200932563 ★ 九、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明關於噴墨印表機，特別是關於噴墨印表機用的 維護設備。 【先前技術】 申請人已發展出廣範圍的印表機，其使用頁寬列印頭 〇 ，而非傳統的往復列印頭設計。頁寬設計增加列印速率， 因爲列印頭不須橫越頁面往復運動以沉積一列影像。頁寬 列印頭單純地沉積墨水在媒介上，因爲其高速地運動通過 媒介。此等列印頭已能夠以每分鐘約60頁的速率執行 1 600 dpi解析度的列印，該速率爲習知噴墨印表機先前不 可達到的速率。 高列印速率需要大的墨水供給流率。不只流率較高， 而且沿著頁寬列印頭之整個長度的墨水分布比將墨水饋給 〇 至相對小之往復列印頭更複雜。 爲了延長列印頭的壽命，大部份的噴墨印表機會倂入 一些類型的維護設備。此可像在不使用列印頭時將其加上 蓋子那麼簡單。加蓋於列印頭會停止噴嘴上的墨水乾掉。 但是加蓋子並沒有清除任何紙塵或其他污物，該等紙塵或 其他污物會使噴嘴面止滑。移除這些顆粒的最有效率方式 是以合適的表面擦拭噴嘴面。微小的噴嘴構造是相對地精 細，所以擦拭表面需要具有輕的表面接觸。但是該接觸需 要強到足以移除污物和塵。 -5- 200932563 申請人已發展使用列印頭維護設備的列印引擎，該列 印頭維護設備設有擦拭器刮片。刮片由彈性材料製成，當 刮片接觸噴嘴面時刮片會撓曲，所以接觸壓力不會造成損 害，但是接觸壓力足以聚集乾掉的墨水和紙塵。一旦污物 已被傳輸至擦拭器刮片，則維護設備必須能夠在擦拭器刮 片再次接觸噴嘴面之前，清潔擦拭器刮片。可使用微纖維 清潔墊來清理擦拭器刮片。但是此方法有時會將污物拉過 〇 刮片的邊緣，使得污物聚集在該刮片之未接觸的側面上。 這些污物持續地累積，直到污物沉積在噴嘴面上。 【發明內容】 因此本發明提供一種用於噴墨列印頭的列印頭維護設 備，該列印頭維護設備包含： 擦拭器構件，用於接觸該噴墨列印頭上的噴嘴面，該 擦拭器構件具有彈性刮片，該刮片具有遠端邊緣，建構該 〇 遠端邊緣以當其接觸該噴嘴面時該遠端邊緣會撓曲； 刮刀，設置成平行於擦拭器構件的彈性刮片而延伸； 和 維護驅動裝置，建構該維護驅動裝置以運動該擦拭器 構件行經該噴嘴面然後經過該刮刀，使得該彈性刮片被要 求撓曲以經過該刮刀；其中當該彈性刮片和該刮刀解除嚙 合時，該彈性刮片彈回至其靜止的形狀，藉以將污物拋離 彈性刮片的表面。 本發明已發現使用刮刀是清潔擦拭器刮片的有效方式 -6 - 200932563 ，因爲刮刀不僅刮落擦拭器刮片表面的污物，而且使擦拭 器刮片彈掉刮片之非接觸側的任何髒物或污物。刮刀可和 擦拭墊聯合使用，且可用在更廣範圍的清潔。 較佳地，建構該維護驅動裝置，以轉動該擦拭器構件 呈弧形’使得該擦拭器刮片在嚙合該刮刀之前先接觸該噴 嘴面。較佳地，建構該維護驅動裝置以運動該擦拭器構件 ’使得該彈性刮片在平行於該媒介饋給方向的方向中行經 〇 該噴嘴面。較佳地，建構該維護驅動裝置，以選擇性地在 該媒介饋給方向或相反於該媒介饋給方向中運動該擦拭器 構件。在特別佳的形式中，印表機具有頁寬列印頭，以致 噴嘴面界定在媒介基板之寬度延伸的陣列噴嘴。較佳地， 該擦拭器構件具有複數擦拭器刮片，該等擦拭器刮片在該 頁寬列印頭的長度延伸。在另一較佳形式中，該等擦拭器 刮片配置在複數平行列中。在特別佳的形式中，該複數列 的每一者具有一系列的擦拭器刮片，該等擦拭器刮片在該 © 饋給方向的橫方向對齊，相鄰列中的該等擦拭器刮片在該 饋給方向彼此相對地錯開。在特別佳的形式中，維護設備 更包含吸收性墊，其用於接觸該擦拭器刮片以移除污物和 吸收殘留墨水。 在一些實施例中，建構該維護驅動裝置以轉動該擦拭 器構件’該擦拭器構件繞著在該媒介饋給方向之橫方向延 伸的軸線旋轉。較佳地’該維護驅動裝置是可反轉的，所 以該擦拭器構件在維護循環中能在兩個方向中擦拭噴嘴面 。較佳地’建構該維護驅動裝置，使其以可變速率運動該 200932563 擦拭器構件經過該噴嘴面。在另一較佳形式中，建構該維 護驅動裝置以舉升或降下該擦拭器構件。在此形式中，用 於舉升或降下擦拭器構件的驅動機構，是獨立於轉動該擦 拭器構件的驅動機構。 在另一較佳形式中，該頁寬列印頭係以使用者可移除 匣的形式提供。在特別佳的形式中，該頁寬列印頭包括一 系列的列印頭積體電路。較佳地，該等列印頭積體電路彼 〇 此對齊，以致其在該媒介饋給方向的橫方向延伸。 較佳地，該擦拭器構件包括管狀金屬本體，用於支撐 複數的擦拭器刮片。較佳地，該管狀金屬本體支撐列印壓 盤，設置該列印壓盤的位置，使得在該等擦拭器刮片擦拭 過該噴嘴面之後，該列印壓盤呈現至該列印頭。 【實施方式】 印表機流體工學系統 © 圖1是圖2A和2B中所述之列印引擎所用之流體工學 的示意圖。如前所述，列印引擎具有噴墨印表機的主要機 械構造。建構週邊構造（例如外殻、饋紙盤、紙收集盤、 、、等），使其適合印表機（例如相片印表機、網路印表 機、或蘇活印表機）的特定列印要求。申請人揭露在共同 繫屬中的申請案 USSN 1 1 /688863 (我們的案號 RRE 00 1 US )之相片印表機，是使用圖1之流體工學系統之噴 墨印表機的例子。該共同繫屬中的申請案的內容於此倂入 作爲參考。USSN 11/872719號案（我們的案號SBF 009US) 200932563 中詳細描述該系統的作業和其個別組件，其內容於此倂入 作爲參考。 簡言之，印表機流體工學系統具有列印頭組合體2, 墨水罐4經由上游墨水管線8供給墨水至列印頭組合體2 。廢棄墨水經由下游墨水管線排至廢墨水罐〗8。爲了簡化 ，所以只顯示單一墨水管線。實際上，列印頭具有多條墨 水管線供全彩列印。上游墨水管線8具有關閉閥1 0，用於 〇 將列印頭組合體2選擇性地與泵1 2和/或墨水罐4隔離。 泵12用於主動塡注或溢滿（flood )列印頭組合體2。栗 1 2也用於建立墨水罐4內的負壓。在列印期間，藉由氣泡 點規制器6維持負壓。 列印頭組合體2是液晶聚合物模組20，其支撐一系列 的列印頭積體電路3 0 ;以黏性晶粒附接薄膜（未示）固定 該等列印頭積體電路3 0。列印頭積體電路3 0具有陣列的 墨水噴射噴嘴，用於噴射墨水液滴至正在通過的媒介基板 〇 22。噴嘴是以真實1600 dpi (亦即1600 npi的噴嘴節距） 或更大解析度列印的微電子機械構造。USSN 1 1 /246687 ( 我們的案號MNN 00 1 US)中詳細地描述合適列印頭積體 電路30的製造和構造，其內容倂入於此作參考。液晶聚 合物模組20具有在入口 36和出口 38之間延伸的主通道 24。主通道24饋給一系列延伸至液晶聚合物模組20下側 的細通道28。細通道28經由晶粒附接薄膜內之雷射切除 孔而將墨水供給至列印頭積體電路3 0。 在主通道24上方的是一系列未塡注的空氣凹穴26。 -9- 200932563 設計這些凹穴以在塡注列印頭期間侷限一袋的空氣。該等 空氣袋給予系統一些順應性，以吸收和阻尼墨水中的壓力 高點和液壓衝擊。印表機是具有大數目噴嘴快速地發射的 高速頁寬印表機。此印表機快速率地消耗墨水’且突然結 束列印工作或甚至只是一頁的結束，意涵朝向（和經過） 列印頭組合體2運動的一行墨水必須幾乎瞬間停止。如果 沒有空氣凹穴26提供的順應性，則墨水的動量會溢滿列 0 印頭積體電路30的噴嘴。再者，後續的「反射波」會產 生足以去除噴嘴塡注的強負壓。 列印引擎 圖2A顯示使用列印匣2類型之列印引擎3。列印引 擎3是噴墨印表機的內部構造，所以其不包括任何外部殻 體、墨水罐、或媒介饋給和收集盤。使用者將閂1 26上升 或下降，以插入或移除列印頭匣2。列印引擎3和列印頭 Ο 匣2上的接點形成電性連接，且分別藉由承座120、入口 歧管48、和出口歧管50形成流體耦合。 藉由主驅動輥186和排出饋給輥178，將媒介片體饋 給經過列印引擎。主驅動輥1 86被主驅動皮帶輪和編碼器 碟188所驅動。排出饋給輥178被排出驅動皮帶輪180所 驅動。藉由媒介饋給皮帶182，使排出驅動皮帶輪180和 主驅動皮帶輪188同步。媒介饋給馬達190經由輸入驅動 皮帶192供給動力給主驅動皮帶輪188。 主驅動皮帶輪188具有編碼器碟，驅動皮帶輪感測器 -10- 200932563 184讀取編碼器碟。驅動軸桿186、178之迴轉數和 相關資料，被送至列印引擎控制器（PEC )。列印 制器（未示）被安裝至主印刷電路板（PCB) 194, 於控制印表機作業的主要微處理器。 圖2B顯示已移除列印頭匣後的列印引擎3 ’ 每一承座120中的孔122。每一孔122容置入口歧 口歧管上的其中之一嘴52(見圖5)。如上所述， © 具有任意位置和構造，但是簡單地連接至入口耦合 座120後面處的中空嵌入口 124(見圖8)。在出 器後面處的嵌入口 124，連通至廢墨水罐18(見圖 的廢棄墨水出口。 補強支承表面128被固定至列印引擎3的受壓 體1 96。這些提供用於將列印頭匣設置在列印引擎 考點。他們也被設置用於在安裝時對作用在匣2上 負載，提供正相反的支承表面。當歧管嘴（下述） 〇 印引擎中的關閉閥（下述）時，流體耦合器120推 之入口歧管和出口歧管。匣2上之閂126的壓力’ 反於支承表面128。設置支承表面128使其直接相 2中的壓縮負載’可降低匣內的彎曲和變形。最後 助噴嘴相對於媒介饋給路徑的經確定位。其亦保護 度較弱的機構免於損壞。 列印頭匣 圖3是完整的列印頭匣2的透視圖。列印頭匣 速率的 引擎控 且是用 以顯露 管和出 墨水罐 器中承 口耦合 1 )中 金屬殼 內的參 的壓縮 打開列 抵著匣 也正相 反於匣 ，此幫 匣內強 2具有 -11 - 200932563 頂模組44和可移除的保護罩42。頂模組44具有中央腹板 供構造性勁度，且用於提供具紋理的夾持表面58,以在插 入和移除期間操縱匣。在安裝於印表機內之前，保護罩42 的底部保護列印頭積體電路（未示）和整列的接點。蓋體 56 —體成形於底部，並覆蓋墨水入口和出口（見圖5的 5 4 和 5 2 )。 圖4顯示移除保護罩42的列印頭組合體2，以暴露在 〇 底表面上的列印頭積體電路和在側表面上的整列接點33。 將保護罩丟至回收廢棄物、或將保護罩裝配到換下來的列 印頭匣，以包住殘留墨水的洩漏。圖5是列印頭組合體2 的局部分解透視圖。已移除頂罩以顯露入口歧管48和出 口歧管50，已移除入口圍板和出口圍板46、47以較清楚 地暴露五個入口嘴52和五個出口嘴54。入口和出口歧管 48、50形成每一個別入口及出口和液晶聚合物內主通道（ 見圖6之24 )之間的流體連接。主通道延伸液晶聚合物的 〇 長度，且主通道饋給在液晶聚合物模組下側上的一系列細 通道。一列空氣凹穴26形成在每一主通道24的上方。如 上關於圖1所述，藉由壓縮空氣凹穴26內的空氣，而阻 尼墨水中的衝擊波或壓力脈衝。 圖6是沒有入口或出口歧管或頂罩模組之列印頭組合 體的分解透視圖。每一種墨水顏料用的主通道24和其相 關的空氣凹穴26，分別形成在通道模組68和凹穴模組72 內。晶粒附接薄膜66黏複製通道模組6 8的底部。晶粒附 接薄膜66將列印頭積體電路30安裝至通道模組，使得通 -12- 200932563 道模組68下側上的細通道經由貫穿薄膜的小雷射 而和列印頭積體電路30呈流體連通。 因爲液晶聚合物的勁度及熱膨脹係數的原因， 道模組68和頂罩模組72兩者都是由液晶聚合物所 型，且液晶聚合物的熱膨脹係數和矽的熱膨脹係數 匹配。可瞭解的是，例如頁寬列印頭的相對長構造 使列印頭積體電路3 0的矽基板和其支撐構造之間 〇 熱膨脹差異最小化。 列印頭維護轉盤 參考圖7，顯示剖面透視圖。該剖面是穿過圖 示的線7 - 7。列印頭匣2插入列印引擎3內，使得 歧管50和嵌入口 124呈流體連通，該嵌入口 124 印表機成品內之廢棄墨水罐（通常位於列印引擎的 。液晶聚合物模組20支撐列印頭積體電路3 0緊鄰 〇 穿過列印引擎的媒介饋給路徑22。 列印頭維護轉盤1 5 0和其相關的驅動機構，位 饋給路徑22的相反側上。安裝列印頭維護轉盤1 5 繞著管狀驅動軸桿156旋轉，列印頭維護轉盤150 構用於朝向和遠離列印頭積體電路30運動。藉由 盤150朝向印頭積體電路30，轉盤外部上的各種列 護站呈現至列印頭。維護轉盤150可旋轉地安裝在 造170上，其安裝至舉升構造軸桿156，所以其能 列印引擎3的其餘構造樞轉。舉升構造170包括一 切除孔 所以通 模製成 緊密地 ，應該 的任何 2A所 其出口 引導至 基座） 著延伸 在媒介 0用於 也被建 升高轉 印頭維 舉升構 相對於 對舉升 -13- 200932563 臂158(只顯示一支舉升臂，另一支舉升臂設在舉升構造 軸桿156的相反端）。每一舉升臂158具有凸輪嚙合表面 168’例如低摩擦材料的輥或墊。凸輪（下文詳述）固定 至轉盤驅動軸桿160，用於以該軸桿160轉動。舉升臂 158被偏壓進入和轉盤舉升驅動軸桿160上的凸輪嚙合， 使得轉盤舉升馬達（下述）能藉由旋轉軸桿160而運動轉 盤朝向和遠離列印頭。 〇 維護轉盤150繞管狀軸桿166的旋轉，是獨立於轉盤 舉升驅動。轉盤驅動軸桿166嚙合轉盤旋轉馬達（下述） ’使得無論其從列印頭縮回或朝向列印頭前進，其皆能被 轉動。當轉盤朝向列印頭前進時，擦拭器刮片1 62運動經 過媒介饋給路徑22，以擦拭列印頭積體電路30。當轉盤 1 5 0從列印頭撤回時，轉盤1 5 0可重複地轉動，使得擦拭 器刮片（wiper blade) 162 嚙合刮刀（doctor blade) 154 和清潔墊152。此也在下文詳細討論。 Ο 現在參考圖8，剖面7-7顯示在平面視圖中，以較清 楚地描述維護轉盤舉升驅動。轉盤舉升驅動軸桿160顯示 呈轉動，使得舉升凸輪172藉由凸輪嚙合表面168將舉升 臂158向下推動。舉升軸桿160被轉盤舉升正齒輪174驅 動，該轉盤舉升正齒輪174依序被轉盤舉升蝸輪176驅動 。以鍵將蝸輪17固定至轉盤舉升馬達的輸出軸桿（下述 )° 隨著舉升臂158將舉升構造170向下拉，維護轉盤 150從列印頭積體電路30撤離。在此位置中’轉盤50旋 -14- 200932563 轉時，沒有維護站接觸列印頭積體電路30。但是轉盤會帶 動擦拭器刮片162接觸刮刀（doctor blade) 154和具吸收 性的清潔墊152。 舌fj 刀(doctor blade ) 刮刀154結合清潔墊152工作，以廣泛地清潔擦拭器 刮片162。清潔墊152從擦拭器刮片162的擦拭接觸面擦 〇 拭紙塵和乾掉的墨水。但是小墨水珠和污物會形成刮片 162的尖端，該尖端不接觸清潔墊152的表面。 爲了去除此墨水和塵，將刮刀1 54安裝在列印引擎3 內，以在刮片1 62擦拭過列印頭積體電路3 0以後但在接 觸清潔墊152以前，使刮刀154接觸刮片162。當擦拭器 刮片1 62接觸刮刀1 54時，擦拭器刮片1 62撓曲成弧形以 便通過。因爲擦拭器刮片1 62是彈性體材料，所以當其一 脫離刮刀1 54時，便彈回至其靜止的直形狀。快速地彈回 〇 至其靜止的形狀，會從擦拭器刮片1 62 (特別是從尖端） 投射出塵和其他污物。 普通的工作者會瞭解，當擦拭器刮片162接觸清潔墊 152時也會撓曲，且一旦擦拭器刮片162脫離墊時，也同 樣地會彈回至其靜止的形狀。但是刮刀1 5 4放射狀地安裝 成在轉盤150的中心軸桿166較接近而在清潔墊152處較 遠離。此配置使得當擦拭器刮片162通過時會更彎曲，且 當彈回至靜止的形狀時，給污物更多的動量。因爲清潔墊 1 52接觸前導刮片使拖在後面的刮片不當地擦過清潔墊 -15- 200932563 152’所以不可能將清潔墊丨52單純地運動至更靠近轉盤 軸桿166，以使擦拭器刮片162更彎曲。 清潔墊 清潔墊152是具吸收性的發泡體，其被形成爲對應於 擦拭器刮片1 62之圓形路徑的弧形。當以編織材料覆蓋墊 1 52 ’以在擦拭刮片時提供許多密集的聚集接觸點，使墊 〇 152更有效率地清潔。因此，編織材料之線的尺寸應相對 地小，例如小於2丹尼（denier )。具有線尺寸約1丹尼 之微纖維材料的工作狀況特別佳。 清潔墊1 52延伸擦拭器刮片1 62的長度，擦拭器刮片 162也延伸頁寬列印頭的長度。頁寬清潔墊152同時清潔 擦拭器刮片的全部長度，其減少每一擦拭作業所需的時間 。再者，頁寬清潔墊的長度固有地提供大體積的吸收性材 料，用於保持相對大量的墨水。因爲有較大的吸收墨水能 Ο 力，所以較不須常常更換清潔墊152。 加蓋於列印頭 圖9顯示具有安裝至維護轉盤150之加蓋維護站198 的加蓋列印頭積體電路30的第一階段。當舉升凸輪172 向下推在舉升臂158上時，維護轉盤150從列印頭積體電 路30撤離。維護轉盤150連同維護編碼器碟204被旋轉 ，直到第一轉盤旋轉感測器200和第二轉盤旋轉感測器 2 0 2決定：列印頭加蓋器正面對列印頭積體電路3 0。 -16- 200932563 如圖10所示，舉升軸桿160轉動凸輪172，以致舉升 臂158向上運動，以使維護轉盤150向列印頭積體電路30 前進。加蓋器維護站198嚙合液晶聚合物模組20的下側 ，以將列印頭積體電路3 0的噴嘴密封在相對潮濕的環境 中。普通的工作者會瞭解：此防止（至少延長）噴嘴免於 乾掉和阻塞。 © 去除列印頭的蓋 圖1 1顯示去除蓋以準備列印的列印頭積體電路3 0。 旋轉舉升軸桿160，以致舉升凸輪172將轉盤舉升臂158 向下推。加蓋維護站1 98運動離開液晶聚合物模組20，以 暴露列印頭積體電路3 0。 擦拭列印頭 圖12顯示正被擦拭器刮片162擦拭的列印頭積體電 © 路30。當加蓋站198被旋轉離開列印頭時，擦拭器構件的 刮片162接觸液晶聚合物模組20的下側。當轉盤150繼 續旋轉時，擦拭器刮片被拉經過列印頭積體電路30的噴 嘴面，以擦掉任何紙塵、乾掉的墨水、或其他污物。擦拭 器刮片1 62由彈性體材料形成，所以當他們擦拭通過列印 頭積體電路時，其彈性地撓曲和彎曲。當每一擦拭器刮片 的尖端被彎曲時，每一刮片的側表面和噴嘴面形成擦拭接 觸。可瞭解的是：刮片的寬廣平坦側表面和噴嘴面有較大 的接觸，且更有效率地清除掉污物。 -17- 200932563 擦拭器刮片清理（清潔） 圖13、14顯示正被清潔的擦拭器刮片162。如圖13 所示，在擦拭器刮片1 62擦拭列印頭積體電路3 0之後， 擦拭器刮片1 62立即被旋轉通過刮刀1 54。刮刀1 54的功 能在上文附標題「刮刀」中較詳細地討論。 在將擦拭器刮片1 62拖拉經過刮刀1 54以後，附著在 〇 刮片的任何殘留塵和污物，被具吸收性的清潔墊1 52所移 除。此步驟顯示在圖14中。 在此過程期間，列印壓盤維護站206正好相對著列印 頭積體電路30。如果想要的話，藉由旋轉舉升凸輪172能 舉升轉盤，使得噴嘴能發射進入吸收性材料208。混合在 墨水噴嘴的任何顏料立即被淨化。鑽削進入管狀底座166 之側面的孔（未示），提供吸收性材料2 0 8和在轉盤軸桿 1 66之中心凹穴內的多孔材料2 1 0之間的流體連通。被材 〇 料208所吸收之墨水，被拉入多孔材料210內且被多孔材 料210所保持。爲了使多孔材料210流乾，轉盤150可設 有真空附接點（未示），以排掉廢棄墨水。 轉盤150帶著乾淨的擦拭器刮片繼續旋轉（見圖15) ，直到列印壓盤206再度位在列印頭積體電路30的對面 。然後如圖16所示’轉盤朝向列印頭積體電路30上升， 以預備列印。沿著媒介饋給路徑22饋給媒介基板片體並 通過列印頭積體電路30。就滿版出血（full bleed;列印 至媒介片體的極邊）列印而言，媒介基板能保持離開壓盤 -18- 200932563 2 06，以致其不會因墨水過度噴灑而弄髒。可 吸收性材料208設置在列印壓盤206的凹陷部 任何過度噴灑的墨水（通常在紙兩側邊緣約1 持離開可接觸媒介基板的表面。 在列印工作結束時或在印表機將進入待命 轉盤150在旋轉中從列印頭積體電路30撤離 頭加蓋維護站1 98再度呈現至列印頭。如圖] © 升軸桿160轉動舉升凸輪158，以致舉升凸輪 頭加蓋維護站運動進入和液晶聚合物模組20 嚙合。 列印頭維護轉盤 圖18、19、20、和21顯示隔離的維護轉！ 顯示擦拭器刮片1 6 2和列印壓盤2 0 6透視圖。 示列印頭加蓋器1 9 8和擦拭器刮片1 6 2的透;1 Ο 是顯示維護轉盤之零組件的分解圖。圖21是 合後之零組件的剖視圖。 維護轉盤具有四個列印頭維護站：列印壓 拭器構件162、和集墨器（spittoon) /吸墨器 維護站安裝至其自己的外部底座組件。外部底 在轉盤管狀軸桿166的周圍，且彼此相互嚙合 桿上。在管狀軸桿166的一端是轉盤編碼器碟 正齒輪212，轉盤正齒輪212被下述的轉盤旋 示）所驅動。管狀軸桿被固定至正齒輪或隨同 瞭解的是， 份內，以致 毫米）被保 模式之前， ，以致列印 7所示，舉 1 5 8將列印 的下側密封 畫。圖1 8是 圖19是顯 見圖。圖2 0 顯Tpc完全組 盤206 、擦 220 。每一 座組件安裝 以鎖固至軸 204和轉盤 轉馬達（未 其旋轉。各 -19- 200932563 列印頭維護站藉由其穩固地壓縮夾在軸桿的外部，而隨同 管狀軸桿一起旋轉。 擦拭器刮片外部底座組件2 1 4是鋁擠製品（或其他合 適的合金），建構擦拭器刮片外部底座組件214以牢固地 固持擦拭器刮片1 62。類似地，其他的外部底座組件是金 屬擠製品，用於牢固地安裝個別維護站的較軟彈性體和/ 或吸收性多孔材料。用於列印壓盤2 1 6和列印頭加蓋器 〇 1 9 8的外部底座組件，沿著每一縱向邊緣具有一系列相同 的鎖固耳部226。擦拭器構件外部底座組件214和集墨器/ 吸墨器外部底座組件218，具有互補的卡栓類型槽，用於 容置鎖固耳部226。每一卡栓槽具有鄰接耳部鎖固槽230 的耳部進出孔228。將鎖固耳部226插入鄰近外部底座組 件的耳部進出孔228，然後彼此相對地縱向滑動組件，以 將其鎖固至底座管狀軸桿166上。 爲了改善每一維護站和底座片軸桿166之間的摩擦和 Ο 鎖固嚙合，每一列印頭維護站設有一元件，該元件具有形 成在其一側上的弧形軸桿嚙合表面234。集墨器/吸墨器外 部底座組件218具有相對大的吸收性集墨器/吸墨器構件 220，其也具有形成在其內面上的弧形軸桿嚙合表面234。 同樣地，用於列印頭加蓋器1 98的外部底座組件和各擦拭 器刮片162的共通基座，具有弧形軸桿嚙合表面234。 一般的工作者會瞭解，使用相互鎖固構造將外部底座 夾持至內部底座，可使加工和組合時間降至最低，維持小 的公差用於精密地安裝維護站構造。在者，外部底座組件 -20- 200932563 可組合成不同的組態。能改變擦拭器刮片外部底座組件 2 1 4和集墨器/吸墨器底座組件2〗8位置。類似地，列印頭 加蓋器198和列印壓盤206可交換。以此方式，維護站可 以其安裝在特殊印表機內最佳的方式而組合。 射出成型聚合物轉盤底座 圖22至28顯示另一實施例的列印頭維護轉盤。這些 〇 圖是只顯示轉盤和列印頭匣之下部分的示意剖面。應瞭解 的是，維護驅動系統需要簡單且直接的修飾，以適合於此 實施例的轉盤。 圖22顯示鄰近列印頭維護轉盤1 50之列印頭匣2的 液晶聚合物模組20，該轉盤1 50以列印壓盤206呈現至列 印頭積體電路30。爲了清楚起見，圖29隔離地顯示列印 壓盤206。在使用中，沿著媒介饋給路徑22饋給片狀的媒 介基板。在列印頭積體電路3 0的噴嘴和媒介饋給路徑22 〇 之間的是列印間隙244。爲了維持列印品質，列印頭積體 電路的噴嘴面和媒介表面之間的間隙244，應儘可能地靠 近設計期間明定的公稱値。在市面上買得到的印表機中， 此間隙約爲2毫米。但是因爲列印技術再進步，所以一些 印表機具有約1毫米的列印間隙。 隨著數位攝影術的普受歡迎，對彩色影像之滿版出血 列印的需求愈來愈大。「滿版出血列印」是列印至媒介表 面的極邊緣。此經常造成一些「越界噴灑（或過度噴灑； over spray)」，其中被射出的墨水未噴中在媒介基板的 -21 - 200932563 邊緣，而沉積在支撐列印壓盤上。然後，此越界噴灑的墨 水會弄髒在後續的片狀媒介上。 圖22所示的配置處理這兩個議題。液晶聚合物模組 20上的紙引導件23 8，界定列印期間的列印間隙244。但 是，列印壓盤206具有形成在其硬塑膠基座模組上的引導 表面246。引導表面246引導片體的前緣朝向排出驅動輥 或其他驅動機件。因爲片狀媒介和列印壓盤2 0 6之間的最 〇 小接觸，所以大幅減少滿版出血列印期間被越界噴灑之墨 水弄髒的可能性。再者，將液晶聚合物模組2 0上的紙引 導件238設置在緊鄰列印頭積體電路3〇處，準確地維持 噴嘴至媒介表面的間隙244。 在申請人之範圍中的一些印表機使用此技術以提供 0.7毫米的列印間隙244。但是藉由使鄰近列印頭積體電 路30之囊狀材料240的小珠變扁平，可減少上述間隙。 藉由安裝至液晶聚合物模組20外部的可撓印刷電路板242 〇 ，將電源和資料傳輸至列印頭積體電路3 0。可撓印刷電路 板242的接點，藉由一列導線架（未示）而電性地連接至 列印頭積體電路30的接點。爲了保護導線架，導線架被 包覆在稱爲囊狀物之環氧樹脂材料中。申請人已發展出多 種技術’用於使導線架的外型輪廓和覆蓋導線架之珠狀囊 狀物2 4 0變扁平。此允許進一步減少列印間隙2 4 4。 列印壓盤2 0 6具有凹陷或中心凹穴2 4 8，其正對著列 印頭積體電路30的噴嘴。任何越界噴灑的墨水，都會在 壓盤2 06的此區域內。遠離壓盤之其餘部分而在此區域形 -22- 200932563 成凹陷，確保媒介基板不會被溼的越界噴灑墨水弄髒。中 心凹穴248的表面和吸收性纖維元件2 50呈流體連通。纖 維性元件250和在底座2 3 6之中心內的多孔材料254，也 藉由毛細管252呈流體連通。