EP0569155A2 - Primer apparatus for thermal ink-jet cartridge - Google Patents

Primer apparatus for thermal ink-jet cartridge Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0569155A2
EP0569155A2 EP93303001A EP93303001A EP0569155A2 EP 0569155 A2 EP0569155 A2 EP 0569155A2 EP 93303001 A EP93303001 A EP 93303001A EP 93303001 A EP93303001 A EP 93303001A EP 0569155 A2 EP0569155 A2 EP 0569155A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
end cap
cam
negative pressure
opening
capper
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP93303001A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0569155A3 (en
Inventor
Kevin L. Glassett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HP Inc
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
Publication of EP0569155A2 publication Critical patent/EP0569155A2/en
Publication of EP0569155A3 publication Critical patent/EP0569155A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/135Nozzles
    • B41J2/165Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16526Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head by applying pressure only
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/135Nozzles
    • B41J2/165Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16532Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head by applying vacuum only
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling

Definitions

  • the subject invention generally relates to ink-jet printer technology, and is directed more particularly to apparatus for priming a thermal ink-jet printhead cartridge.
  • Thermal ink jet printers commonly utilize ink jet printhead cartridges which typically include one or more ink reservoirs and an integrated circuit printhead that includes a nozzle plate having an array of ink ejecting nozzles which emit ink droplets in response to electrical pulses provided to the printhead.
  • printhead cartridges An important consideration with printhead cartridges is the need to ready a cartridge for printing. For example, when a new cartridge is installed in a printer or after a period of non-usage, the cartridge might be unable to produce ink drops at one or more nozzles, for example as a result of foreign contamination of the nozzles, dried ink in the nozzles, or air injected into the nozzles.
  • Known systems for priming include those which are involve the application of pressure to the ink supply in order to cause ink flow into the ink containing chambers that are adjacent the ink ejecting nozzles. Considerations with such known systems is need for access to the ink reservoir, and the various mechanical impedances between the ink reservoir and the nozzles which reduce the pressure that eventually reaches the nozzles.
  • a primer apparatus that includes an elongated resilient bellows assembly compressible along its length and having upper and lower end caps at its ends.
  • the upper cap includes an opening at which negative pressure (i.e., lower that ambient atmospheric pressure) is produced when the upper and lower end caps are relatively displaced away from each other.
  • a nozzle plate engaging capper having an opening is supported by the first end cap of the bellows assembly for selectively engagement with the nozzle array of the cartridge being primed to form a seal therewith so that the negative pressure produced in the opening of the first end cap is communicated to the nozzles of the nozzle array.
  • the displacement of the lower end cap is controlled by cam surfaces formed on the inner opposing surfaces of parallel plate-like gear sectors of a rotatable cam assembly which also includes cam edges for moving a sliding cam member that moves the upper end cap between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein movement of the upper end cap from the retracted position to the extended position is away from the lower end cap.
  • a rotatable cam assembly which also includes cam edges for moving a sliding cam member that moves the upper end cap between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein movement of the upper end cap from the retracted position to the extended position is away from the lower end cap.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 set forth therein are schematic perspective views of an ink-jet cartridge primer in accordance with the invention.
  • the primer includes an upper housing 51 and a base housing 53 which are secured to each other.
  • the top housing 53 includes a chute 55 for accepting a conventional inkjet cartridge 57 having a downwardly facing nozzle plate 58 which contains an array of inkjet nozzles.
  • the ink jet cartridge includes an ink reservoir 54 for containing ink which is appropriately fed to ink firing chambers (not shown) located adjacent to the nozzles of the nozzle array.
  • the chute 55 includes a front wall 57, side walls 59, a top wall offset rearwardly from the front wall 57, as well as appropriate stops and a clip for retaining the cartridge 57 in a fixed position.
  • the chute 55 is configured to retain the cartridge 57 with the nozzle array of the nozzle plate in alignment with the opening in a capper 119 that is supported within the primer and is located in an opening in the top wall of the upper housing 51.
  • the capper 119 comprises a resilient material such as rubber and the opening thereof includes a raised rim that is capable of surrounding the nozzle array of nozzle plate 58 and forming a seal therewith.
  • a plunger 61 is manually depressed to perform the priming procedure by which negative pressure (i.e., lower than ambient atmospheric pressure) is produced at the opening of the capper 119 as it is raised against the cartridge nozzle plate.
  • the capper 119 remains engaged against the nozzle plate 58 while the negative pressure at the capper opening is made more negative, which draws ink into the nozzles of the nozzle array. While negative pressure continues to be present at the opening of the capper, the capper is retracted from the nozzle.
  • the bellows assembly 50 includes upper and lower end caps 101, 103, and an internal spring 105 having ends engaged in retaining recesses 107, 109 in the end caps 101, 103.
  • Aflexible, pliable sleeve 111 snugly surrounds the spring 105 and has its ends securely engaged around annular convex beads 113, 115 formed in the proximal portions of the end caps 101, 103.
  • the sleeve 111 is configured such thatthe internal spring 105 is slightly compressed when the bellows is fully expanded, whereby the length of the uncompressed bellows assembly is determined by the sleeve 111.
  • the upper end cap 101 (further shown in top plan view in FIG. 4) includes an axially oriented projection 117 having an opening that extends into the inside volume of the bellows assembly, and the capper 119 is fitted over the end of the projection 117 with its opening in communication with the opening of the projection 117.
  • a top plate 102 surrounds the projection 117, and is separated therefrom by an intervening recess.
  • the upper end cap 101 further includes pins 121 aligned with the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly and located at diametrically opposite locations. As described further herein in conjunction with FIG.
  • the pins 121 are slidably engaged in corresponding openings 91 in the top wall of the top cover 51, and allow for movement of the upper end cap 101 along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly. Such movement is imparted to the upper end cap 101 by movement of laterally extending cam follower pegs 131 which are downwardly offset relative to the top plate so as to be lower than the peripheral edges of the top plate.
