TW200932557A - Printer with fluidically coupled printhead cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

An inkjet printer that has at least three ink tanks for storing inks of different colour, a printhead cartridge having a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles, and a fluid coupling for supplying the printhead with ink from each of the ink tanks. The printer also having a cradle defining a reference surface for engaging a datum point on the printhead cartridge to support the nozzle face at a precise spacing from a media feed path and a latch for securing the printhead cartridge in the cradle, the latch being movable between an open position where access to the cradle is unobstructed, and a closed position where access to the cradle is obstructed. The latch is configured to apply a compressive force urging the datum point on the printhead cartridge into engagement with the reference surface. The printer further including a fluid interface in fluid communication with the ink tanks and a mechanical linkage between the latch and the fluid interface such that the fluid interface is displaced into sealed engagement with the fluid coupling upon moving the latch to the closed position, the fluid interface being displaced in a direction that does affect the compressive force between the datum point and the reference surface.

Description

200932557 IX. INSTRUCTIONS OF THE INVENTION [Technical field to which the invention pertains] The present invention relates to the field of printers and in particular to pagewidth inkjet printers. [Prior Art] The applicant has developed a wide range of printers, which use The page width column 0 print head, rather than the traditional reciprocating print head design. The page width design increases the print rate because the print head does not have to traverse the page to rewind to deposit a column of images. The page width print head simply deposits ink on the medium because it moves at high speed through the medium. These printheads have been able to perform full color 1 600 dpi printing at a rate of approximately 60 pages per minute, which was previously unachievable with conventional inkjet printers. A high print rate requires a large ink flow rate. Not only is the flow rate high, it is more complicated to dispense ink along the entire length of a single wide print head than to feed a relatively small reciprocating print head. In order to address many of the issues associated with supplying ink to a one-page wide printhead, the applicant has developed an active fluid system that allows the user to control the flow of ink through the printhead. The active fluid system is disclosed in detail in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. USSN 11/872,718, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this article. The active fluid system connects the page wide printhead to an ink supply container via a pump or pressure pulse generator. Although the active fluid system can correct the problem of nozzle unfilling 'air bubble' nozzle surface flooding (fl〇〇dS) and capping blockage ((le-Cap 200932557 clogging)', it cannot be solved. , dead "nozzle problem" These nozzles are exhausted during the life of the printhead. In view of this, many of the applicant's printers provide print heads that are available to the user. Lower and replacement cassettes. A wide page print head with a cassette that allows the user to remove the cassette allows the user to periodically change the print head and maintain print quality without having to replace the entire printer. It is recognized that each inkjet nozzle will fail after a period of time and eventually there will be a sufficient number of dead nozzles to cause defects in the printed image. However, the market expects that any cassette must be simple, intuitive and It can be quickly taken out and replaced. This is difficult for the page width print head 必需 which must be accurately set with respect to the paper path and fluidly coupled to all the ink tanks. [Invention] Therefore, the present invention Provided in an ink jet printer comprising: at least three ink tanks for storing ink of different colors; the print head having a print head with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles, And a fluid coupling member for supplying ink from each of the ink tanks to the print head; a bracket defining a reference surface for engaging a datum point on the print head cartridge, The nozzle surface is supported at a precise distance from a medium feeding path; a latching member is used to fix the print head cartridge in the bracket. The latch member can move in and out of the bracket. The blocked open position is between -6 - 200932557 a closed position in which the access to the bracket is blocked, the latch is constructed to apply a pressing force to force a reference point on the print head and the reference a surface engagement; a fluid interface in fluid communication with the ink tank; and a mechanical linkage between the latch and the fluid interface such that the fluid is moved when the latch is moved to the closed position The interface is moved While sealingly engaging the fluid coupling member, the fluid interface is moved in a direction that affects the pressing force between the reference point and the reference surface. The fluid connection is by moving the The printer coupling is formed across the pressure applied by the latch. In this manner, the nozzle face is maintained at a proper distance from the media feed path. The stress applied by the fluid coupling can The crucible is bent or deformed, but does not change the correct spacing from the media feed path. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a one-page wide print head is susceptible to deformation due to its extended length. Q Preferably, The fluid interface is moved in a direction parallel to the media feed direction. In a more preferred form, the crushing force exerted by the latch member acts perpendicular to the media feed direction. Preferably, the fluid interface engages the fluid coupling for smearing the printhead with ink from all of the ink tanks. Preferably, the printhead is a one-page wide printhead and the nozzle array extends over the print width of the media substrate. Preferably, the fluid coupling member is an array of nozzles which are extended by an interface plate, and the fluid interface is a corresponding socket such that the step of sealingly engaging the fluid interface in the fluid coupling member comprises The seats move onto the array of nozzles. 200932557 v In a particularly preferred form, the print head has a first fluid coupling and a second fluid coupling, and the printer has a first fluid interface and a second fluid interface. The first fluid interface is in fluid communication with the ink tanks and the second fluid interface is a waste ink outlet, the first fluid coupling is for sealingly engaging the first fluid interface, and the second fluid coupling A connector is used to sealingly engage the second fluid interface. Preferably, the printer has a support structure having first and second support surfaces disposed in the support for contacting the print head cartridge, the first fluid interface engaging the first fluid coupling The first bearing surface is aligned with any pressing force applied by the first fluid interface to the print head cartridge, and the second fluid interface engages the second fluid coupling member, the second The bearing surface is aligned with any crushing force applied by the second fluid interface to the print head cartridge. In a particularly preferred form, the support structure has a third bearing surface that applies any crushing force to the print head cartridge when the latch member secures the file in the bracket and the latch member alignment. In a particularly preferred form, the printer has a wiper member for moving into the media feed path and wiping it in a single traverse motion in a direction parallel to the media feed direction. All nozzles in the nozzle face. Preferably, the wiper member is rotated about an axis extending transversely to the media feed direction as the wiper member is moved into the media feed path and across the nozzle face. Preferably, the printer has an ink absorber for moving into the media feed path after all nozzles in the nozzle face have been wiped, and injecting ink from all nozzles into the -8 - 200932557 In the ink absorber. Preferably, the ink absorber is disposed in a row of printing platen, the printing platen has a contoured guiding surface for guiding the media substrate piece through the printing head and a central recess, the suction The ink injector has an absorbing element disposed within a central recess of the printing platen. Preferably, the printing platen is moved into the media feed path and supplied to the print head by rotating it about an axis extending through the media feed direction as the wiper member rotates. Preferably, the wiper member and the printing platen are secured to a base mounted to the printer for rotation about the axis transverse to the media feed direction. In a preferred form, a capper for covering the nozzle array when the nozzle array of the printer is not in use is also secured to the base. Optionally, an applicator for servicing the array of nozzles when the print head is inked is also secured to the base. Optionally, an additional, larger ink absorber is also secured to the base for use during an extended ink purge of the printhead. Optionally, the wiper member is rotated about the axis traversing the media feed direction at different rates. Optionally, the wiper member is selectively rotated in either of two directions about the axis transverse to the media feed direction. In a particularly preferred form, the base is moved toward and away from the nozzle face. Preferably, the base is moved by applying equal force to a support point within the base, the support points being disposed equidistant from a longitudinal intermediate point of the wiper member. In a particularly preferred form, the page wide printhead has a plurality of print heads 1C that are aligned end to end in a direction transverse to the media feed direction, the print heads 1C accepting from A wire along the lateral sides of the print heads 1C engages the power and data of the -9-200932557 (wire bonds) line, and the wiper member is rotated such that it moves toward the wire bond wire. Preferably, the wire bonding wire is sealed in a sealant ball, the sealant ball being contoured to help the wiper member retain paper dust