Patent Grant
6860583
An inkjet printing system may include a printhead and an ink supply which supplies liquid ink to the printhead. The printhead ejects ink drops through a plurality of orifices or nozzles and toward a print media, such as a sheet of paper, so as to print onto the print media. 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 media as the printhead and the print media are moved relative to each other.
In one arrangement, the inkjet printing system produces a borderless image on the print media. More specifically, the inkjet printing system produces an image on the print media without one or more unprinted margins between the image and a corresponding edge of the print media. An example of such an image includes a photograph. Examples of such a borderless inkjet printing system include the HP Photosmart 100 series printer produced by Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, Calif., assignee of the present invention, and the Epson Stylus Photo 820 printer produced by Seiko Epson Corporation.
Typically, the borderless inkjet printing system produces a borderless image on the print media by ejecting ink drops beyond one or more edges of the print media. As such, overspray or waste ink is generated by the ink drops which are deposited beyond the edges of the print media. Unfortunately, this overspray or waste ink can be transferred to print media subsequently fed through the inkjet printing system and, therefore, negatively affect the quality of images produced with the inkjet printing system.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.
An inkjet printing system includes a platen adapted to support a print media, a printhead adapted to eject ink into a print zone between the printhead and the platen toward the print media and beyond a first edge of the print media to generate waste ink, a first absorber formed in the platen within the print zone such that the first absorber is adapted to extend beyond the first edge of the print media and absorb the waste ink ejected beyond the first edge of the print media, and a second absorber adapted to contact and absorb the waste ink from the first absorber, wherein the first absorber has a first capillary head and the second absorber has a second capillary head greater than the first capillary head.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
In one embodiment, the drops of ink are directed toward a medium, such as a print media 19, so as to print onto print media 19. Print media 19 includes any type of suitable sheet material, such as paper, card stock, envelopes, labels, transparencies, Mylar, and the like. Typically, nozzles 13 are arranged in one or more columns or arrays such that properly sequenced ejection of ink from nozzles 13 causes characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images to be printed upon print media 19 as inkjet printhead assembly 12 and print media 19 are moved relative to each other.
Ink supply assembly 14 supplies ink to inkjet printhead assembly 12 and includes a reservoir 15 for storing ink. As such, in one embodiment, ink flows from reservoir 15 to inkjet printhead assembly 12. In one embodiment, inkjet printhead assembly 12 and ink supply assembly 14 are housed together in an inkjet print cartridge or pen, as identified by dashed line 22. In another embodiment, ink supply assembly 14 is separate from inkjet printhead assembly 12 and supplies ink to inkjet printhead assembly 12 through an interface connection, such as a supply tube.
Carriage assembly 16 positions inkjet printhead assembly 12 relative to print media transport assembly 18, and print media transport assembly 18 positions print media 19 relative to inkjet printhead assembly 12. As such, a print region 17 within which inkjet printhead assembly 12 deposits ink drops is defined adjacent to nozzles 13 in an area between inkjet printhead assembly 12 and print media 19. Print media 19 is advanced through print region 17 during printing by print media transport assembly 18.
Carriage assembly 16 typically includes a carriage and a carriage drive assembly. As such, inkjet printhead assembly 12 is removably mounted in, and supported by, the carriage, and the carriage drive assembly moves the carriage and, therefore, inkjet printhead assembly 12 relative to print media 19. A conventional carriage drive assembly may include a carriage guide which supports the carriage, a drive motor, and a belt and pulley system which moves the carriage along the carriage guide.
In one embodiment, inkjet printhead assembly 12 is a scanning type printhead assembly, and carriage assembly 16 moves inkjet printhead assembly 12 relative to print media transport assembly 18 and print media 19 during printing of a swath on print media 19. In another embodiment, inkjet printhead assembly 12 is a non-scanning type printhead assembly, and carriage assembly 16 fixes inkjet printhead assembly 12 at a prescribed position relative to print media transport assembly 18 during printing of a swath on print media 19 as print media transport assembly 18 advances print media 19 past the prescribed position.
Electronic controller 20 communicates with inkjet printhead assembly 12, carriage assembly 16, and print media transport assembly 18. Electronic controller 20 receives data 21 from a host system, such as a computer, and includes memory for temporarily storing data 21. Typically, data 21 is sent to inkjet printing system 10 along an electronic, infrared, optical or other information transfer path. Data 21 represents, for example, a document and/or photo to be printed. As such, data 21 forms a print job for inkjet printing system 10 and includes one or more print job commands and/or command parameters.
In one embodiment, electronic controller 20 provides control of inkjet printhead assembly 12 including timing control for ejection of ink drops from nozzles 13. As such, electronic controller 20 defines a pattern of ejected ink drops which form characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images on print media 19. Timing control and, therefore, the pattern of ejected ink drops, is determined by the print job commands and/or command parameters. In one embodiment, logic and drive circuitry forming a portion of electronic controller 20 is located on inkjet printhead assembly 12. In another embodiment, logic and drive circuitry is located off inkjet printhead assembly 12.
Drive roller 24 and pinch roller 26 work in conjunction to advance print media 19 through print region 17. In one embodiment, print media 19 is fed into engagement between drive roller 24 and pinch roller 26 by a pick roller or other print media transport roller (not shown), as is well known in the art.
In a scanning type embodiment, once a desired portion of print media 19 reaches print region 17, print media 19 is held in position as print cartridge 22, including inkjet printhead assembly 12, traverses print media 19 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of print media advance indicated by arrow 191 (i.e., in a direction in and out of the plane of the paper) to print on print media 19 and create a print swath on print media 19. Once print cartridge 22 has completed the print swath, print media 19 is advanced an incremental distance in the direction of print media advance indicated by arrow 191 to permit further printing on print media 19 and the creation of an additional print swath on print media 19. In one embodiment, print media 19 is supported by platen 28 as inkjet printhead assembly 12 prints on print media 19.
In a non-scanning type embodiment, inkjet printhead assembly 12 is held in a prescribed position relative to platen 28 as print media 19 is supported by platen 28 and advanced in the direction of print media advance indicated by arrow 191 to print on print media 19.
It is understood that
In one embodiment, inkjet printing system 10 produces a borderless image on print media 19. More specifically, inkjet printing system 10 produces an image on print media 19 without one or more unprinted margins between the image and a corresponding edge of print media 19. An example of such an image includes a photograph.
As illustrated in the embodiments of
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated in the embodiment of
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Waste ink absorption system 30 relies on capillary action to transport draw the waste ink away from print zone 29. Capillary action refers to the movement of a fluid in the interstices of a porous medium due to capillary forces. The potential that causes the fluid to flow or move by capillary action is referred to as capillary head.
To transport the waste ink away from print zone 29 and into storage reservoir 36, print area absorber 32, wick 34, and storage reservoir 36 have differing capillary heads. More specifically, print area absorber 32 has a low capillary head relative to wick 34 and storage reservoir 36, wick 34 has a medium capillary head relative to print area absorber 32 and storage reservoir 36, and storage reservoir 36 has a high capillary head relative to print area absorber 32 and wick 34. As such, print area absorber 32 has a first capillary head, wick 34 has a second capillary head which is greater than the first capillary head of print area absorber 32, and storage reservoir 36 has a third capillary head which is greater than the second capillary head of wick 34. Thus, a differential capillary pressure is created between print area absorber 32 and storage reservoir 36. Accordingly, print area absorber 32 collects the waste ink, wick 34 pulls or draws the waste ink from print area absorber 32, and storage reservoir 36 pulls or draws the waste ink from wick 34.
In one embodiment, the differing capillary heads of print area absorber 32, wick 34, and storage reservoir 36 are established by selecting and/or utilizing differing materials and/or material characteristics for print area absorber 32, wick 34, and storage reservoir 36. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, print area absorber 32 is formed of a polyester needle felt material which has coarse fibers, wick 34 is formed of a porous plastic material, and storage reservoir 36 is formed of a polyester needle felt material which has fine fibers.