  • the lower end cap 103 includes a centrally located bore 123 for retaining an ink permeable plug 125 that is sufficiently impermeable to air to allow the bellows assembly 50 to produce negative pressure at the opening of the capper 119 pursuant to expansion of the bellows assembly.
  • the lower end cap 103 further includes diametrically opposite L-shaped guides 129, each having a radially extending section and an upwardly extending section. Cam follower pegs 127 extend radially from the guides 129.
  • the bellows assembly 60 When installed in the primer, the bellows assembly 60 is compressed and expanded by controllably moving the upper end cap 101 and the lower end cap 103 relative to each other.
  • the end caps 101, 103 are constrained to be movable only along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly 50, and the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap 101 and the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103 are engaged against respective cam surfaces that control the movement of the end caps along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly.
  • cam surfaces for the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap 101 engage the top portion of the pegs while the cam surfaces for the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103 engage the bottom portion of the pegs, and the bellows assembly 50 is of sufficient length it is partially when it is at its maximum expansion as allowed by the cam surfaces. In this manner, the cam follower pegs 127, 131 are continuously providing an expanding bias against their associated cam surfaces.
  • FIG. 5 set forth therein is an exploded perspective view of components of the primer that cooperate with the bellows assembly 50 to achieve the application of priming negative pressure to the nozzle array of the cartridge 57.
  • the L-shaped guides 129 of the bellows assembly are slidably engaged in vertical slots 129 formed by the adjacent edges of vertically extending guide members 131 attached to the bottom of the base housing 51, while the pegs 121 of the bellows assembly upper end cap 101 are slidably engaged in apertures 91 in the top wall of the upper housing 51 which are located such that the upper and lower end caps 101, 103 are aligned with each other along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly 50, and the displacement of the end caps 101, 103 will be along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly 50.
  • the vertical position of the upper end cap 101 is controlled by engagement of the cam follower pegs 131 against cam surfaces on the bottom of parallel cam members 64 of a rectangular slider 70 that surrounds the top plate 102 of the upper end cap 101.
  • the parallel cam member 64 are positioned tangentially to corresponding edges of the upper end cap top plate 102 adjacent, and are fixed relative to each other by parallel support members 66 located between the ends of the parallel cam members 64.
  • the parallel cam members 64 are slidably biased against the inside surface of the top wall of the upper housing 51 by the cam follower pegs 131 of the end cap 101.
  • the vertical position of the lower end cap 103 is controlled by engagement of the cam follower pegs 127 against cam surfaces 95 formed on the inner opposing surfaces of parallel plate-like gear sectors 65 of a rotatable cam assembly 60.
  • a helper spring 133 is located between the lower end cap 103 and an ink absorbing pad located atthe bottom of the base housing 53 provide an upward bias on the lower end cap that facilitates the upward movement of the lower end cap 103 pursuant to movement of the cam surfaces 95 against the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap.
  • the gear sectors 65 of the cam assembly 60 are fixed to each other by cross members 67, 69, and the cam surfaces 95 on their inside surfaces are mirror images of each other.
  • a cylindrical spacer 71 and a spindle 73 are located on each gear sector 65 with both spacers and both spindles being coaxial on the line formed by the axial centers of gear sections 75 of each gear sector.
  • Torsional coiled wire springs 77 are positioned around the cylindrical spacers 71 with the ends 77a, 77b of each wire forming a spring extending beyond positioning stops 81a, 81 b formed on the gear sectors at appropriate locations.
  • the spindles 73 are rotatably supported in slots 79 formed in the upper edges of the front and rearwalls of the base housing 53.
  • Rotation of the cam assembly 60 in conjunction with the downward bias of the lower end cap 103 and the upward bias of the helper spring causes the lower end cap 103 to move up and down along the slots 129.
  • the upwardly extending portions of the L-shaped guides 125 prevent the rotation of the guides 125 as they move up an down in the vertical slots 129, thereby maintaining the orientation of the lower end cap as it moves up an down in the slots 129.
  • the gear sectors of the cam assembly 60 further include slider engaging edges 74a, 74b formed in the gear sectors at locations opposite the opposite the gear teeth.
  • the engaging edges 74a, 74b are configured to move the slider 70 by engagement with the actuating pegs 93 of the slider at appropriate positions in the rotations of the cam assembly 60.
  • the profile includes a lower dwell section D1 that defines the lowest vertical position for t he lower end cap 101, a vertical movement section M, and an upper dwell section D2 that defines the highest position for the lower end cap 101.
  • the lower dwell section D1 and the upper dwell section D2 are of respective constant radii relative to the spindle axis, wherein the radius of the lower dwell section D1 is greater than the radius of the upper dwell section D2.
  • the points of the vertical movement section M are at different distances from the spindle axis with such distance decreasing from the radius of the lower dwell section at end of the vertical displacement section closest to the lower dwell section D1 tothe radius of the upper dwell section at the end of the vertical movement section M closest to the upper dwell section D2.
  • the gear sectors 65 of the cam assembly 60 include gear teeth 75 which are engaged with pinion gears 85 located on either side of a cylindrical flywheel 83 and coaxial therewith.
  • Spindles 87 outboard of the pinion gears are slidably engaged in slots of flywheel supporting members 89 formed on the inside of the front and rearwalls of the base support 53.
  • the flywheel rotates with the rotation of the cam assembly 60.
  • clockwise rotation of the cam assembly will refer to rotation of the cam assembly which moves the support member 67 toward the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103, which is consistent with the perspective view of FIG. 5, the cam profile of FIG. 6, and the elevational sectional views of FIGS. 8-17.
  • FIG. 7 schematically depicts, relative to the clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) rotation of the cam assembly 60, the displacements of the upper end cap 101, the lower end cap 103, and the slider 70; the cam assembly rotation interval during which the spring ends 77a are tensioned; the cam assembly rotation interval during which one of the spring ends 77b is tensioned; and the negative pressure (suction) at the opening of the capper 119.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates the cam assembly 60 in its resting angular position that is defined by the lower dwell section D1 of the cam surfaces 95 and a stop 52b located on the inside surface of the rear wall of the base housing 53 and engageable by the spring end 77b of the spring 77 adjacent such rear wall.
  • the resting angular position is defined by locating the stop 52b such that spring end 77b rests in a non-tensioned manner on the stop 52b when the cam assembly is angularly positioned with a portion of the dwell section D1 close to the vertical displacement section M engaged with the cam follower pegs 127.
  • the spring end 77b will be tensioned which will cause the cam assembly 60 to rotate clockwise to its angular resting position when the rotation causing force is removed. If the cam assembly 60 is rotated clockwise away from its angular resting position, the lower end cap 103 is raised by engagement of the vertical movement section M of the cam surfaces 95 with the cam follower pegs 127, and the downward bias of the cam follower pegs 127 will tend to rotate the cam assembly 60 counterclockwise to its angular resting position when the rotation cause force is removed.
  • the slider 70 is shown in the leftmost position as appropriate for the start of the priming operation, and in which it will be placed at the end of a priming operation as described further herein.
  • the slider 70 is readily initialized to the leftmost position by depressing the plunger without a cartridge in the cartridge chute.
  • the cam assembly 60 is configured such that the support member 67 is at its highest position when cam assembly is its angular resting position as shown in FIG. 8.
  • the support member 67 is engageable by an actuating tab 62 of the plunger 61 pursuant to depression of the plunger 61 which extends through an opening in the top wall of the upper housing 51 and travels along a guide rod 68 secured to the bottom of the base housing 53.
  • a coil spring 72 provides expanding bias that restores the plunger to a raised position when it is released after being depressed.
  • the top of the actuating tab 62 can be utilized to limit the upward travel of the plunger 61 by engagement with the inside surface of the top wall of the upper housing 51.
  • the movement of the slider to the right eventually slides the angled cam surfaces 64c of the slider 60 into engagement with the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap, which then causes the slider 70 to snap to the right pursuant to upward bias exerted by the cam follower pegs 131 against the angled ramp surfaces 64c, which allows the upper end cap 101 of the bellows assembly to move upwardly as the angled cam surfaces 64c and then the recessed cam surfaces 64c of the cam members 64 slide against the cam follower pegs 131.
  • the slider 60 and the cam surfaces 95 are configured such that only the upper dwell section D1 is sliding against the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103 when the upper end cap 101 moves upwardly to engage the capper 119 against the nozzle plate 58. In this manner, the lower end cap 103 is stationary while the upper end cap 101 moves upwardly, which produces negative pressure at the opening of the capper 119 as it seals against the nozzle plate 58.
  • the spring ends 77a engage stops 52a located on the front and rear walls of the lower base 53, as shown in FIG. 10, which also shows the slider 60 fully to the right as a result of the sliding force imparted on the angled surfaces 64c by the upward bias of the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap.
  • the spring 77 is tensioned as the cam assembly 60 continues to be rotated clockwise by the downward movement of the plunger 61.
  • the engagement of the spring ends 77a against the stops 52a is represented in FIG. 7 by the line A.
  • the lower end cap 103 moves downwardly by virtue of the vertical displacement section M of the cam surfaces 95, whereby the bellows assembly 60 expands to make the pressure at the opening of the capper more negative that the initial negative pressure produced upon engagement of the capper against the nozzle plate 58, which causes ink to be suctioned out of the nozzles of the nozzle plate 58.
  • the rotation of the cam assembly 60 is slowed, whereby the ink suctioning negative pressure is applied over a longer time interval than would be provided if the cam assembly 60 were rotated without the flywheel 83.
  • the cam edges 74a engage the cam follower pegs 95 of the slider and move the slider 70 to the leftwith the counterclockwise rotation, which causes the angled surfaces 64c and then the non-recessed surfaces 64 to slide over the cam follower pegs 131, thereby causing the upper end cap to be moved downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
  • the slider 70, the cam edges 74a, and the cam surfaces 95 are configured such while the upper end cap 101 is moving downwardly, the lower end cap 103 moves downwardly at a greater rate than the rate of the downward movement of the upper cap, whereby negative pressure is present at the opening of the capper as it is being disengaged from the nozzle plate of the cartridge.
  • the negative pressure during disengagement of the capper from the nozzle plate 58 can be less than the ink suctioning negative pressure.
  • the cam assembly continues to rotate in the counterclockwise direction past its resting angular position until the spring end 77b engages the stop 52, as shown in FIG. 14.
  • the engagement of the spring end 77b against the stop 52b is represented in FIG. 7 by the line B.
  • the ink jet cartridge primer in accordance with the invention seals a capper against the nozzle plate of the inkjet cartridge to be primed while producing negative pressure at the opening of the capper, produces priming ink suctioning negative pressure to the nozzles via the opening of the capper sealed against the nozzle plate, and then unsealing capper from the nozzle plate while producing negative pressure at the opening of the capper.
  • negative pressure is provided at the nozzle array at all times that the capper is engaged against the nozzle plate, which avoids the application or positive or zero pressure by the capper to the cartridge nozzle array.

Abstract

Ink jet printhead primer apparatus includes an elongated bellows assembly (50) compressible along its length and having upper and lower end caps (101, 103). The upper cap includes an opening at which negative pressure is produced when the upper and lower end caps are relatively displaced away from each other. A capper (119) having an opening is supported by the upper end cap of the bellows assembly for selectively engagement with the nozzle array (58) of the cartridge (570)being primed to form a seal therewith so that the negative pressure produced in the opening of the upper end cap is communicated to the nozzles of the nozzle array. Displacement of the lower end cap is controlled by cam surfaces (95) formed on the inner opposing surfaces of parallel plate-like gear sectors (65) of a rotatable cam assembly(60) having gear teeth (75) that drive a flywheel (83). The gear sectors of the cam assembly further include cam edges (74a, 74b) for moving a sliding cam member (70) that moves the upper end cap between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein movement of the upper end cap from the retracted position to the extended position is away from the lower end cap. Pursuant to rotation of the cam assembly in one direction and then in the opposite direction, negative pressure is produced at the capper opening as it is engaged with the nozzle plate of the cartridge to be primed, ink suctioning negative pressure is then produced, and the capper is disengaged from the nozzle plate of the cartridge while negative pressure continues to be maintained at the opening of the capper. In this manner, negative pressure is provided at the capper opening at all times that the capper is engaged against the nozzle plate.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • The subject invention generally relates to ink-jet printer technology, and is directed more particularly to apparatus for priming a thermal ink-jet printhead cartridge.
  • Thermal ink jet printers commonly utilize ink jet printhead cartridges which typically include one or more ink reservoirs and an integrated circuit printhead that includes a nozzle plate having an array of ink ejecting nozzles which emit ink droplets in response to electrical pulses provided to the printhead.
  • An important consideration with printhead cartridges is the need to ready a cartridge for printing. For example, when a new cartridge is installed in a printer or after a period of non-usage, the cartridge might be unable to produce ink drops at one or more nozzles, for example as a result of foreign contamination of the nozzles, dried ink in the nozzles, or air injected into the nozzles.
  • Known systems for priming include those which are involve the application of pressure to the ink supply in order to cause ink flow into the ink containing chambers that are adjacent the ink ejecting nozzles. Considerations with such known systems is need for access to the ink reservoir, and the various mechanical impedances between the ink reservoir and the nozzles which reduce the pressure that eventually reaches the nozzles.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • It would therefore be an advantage to provide an ink jet cartridge primer that provides priming negative pressure directly to the nozzles of an inkjet cartridge.
  • The foregoing and other advantages are provided by the invention in a primer apparatus that includes an elongated resilient bellows assembly compressible along its length and having upper and lower end caps at its ends. The upper cap includes an opening at which negative pressure (i.e., lower that ambient atmospheric pressure) is produced when the upper and lower end caps are relatively displaced away from each other. A nozzle plate engaging capper having an opening is supported by the first end cap of the bellows assembly for selectively engagement with the nozzle array of the cartridge being primed to form a seal therewith so that the negative pressure produced in the opening of the first end cap is communicated to the nozzles of the nozzle array. The displacement of the lower end cap is controlled by cam surfaces formed on the inner opposing surfaces of parallel plate-like gear sectors of a rotatable cam assembly which also includes cam edges for moving a sliding cam member that moves the upper end cap between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein movement of the upper end cap from the retracted position to the extended position is away from the lower end cap. Pursuant to rotation of the cam assembly in one direction and then in the opposite direction, negative pressure is produced at the capper opening as it is engaged with the nozzle plate of the cartridge to be primed, ink suctioning negative pressure is then produced, and the capper is disengaged from the nozzle plate of the cartridge while negative pressure continues to be maintained at the opening of the capper. In this manner, negative pressure is provided atthe capper opening at all times that the capper is engaged against the nozzle plate, which avoids the application or positive or zero pressure by the capper to the cartridge nozzle array.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The advantages and features of the disclosed invention will readily be appreciated by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:
    • FIG. 1 is a perspective partial cutaway view of the exterior of a ink jet cartridge primer in accordance with the invention for priming an inkjet printhead cartridge.
    • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exterior of the inkjet cartridge primer of FIG. 1 having a printhead cartridge installed therein for priming.
    • FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational sectional view illustrating the bellows assembly of the primer of FIG. 1.
    • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the upper end cap of the bellows assembly of FIG. 3.
    • FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the components of the primer of FIG. 1.
    • FIG. 6 is a schematic elevational view of the profile of certain cam surfaces in a cam assembly of the primer of FIG. 1 which control the displacement of the lower end cap of the bellows of FIG. 3.
    • FIG. 7 schematically depicts the various displacements of components of the primer of FIG. 1 during the operation thereof.
    • FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are schematic elevational sectional view illustrating the operation of the components of the primer of FIG. 1.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
  • In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawing, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.
  • Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, set forth therein are schematic perspective views of an ink-jet cartridge primer in accordance with the invention. The primer includes an upper housing 51 and a base housing 53 which are secured to each other. The top housing 53 includes a chute 55 for accepting a conventional inkjet cartridge 57 having a downwardly facing nozzle plate 58 which contains an array of inkjet nozzles. In accordance with known designs, the ink jet cartridge includes an ink reservoir 54 for containing ink which is appropriately fed to ink firing chambers (not shown) located adjacent to the nozzles of the nozzle array.
  • The chute 55 includes a front wall 57, side walls 59, a top wall offset rearwardly from the front wall 57, as well as appropriate stops and a clip for retaining the cartridge 57 in a fixed position. The chute 55 is configured to retain the cartridge 57 with the nozzle array of the nozzle plate in alignment with the opening in a capper 119 that is supported within the primer and is located in an opening in the top wall of the upper housing 51. The capper 119 comprises a resilient material such as rubber and the opening thereof includes a raised rim that is capable of surrounding the nozzle array of nozzle plate 58 and forming a seal therewith. As discussed more fully herein, when the cartridge 57 is secured in the chute 55, a plunger 61 is manually depressed to perform the priming procedure by which negative pressure (i.e., lower than ambient atmospheric pressure) is produced at the opening of the capper 119 as it is raised against the cartridge nozzle plate. The capper 119 remains engaged against the nozzle plate 58 while the negative pressure at the capper opening is made more negative, which draws ink into the nozzles of the nozzle array. While negative pressure continues to be present at the opening of the capper, the capper is retracted from the nozzle. In this manner, negative pressure is continuously present at the opening of the capper 119 from the time it is engaged with the nozzle plate 58 until the time it is disengaged the from the nozzle plate 58, whereby neither positive nor zero pressure is ever applied by the capper to the nozzle array of the cartridge 57.
  • Referring now to FIG. 3, set forth therein is a schematic sectional view of a bellows assembly 50 which supports the capper 119 and is contained in the primer, as discussed further herein relative to FIG. 5. The bellows assembly 50 includes upper and lower end caps 101, 103, and an internal spring 105 having ends engaged in retaining recesses 107, 109 in the end caps 101, 103. Aflexible, pliable sleeve 111 snugly surrounds the spring 105 and has its ends securely engaged around annular convex beads 113, 115 formed in the proximal portions of the end caps 101, 103. The sleeve 111 is configured such thatthe internal spring 105 is slightly compressed when the bellows is fully expanded, whereby the length of the uncompressed bellows assembly is determined by the sleeve 111.
  • The upper end cap 101 (further shown in top plan view in FIG. 4) includes an axially oriented projection 117 having an opening that extends into the inside volume of the bellows assembly, and the capper 119 is fitted over the end of the projection 117 with its opening in communication with the opening of the projection 117. A top plate 102 surrounds the projection 117, and is separated therefrom by an intervening recess. The upper end cap 101 further includes pins 121 aligned with the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly and located at diametrically opposite locations. As described further herein in conjunction with FIG. 5, the pins 121 are slidably engaged in corresponding openings 91 in the top wall of the top cover 51, and allow for movement of the upper end cap 101 along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly. Such movement is imparted to the upper end cap 101 by movement of laterally extending cam follower pegs 131 which are downwardly offset relative to the top plate so as to be lower than the peripheral edges of the top plate.
  • The lower end cap 103 includes a centrally located bore 123 for retaining an ink permeable plug 125 that is sufficiently impermeable to air to allow the bellows assembly 50 to produce negative pressure at the opening of the capper 119 pursuant to expansion of the bellows assembly. The lower end cap 103 further includes diametrically opposite L-shaped guides 129, each having a radially extending section and an upwardly extending section. Cam follower pegs 127 extend radially from the guides 129.
  • When installed in the primer, the bellows assembly 60 is compressed and expanded by controllably moving the upper end cap 101 and the lower end cap 103 relative to each other. In particular, the end caps 101, 103 are constrained to be movable only along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly 50, and the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap 101 and the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103 are engaged against respective cam surfaces that control the movement of the end caps along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly. By way of illustrative implementation, cam surfaces for the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap 101 engage the top portion of the pegs while the cam surfaces for the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103 engage the bottom portion of the pegs, and the bellows assembly 50 is of sufficient length it is partially when it is at its maximum expansion as allowed by the cam surfaces. In this manner, the cam follower pegs 127, 131 are continuously providing an expanding bias against their associated cam surfaces.
  • Referring now to FIG. 5, set forth therein is an exploded perspective view of components of the primer that cooperate with the bellows assembly 50 to achieve the application of priming negative pressure to the nozzle array of the cartridge 57. The L-shaped guides 129 of the bellows assembly are slidably engaged in vertical slots 129 formed by the adjacent edges of vertically extending guide members 131 attached to the bottom of the base housing 51, while the pegs 121 of the bellows assembly upper end cap 101 are slidably engaged in apertures 91 in the top wall of the upper housing 51 which are located such that the upper and lower end caps 101, 103 are aligned with each other along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly 50, and the displacement of the end caps 101, 103 will be along the longitudinal extent of the bellows assembly 50.
  • The vertical position of the upper end cap 101 is controlled by engagement of the cam follower pegs 131 against cam surfaces on the bottom of parallel cam members 64 of a rectangular slider 70 that surrounds the top plate 102 of the upper end cap 101. The parallel cam member 64 are positioned tangentially to corresponding edges of the upper end cap top plate 102 adjacent, and are fixed relative to each other by parallel support members 66 located between the ends of the parallel cam members 64. The parallel cam members 64 are slidably biased against the inside surface of the top wall of the upper housing 51 by the cam follower pegs 131 of the end cap 101. Pursuant to the position of the cam members 64 relative to the top plate 102, the movement of the slider 70 is constrained to be along the cam members 64 as indicated by the double arrow 65 in FIG. 5. Actuating pegs 93 extend laterally from the parallel cam members 64 and are engaged to move the slider 70 along the axis 65, as described more fully herein.
  • The vertical position of the lower end cap 103 is controlled by engagement of the cam follower pegs 127 against cam surfaces 95 formed on the inner opposing surfaces of parallel plate-like gear sectors 65 of a rotatable cam assembly 60. A helper spring 133 is located between the lower end cap 103 and an ink absorbing pad located atthe bottom of the base housing 53 provide an upward bias on the lower end cap that facilitates the upward movement of the lower end cap 103 pursuant to movement of the cam surfaces 95 against the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap. The gear sectors 65 of the cam assembly 60 are fixed to each other by cross members 67, 69, and the cam surfaces 95 on their inside surfaces are mirror images of each other. A cylindrical spacer 71 and a spindle 73 are located on each gear sector 65 with both spacers and both spindles being coaxial on the line formed by the axial centers of gear sections 75 of each gear sector. Torsional coiled wire springs 77 are positioned around the cylindrical spacers 71 with the ends 77a, 77b of each wire forming a spring extending beyond positioning stops 81a, 81 b formed on the gear sectors at appropriate locations. The spindles 73 are rotatably supported in slots 79 formed in the upper edges of the front and rearwalls of the base housing 53. Rotation of the cam assembly 60 in conjunction with the downward bias of the lower end cap 103 and the upward bias of the helper spring causes the lower end cap 103 to move up and down along the slots 129. The upwardly extending portions of the L-shaped guides 125 prevent the rotation of the guides 125 as they move up an down in the vertical slots 129, thereby maintaining the orientation of the lower end cap as it moves up an down in the slots 129.
  • The gear sectors of the cam assembly 60 further include slider engaging edges 74a, 74b formed in the gear sectors at locations opposite the opposite the gear teeth. The engaging edges 74a, 74b are configured to move the slider 70 by engagement with the actuating pegs 93 of the slider at appropriate positions in the rotations of the cam assembly 60.
  • Referring now to FIG. 6, schematically illustrated therein is the profile of each of the cam surfaces 95. The profile includes a lower dwell section D1 that defines the lowest vertical position for t he lower end cap 101, a vertical movement section M, and an upper dwell section D2 that defines the highest position for the lower end cap 101. The lower dwell section D1 and the upper dwell section D2 are of respective constant radii relative to the spindle axis, wherein the radius of the lower dwell section D1 is greater than the radius of the upper dwell section D2. The points of the vertical movement section M are at different distances from the spindle axis with such distance decreasing from the radius of the lower dwell section at end of the vertical displacement section closest to the lower dwell section D1 tothe radius of the upper dwell section at the end of the vertical movement section M closest to the upper dwell section D2.
  • The gear sectors 65 of the cam assembly 60 include gear teeth 75 which are engaged with pinion gears 85 located on either side of a cylindrical flywheel 83 and coaxial therewith. Spindles 87 outboard of the pinion gears are slidably engaged in slots of flywheel supporting members 89 formed on the inside of the front and rearwalls of the base support 53. Thus, the flywheel rotates with the rotation of the cam assembly 60.
  • For reference, clockwise rotation of the cam assembly will refer to rotation of the cam assembly which moves the support member 67 toward the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103, which is consistent with the perspective view of FIG. 5, the cam profile of FIG. 6, and the elevational sectional views of FIGS. 8-17.
  • The operation as well as further details of the primer will now be discussed in conjunction with FIGS 7-17 wherein FIG. 7 schematically depicts, relative to the clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) rotation of the cam assembly 60, the displacements of the upper end cap 101, the lower end cap 103, and the slider 70; the cam assembly rotation interval during which the spring ends 77a are tensioned; the cam assembly rotation interval during which one of the spring ends 77b is tensioned; and the negative pressure (suction) at the opening of the capper 119.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates the cam assembly 60 in its resting angular position that is defined by the lower dwell section D1 of the cam surfaces 95 and a stop 52b located on the inside surface of the rear wall of the base housing 53 and engageable by the spring end 77b of the spring 77 adjacent such rear wall. In particular, the resting angular position is defined by locating the stop 52b such that spring end 77b rests in a non-tensioned manner on the stop 52b when the cam assembly is angularly positioned with a portion of the dwell section D1 close to the vertical displacement section M engaged with the cam follower pegs 127. If the cam assembly 60 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction from the angular resting position, the spring end 77b will be tensioned which will cause the cam assembly 60 to rotate clockwise to its angular resting position when the rotation causing force is removed. If the cam assembly 60 is rotated clockwise away from its angular resting position, the lower end cap 103 is raised by engagement of the vertical movement section M of the cam surfaces 95 with the cam follower pegs 127, and the downward bias of the cam follower pegs 127 will tend to rotate the cam assembly 60 counterclockwise to its angular resting position when the rotation cause force is removed.
  • In FIG. 8, the slider 70 is shown in the leftmost position as appropriate for the start of the priming operation, and in which it will be placed at the end of a priming operation as described further herein. The slider 70 is readily initialized to the leftmost position by depressing the plunger without a cartridge in the cartridge chute.
  • The cam assembly 60 is configured such that the support member 67 is at its highest position when cam assembly is its angular resting position as shown in FIG. 8. The support member 67 is engageable by an actuating tab 62 of the plunger 61 pursuant to depression of the plunger 61 which extends through an opening in the top wall of the upper housing 51 and travels along a guide rod 68 secured to the bottom of the base housing 53. A coil spring 72 provides expanding bias that restores the plunger to a raised position when it is released after being depressed. The top of the actuating tab 62 can be utilized to limit the upward travel of the plunger 61 by engagement with the inside surface of the top wall of the upper housing 51.
  • Depression of the plunger 61 with the actuating tab 62 engaged on the top of the support member 67 causes the cam assembly 60 to rotate in the clockwise direction. As the cam assembly rotates, the vertical movement section M of the cam surfaces 95 causes the lower end cap 103 to move upwardly, thereby compressing the bellows assembly 60, and the cam edges 77b eventually engage the cam follower pegs 93 of the slider 70, as shown in FIG. 9. The movement of the slider to the right eventually slides the angled cam surfaces 64c of the slider 60 into engagement with the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap, which then causes the slider 70 to snap to the right pursuant to upward bias exerted by the cam follower pegs 131 against the angled ramp surfaces 64c, which allows the upper end cap 101 of the bellows assembly to move upwardly as the angled cam surfaces 64c and then the recessed cam surfaces 64c of the cam members 64 slide against the cam follower pegs 131. The slider 60 and the cam surfaces 95 are configured such that only the upper dwell section D1 is sliding against the cam follower pegs 127 of the lower end cap 103 when the upper end cap 101 moves upwardly to engage the capper 119 against the nozzle plate 58. In this manner, the lower end cap 103 is stationary while the upper end cap 101 moves upwardly, which produces negative pressure at the opening of the capper 119 as it seals against the nozzle plate 58.
  • As the cam assembly 60 continues to rotate clockwise pursuant to continued depression of the plunger 61, the spring ends 77a engage stops 52a located on the front and rear walls of the lower base 53, as shown in FIG. 10, which also shows the slider 60 fully to the right as a result of the sliding force imparted on the angled surfaces 64c by the upward bias of the cam follower pegs 131 of the upper end cap. Pursuant to such engagement, the spring 77 is tensioned as the cam assembly 60 continues to be rotated clockwise by the downward movement of the plunger 61. The engagement of the spring ends 77a against the stops 52a is represented in FIG. 7 by the line A.
  • As the cam assembly rotates clockwise, the support member67 moves further away from the plunger by virtue of the circular path it is following, and the actuating tab 62 eventually bypasses the support member 67, as shown in FIG. 11. After the support member 67 is free of the actuating tab 62, the cam assembly slows and then begins rotating in the counterclockwise direction pursuant to the tension of the springs 77. At the beginning portion of the counterclockwise rotation, the pressure at the opening of the capper does not change by virtue of the upper dwell section D2 of the cam surfaces 95. With continuation of the counterclockwise rotation, the lower end cap 103 moves downwardly by virtue of the vertical displacement section M of the cam surfaces 95, whereby the bellows assembly 60 expands to make the pressure at the opening of the capper more negative that the initial negative pressure produced upon engagement of the capper against the nozzle plate 58, which causes ink to be suctioned out of the nozzles of the nozzle plate 58. As a result of the inertia of the flywheel 83, the rotation of the cam assembly 60 is slowed, whereby the ink suctioning negative pressure is applied over a longer time interval than would be provided if the cam assembly 60 were rotated without the flywheel 83.
  • As the cam assembly 60 continues its counterclockwise rotation, the spring ends 77a eventually become disengaged from the stops 52a, but the cam assembly 60 continues to rotate counterclockwise pursuant to the rotational momentum of the flywheel 83.
  • Prior to reaching its resting angular position, the cam edges 74a engage the cam follower pegs 95 of the slider and move the slider 70 to the leftwith the counterclockwise rotation, which causes the angled surfaces 64c and then the non-recessed surfaces 64 to slide over the cam follower pegs 131, thereby causing the upper end cap to be moved downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The slider 70, the cam edges 74a, and the cam surfaces 95 are configured such while the upper end cap 101 is moving downwardly, the lower end cap 103 moves downwardly at a greater rate than the rate of the downward movement of the upper cap, whereby negative pressure is present at the opening of the capper as it is being disengaged from the nozzle plate of the cartridge. The negative pressure during disengagement of the capper from the nozzle plate 58 can be less than the ink suctioning negative pressure.
  • By virtue of the momentum of the flywheel and well as its own momentum, the cam assembly continues to rotate in the counterclockwise direction past its resting angular position until the spring end 77b engages the stop 52, as shown in FIG. 14. This causes the cam assembly 60 to stop its counterclockwise rotation and then rotate clockwise to its resting angular position, as shown in FIG. 15, which insures that the support member 67 is in the path of the actuating tab 62 and therefore ready forthe next priming operation. The engagement of the spring end 77b against the stop 52b is represented in FIG. 7 by the line B.
  • Release of the pressure on the plunger 61 allows it to move upwardly pursuant to the upward bias of the spring 72. The top edge of the actuating tab 62 eventually contacts the support member and causes the cam assembly to the rotate counterclockwise, which tensions the spring end 77b against the stop 52b, as shown in FIG. 16. When the actuating tab 62 clears the support member 67, the tension of the spring 77 causes the cam assembly to rotate clockwise to its resting angular position, as shown in FIG. 17, while the plunger continues in its upward travel.
  • Thus, the ink jet cartridge primer in accordance with the invention seals a capper against the nozzle plate of the inkjet cartridge to be primed while producing negative pressure at the opening of the capper, produces priming ink suctioning negative pressure to the nozzles via the opening of the capper sealed against the nozzle plate, and then unsealing capper from the nozzle plate while producing negative pressure at the opening of the capper. In this manner, negative pressure is provided at the nozzle array at all times that the capper is engaged against the nozzle plate, which avoids the application or positive or zero pressure by the capper to the cartridge nozzle array.
  • The foregoing has been a disclosure of an inkjet cartridge primer that applies negative pressure to the nozzles, and thereby advantageously provides ink flow causing force directly to the nozzles where it is needed while avoiding the need for pressurizing access to the ink reservoir.
  • Although the foregoing has been a description and illustration of specific embodiments of the invention, various modifications and changes thereto can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. Primer apparatus for priming an ink-jet cartridge (57) having an array (58) of ink ejecting nozzles, comprising:
an elongated resilient bellows (50) compressible along its length and having first and second end caps (101, 103) at its ends, said first end cap having an opening at which at which negative pressure is produced when said first and second end caps are relatively displaced away from each other;
capping means (119) supported by said first end cap of said bellows means for selectively engagement with the nozzle array of the cartridge being primed to form a seal therewith so that the negative pressure produced in said opening of said first end cap is communicated to the nozzles of the nozzle array;
moving means (70) for moving said first end cap between a retracted position and an extended position along the length of said bellows, wherein movement of the first end cap from the retracted position to the extended position is away from the second end cap;
rotatable priming controlling means (60) for (a) moving the second end cap toward the first end cap while the first end cap is stationary, (b) actuating said moving means to move the first end cap to the extended position while the second end cap is stationary so as to produce negative pressure at the opening of the said capping means, (c) moving the second end cap away from the first end cap while the first end cap is stationary so as to produce an ink suctioning negative pressure at the opening of said capping means, (d) moving the first end cap toward the second end cap while moving the second end cap away from the first end cap at a rate that is greater than the rate at which the first end cap is moving toward the second end cap such that negative pressure is produced at the opening of said capping means; and
plunger means (61) for actuating said priming controlling means;
whereby negative pressure is produced at the opening of said capping means at all times that said first end cap is in the extended position.
2. The primer apparatus of Claim 1 wherein:
said moving means includes cam surfaces (64a, 64b, 64c) forcontrolling the displacementof said first end cap;
said first end cap includes first cam follower means (131) slidably engaged on said moving means cam surfaces; and
said priming activating means includes second cam surfaces (95) that control the displacement of said second end cap, and third cam surfaces (74a, 74b) for controlling the movement of said moving means.
3. The primer apparatus of Claim 2 wherein:
said bellows assembly includes a coil spring (105) for providing an expanding bias tending to displace the first end cap away from the second end cap;
said first end cap cam follower means comprises first end cap cam follower pegs (131);
said moving means comprises a slider (70) having cam surfaces slidable along said cam follower pegs;
said second end cap cam follower means comprises second end cap cam follower pegs (127);
said priming activating means comprises rotatable parallel planar members (65) secured to each other;
said second cam surfaces comprise cam surfaces (95) formed on inwardly opposing surfaces of said rotatable planar members, said cam surfaces being slidably engaged with said second end cap cam follower pegs;
said third cam surfaces comprise cam edges (74a, 74b) formed in the perimeter of planar members for engaging said slider cam follower pegs;
whereby rotation of said planar members controls the relative movement between said first and second end caps.
4. The primer apparatus of Claim 3 further including flywheel means (83) for rotation with the rotation of said parallel planar members.
5. The primer apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said parallel planar members comprise gear sectors having gearteeth (75), and wherein said flywheel means includes pinion gears (85) engaged with the gear teeth of said gear sectors.
6. The primer apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said bellows assembly includes a sleeve (111) surrounding the tubular coil spring and having its ends secured to the first and second end caps.
7. The primer apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the lower end cap of said bellow assembly includes an ink permeable plug (125) that is sufficiently impermeable to air to allow the bellows assembly to produce negative pressure at the opening of the capping means pursuant to expansion of the bellows assembly.
EP9393303001A 1992-05-04 1993-04-19 Primer apparatus for thermal ink-jet cartridge Withdrawn EP0569155A3 (en)

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US87895992A 1992-05-04 1992-05-04
US878959 1997-06-19

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Cited By (7)

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EP0605121A2 (en) * 1992-12-28 1994-07-06 Xerox Corporation Removing waste ink from a capping station
EP0622200A1 (en) * 1993-04-30 1994-11-02 Hewlett-Packard Company On-line/off-line primer for ink jet cartridge
EP0679516A2 (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-11-02 Hewlett-Packard Company Manual priming pump for ink jet printing mechanisms
US5614929A (en) * 1993-04-30 1997-03-25 Hewlett-Packard Company Manual pen selection for clearing nozzles without removal from pen carriage
WO2003013861A1 (en) * 2001-08-06 2003-02-20 Silverbrook Research Pty. Ltd. A printing cartridge with pressure sensor array identification
US7325897B2 (en) 1997-07-15 2008-02-05 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Printing cartridge with pressure sensor array identification
US8382266B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2013-02-26 Zamtec Ltd Ink storage module with displaceable upper and lower plates and displaceable upper and lower collars

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JP2009143066A (en) * 2007-12-12 2009-07-02 Seiko Epson Corp Liquid supply device

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US4600931A (en) * 1979-10-23 1986-07-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus
US4999643A (en) * 1984-11-19 1991-03-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge recovery device and apparatus having suction means and vent means communicating with capping means
JPH04161343A (en) * 1990-10-25 1992-06-04 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd Purging device for ink jet printer head

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EP0002591A1 (en) * 1977-12-12 1979-06-27 Gould Inc. Priming means for liquid ink writing apparatus
US4600931A (en) * 1979-10-23 1986-07-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus
US4999643A (en) * 1984-11-19 1991-03-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge recovery device and apparatus having suction means and vent means communicating with capping means
JPH04161343A (en) * 1990-10-25 1992-06-04 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd Purging device for ink jet printer head

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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5563636A (en) * 1992-05-04 1996-10-08 Hewlett-Packard Company On-line/off-line primer for ink jet cartridge
US5420619A (en) * 1992-05-04 1995-05-30 Hewlett-Packard Company On-line/off-line primer for ink jet cartridge
EP0605121A3 (en) * 1992-12-28 1994-09-07 Xerox Corp Removing waste ink from a capping station.
EP0605121A2 (en) * 1992-12-28 1994-07-06 Xerox Corporation Removing waste ink from a capping station
US5614929A (en) * 1993-04-30 1997-03-25 Hewlett-Packard Company Manual pen selection for clearing nozzles without removal from pen carriage
EP0622200A1 (en) * 1993-04-30 1994-11-02 Hewlett-Packard Company On-line/off-line primer for ink jet cartridge
EP0679516A3 (en) * 1994-04-28 1996-02-07 Hewlett Packard Co Manual priming pump for ink jet printing mechanisms.
EP0679516A2 (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-11-02 Hewlett-Packard Company Manual priming pump for ink jet printing mechanisms
US5592201A (en) * 1994-04-28 1997-01-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Manual priming pump for inkjet printing mechanisms
US7325897B2 (en) 1997-07-15 2008-02-05 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Printing cartridge with pressure sensor array identification
US7524047B2 (en) 1997-07-15 2009-04-28 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Print roll cartridge with an ink supply core for a camera system
AU2002319008B2 (en) * 2001-08-06 2004-10-21 Zamtec Limited A printing cartridge with pressure sensor array identification
WO2003013861A1 (en) * 2001-08-06 2003-02-20 Silverbrook Research Pty. Ltd. A printing cartridge with pressure sensor array identification
US8382266B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2013-02-26 Zamtec Ltd Ink storage module with displaceable upper and lower plates and displaceable upper and lower collars

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JPH06126977A (en) 1994-05-10
EP0569155A3 (en) 1994-08-17

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