or other wiped off the nozzle face Contaminants. Preferably, the wiper member has a plurality of elastic blades extending over the width of the dielectric substrate. Preferably, the elastic blades are arranged in parallel rows, each column extending over the width of the media substrate. In a more preferred form, the wipers in a column of the parallel rows are arranged such that they are not aligned with the wiper positioned in an adjacent column of the parallel columns. In a particularly preferred form, the wiper in each parallel row is spaced apart from the adjacent wiper by a gap that allows for independent movement of adjacent wipers. Preferably, the step of moving the base is carried out by a maintenance drive disposed on the printer, the maintenance drive having a first actuator for directing the wiper member toward and away from the nozzle face Moving, and a second actuator for rotating the wiper member about an axis extending across the media feed direction, the first actuator and the second actuator are independently operable. Preferably, the second actuator is configured to selectively change the rate at which the wiper member is rotated about the axis extending across the media feed direction. Both the first actuator and the second actuator are electric motors having encoder discs that provide feedback to a print engine controller within the ink jet printer. Preferably, the second actuator is reversible such that the wiper member is rotatable in both directions. Preferably, the method further includes the step of providing an absorbent pad for removing paper dust and other contaminants from the wiper member - 200932557 component in the printer. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of providing a doctor blade in the printer such that the blade extends across the media feed direction, wherein during use, the maintenance drive moves the wiper member to the nozzle face, Then traversing the absorbent pad and then deflecting the elastic blade through the blade for passing the blade and when the elastic blade is disengaged from the blade, the elastic blade will spring back to its resting shape so that The contaminant is thrown away from its © surface. [Embodiment] Printer Fluid Engineering System Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the fluid engineering used in the printing engine described in Figures 2A and 2B. As previously mentioned, the print engine has the primary mechanical construction of an inkjet printer. Construct peripheral structures (such as housings, feeder trays, paper trays, etc.) to make them suitable for specific columns of printers (such as photo printers, network printers, or printers) Printing requirements. The applicant discloses a photo printer of the application USSN 11/688863 (our case number RRE 00 1 US), which is an example of an ink jet printer using the fluid engineering system of Fig. 1. The contents of the co-pending application are hereby incorporated by reference. The operation of the system and its individual components are described in detail in USSN 11 /8 72 719 (our case number SBF 009US), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, the printer fluid engineering system has a printhead assembly 2 that supplies ink to the printhead assembly 2-11 - 200932557 via an upstream ink line 8. The waste ink is discharged to the waste ink tank 18 via the downstream ink line. For simplicity, only a single ink line is shown. In fact, the print head has multiple ink lines for full color printing. The upstream ink line 8 has a shut-off valve 10 for selectively isolating the print head assembly 2 from the pump 12 and/or the ink tank 4. The pump 12 is used to actively dispense or flood the printhead assembly 2. The pump 12 is also used to establish a negative pressure in the ink tank 4. The negative pressure is maintained by the bubble dot gauge 6 during printing. The print head assembly 2 is a liquid crystal polymer module 20 that supports a series of print head integrated circuits 30; the print head integrated circuits are fixed by a viscous die attach film (not shown). 3 0. The print head integrated circuit 30 has an array of ink jet nozzles for ejecting ink droplets to the media substrate 22 being passed. The nozzle is a microelectromechanical construction printed at true 1600 dpi (ie, 1 600 npi nozzle pitch) or greater resolution. The fabrication and construction of a suitable printhead integrated circuit 30 is described in detail in USSN 1 1 /246,687 (O.S. The liquid crystal polymer module 20 has a main channel 24 extending between the inlet 36 and the outlet 38. The main channel 24 feeds a series of thin channels 28 that extend to the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. The fine channel 28 supplies ink to the printhead integrated circuit 30 via a laser cut-out hole in the die attach film. Above the main passage 24 is a series of unfilled air pockets 26. These pockets are designed to confine a bag of air during the marking of the print head. These air pockets impart some compliance to the system to absorb and damp the high pressure and hydraulic shock in the ink. The printer is a high speed page wide printer with a large number of nozzles that emit quickly. This printer consumes ink quickly and suddenly knots -12-

200932557 The printing work of the bundle or even the end of a page's meaning (the line of ink moving with the rice print head assembly 2 must stop almost instantaneously. Without the compliance provided by the air pocket 26, the momentum of the ink will be blessing The nozzle of the head integrated circuit 30. Further, the subsequent "reflected wave" is sufficient to remove the strong negative pressure of the nozzle. Print engine Figure 2A shows the print engine 3 using the print 匣2 type. 3 is the internal construction of the inkjet printer, so it does not include any column, ink tank, or media feed and collection tray. The user will either lower the latch 126 or insert or remove the print head 匣 2. The contacts on the print engine 3 and the 歹2 are electrically connected and fluidly coupled by the socket 120, the manifold 48, and the outlet manifold 50. By the main drive roller 186 and the discharge feed Roller 178 feeds the sheet to the print engine. Main drive roller 186 is driven by main drive pulley and disc 188. Discharge feed roller 178 is driven by discharge drive pulley 1. Feed belt 1 82 is provided by the medium. Synchronize the discharge drive pulley 1 main drive pulley 1 88. The feed motor 190 supplies power to the main drive pulley 188 via the 7 belt 192. The main drive pulley 188 has an encoder disc, the drive pulley knob 184 reads the encoder disc, the number of revolutions of the drive shafts 186, 178, and 3 related information, It is sent to the Print Engine Controller (PEC). A print bow controller (not shown) is mounted to the main printed circuit board (PCB) 194, which is used to control the main microprocessor of the printer job. If the full column will produce J-printed < shell rise J-head entrance-body-fed i-coder 80 80 and drive the detector [rate of control and is -13-200932557 Figure 2B shows the removed column The print engine 3 behind the print head 3 has a hole 122 in each of the seats 120. Each of the holes 122 houses one of the nozzles 52 on the inlet manifold (see Figure 5). It has any position and configuration as described above, but is simply connected to the hollow insertion opening 124 at the rear of the inlet coupler 120 (see Figure 8). The insertion port 124 at the rear of the device is connected to the waste ink tank 18 (see the waste ink outlet. The reinforcing support surface 128 is fixed to the receptor 1 96 of the print engine 3. These are provided for setting the print head 在Print the reference points. They are also set to act on the 匣2 load during installation, providing the opposite bearing surface. When the manifold nozzle (the following is the closing valve in the engine (described below), the fluid coupler The inlet manifold and the outlet manifold of 120. The pressure of the latch 126 on the crucible 2 is opposite to the bearing surface 128. The bearing surface 128 is provided to provide a compressive load in the direct 2, which reduces bending and deformation in the crucible. The determined position of the medium feed path is also protected from damage by the weaker mechanism. Print head Figure 3 is a perspective view of the complete print head 。 2. Print head module 44 and removable The protective cover 42. The top module 44 has a constructive stiffness and is used to provide a textured gripping surface 58 during handling and removal of the gripper. The bottom of the crucible protects the print before being installed in the printer. Head integrated circuit (not shown) and integral column to reveal Tube and outlet, the coupling of the inlet and outlet of the ink tanker is shown in Figure 1) The compression of the inner part of the medium-pressure metal shell is pushed to the 匣, and the opposite is opposite to the 匣, the 帮 inside the 匣 2 Having a central web' to contact the shimming shield 42. Cover -14 - 200932557 Body 56 is formed at the bottom and covers the ink inlet and outlet (see Figures 5 and 5 2 of Figure 5). Figure 4 shows the printhead assembly 2 with the protective cover 42 removed to expose the print head integrated circuit on the bottom surface and the aligned contacts 33 on the side surfaces. Throw the protective cover to recycle the waste or assemble the protective cover to the replaced print head to cover the leakage of residual ink. Figure 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of the print head assembly 2. The top cover has been removed to reveal the inlet manifold 48 and the outlet manifold 50, and the inlet and outlet panels 46, 47 have been removed to more clearly expose the five inlet nozzles 52 and the five outlet nozzles 54. The inlet and outlet manifolds 48, 50 form a fluid connection between each individual inlet and outlet and the main channel within the liquid crystal polymer (see Figure 24). The main channel extends the length of the liquid crystal polymer and the main channel feeds a series of fine channels on the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module. An array of air pockets 26 are formed above each of the main passages 24. As described above with respect to Figure 1, the shock wave or pressure pulse in the ink is blocked by compressing the air within the air pocket 26. Q Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the print head assembly without an inlet or outlet manifold or top cover module. The primary channel 24 