridge 116, printhead servicer 118, and crane 148 for easy access when cartridges 116 are to be used again in a printing system.
Although systems 10,110 and 210 are illustrated as including multiple features utilized in conjunction with one another, systems 10,110 and 210 may alternatively utilize less than all of the noted mechanisms or features. For example, in other embodiments, capper 124 may alternatively be permanently configured as part of storage unit 114. In still other embodiments, storage unit 114 may alternatively be configured to removably receive a servicer that merely provides capper 124.
The present disclosure has been described with reference to example embodiments, however workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, although different example embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described example embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. Because the technology of the present disclosure is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present disclosure described with reference to the example embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements.