Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6273547
-
Patent Number
6,273,547
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, October 27, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 14, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Daspit; Jacqueline M.
- Aust; Ronald K.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 36
- 347 29
- 347 33
- 347 35
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A maintenance station for an ink jet printer includes a frame and a device, such as for example a cylindrical drum, rotatably coupled to the frame for collecting waste ink. A ratchet drive assembly is coupled to the frame for effecting rotation of the device. The ratchet drive assembly includes a ratchet gear coupled to the device, wherein the ratchet gear has a plurality of teeth. A distal end of a back-check member engages the teeth of the ratchet gear for effecting a rotation of the device in a first direction and prevents a rotation of the device in a direction opposite to the first direction. The rotation of the device is effected as the printhead cap is moved in a vertical direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the handling of waste ink accumulated in an ink jet printer system, and more particularly, to an apparatus for decreasing ink misting during a printhead nozzle purge operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink jet printers require maintenance operations to keep the nozzles of the print cartridge operating properly. Such maintenance operations typically include the steps of wiping the nozzle area of the print cartridge, firing the nozzles at prescribed intervals to purge the nozzles (spitting), and capping the cartridge during idle periods to prevent the jetted ink which remains on the nozzle plate from drying and clogging one or more of the nozzles of the nozzle plate. Typically, the spitting operation occurs at a location in the maintenance station. Over a period of time, the solids in the waste ink accumulate in the maintenance station, and the resulting waste ink build-up can affect the operation of the maintenance assembly.
Ink jet printers have been plagued with the problem of ink mist from maintenance operations drifting around and landing on the print media which is being printed. The mist is generated when the printer stops periodically to clean and clear the printing nozzles by spitting ink. When the printer resumes printing on the print media, airborne mist from the maintenance operation is drawn by the carrier movement and drifts onto the paper. This results in a noticeable image defect on the paper, and tends to also contaminate other printer mechanisms.
One previous attempt to control and collect the mist ink is to perform the spitting operation on-page. Other printers have used fans and absorbent pads in attempts to collect and contain the mist ink. However, with the more prevalent use of higher non-volatile constituents in ink formulations, residual or waste ink build-up interferes with the operation of printing by contaminating the printheads. Furthermore, passive collection systems, such as pads and venturies, have limited effectiveness and limited capability to store non-volatile waste ink. Active systems, such as fans, can be effective, but are complex and expensive to implement.
Other attempts have included providing a rotating annular wheel for receiving waste ink discharged by an ink jet printhead which is driven by a rotary capping assembly which is rotated by a motor and gear or belt. Such a configuration, however, is not readily adaptable for use with sled-type maintenance assemblies, since such sled-type maintenance assemblies do not include a source of rotary motion. In addition, a curvature of the annular wheel is not uniformly spaced from the generally parallel columns of nozzles of the printhead, thereby limiting its effectiveness for waste ink mist recovery.
Accordingly, a need exists for a printing system which includes a simple and effective drive mechanism to provide rotary power to a sled-type maintenance assembly and provides improved waste ink mist recovery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention is a maintenance station for an ink jet printer which includes a frame. A device, such as for example a cylindrical drum, is rotatably coupled to the frame for collecting waste ink. A ratchet drive assembly is coupled to the frame for effecting rotation of the device.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the ratchet drive assembly includes a ratchet gear coupled to the device, wherein the ratchet gear has a plurality of teeth. A distal end of a back-check member engages the teeth of the ratchet gear for effecting a rotation of the device in a first direction. The back-check member effects the rotation of the device in the first direction and prevents a rotation of the device in a direction opposite to the first direction. Also, preferably, rotation of the device is effected as the printhead cap is moved in a vertical direction.
Another aspect of the invention is a maintenance station for an ink jet printer having a carriage assembly for moving an ink jet printhead along a linear scanning path. The ink jet printhead includes a column of nozzles. The maintenance assembly includes a frame and a printhead capping assembly coupled to the frame. The printhead capping assembly has a printhead cap for engaging the printhead during a capping operation. The printhead capping assembly is located on the frame along the linear scanning path of the ink jet printhead. A cylindrical drum having a cylindrical surface is rotatably coupled to the frame and positioned adjacent the printhead capping assembly. The cylindrical drum is orientated such that an axis of rotation of the cylindrical drum is substantially perpendicular to the linear scanning path of the ink jet printhead. The orientation may also provide a substantially uniform spacing between the column of printhead nozzles and the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical drum.
Still another aspect of the invention is a printer for printing with an ink jet printhead. The printer includes a printer frame, and a carriage assembly coupled to the printer frame, wherein the carriage assembly moves the ink jet printhead along a linear scanning path. A maintenance assembly frame is coupled to the printer frame. A device, such as a cylindrical drum, is rotatably coupled to the maintenance frame for collecting waste ink ejected by said printhead. A ratchet drive assembly is coupled to the maintenance frame for effecting rotation of the device.
An advantage of the present invention is the inclusion of a rotatable cylindrical drum for controlling misting and a rotary drive therefor for use in a maintenance assembly having a maintenance sled which moves in a substantially linear motion.
Another advantage is that the rotatable cylindrical drum is oriented to provide a uniform spacing between the columns of printhead nozzles and a cylindrical surface of the cylindrical drum to thereby effectively control ink misting during a printhead nozzle purge operation.
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 an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a partial, perspective view of the frame assembly of an ink jet printer including a maintenance assembly in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged sectional side view of a portion of the maintenance assembly of the invention, with a printhead in a spitting position;
FIG. 3
is a graphical illustration of the relationship between the printhead and a cylindrical drum portion of the maintenance assembly when the printhead is in the spitting position; and
FIG. 4
is an enlarged sectional side view of a portion of the maintenance assembly of the invention, with the printhead in the capping position.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, 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 portion of an ink jet printer
10
which includes a printer frame
12
, a printhead carrier assembly
14
, and a maintenance assembly
16
in accordance with the present invention. Positional terms such as left, right, top, bottom, upper, lower, clockwise or counter-clockwise are assigned based on the orientation of printer
10
in FIG.
1
and should not be considered limiting terminology.
Printer frame
12
includes a bottom frame member
18
, two side frame members
20
a,
20
b,
a rear frame member
22
, and a top frame member
24
. Side frame members
20
a,
20
b
are attached to, and extend generally vertically upwardly from, opposing ends
26
a,
26
b,
respectively, of bottom frame member
18
. Top frame member
24
is mounted and positioned generally parallel to bottom frame member
18
. Rear frame member
22
is disposed between side frame members
20
a,
20
b,
generally above bottom frame member
18
and below top frame member
24
.
Top frame member
24
includes a horizontally extending guide portion
30
and a vertically upwardly extending guide rail
32
disposed at the rear side of guide portion
30
. Guide rail
32
is adapted to slidably receive printhead carrier assembly
14
and permit reciprocating movement of printhead carrier assembly
14
in relation to guide rail
32
in a linear scanning path in the directions depicted by arrows
34
, which is substantially perpendicular to a sheet (S) feed direction
33
.
Printhead carrier assembly
14
includes a carriage
36
which holds two print cartridges
38
a,
38
b,
wherein print cartridge
38
a
contains magenta, yellow and cyan colored pigment based inks and print cartridge
38
b
contains a black dye based ink. In general, pigment based inks contain more solid components than dye based inks.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, each of print cartridges
38
a,
38
b
includes an ink reservoir
40
a,
40
b
and a printhead
42
a,
42
b
respectively. Each of printheads
42
a,
42
b
includes a nozzle plate containing at least two columns of ink jet nozzles for selectively ejecting ink from the corresponding ink reservoirs
40
a,
40
b.
Although each of print cartridges
38
a,
38
b
are shown as forming an integral unit, those skilled in the art will recognize that the reservoirs
40
a,
40
b
may be mounted remotely from the printheads
42
a,
42
b
and connected to the printhead via a conduit. In such a configuration, printhead carrier assembly
14
would not need to carry the ink reservoir.
As shown graphically by dashed lines in
FIG. 1
, printer
10
includes a print zone
44
and a maintenance zone
46
. Maintenance zone
46
includes a maintenance start position
48
and a capping region
49
. The reciprocating movement of printhead carrier assembly
14
along guide rail
32
is effected by a drive means (not shown) of a type known in the art, such as a belt coupled to a stepper motor. The movement of printhead carrier assembly
14
and the ejection of ink from print cartridges
38
a,
38
b
are controlled by a microprocessor control means, types of which are known in the art. During operation, printhead carrier assembly
14
is moved by the drive means to position printheads
42
a,
42
b
at various locations within the predetermined limits of permitted travel of printhead carrier assembly
14
. Included in the limited travel of printhead carrier assembly
14
is print zone
44
and maintenance zone
46
, including start position
48
and capping region
49
.
Maintenance assembly
16
is attached to printer frame
12
above bottom frame member
18
. Maintenance assembly
16
includes a maintenance frame
50
and a maintenance sled
52
. Preferably, maintenance assembly
16
is located such that a left end
56
of maintenance sled
52
generally defines the location of maintenance start position
48
for printhead carrier assembly
14
.
Maintenance frame
50
is a generally rectangular structure formed by vertical sides
58
a,
58
b,
58
c,
and
58
d.
Vertical side
58
a
includes two ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
and vertical side
58
b
includes two ramped surfaces
60
c,
60
d.
Ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
provide vertical support for maintenance sled
52
. Each of ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
is upwardly inclined towards vertical side
58
c
and each contains three distinct elevations: a printing elevation, a wiping elevation, and capping elevation.
Maintenance frame
50
further includes a print latch
62
pivotally coupled at the intersection of vertical sides
58
b,
58
d.
Print latch
62
contains a stop surface
64
and a spring (not shown). Print latch
62
functions to actively control the placement of maintenance sled
52
along ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d.
When print latch
62
is in the open position sled
52
is allowed to migrate along ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
to the lower, or printing, elevation. When print latch
62
is in the closed position sled
52
is prohibited from migrating along ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
to the printing elevation. The spring biases print latch
62
towards the closed position. The structure and operation of print latch
62
is well known in the art.
Maintenance sled
52
is disposed within the open interior of maintenance frame
50
. Maintenance sled
52
includes a generally rectangular frame
68
having four dowel members
70
a,
70
b,
70
c
and
70
d
which extend horizontally outward from rectangular frame
68
. Dowel members
70
a,
70
b,
70
c,
70
d
are supported by the corresponding ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
on maintenance frame
50
and are guided along ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
to raise or lower maintenance sled
52
relative to maintenance frame
50
.
Maintenance sled
52
includes a pair of printhead wipers
72
a,
72
b;
a pair of cap assemblies
74
a,
74
b;
a pair of cavities
76
a,
76
b
and a pair of rotary waste ink collection assemblies
78
a,
78
b.
Each printhead wiper
72
a,
72
b
is made of an elastic material, such as Texin 480-A (Mites, Inc.), and is secured to rectangular frame
68
. Printhead wipers
72
a,
72
b
remove excess ink from the exterior of the nozzles on printheads
42
a,
42
b,
respectively.
Cavities
76
a,
76
b,
are located in rectangular frame
68
to the right of printhead wipers
72
a,
72
b,
respectively.
The structures and operation of the components of maintenance assembly
16
associated with printhead
42
b
will now be described in detail. It is to be understood that the discussion which follows is also applicable to the components of maintenance assembly
16
associated with printhead
42
a,
but for the sake of brevity, will not be discussed in detail below.
Cap assemblies
74
a,
74
b
are substantially identical, and are positioned to the right of cavities
76
a,
76
b,
respectively, and a discussion of one will be equally applicable to the other. Each cap assembly
74
a,
74
b
includes a printhead cap
80
a,
80
b.
FIG. 2
shows in detail the structure of cap assembly
74
b,
which is substantially identical to cap assembly
74
a.
For the sake of brevity, only the structure of cap assembly
74
b
will be discussed in detail below. As shown in
FIG. 2
, cap assembly
74
b
includes printhead cap
80
b
slidably mounted via post
81
to a base
82
for vertical movement, i.e., perpendicular movement with respect to base
82
, which in turn is connected to rectangular frame
68
of maintenance sled
52
. A spring
84
biases printhead cap
80
b
away from base
82
.
Positioned within each of cavities
76
a,
76
b
is a corresponding rotary waste ink collection assembly
78
a,
78
b,
respectively. Rotary waste ink collection assemblies
78
a,
78
b
are substantially identical, and a discussion of one will be equally applicable to the other. For the sake of brevity, only the structure of rotary waste ink collection assembly
78
b
will be described in detail below.
Referring again to
FIG. 1
, maintenance sled
52
further includes a capping tab
86
which extends vertically upward from rectangular frame
68
. Capping tab
86
facilitates the movement of maintenance sled
52
to the wiping elevation or to the capping elevation along ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
when contacted by carriage
36
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, rotary waste ink collection assemblies
78
a,
78
b,
include a cylindrical drum
90
a,
90
b.
FIG. 2
further shows an axle
92
, a scraper
94
and a ratchet mechanism
96
for rotary waste ink collection assembly
78
b.
Cylindrical drums
90
a,
90
b
includes a cylindrical waste ink collection surface
98
a,
98
b,
respectively. Ratchet mechanism
96
includes a ratchet gear
100
and a back-check member
102
. Ratchet gear
100
is shown partially broken-away to expose a drum end
104
of cylindrical drum
90
, to which ratchet gear
100
is attached. An axis
106
defines an axis of rotation of axle
92
which extends along axis
106
from opposing ends of cylindrical drum
90
to engage opposing sidewalls of rectangular frame
68
to rotatably mount cylindrical drum
90
and ratchet gear
100
within cavity
76
b.
Rectangular frame
68
includes a pair of holes or slots to mount axle
92
of cylindrical drum
90
. Axis
106
about which cylindrical drum
90
rotates is located to be in a horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation
34
of printhead carriage
36
. As a result, and as graphically depicted in
FIG. 3
, cylindrical drum
90
b
is positioned such that axis of rotation
106
is substantially perpendicular to scanning direction
34
of reciprocating printheads
42
a,
42
b.
Also, the axis of rotation
106
is such that print nozzles
107
of printhead
42
b,
which are arranged in columns, are substantially uniformly spaced from cylindrical waste ink collection surface
98
b
of the cylindrical drum
90
b
during a printhead spitting, or purging, operation which helps to control misting of the purged ink. In some applications, however, it may be desirable for the axis of rotation
106
of cylindrical drum
90
b
to be slightly inclined with respect to a plane of base
82
.
Referring again to
FIG. 2
, back-check member
102
is mounted to printhead cap
80
b
and is movable therewith. Back-check member
102
includes a distal end
108
which extends outwardly and upwardly from printhead cap
80
b.
Distal end
108
is sized and positioned to engage the teeth
110
of ratchet gear
100
to permit a one-way rotation of ratchet gear
100
, and in turn cylindrical drum
90
, in the direction indicated by arrow
112
, and also prevents a rotation of cylindrical drum
90
in a direction opposite to the direction depicted by arrow
112
.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, during use of printer
10
, printing operations occur in a conventional manner that is well understood in the art. A sheet (S) of print media, such as paper, is carried under printheads
42
a,
42
b,
but above bottom frame member
18
. The sheet (S) is carried by a series of rollers (not shown) in the direction shown by arrow
33
. As the sheet is being carried, printheads
42
a,
42
b
reciprocally traverse print zone
44
. Under the control and at locations selected by a microprocessor control means, print cartridges
38
a,
38
b
selectively eject ink from the respective nozzles of printheads
42
a,
42
b
onto sheet (S).
During a maintenance operation, printheads
42
a,
42
b
are moved into maintenance zone
46
to have a maintenance cycle performed. Two types of maintenance cycles are possible: a printing maintenance cycle and a printhead storage maintenance cycle. Both types of maintenance cycles, i.e., the printing maintenance cycle and the printhead storage maintenance cycle, are effected by maintenance assembly
16
. The operation of rotary waste ink collection assemblies
78
a,
78
b
will now be discussed in relation to the maintenance cycles, i.e., the printing maintenance cycle and printhead storage maintenance cycle, and will be discussed with reference to
FIGS. 1-4
.
FIG. 2
shows the orientation of printhead cap
80
b
and back-check member
102
when printhead
42
b
is in the spitting position.
FIG. 4
shows the orientation of printhead cap
80
b
and back-check member
102
when printhead
42
b
is in the capping position and after maintenance sled
52
is placed at the capping elevation. Some of the discussion that follows describes the details of operation of only rotary waste ink collection assembly
78
b
shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4
, but it is to be understood that the discussion that follows directed specifically to rotary waste ink collection assembly
78
b
is equally applicable to the operation of rotary waste ink collection assembly
78
a.
In a printing maintenance cycle, printhead carrier assembly
14
moves to the right along guide rail
32
to maintenance zone
46
. Printhead carrier assembly
14
passes maintenance start position
48
and as printhead carrier assembly
14
moves farther to the right, the rightward leading side of carriage
36
contacts capping tab
86
of maintenance sled
52
. This contact causes maintenance sled
52
to move to the right with the printhead carrier assembly
14
. The rightward movement of carriage
36
causes print latch
62
to momentarily reside in the open position thereby releasing maintenance sled
52
from the lower, or printing, elevation. Also, the rightward movement of carriage
36
raises maintenance sled
52
to the wiping, or mid-level, elevation because dowel members
70
a,
70
b,
70
c,
70
d
of maintenance sled
52
are guided along ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d.
Once maintenance sled
52
reaches the wiping elevation, print latch
62
resumes the closed position thereby impeding maintenance sled
52
from migrating back down ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
to the printing elevation due to stop surface
64
on print latch
62
. After print latch
62
resumes the closed position, printhead carrier assembly
14
begins to travel back to the left towards print zone
44
. As printhead carrier assembly
14
moves farther to the left, the nozzles of printheads
42
a,
42
b
are wiped by printhead wipers
72
a,
72
b
to remove excess ink from the nozzles and a portion of the leftward leading side of carriage
36
contacts print latch
62
causing print latch
62
to assume the open position. Once print latch
62
is in the open position, dowel members
70
a,
70
b,
70
c,
70
d
of maintenance sled
52
migrate down ramped surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d
from the mid-level wiping elevation to the lower printing elevation due to gravity.
Print cartridges
38
a,
38
b
are positioned over discharge cavities
76
a,
76
b,
respectively. Ink is ejected from the nozzles in printheads
42
a,
42
b.
The ejected ink, or waste ink
118
, falls onto the cylindrical waste ink collection surfaces
98
a,
98
b
of each of cylindrical drums
90
a,
90
b
of rotary waste ink collection assemblies
78
a,
78
b.
After ink is ejected, printhead carrier assembly
14
enters print zone
44
ready to begin printing.
Ink may be ejected from the nozzles of printheads
42
a,
42
b
while maintenance sled
52
is in the mid-level wiping elevation or the lower level printing elevation.
The printhead storage maintenance cycle is generally analogous to the printing maintenance cycle, except that printhead carrier assembly
14
does not stop its rightward motion when maintenance sled
52
is at the wiping elevation. Instead, printhead carrier assembly
14
continues to move to the right, thereby further moving maintenance sled
52
to the right until dowel members
70
a,
70
b,
70
c,
70
d
of maintenance sled
52
are at the capping, or upper, elevation of ramp surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c,
60
d.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, when maintenance sled
52
moves to the capping, or upper, position, printhead cap
80
b
engages printhead
42
b
and printhead cap
80
b
is forced relatively downward in the direction indicated by arrow
114
, e.g. vertically, toward base
82
, thereby placing spring
84
in a state of compression. Since distal end
108
of back-check member
102
extends outwardly and upwardly from printhead cap
80
b,
distal end
108
passes over teeth
110
during the movement in the direction of arrow
114
without effecting rotation of cylindrical drum
90
b.
When maintenance sled
52
is at the capping elevation, caps
80
a,
80
b,
respectively form an air seal around the nozzles on printheads
42
a,
42
b
to prevent the ink on the nozzles from drying.
Once printhead carrier assembly
14
begins to move to the left toward print zone
44
, maintenance sled
52
migrates down ramp surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c
60
d
from the capping elevation to the wiping elevation, thereby disengaging caps
80
a,
80
b
from the respective printheads
42
a,
42
b.
As stated earlier, when printheads
42
a,
42
b
are positioned over cylindrical waste ink collection surfaces
98
a,
98
b
of cylindrical drums
90
a,
90
b,
printheads
42
a,
42
b
eject, or spit, waste ink
118
from the nozzles onto cylindrical waste ink collection surfaces
98
a,
98
b
and are wiped by printhead wipers
72
a,
72
b
as printhead carrier assembly
14
moves to the left. In addition, as caps
80
a,
80
b
are disengaging printheads
42
a,
42
b,
their respective rotary waste ink collection assemblies are activated for rotation.
Referring again to
FIGS. 1 and 4
, as maintenance sled
52
begins to migrate down ramp surfaces
60
a,
60
b,
60
c
60
d
from the capping elevation to the wiping elevation, distal end
108
of back-check member
102
engages teeth
110
, and both printhead cap
80
b
and back-check member
102
move relatively upwardly (e.g., vertically) with respect to base
82
in the direction depicted by arrow
116
to cause cylindrical drum
90
b
to rotate in the direction of arrow
112
. As a result of the rotation of cylindrical drum
90
b,
a portion of the waste ink
118
collected on cylindrical waste ink collection surface
98
b
is removed by scraper
94
, which then falls toward printer bottom frame member
18
. Scraper
94
is positioned so as to remove at least a portion of the waste ink
118
. As shown in
FIG. 4
, scraper
94
is positioned below cylindrical drums
90
a,
90
b;
however, scraper
94
may be positioned along side, above, or even in contact with cylindrical drums
90
a,
90
b.
It should be noted that the position of scraper
94
is limited only to the extent that it should not interfere with the ejection of ink from printheads
42
a,
42
b.
Although the invention is described above in relation to a printing system having two printheads, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is equally applicable to and adaptable to a system having a single printhead, or a system having more than two printheads.
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 maintenance station for an ink jet printer, comprising:a frame; a device rotatably coupled to said frame for collecting waste ink; and a ratchet drive assembly coupled to said frame for effecting rotation of said device, wherein said ratchet drive assembly comprises a ratchet gear coupled to said device, said ratchet gear having a plurality of teeth, and a back-check member having a distal end which engages said teeth for effecting a rotation of said device in a first direction.
- 2. A The maintenance station of claim 1, wherein said back-check member prevents a rotation of said device in a direction opposite to said first direction.
- 3. The maintenance station of claim 1, further comprising a scraper for removing at least a portion of said waste ink from said device as said device is rotated.
- 4. The maintenance station of claim 3, wherein said device is a cylindrical drum having an end.
- 5. The maintenance station of claim 4, wherein said ratchet gear is attached to said end of said cylindrical drum.
- 6. A maintenance station for an ink jet printer, comprising:a frame; a device rotatably coupled to said frame for collecting waste ink; a ratchet drive assembly coupled to said frame for effecting rotation of said device, wherein said ratchet drive assembly comprises a ratchet gear coupled to said device, said ratchet gear having a plurality of teeth, and a back-check member having a distal end which engages said teeth for effecting a rotation of said device in a first direction; and a printhead capping assembly coupled to said frame, said printhead capping assembly having a printhead cap for engaging said printhead during a capping operation, said printhead capping assembly being coupled to said back-check member.
- 7. The maintenance station of claim 6, wherein said rotation of said device is effected as said printhead cap is moved in a vertical direction.
- 8. The maintenance station of claim 6, wherein said rotation of said device is effected as said printhead cap disengages said printhead.
- 9. A maintenance station for an ink jet printer having a carriage assembly for moving an ink jet printhead having a column of nozzles along a linear scanning path, comprising:a frame; a printhead capping assembly coupled to said frame, said printhead capping assembly having a printhead cap for engaging said printhead during a capping operation, said printhead capping assembly being located on said frame along said linear scanning path of said ink jet printhead; and a cylindrical drum having a cylindrical surface, said cylindrical drum being rotatably coupled to said frame and positioned adjacent said printhead capping assembly, said cylindrical drum being orientated such that an axis of rotation of said cylindrical drum is substantially perpendicular to said linear scanning path of said ink jet printhead.
- 10. The maintenance assembly of claim 9, wherein said cylindrical drum is further oriented to provide a substantially uniform spacing between said column of nozzles and said cylindrical surface of said cylindrical drum.
- 11. The maintenance station of claim 9, further comprising a ratchet drive assembly coupled to said frame for effecting a rotation of said cylindrical drum.
- 12. A maintenance station for an ink jet printer having a carriage assembly for moving an ink jet printhead having a column of nozzles along a linear scanning path, comprising:a frame; a printhead capping assembly coupled to said frame, said printhead capping assembly having a printhead cap for engaging said printhead during a capping operation, said printhead capping assembly being located on said frame along said linear scanning path of said ink jet printhead; a cylindrical drum having a cylindrical surface, said cylindrical drum being rotatably coupled to said frame and positioned adjacent said printhead capping assembly, said cylindrical drum being orientated such that an axis of rotation of said cylindrical drum is substantially perpendicular to said linear scanning path of said ink jet printhead; and a ratchet drive assembly coupled to said frame for effecting a rotation of said cylindrical drum, wherein said ratchet drive assembly comprises a ratchet gear coupled to said cylindrical drum, said ratchet gear having a plurality of teeth, and a back-check member coupled to said capping assembly, said back-check member having a distal end which engages said teeth.
- 13. The maintenance station of claim 12, wherein said rotation of said cylindrical drum is effected as said printhead capping assembly disengages said printhead.
- 14. The maintenance station of claim 13, wherein said cylindrical drum is located such that said nozzles are positioned to be substantially uniformly spaced from said cylindrical surface of said cylindrical drum during a nozzle purging operation.
- 15. A printer for printing with an ink jet printhead, comprising:a printer frame; a carriage assembly coupled to said printer frame, said carriage assembly moving said ink jet printhead along a linear scanning path; a maintenance assembly frame coupled to said printer frame; a device rotatably coupled to said maintenance frame for collecting waste ink ejected by said printhead; and a ratchet drive assembly coupled to said maintenance frame for effecting rotation of said device, said ratchet drive assembly comprises a ratchet gear coupled to said device, said ratchet gear having a plurality of teeth, and a back-check member having a distal end which engages said teeth for effecting a rotation of said device in a first direction.
- 16. The printer of claim 15, wherein said back-check member prevents a rotation of said device in a direction opposite to said first direction.
- 17. The printer of claim 15, further comprising a printhead capping assembly coupled to said maintenance frame, said printhead capping assembly having a printhead cap for engaging said printhead during a capping operation, said printhead capping assembly being coupled to said back-check member to effect movement of said back-check member.
- 18. The printer of claim 17, wherein said rotation of said device is effected as said printhead cap disengages said printhead after a printhead capping operation.
- 19. The printer of claim 15, wherein said device is a cylindrical drum having an end.
- 20. The printer of claim 19, further comprising a ratchet gear attached to said end of said cylindrical drum.
- 21. The printer of claim 15, further comprising a scraper for removing at least a portion of said waste ink from said device as said device is rotated.
- 22. The printer of claim 21, wherein said device comprises a cylindrical drum.
US Referenced Citations (7)