for each ink pigment and its associated air pockets 26 are formed in the channel module 68 and the pocket module 72, respectively. The die attach film 66 adheres to the bottom of the channel module 68. The die attach film 66 mounts the printhead integrated circuit 30 to the channel module such that the thin channel on the underside of the channel module 68 passes through the small laser cut-out hole through the film and the printhead integrated circuit 30. In fluid communication. Because of the stiffness and thermal expansion coefficient of the liquid crystal polymer, both the channel module 68 and the top cover module 72 are molded from a liquid crystal polymer type -15-200932557' and the thermal expansion coefficient of the liquid crystal polymer and The coefficient of thermal expansion of the crucible closely matches. It will be appreciated that a relatively long configuration, such as a pagewidth printhead, should minimize any differences in thermal expansion between the tantalum substrate of the printhead integrated circuit 30 and its support configuration. Printhead Maintenance Dial Referring to Figure 7, a cross-sectional perspective view is shown. This profile is through the line 7-7 shown in Figure 2A. The print head cartridge 2 is inserted into the print engine 3 such that its outlet manifold 50 is in fluid communication with the insertion port 124, which guides the waste ink canister into the finished product of the printer (usually located on the base of the print engine) ). The liquid crystal polymer module 20 supports the printhead integrated circuit 30 in the immediate vicinity of the medium feed path 22 extending through the print engine. The printhead maintenance carousel 150 and its associated drive mechanism are located on opposite sides of the media feed path 22. The printhead maintenance carousel 150 is mounted for rotation about the tubular drive shaft 156, which is also configured to move toward and away from the printhead integrated circuit 30. By raising the dial 150 toward the print head integrated circuit 30, various print head maintenance stations on the exterior of the turntable are presented to the print head. The maintenance carousel 150 is rotatably mounted on the lift structure 170 that is mounted to the lift configuration shaft 156 so that it can pivot relative to the rest of the configuration of the print engine 3. The lift configuration 170 includes a pair of lift arms 158 (only one lift arm is shown and the other lift arm is disposed at the opposite end of the lift construction shaft 156). Each lift arm 158 has a cam engaging surface 168, such as a roller or pad of low friction material. A cam (described in detail below) is fixed to the turntable drive shaft 160 for rotation with the shaft 160. The lift arm-16 - 200932557 158 is biased into engagement with the cam on the turntable lift drive shaft 160 such that the turntable lift motor (described below) can move the turntable toward and away from the print head by rotating the shaft 160 . The rotation of the maintenance turntable 150 about the tubular shaft 166 is driven independently of the turntable lift. The turntable drive shaft 166 engages the turntable rotary motor (described below) so that it can be rotated regardless of whether it is retracted from the print head or toward the print head. When the turntable is advanced toward the print head, the wiper blade 1 62 is moved through the medium feed path 22 to wipe the print head integrated circuit 30. When the turntable 150 is withdrawn from the printhead, the turntable 150 is repeatedly rotated such that a wiper blade 162 engages the doctor blade 154 and the cleaning pad 152. This is also discussed in detail below. Referring now to Figure 8, sections 7-7 are shown in plan view to more clearly describe the maintenance dial lift drive. The turntable lift drive shaft 160 is shown rotated such that the lift cam 172 pushes the lift arm 158 downward by the cam engagement surface 168. The lift shaft 160 is driven by the turn-up spur gear 174, which is sequentially driven by the turn-up worm gear 176. The worm wheel 17 is fixed to the output shaft of the turntable lift motor by a key (described below). 0 As the lift arm 158 pulls the lift structure 170 downward, the maintenance turntable 150 is evacuated from the print head integrated circuit 30. In this position, when the turntable 50 is rotated, no maintenance station contacts the print head integrated circuit 30. However, the turntable will drive the wiper blade 162 into contact with the doctor blade 154 and the absorbent cleaning pad 152.

200932557 Tongue IJ doctor blade 1 5 4 works in conjunction with the cleaning pad 1 5 2 to widely slap the blade 162. The cleaning pad 152 wipes the paper dust and the dried ink from the wiper blade 162. However, the small ink beads and dirt will be the tip of the 162 which does not contact the surface of the cleaning pad 152. To remove this ink and dust, the doctor blade 1 54 is mounted in the crucible to contact the doctor blade 162 before the wiper blade 106 wipes the print head integrated circuit 30 to the cleaning pad 152. When the blade 1 62 contacts the blade 1 54 , the wiper blade 1 62 flexes and passes. Because the wiper blade 162 is an elastomeric material, it is springed back to its stationary, straight shape when it is detached from the blade 154. Nuclear to its static shape will scrape the blade from the wiper 1 62 (especially projecting dust and other dirt. Ordinary workers will understand that when the wiper blade 162 is connected to 152, it will also flex and once wiped The blade 162 will spring back to its resting shape, but the blade 1 54 is radiated closer to the center pad 166 of the carousel 150 and away from the cleaning pad. This configuration is such that when the wiper blade 162 passes It will give more dirt to the dirt when it is bounced back to the static shape. Since the 152 contact with the leading blade causes the blade dragged behind to be improperly rubbed 152, it is impossible to simply move the cleaning pad 152 to the more axis. Rod 1 66, to make the wiper blade 1 62 more curved. The cleaning pad wiper contact surface wipes to form the blade printing engine 3 but after the wiper is curved to be bounced back from the tip at its speed When the cleaning pad is touched, the 152 is also bent in the same shape, and the cleaning pad is passed over the cleaning pad near the turntable -18-200932557. The cleaning pad 1 52 is an absorbent foam which is formed as a wiper The arc of the circular path of the slice 1 62. When 152 is coated with a woven material to provide a plurality of dense gathered contact points when wiping the blade, 152 is more efficiently cleaned. Therefore, the line of the woven material has a small size JI, for example, less than 2 denier (d e n i e ). Microfiber materials having a wire size of about 1 work particularly well. The cleaning pad 152 extends the length of the wiper blade 162, and the wiper 162 also extends the length of the page width printhead. The page width cleaning pad 152 is the same as the full length of the wiper blade, which reduces the need for each wiping operation. Moreover, the length of the page wide cleaning pad inherently provides a large volume of absorbent for holding a relatively large amount of ink. Since there is a large absorption I force, it is less necessary to replace the cleaning pad 152 frequently. Stamping on the Print Head Figure 9 shows the first stage of the capped print head integrated circuit 30 with capping maintenance Q mounted to the maintenance carousel 150. When the lifter # is pushed down on the lift arm 158, the maintenance dial 150 is withdrawn from the print head. The maintenance carousel 150, together with the maintenance encoder disc 2', continues until the first carousel rotation sensor 200 and the second carousel rotation employ 2 02: the print head capper is facing the print head integrated circuit 3 正面. As shown in Fig. 10, the lift shaft 160 rotates the cam 172 to move the arm 158 upward to advance the maintenance turntable 15 toward the print head assembly. The capper maintenance station 198 engages the liquid crystal polymer module 20 to seal the nozzle of the print head integrated circuit 30 in a relatively humid condition. The cover pad is used to make the pad relative to the Danny blade cleaning time. 198 172 body electric rotation detector lift road 30 underside environment -19- 200932557. Ordinary workers will understand that this prevents (at least prolongs) the nozzle from being dry and blocked. Removing the Print Head Cover Figure 11 shows the print head integrated circuit 30 with the cover removed to prepare for printing. The lift shaft 160 is rotated such that the lift cam 172 pushes the turn arm lift arm 158 downward. The capping maintenance station 1 98 moves away from the liquid crystal polymer module 20 to expose the print head integrated circuit 30. Wiping the print head Fig. 12 shows the print head integrated circuit 30 being wiped by the wiper blade 162. When the capping station 198 is rotated away from the printhead, the wiper blade 162 of the wiper member contacts the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. When the turntable 150 continues to rotate, the wiper blade is pulled through the nozzle face of the printhead integrated circuit 30 to wipe off any paper dust, dry ink, or other contaminants. The wiper φ blade 1 62 is formed of an elastomer material so that it elastically flexes and bends as they wipe through the print head integrated circuit. When the tip end of each wiper blade is bent, the side surface of each blade forms a wiping contact with the nozzle face. It can be understood that the wide flat side surface of the blade has a large contact with the nozzle face, and the dirt is more effectively removed. Wiper Blade Cleaning (Cleaning) Figures 13 and 14 show the wiper blade 162 being cleaned. As shown in FIG. 13, after the wiper blade 162 wipes the print head integrated circuit 30, the -20-200932557 wiper blade 1 62 is immediately rotated through the doctor blade 1 54. The function of the blade 1 54 is discussed in more detail in the heading "Scraper" above. After the wiper blade 1 62 is pulled past the doctor blade 154, any residual dust and dirt adhering to the blade is removed by the absorbent pad 125. This step is shown in Figure 14. During this process, the print platen maintenance station 206 is just opposite the print head integrated circuit 30. If desired, the rotary dial 172 can be used to lift the turntable' so that the nozzle can be launched into the