In one illustrative embodiment, a capillary head of the material of print area absorber 32, wick 34, and storage reservoir 36 is specified based on a respective test coupon of each material which is one-half inch wide by at least six inches tall and subjected to a test duration of two hours at ambient conditions with a composite ink. In one illustrative embodiment, a capillary head of the material of print area absorber 32 under the above test conditions is in a range of approximately 60 millimeters to approximately 80 millimeters. In another illustrative embodiment, the capillary head of the material of print area absorber 32 under the above test conditions is approximately 70 millimeters. In one illustrative embodiment, a capillary head of the material of wick 34 under the above test conditions is in a range of approximately 90 millimeters to approximately 110 millimeters. In another illustrative embodiment, the capillary head of the material of wick 34 under the above test conditions is approximately 100 millimeters. In one illustrative embodiment, a capillary head of the material of storage reservoir 36 under the above test conditions is at least approximately 120 millimeters. In another illustrative embodiment, the capillary head of the material of storage reservoir 36 under the above test conditions is approximately 140 millimeters.
By collecting the waste ink with print area absorber 32 and pulling or drawing the waste ink from print area absorber 32 with wick 34, the possibility of the waste ink negatively affecting the quality of images produced with inkjet printing system 10 by, for example, the transfer of the waste ink to print media 19 is reduced with waste ink absorption system 30. In addition, with waste ink absorption system 30, the waste ink storage capacity of inkjet printing system 10 is increased. More specifically, by transferring the waste ink from print area absorber 32 to storage reservoir 36, waste ink absorption system 30 allows the transport and storage of waste ink vertically and/or horizontally away from print zone 29 to an area where additional waste ink storage capacity is available. In one illustrative embodiment, a capacity of storage reservoir 36 is in a range of approximately three times to approximately five times greater than a capacity of print area absorber 32. In another illustrative embodiment, the capacity of storage reservoir 36 is approximately four times greater than that of print area absorber 32. As such, with waste ink absorption system 30, more printing can be completed before the absorbers are full of waste ink.
By transferring the waste ink from print area absorber 32 to storage reservoir 36, minimal space is required to collect the waste ink in print zone 29. Thus, print area absorber 32 can be designed with limited capacity so as to reduce the quantity of waste ink in print zone 29. Furthermore, by creating a differential capillary pressure between print area absorber 32 and storage reservoir 36, waste ink can be drawn from print area absorber 32 such that print area absorber 32 can be kept as dry as possible.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the chemical, mechanical, electromechanical, electrical, and computer arts will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4024548 | Alonso et al. | May 1977 | A |
| 4306245 | Kasugayama et al. | Dec 1981 | A |
| 4682184 | Terasawa | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4901094 | Iwagami et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
| 5051758 | Markham | Sep 1991 | A |
| 5216450 | Koitabashi et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5291227 | Suzuki | Mar 1994 | A |
| 5300958 | Burke et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5329306 | Carlotta | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5357275 | Ikado et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5557306 | Fukushima et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
| 5614930 | Osborne et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5644343 | Allen | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5896143 | Matsui et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
| 5905514 | Rhoads et al. | May 1999 | A |
| 5907335 | Johnson et al. | May 1999 | A |
| 5969739 | Altendorf et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 6019466 | Hermanson | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6145958 | Medin et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6168259 | Capurso | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6227661 | Hayakawa | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6239817 | Meyer | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6276778 | Katayama | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6299279 | Asada | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6337354 | Katsumata et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
| 6341837 | Jung | Jan 2002 | B1 |
| 6361142 | Otsuka et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6454373 | Therien et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6454374 | Therien | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6481827 | Yearout | Nov 2002 | B2 |
| 6491371 | Berg et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 6616266 | Neal et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6619783 | Kanaya et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 20040051755 | Kanamitsu et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 3042998 | Nov 1980 | DE |
| 3406865 | Aug 1985 | DE |
| 0602646 | Jun 1994 | EP |
| 0673772 | Sep 1995 | EP |
| 0714775 | Jun 1996 | EP |
| 1234676 | Aug 2002 | EP |
| 0901905 | Sep 2002 | EP |
| 60030348 | Feb 1985 | JP |
| 02011332 | Jan 1990 | JP |
| 04141440 | May 1992 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040125154 A1 | Jul 2004 | US |