absorbent material 208. Any pigment mixed in the ink nozzle is immediately purified. A hole (not shown) that is drilled into the side of the tubular base 166 provides fluid communication between the absorbent material 208 and the porous material 210 in the central pocket of the turret shaft 166. The ink absorbed by the material 208 is drawn into the porous material 210 and held by the porous material 210. In order to allow the porous material 210 to drain, the turntable 150 may be provided with a vacuum attachment point (not shown) to drain the waste ink. The turntable 150 continues to rotate with a clean wiper blade (see Figure 15) ❹ until the print platen 206 is again positioned opposite the printhead integrated circuit 30. Then, as shown in Fig. 16, the turntable is raised toward the print head integrated circuit 30 to prepare for printing. The medium substrate sheet is fed along the medium feed path 22 and passed through the print head integrated circuit 30. In the case of full bleed (printed to the extreme side of the media sheet), the media substrate can remain away from the platen 206 so that it does not become soiled by excessive ink spray. It will be appreciated that the absorbent material 206 is disposed within the recessed portion of the printing platen 206 such that any oversprayed ink (typically about 1 mm on either side of the paper) is retained away from the contactable media substrate. s surface. -21 - 200932557 At the end of the printing job or before the printer will enter the standby mode, the turntable 150 is withdrawn from the printhead integrated circuit 30 during rotation, so that the printhead is stamped with the maintenance station 1 98 again Present to the print head. As shown in Fig. 7, the lift shaft 160 rotates the lift cam 158 such that the lift cam 158 moves the print head capping maintenance station into sealing engagement with the lower side of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. 0 Printhead Maintenance Dial Figure 18, 19, 20, and 21 show the isolated maintenance dial. Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the wiper blade 162 and the printing platen 206. Figure 19 is a perspective view showing the print head capper 198 and the wiper blade 162. Figure 2 0 is an exploded view of the components of the maintenance-free turntable. Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view showing the components after a complete combination. The maintenance carousel has four printhead maintenance stations: a print platen 206, a wiper member 162, and a spreader/ink absorber 220. Each Q maintenance station is mounted to its own external base assembly. The outer base assembly is mounted about the turntable tubular shaft 166 and engages one another to lock onto the shaft. At one end of the tubular shaft 166 is a turntable encoder disk 204 and a turntable spur gear 212 which is driven by a turntable rotary motor (not shown) as described below. The tubular shaft is fixed to or rotates with the spur gear. Each of the printhead maintenance stations rotates with the tubular shaft by virtue of its firm compression and clamping on the outside of the shaft. The wiper blade outer base assembly 2 1 4 is an aluminum extruded product (or other suitable alloy) constructed with a wiper blade outer base assembly 2 1 4 to hold the wiper blade 162 securely -22-200932557. Similarly, other external base assemblies are metal extruded articles for securely mounting softer elastomers and/or absorbent porous materials of individual service stations. The outer base assembly for printing platen 2 16 and print head capper 1 98 has a series of identical locking ears 226 along each longitudinal edge. The wiper member outer base assembly 214 and the ink collector/ink extractor outer base assembly 218 have complementary latch-type slots for receiving the locking ears 226. Each of the card slot has an ear access hole 228 that abuts the ear lock slot 230 0 . The locking ears 226 are inserted into the ear access holes 228 adjacent the outer base assembly and then longitudinally slid relative to each other to lock them to the base tubular shaft 166. In order to improve the friction and locking engagement between each of the maintenance stations and the base plate shaft 166, each of the printhead maintenance stations is provided with an element having an arcuate shaft engagement surface 234 formed on one side thereof. The ink collector/ink extractor outer base assembly 218 has a relatively large absorbent ink collector/ink extractor member 22 0 that also has an arcuate shaft engaging surface 23 4 formed on its inner face. Q Similarly, the common base assembly for the print head capper 1 98 and the common base of each wiper blade 162 have a curved shaft engagement surface 234. The average worker will understand that using an interlocking configuration to clamp the outer base to the inner base minimizes machining and assembly time and maintains small tolerances for precise installation of the maintenance station configuration. In this case, the external base components can be combined into different configurations. Can change the wiper blade outer base assembly 2 1 4 and the ink collector/ink extractor base assembly 2 1 8 position. Similarly, the print head capper 198 and the print platen 206 can be exchanged. In this way, the maintenance stations can be combined in the best way they are installed in a special printer. -23- 200932557 Injection Molding Polymer Turntable Base Figs. 22 to 28 show a print head maintenance turntable of another embodiment. These figures are schematic sections showing only the portion of the turntable and the print head. It will be appreciated that the maintenance drive system requires a simple and straightforward modification to accommodate the turntable of this embodiment. Figure 2 2 shows the liquid crystal polymer module 20 of the print head 匣 2 adjacent to the print head maintenance dial 1 5 0, which is presented to the column 0 print head integrated circuit by the print press 205 30. For the sake of clarity, Figure 29 shows the platen 206 in isolation. In use, a sheet-like dielectric substrate is fed along the medium feed path 22. Between the nozzle of the print head integration circuit 30 and the medium feed path 22 is a print gap 244. In order to maintain the print quality, the gap between the nozzle face of the print head integrated circuit and the media surface 24 4 should be as close as possible to the nominal 値 defined during the design period. In commercially available printers, this gap is approximately 2 mm. However, because of the advancement of printing technology, some printers have a printing gap of about 1 mm. Q With the popularity of digital photography, the need for full-page bleeding printing of color images is growing. "Full Version Bleed Print" is the extreme edge printed to the media surface. This often results in some "over-spraying", in which the ejected ink is not sprayed on the edge of the media substrate and deposited on the support printing platen. Then, the ink that has been sprayed across the boundary will stain on the subsequent sheet medium. The configuration shown in Figure 22 handles these two issues. A paper guide 23 8 on the liquid crystal polymer module 20 defines a printing gap 244 during printing. However, the print platen 206 has a guide -24 - 200932557 surface 246 formed on its rigid plastic base module. The leading surface 246 directs the leading edge of the sheet toward the discharge drive roller or other drive mechanism. Because of the minimal contact between the sheet media and the print platen 206, the likelihood of soiling by the ink that has been sprayed across the boundary during full-scale bleeding printing is greatly reduced. Further, the paper guide 238 on the liquid crystal polymer module 20 is disposed in close proximity to the print head integrated circuit 30 to accurately maintain the gap 244 between the nozzle and the medium surface. Some printers within the applicant's scope use this technique to provide a 0.7 mm print gap 244. However, by making the beads of the capsular material 240 adjacent to the print head integrated circuit 30 flat, the gap can be reduced. Power and data are transferred to the printhead integrated circuit 30 by a flexible printed circuit board 242 mounted to the outside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20. The contacts of the flexible printed circuit board 242 are electrically coupled to the contacts of the printhead integrated circuit 30 by a series of lead frames (not shown). To protect the leadframe, the leadframe is wrapped in an epoxy material called a bladder. Applicants have developed a variety of techniques for flattening the outline of the leadframe and the beaded bladder 240 covering the leadframe. This allows the printing gap 244 to be further reduced. The print platen 206 has a recessed or central recess 248 that faces the nozzle of the printhead integrated circuit 30. Any ink that is sprayed across the boundary will be in this area of the platen 206. A recess is formed in this area away from the rest of the platen, ensuring that the media substrate is not soiled by wet, cross-border spray ink. The surface of the central pocket 248 is in fluid communication with the absorbent fibrous element 250. The fibrous element 250 and the porous material 254 in the center of the base 236 are also in fluid communication by the capillary 252. The ink that has been sprayed across the boundary is drawn into the fiber element 250 and is drawn by capillary action through the tube 252 into the porous material 254 - 25 - 200932557. Figure 23 shows the rotation of the turntable 150 such that the print head is focused on the print head integrated circuit 30. Figure 30 shows the isolated print head 2 72 and its construction features. The print head splicing station has an elastomeric skirt 255 surrounding the 2 2 5 8 which is formed of a porous material. The elastic and the insole contact pads are formed together with the rigid polymer base 260 - the polymer base 260 is securely mounted to the ejection shaped base 23 6 = when the print head cartridge 2 is replaced, it needs to be inked. The attention process is wasteful because the ink is usually forced through the nozzle until the entire print head configuration has drained any bubbles. A very large amount of waste has been wasted during the removal of air from the plurality of conduits extending the printhead. To solve this problem, the maintenance turntable 150 is raised so that the injection 258 covers the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit 30. When the array is under pressure, the contact pads 25 8 are held against the nozzles, greatly reducing the amount of ink flowing through the nozzles. The porous material partially blocks the nozzle to limit it. However, the air flow from the nozzle is subject to much less restriction, and the injection process is not hindered by the flow caused by the porous material, and the elastomer skirt 25 is sealingly resisting the liquid crystal polymer module 22 to capture the contact. Excess ink flowing out of the lower side of the pad 25 8 . The flow holes 264 formed in the susceptor base 260 allow absorption by the pad 258 and any excess ink' to the absorbent fiber element 250 (same as the one used for the disk 206). As with the printing platen 206, the ink within the fiber element is drawn by the capillary 252 out of the forming base 236 262 as the bedding station contacts the pad body skirt, as is well known until the column of ink contacts the pad nozzle The entire flow is delayed by the ink flow. On the lower side, the rigid poly ink prints the number of presses 25 0 -26- 200932557 in the hole material 254. By using the print head to note the station 2 6 2, the amount of wasted ink is drastically reduced. If there is no station, then the amount of ink that is wasted for each type of pigment is usually about 2 milliliters. If there is a station 262, the amount of ink wasted by each pigment is reduced to about 〇. 1 ml. The contact pad 258 need not be formed of a porous material, but instead may be formed of the same resilient material as the skirt 256. In this case, the contact pads 258 & need to have a special surface roughness. The surface of the nozzle face of the engaging print head integrated circuit 30 should be rough on the order of 2 to 4 micrometers, but smooth and smooth on the 20 micron scale. This type of surface roughness allows air to escape from between the nozzle face and the contact pad, but only a small amount of ink escapes. Figure 24 shows the wiping station 266 of the maintenance carousel 150 presented to the print head assembly circuit 30. The wiping station is shown separately in Figure 31. The wiping station 266 is also a co-molded construction having a soft elastomer wiping blade 268 supported on a hard plastic base 270. In order to wipe the Q nozzle face of the print head integrated circuit 30, the turntable base 236 is raised and then rotated, so the wiper blade 268 is wiped over the nozzle face. Typically, the turntable base 236 is rotated such that the wiper blade 268 is wiped toward the bladder. As discussed in the application for the file number RRE0 15US (incorporated for cross-referencing) in the Applicant's common genus, the contour of the capsular bead can be designed to help the dust and dirt get stuck in the wiper blade. On the face of 268. However, if it is proved that wiping is more efficient in both directions, the maintenance drive (not shown) can be easily constructed to rotate the base 23 in both directions. Similarly, by changing the number of rotations, it is easy to change the number of times of wiping through the print head integrated circuit 30. Program -27- 200932557 Design maintenance drive to perform each wipe operation. The print head of the maintenance carousel 150 is shown in Fig. 25 to be attached to the print head integrated circuit 30. Fig. 32 shows the capping independently, clearly illustrating its configuration. The capper 2 72 has a surrounding seal 274 from a soft elastomer. The surrounding seal 274 and its hard plastic base are molded. The rate at which the printhead capper 272 is lowered when the printer is idle. The seal around the perimeter seal 274 and the liquid crystal polymer module 20 need not be completely airtight because the capper is being used to inject the printhead. In fact, the hard plastic base 276 should include air 278 so that the nozzles are not flooded by the removal of the lid of the print head. In order to cover the print head, the rotary base 236 straight capper 272 is presented to the print head integrated circuit 30. Then raise until the surrounding seal 2 7 4 engages the print head 匣2. Figure 26 shows a wiper blade cleaning pad 152 included. As described in the embodiment, the cleaning pad 152 is mounted in the printer. When the disk 150 is rotated, the wiper blade 268 moves past the pad 152. By setting the position of the cleaning pad 152, the base 236 is required to be from the body circuit 30. Retracting to allow the wiper blade 268 to contact the clearing of the chassis 236 at a relatively high rate to widely sweep the blade 2 6 8 without any damage to the printhead integrated circuit 30, The cleaning pad 1 52 ' can be wetted with a surfactant to more easily remove dirt from the blade surface. Figure 27 shows the injection molding base 23 6 independently. The two planes extending from the central longitudinal axis 282 of the base phase are symmetrical. The pair 272 is formed to form a suction between the side of the common nozzle 276 and the suction port of the respirator to the print head base 236. Print the head pad and the wiper is in contact. It is also important from the wiper to pass through the scale -28-200932557, because if the injection molding base 2 36 extending along the length of the page width print head is asymmetrical, when it is cooled, it is deformed and bent. Propensity. Because of the symmetrical profile, when the base is cooled, its contraction is also symmetrical. The base 236 has four maintenance station mounting brackets 276 formed on its outer surface, all of which are identical so that they can accommodate any of the various maintenance stations 206, 266, 2 62, 272. In this way, each maintenance station becomes an interchangeable module and the order in which each maintenance station is presented to the print head can be changed to suit different printers. Furthermore, if each maintenance station itself is modified, its standard bearing ensures that the maintenance station can easily break into the existing production line with minimal equipment replacement. The maintenance station is fixed in the socket with an adhesive, but other methods (such as ultrasonic point welding or mechanical mutual engagement) are also suitable. As shown in Figure 28, the mold is provided with four sliders 278 and a central core 288. Each slider 278 has a cylindrical configuration 280 to form a conduit that connects the fiber core pad to the porous material 219 within the central pocket. The pull lead for each slider is radially outward from the base 236, while the core 288 is longitudinally retracted (it is understood that the core is not a precision cylinder, but a truncated cone to provide the need Ventilation). Injection molding of polymer components is well suited for large and low cost production. Furthermore, the symmetrical construction and uniform shrinkage of the base maintains good tolerances to maintain the maintenance station extending parallel to the printhead integrated circuit. However, other manufacturing techniques are also possible, such as shock waves of compressed polymer powder or the like. Furthermore, the addition of a hydrophilic surface treatment can help the ink flow to the capillary 252 and ultimately to the porous material 210 within the bottom -29-200932557 seat 236. In some printer design stands for connecting a vacuum source to periodically refine five maintenance stations from porous material 210. Figure 34 shows an embodiment of a printhead maintenance carousel 150. Different maintenance stations: printing platen 2 0 6. The print head wipes the print head capper 272, the picking station 262, and the ink collector 284. (Independently shown in Figure 33) has a relatively simple construction 2 84 that is flat to the printhead and has holes (not shown) in which the fiber elements 250 within the plastic base are in fluid communication. The five-station maintenance turntable 150 is provided with an ink collector 284, which uses the main ink to purify the four-station turntable as part of the maintenance system, using the ink presses of the print platen 206 and/or the capper to clean or "spit the loop ( Spitting cycle) During Q operation, when the nozzle surface is wiped or when spit is spit out between pages, a secondary discharge cycle is used to keep the nozzles from printing, removing the pigment, and mixing the mouth. In response, it may be necessary to have the primary spitting condition beyond the ability of the platen or capper. The ink collector 284 has a large hole or rib in its face 286 to hold the fiber core material 25 0 in the plastic base. The inner member 250 remains very open to the face of the potential ink-intensive sneeze 250 against the capillary 252 to increase flow to the bottom, constructing a bottom to discharge ink, having a five-piece 266, column collector 284 --- The ink collector face is supplied and held to allow the printer to be printed - Figure 22-25 272. Printed (inter-page wet. But as large size spray ring - because of the series of retention. This will be fiber: fiber element base 236 -30- 200932557 porous material 254 in the center pocket. Five-seat base 236 is injection molded using five sliders that are 72 degrees from each other or six sliders that are 60 degrees from each other. Similarly, a maintenance dial having more than five stations is also possible. If the nozzle faces have a tendency to gather and dry the ink, It means that it is still difficult to remove using the wiper alone. In these cases, the printer may require a station (not shown) for spraying ink solvent or other cleaning fluid onto the nozzle face. However, this can be broken in. Or attached to the ink collector. 〇 Wiper variants Figures 35 to 46 show a range of different configurations that the wiper can use. Wipe the nozzles of the print head to interview for paper dust, spilled ink, ink, or other contaminants. Effective methods. The average worker will understand that there may be countless different wiper configurations, many of which are not suitable for any particular printer. Functional efficiency (ie cleaning the print head) must be Cost of production, desired operational life, size and weight constraints, and other considerations. Single contact blade Figure 35 shows a wiper maintenance station with a single elastomer blade 290 mounted within a hard plastic base 270. 266, such that the blade extends perpendicular to the media feed direction. A single wiper blade extending along the length of the nozzle array is a simple wipe configuration with low production and assembly costs. In view of this, a single wiper wiper is suitable for The bottom of the printer and price range. Higher throughput requires efficient manufacturing techniques and easy assembly of printer components. -31 - 200932557 This must be the life of the unit, or the wiper cleaning the print head Speed and efficiency make some compromises. But the single blade design is pocket-sized, and if the blade does not clean the nozzle surface efficiently in one traverse, the maintenance drive can simply repeat the wipe operation until the print head is clean. A plurality of contact blade views 36, 43A, 43B, and 46 show a wiper maintenance station 266 having a plurality of parallel blades. In Figure 36, two identical The parallel blade 292 extends perpendicular to the medium feed direction. The two blades 292 are separately mounted to the hard plastic base 270 to operate independently. In Fig. 46, the blades are not identical. The first and second scrapers The sheets (294 and 296, respectively) have different widths (or different cross-sectional profiles) and hardness gauges (hardness and viscoelasticity). Each blade can be optimized to remove a particular type of dirt. The blades are separately mounted in the rigid plastic base 270 for independent operation. In contrast, the plurality of blade members of Figures 43A and 43B have smaller and shorter blades 300, all of which are mounted together The elastomeric base 298 is secured to the hard plastic base 270. This is a substantially more compliant configuration having a relatively large surface area in each wipe that contacts the nozzle face. However, the thin and soft blade has a larger and more robust blade that wears out at a faster rate. Since a plurality of parallel blades are wiped across the nozzle face, a single traverse of the wiper member collects more dust and dirt. Although the design of multiple wipers is less compact than a single wiper, each wipe is faster and more efficient. Therefore, during the printing job, the print head can be wiped between pages; and the initial maintenance items performed before the print job are completed in a short time. -32- 200932557 Single Skew Blade Figure 37 shows a wiper maintenance station 270 having a single wiper mounted on a hard plastic base 2 70 such that the wiper 302 is skewed relative to the wipe. It will be appreciated that the wiping direction is perpendicular to the extension of the plastic base 270. A single wiper blade is a simple configuration with low production and assembly costs. Further, by mounting the blade in a skewed direction to the wiping direction, the nozzle face is only in contact with the segment of the blade at any time during which the wiper member traverses. Since only one section contacts the nozzle face, the wiper is creased or crimped for inconsistent contact pressure along its entire length. The sufficient contact pressure between the wiper blade and all of the nozzle faces must be precisely aligned with the wiper. It is completely parallel to the nozzle face. This allows manufacturing tolerances to be used with larger quantities of low cost production techniques. It is a compromise to increase the distance that the wiper member must travel to clean the print head. Increasing this distance and therefore the time required for each wiping operation reduces manufacturing costs more than these potential drawbacks. Separate Contact Blade Figure 38 shows a wiper maintenance station 216 with a wiper 310 attached to the hard plastic base 270. Each individual wiper 306, which constitutes a complete wiper blade 304 mounted within the hard plastic base 270, moves independently of each other. The individual shavings 306 in each of the blades 360 are disposed so as not to be aligned with each other with respect to the wiping direction. In this way, it is located in the gap between the two blade segments 306 without being wiped by the first blade 302 in a lengthwise manner. This is true, and it is not lenient. However, the segmented segment is used for the segment, since the wiper of the wiper -33-200932557 is wiped by the wiper segment 306 in the second wiper 34. It is inefficient to wipe the nozzle face of the page wide print head with a single long wiper. Inconsistent contact pressure between the wiper blade and the nozzle face can cause the blade to bend or curl along certain sections of its length. The contact pressure in these sections may be insufficient or there may be no contact between the wiper and the nozzle face. A wiper blade that is divided into individual wiper segments can solve this problem. Each segment can move relative to its adjacent segment so that any inconsistency in contact forces does not cause bending or curling of other segments of the blade. In this way, the contact pressure is maintained on the nozzle face and the nozzle face is clean. Nozzle Face Wiper with Multiple Skew Blades In Figure 39, the wiper maintenance station 266 has a series of individual wipers 308 mounted within the hard plastic base 270 such that the wipers are inclined to the wiping direction. Each of the blades 308 is disposed such that the lateral extent (X) of each blade (relative to the wiping direction) and the lateral extent (Y) of its adjacent blade have some overlap (Z). By mounting the wiper blade to be skewed in the wiping direction, the nozzle face is only in contact with a section of the blade at any time during the traversal of the wiper member. Since only one section contacts the nozzle face, the wiper does not wrinkle or curl due to inconsistent contact pressure along its entire length. This ensures sufficient contact pressure between the wiper blade and the entire nozzle face without the need to align the wiper so that it is precisely parallel to the nozzle face. This allows for loose manufacturing tolerances so that larger quantities of low cost production techniques can be used. A single skewed blade can achieve this goal 'but increases the distance that the wiper member must travel to clean the printhead' thus increasing the time between -34 and 200932557 for each wipe job. In view of this, the present invention uses a series of adjacent skewed blades, each of which wipes a corresponding portion of the array of nozzles. In some applications, multiple wipers involve higher manufacturing costs than a single wiper, but pocket design and faster work are more important than these potential drawbacks. Wiper with Array Pad In Figures 40 and 44, the wiper maintenance station 266 uses the array of contact pads 310, rather than any blade configuration. The individual pads 3 1 2 can be individually mounted into a set of short cylindrical elastomeric materials within the hard plastic base 2 70, or a cylindrical soft fiber brush similar to that commonly used in the cleaning of wafers. As described above, it is inefficient to wipe the nozzle surface of the page wide print head with a single long contact surface. Inconsistent contact pressure between the wiping surface and the nozzle face can result in insufficient or no contact pressure in certain areas. The use of a wiping surface that has been divided into individual contact pads of array 310 allows each pad to move relative to the adjacent pad, so that inconsistent contact forces can change its amount, causing each pad to compress and deform individually. The relative high pressure of a pad does not require the transmission of compressive forces to cause adjacent pads. In this manner, a uniform contact pressure is maintained at the nozzle face, and the nozzle face sinusoidal blade is more efficiently cleaned. In the wipe maintenance station 266 shown in FIG. 41, a single blade 314 is mounted into the hard plastic base 270 so that The wiper follows the sinusoidal path. As previously mentioned, wiping the nozzle face of a page wide print head with a single long contact surface would be inefficient. Inconsistent contact pressure between the wiping surface and the nozzle face will cause the contact pressure to be insufficient or not present in certain areas. One of the reasons for the change in contact pressure is the inaccurate movement of the wiper surface relative to the nozzle face. If the support structure for the wiping surface is not completely parallel to the nozzle face throughout the length of the wiping operation, the area of low contact pressure may not be properly cleaned. As explained in the explanation of the skewed mounting blade, the above problem can be avoided by setting the position of the wiper blade to be inclined with respect to the feeding wiping direction and the head of the printing head. In this way, at any time during the wiping operation 0, only a portion of the wiper blade contacts the nozzle face. In addition, the small angle between the wiper and the wiping direction improves the cleaning and efficiency of the wipe. When the wiper moves obliquely over the nozzle face, there is more contact between the wiper and the nozzle face for better dirt removal. This improves any problems caused by inconsistent contact pressures, but in each wiping operation, the wiper blade is required to travel a longer stroke. As noted above, inaccurate movement of the wiper surface relative to the nozzle face is a source of insufficient contact pressure. Increasing the length of the wiper stroke is not conducive to pocket design. Q Wipe the nozzle face with a wiper blade with a zigzag or sinusoidal shape with multiple wiper segments tilted in the media feed direction. This configuration also allows the stroke length of the wiper member relative to the printhead to be small enough to remain accurate and compact. Single Blade with Non-Linear Contact Surface Figure 42 shows a wiper maintenance station 2 66 having two linear sections at an angle to each other and mounted on the hard plastic base 270 in a skewed direction. As previously mentioned, wiping the nozzle face of a page wide printhead with a single long contact surface, -36-200932557 can cause insufficient or no contact pressure in certain areas. Having the blade angled relative to the wiping direction and the printhead nozzle face means that only a portion of the wiper blade contacts the nozzle face at any time during the wiping operation. This makes the contact pressure more uniform, but in each wiping operation, the wiper blade needs to travel longer. As noted above, inaccurate movement of the wiper surface relative to the nozzle face is a source of insufficient contact pressure. Increasing the length of the wiper stroke only increases the risk of this inaccuracy. By using a wiping surface having an angular or curved shape, the wiper section inclined in the direction of the medium feed is wiped over most of the nozzle face while reducing the stroke length of the wiper member relative to the printhead. A general worker will appreciate that the contact blade can have a shallow V or U shape. Furthermore, if the leading edge of the blade 318 is the intersection of two straight segments (or curved segments of a u-shaped blade), the Applicant has found that the blade has less wear because of the initial contact with the nozzle face. Points provide extra support. Fiber Mat Figure 45 shows a printhead wiper maintenance station 266 having a fiber mat 320 mounted to a hard plastic base 270. The fiber mat 320 is particularly effective for wiping the nozzle face. The pad presents a plurality of points that are in contact with the nozzle face so that the fibers mechanically engage the solid dirt and suck up fluid contaminants such as ink overflow by capillary action. However, it is difficult to remove dirt from the fiber mat once the fiber mat has cleaned the nozzle face. After many wiping operations, the fiber mat is filled with a lot of dirt and the nozzle face is no longer effectively cleaned. However, in the case of printers with short operating life or printers that allow the replacement of wipers, the -37-200932557 fiber mat provides the most efficient wiper. Combined wiper maintenance station It will be appreciated that some print head designs are most efficiently cleaned by the combination of the wipe configurations described above. For example, a single blade combines a series of skewed blades or a series of parallel blades with fiber mats therebetween. The combined wiper maintenance station can be derived by selecting a particular wiper configuration based on individual advantages and strengths. Printhead Maintenance Facility Drive System Figures 47 through 50 show the media feed drive and printhead maintenance drive in more detail. Figure 48 shows the printhead maintenance carousel 150 and the drive system independently. The displayed maintenance carousel 150 is presented to the print head (not shown) by the wiper blade 1 62. The perspective view shown in Fig. 48 reveals that the paper discharge guide 322 is guided to the discharge driving roller 1780. On the other side of the wiper blade 162, the main drive roller shaft 186 is shown extending from the main drive roller pulley 330. This pulley is driven by a main drive roller belt 192 which engages the medium feed motor 190. The medium feed drive belt 182 synchronizes the rotation of the main drive roller 186 and the discharge roller 178. The exploded perspective view of Figure 49 shows the individual components in more detail. In particular, this perspective map best illustrates the balanced turntable lift mechanism. The turntable lift drive shaft 160 extends between two identical turntable lift cams. One end of the turntable lift shaft 160 is keyed to the turntable lift spur gear 174. The spur gear 174 engages the worm gear 176 and the turntable lift motor 324 drives the worm gear 176. -38- 200932557 The turntable lift rotary sensor 3 34 provides feedback to a print engine controller (not shown) that can determine the displacement of the turntable from the print head by the angular displacement of the cam 172. The turntable lift cam 172 contacts the individual turntable lift arms 158 by camming rollers 168 (it is understood that the cam engaging rolls can be surfaces of low friction materials, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE)). Since the cams 172 are identical and are also mounted to the turntable lift shaft 160, the displacement of the turntable lift arms 158 is also the same. Figure 47 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 2A with the print head 匣 2 and the print head maintenance carousel 1 50 removed. This figure provides a clear view of the turntable spur gear 174, its adjacent lift cam 172, and the corresponding turntable lift arm 158. Because each lift arm 158 is equidistant from the midpoint of the turntable 150, the turntable lift drive is fully balanced and symmetrical when the turntable is raised and lowered. This is used to maintain the longitudinal direction of the various print head maintenance stations parallel to the print head integrated circuit. The best map solution for the rotary drive of the turntable is shown in the enlarged partial decomposition view of Fig. 50. A turntable rotary motor 326 is mounted to the side of the turntable lift configuration 170. Stepper motor sensor 3 28 provides feedback on the rate and rotation of motor 326 to the print engine controller (PEC). The turntable rotary motor 326 drives the idler gear 3 3 2 which drives a reduction gear (not shown) on the cover side of the turntable lift configuration 170. The reduction gear engages the turntable spur gear 212 to mount the turntable spur gear 212 to the turntable base for rotation. Because the turntable rotation and turntable lift are controlled by separate independent drives, and each drive is powered by a stepper motor that provides feedback on the motor speed and rotation to the print engine controller, the printer has a wide range -39- 200932557 Maintenance program is available for selection. The turntable motor 326 can be driven in either of two directions and at a variable rate so that the nozzle face can be wiped in either direction, and the wiper blade can be placed against the absorbent pad 152 in both directions. Being cleaned. This can be particularly useful if paper dust and other contaminants pass to the nozzle face and mechanically engage the surface irregularities on the nozzle face. Wiping in the opposite direction often removes such mechanical engagement. It is also useful to reduce the rate of the wiper blade 162 when the wiper blade 162 is in contact with the nozzle face and then increase the rate of the wiper blade as it exits the nozzle face. When the wiper blade and the nozzle face are initially in contact, it does slow down the rate and then increases the rate when wiping. Similarly, the rate at which the wiper blade 162 moves through the squeegee 154 can be faster than the wiper blade moves past the cleaning pad 152. The wiper blade 162 can be wiped in any direction in both directions and in any of the directions. Furthermore, the order in which the maintenance stations are presented to the print head can be easily programmed into the print engine controller and/or left to the user for discretion. Q The invention is described herein by way of example only. The average worker can easily recognize many changes and modifications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the broad invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a printer fluid engineering system; Is a perspective view of the print head 匣-40-200932557 installed on the printer of the printer; Figure 2B shows the print engine without the print head 安装 to expose the inlet and outlet ink weighs, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the complete print head of the present invention; FIG. 4 shows the print head of FIG. 3 with the protective cover removed; FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the print head assembly of the print head of FIG. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the printhead assembly without the inlet or outlet of the tube or cap module; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the print engine taken from line 7-7 of Figure 2A; Figure 8 Is a cross-sectional view of the print engine taken from line 7-7 of Figure 2A, showing the maintenance dial pulling the wiper blade through the scraper; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the maintenance dial pulling the wiper blade through the absorbent pad; 1〇 is the display of the lift maintenance dial to allow the capper maintenance station to cover the print head 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the lowering of the maintenance dial to remove the lid of the print head; FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the nozzle surface of the wiper wiping head; »1 13 is the display of the maintenance dial turned back to its figure The sound of the starting position shown in 8! J ® view 'where the wiper blade has been pulled through the blade to bounce off the dirt in the tip area; Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper blade that has been pulled through the absorbent pad -41 - 200932557; Figure 15 Is a cross-sectional view showing the rotation of the maintenance dial to present the print head capper to the print head; Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the lift maintenance dial to present the print platen to the print head; FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the isolated maintenance turntable; FIG. 19 is another perspective view of the isolated maintenance turntable showing the turntable driving spur gear; Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of the isolated maintenance turntable; Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view through the intermediate point of the length of the turntable; Figure 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment, the maintenance turntable presents a print platen to the print head Figure 23 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment, and the column Q print head station engages the print head; Figure 24 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment, and the wiper blade is engaged with the print Head; Figure 25 Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment, and the ink collector is presented to the print head; Figure 26 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment, and when the wiper blade is cleaned on the absorbent pad, The platen is presented to the print head; Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the injection molded core-42-200932557 used in the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment; Fig. 28 is removed from the new part of the maintenance turntable of the second embodiment Figure 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the print head maintenance station in isolation; Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view showing the print head capper maintenance station in isolation; Figure 31 is a view showing the wiper blade in isolation a cross-sectional view of the maintenance station; Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view showing the print head station in isolation;

Figure 3 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the ink absorbing station in isolation; Figure 34 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance disk of the third embodiment; Figure 35 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the first embodiment; Figure 36 is a wiper member of the second embodiment Figure 37 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the third embodiment; Figure 38 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the fourth embodiment; Figure 39 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the fifth embodiment; Figure 40 is a wipe of the sixth embodiment Figure 41 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the seventh embodiment; Figure 42 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the eighth embodiment; and Figures 43A and 43B are schematic views of the wiper member of the ninth embodiment; Fig. 45 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the eleventh embodiment; Fig. 46 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the twelfth embodiment; and Fig. 47 is a sectional perspective view of the print engine, And there is no print for the maintenance carousel; Figure 48 is a perspective view showing the independent drive assembly used by the print engine -43- 200932557 Figure 4 9 is Figure 50

[Main component word 2: Print head group 3: Print engine 4: Ink tank 6: Regulator 8: Upstream ink 1 〇 : Close valve 12: Pump 1 6 : Downstream ink? 1 8 _ waste ink S 2 0 : liquid crystal poly 1 22 : medium base | 24 : main channel 26 : pocket 2 8 : fine channel 3 0 : print head 3 3 : contact 36 : inlet 3 8 : outlet 42 : Protective cover Fig. 48 is an exploded perspective view of the independent drive assembly shown in Fig. 48; and an enlarged view of the left end of the exploded perspective view shown in Fig. 49. Explanation of f No.] Fit (print head 匣) Line C Line I ί 物 ΐ (Medium feed path) I body circuit -44- 200932557 44 : Top module (top cover) 46 : Entrance plate 4 7 : Outlet coam 4 8 : inlet manifold

5 0 : outlet manifold 52 : inlet nozzle 54 : outlet nozzle 56 : cover 58 : clamping surface 66 : die attach film 6 8 : channel module 72 : pocket module 120 : socket (fluid coupler 122 : 孑L 124 : Insertion port 126 : Latch 128 : Reinforcement bearing surface 1 5 0 : Print head maintenance turntable 152 : Cleaning pad 1 5 4 : Scraper 156: Tubular drive shaft (lifting structure shaft) 158 : (cam) lift arm 160: turntable drive shaft (lifting shaft) 162: wiper blade -45- 200932557 166: turntable drive shaft (central shaft; tubular base) 168: cam engagement surface (roller) 170 : (turntable) lifting structure 172 : (turning wheel) lifting cam 174: turntable lifting spur gear 176 : turntable lifting worm wheel 178 : discharge feed roller (drive shaft) 180: discharge drive pulley 1 8 2 : medium Feed belt 184: drive pulley sensor 186: main drive roller (shaft) 188: encoder disc (main drive pulley) 190: medium feed motor 192: input drive belt 194: main printed circuit board 196: pressurized Metal housing 1 98: print head capper (capped maintenance station) 200: first turntable rotation sensor 202: Two turntable rotary sensor 2 04: Maintenance encoder disc (rotary encoder disc) 206: Print platen maintenance station 2 0 8 : Absorbent material 2 1 0 : Porous material 2 1 2 : Turntable spur gear -46 - 200932557 2 1 4 : Wiper blade external base assembly 2 1 8 : Dust collector / ink absorber external base assembly 2 1 9 : Porous material

2 20 : Absorbent ink collector / ink absorber member 226 : locking ear 228 : 孑L 2 3 0 : ear lock groove 2 3 6 : base 236: injection molding base (turntable base) 23 8 : paper guide Piece 240: bladder (material) 242: flexible printed circuit board 244: printing gap 246: guiding surface 248: central recess 2 50: (absorbent) fiber element 252: capillary 254: porous material 256: elastomer Skirt 25 8 : 接触 contact pad 260 : pedestal 2 62 : print head 塡 station 264 : flow hole 266 : wiping station (wiper maintenance station) -47- 200932557 268 : 270 : 272 : 274 : 276 : 278 : 2 80 : 282 : 2 84 : 2 86 : 2 8 8 : 290 : 292 : 294 : 296 : 〇 298 : 3 00 : 3 02 : 3 04 : 3 06 : 3 08 : 3 10: 3 12: 3 14:

(elastomer) wiper blade hard plastic base print head capper seal around hard plastic base (maintenance station mounting socket) air respirator hole (slider) columnar structure center long axis ink collector face Central core blade blade First blade Second blade Elastomer base Blade blade Segmented blade blade section Blade contact pad Single blade -48- 200932557 3 1 8 : Blade 320: fiber mat 3 22 : paper discharge guide 324 : turntable lift motor 326 : turntable rotary motor 3 28 : stepper motor sensor 3 3 0 : main drive roller pulley 3 3 2 : idler 3 3 4 : turntable Lifting rotary sensor

-49-

Claims (1)

200932557 X. Patent application scope 1. An inkjet printer comprising: at least three ink tanks for storing inks of different colors; the print head having a print head with a nozzle face defined by the nozzle face An array of nozzles, and a fluid coupling member for supplying ink from each of the ink tanks to the print head; a bracket defining a reference surface for engaging a reference on the print head cartridge ( a datum) point for supporting the nozzle face at a precise distance from a media feed path; a latching member for fixing the printhead cartridge in the bracket; the latch member is movable in an ingress and egress The path of the bracket is between an unblocked open position and a closed position in which the access to the support is blocked. The latch is configured to apply a pressing force to force a reference point on the print head and the a reference surface engagement; a fluid interface in fluid communication with the ink tank; and a mechanical linkage between the latch and the fluid interface such that when the latch is moved to the closed position The fluid interface is displaced to sealingly engage the fluid coupling, the fluid interface being displaced in a direction that does not affect the crushing force between the reference point and the reference surface. 2. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein the fluid interface is displaced in a direction parallel to the media feed direction. 3. The ink jet printer of claim 2, wherein the pressing force applied by the latch is perpendicular to the medium feeding direction. -50- 200932557 4. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein the interface engages the fluid coupling for use with the print head from all of the ink tanks. 5. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein the head is a one-page wide print head and the nozzle array extends over the width of the medium. 6. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is an array of nozzles extending from an interface plate, the surface being a corresponding socket for sealingly engaging the fluid coupling interface The inkjet printer of the first aspect of the invention is included in the inkjet printer of claim 1, the head cartridge has a first fluid coupling member and a second fluid coupling table machine having a first a fluid interface and a second fluid interface, the interface being in fluid communication with the ink tank and the second fluid interface port, the first fluid coupling member for sealing the bone interface, and the second fluid coupling The piece is used to sealingly engage the interface. 8. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein the support structure has first and second support surfaces that are configured to contact the print head cartridge when the first fluid interface engages the coupling member The first support surface is aligned with any crushing force of the first fluid interface printhead, and when the second fluid has ink of the fluid, wherein the print substrate is printed with the fluid and the fluid The fluid in the fluid boundary is on the crucible. Wherein the printer prints the first fluid, and the waste ink is discharged into the first stream; the second fluid further comprises a first fluid applied to the column interface in the bracket to engage the fluid interface Any crushing force applied to the print head is aligned. The ink jet printer of claim 8 wherein the support structure has a third support surface that engages the latch when the latch member secures the cassette in the bracket Any crushing force applied to the print head 对准 is aligned. 10. The ink jet printer of claim 1, further comprising a wiper member for moving into the media feed path and for a single traverse in a direction parallel to the media feed direction Move to wipe all the nozzles in the 0 nozzle face. 11. The inkjet printer of claim 10, wherein the wiper member traverses the media feed around an extension as the wiper member is moved into the media feed path and across the nozzle face The axis of the direction is rotated. 12. The ink jet printer of claim 11, further comprising an ink absorber for moving into the media feed path after all nozzles in the nozzle face have been wiped, and will be from all The ink of the nozzle is injected into the ink absorber. 13. The inkjet printer of claim 12, wherein the ink absorber is disposed in a row of platens having a contoured guiding surface for guiding the media substrate The sheet passes through the print head and a central recess 'the ink absorber has an absorbing element disposed in a central recess of the print platen. 14. The inkjet printer of claim 13, wherein the printing platen is moved by rotating it about an axis extending across the media feed direction by the wiper member. The media feed path is -52-200932557 and is supplied to the print head. 15. The inkjet printer of claim 14, wherein the wiper member and the printing platen are secured to a base mounted to the printer for traversing the traverse The axis of the media feed direction rotates. 1 6 · The ink jet printer of claim 15 of the patent application, wherein a capper for covering the nozzle array when the nozzle array of the printer is not in use is also fixed to the base . U 17. The ink jet printer of claim 14, wherein the step of moving the wiper member comprises rotating the wiper member about an axis transverse to the media feed direction at different rates. 18. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein the wiper member is selectively rotated in either of two directions about the axis transverse to the media feed direction. 19. The ink jet printer of claim 14, wherein the wiper member has a plurality of elastic blades extending over the width of the media substrate. Q 20. The ink jet printer of claim 19, wherein the elastic blades are arranged in parallel rows, each column extending over the width of the media substrate. -53-