越界噴灑的墨水被吸入纖維 元件250內，且被毛細作用經由管252抽入多孔材料254 內。 圖2 3顯示轉盤1 5 0轉動，使得列印頭塡注站2 6 2呈 0 現至列印頭積體電路3 0。圖3 0顯示隔離的列印頭塡注站 2 72和其構造特徵。列印頭塡注站具有圍繞著塡注接觸墊 2 5 8的彈性體裙部2 5 6，其由多孔材料形成。彈性體裙部 和塡注接觸墊一起成型而與剛性聚合物基座260 —起，踊(J 性聚合物基座260牢固地安裝至射出形型底座236。 當更換列印頭匣2時，其需要被塡注墨水。眾所週知 塡注過程是浪費的，因爲墨水通常被強迫穿過噴嘴，直到 整個列印頭構造已流放任何的氣泡爲止。當從延伸經過列 〇 印頭之許多導管清除空氣的期間，已浪費非常大量的墨水 〇 爲了解決此問題，升高維護轉盤1 5 0使得塡注接觸墊 25 8覆蓋列印頭積體電路30的噴嘴。當在壓力下塡注噴嘴 陣列時，保持接觸墊25 8抵著噴嘴，大幅地減少流放經過 噴嘴之墨水量。多孔材料局部地阻擋噴嘴，以限制墨水流 。但是來自噴嘴之空氣流所受到的限制少很多，所以整個 塡注過程並沒有因爲多孔材料所產生的流動阻礙而延遲。 彈性體裙部256密封地抵注液晶聚合物模組22的下側， -23- 200932563 以擷取從接觸墊2 5 8下側流出的過量墨水。形成在剛性聚 合物基座260中的流動孔264，允許被墊258吸收的墨水 和任何過量的墨水，流至吸收性纖維元件2 5 0 (和列印壓 盤206所用者相同）。如同列印壓盤206，纖維元件250 內的墨水藉由毛細管252被抽入射出成形底座236中的多 孔材料254內。 藉由使用列印頭塡注站2 6 2，大幅地減少被浪費的墨 〇 水量。如果沒有塡注站，則當塡注頁寬列印頭時，每一種 顏料被浪費的墨水量通常約爲2毫升；如果有塡注站262 ，則每一種顏料被浪費的墨水量減少至約0.1毫升。 塡注接觸墊258不須由多孔材料形成，反而可由和圍 繞裙部256相同的彈性材料形成。在此情況，接觸墊258 需要具有特殊的表面粗糙度。嚙合列印頭積體電路30之 噴嘴面的表面，應爲2至4微米尺度的粗糙，但是爲20 微米尺度的順暢和平順。此類型的表面粗糙度允許空氣從 〇 噴嘴面和接觸墊之間逃脫，但是只有小量的墨水逃脫。 圖24顯示維護轉盤150的擦拭站266呈現至列印頭 積體電路30。擦拭站獨立地顯示在圖31中。擦拭站266 也是共同模製的構造，其具有被支撐在硬塑膠基座2 70上 的軟彈性體擦拭刮片268。爲了擦拭列印頭積體電路3 0的 噴嘴面，轉盤底座23 6被升高然後旋轉，所以擦拭器刮片 268擦過噴嘴面。通常旋轉轉盤底座236，使得擦拭器刮 片2 68朝向囊狀小珠擦拭。如同在申請人之共同繫屬中之 檔案編號RRE015US的申請案（倂入作交互參考）中所討 -24- 200932563 論者，可設計囊狀小珠的輪廓用於幫助塵和污物 器刮片268的面上。但是如果證明在兩個方向中 效率，則可容易地將維護驅動裝置（未不）建構 兩個方向中轉動底座236。類似地’藉由改變旋 ，很容易改變擦拭經過列印頭積體電路3 0的次 設計維護驅動裝置，以執行每一擦拭作業。 在圖2 5中顯示維護轉盤1 5 0的列印頭加蓋: φ 現至列印頭積體電路3 0。圖3 2獨立地顯示加蓋 清楚地例示其構造。加蓋器272具有由軟彈性體 的周圍密封274。周圍密封274和其硬塑膠基座 模製。在印表機閒置時，列印頭加蓋器272降低 的速率。周圍密封274和液晶聚合物模組20下 密封不需完全地不透空氣，因爲加蓋器正被用於 注列印頭。事實上，硬塑膠基座276應包括空氣 2 78，使得噴嘴不會因去除列印頭的蓋子時所造 Ο 而溢滿氾濫。爲了蓋住列印頭，旋轉底座2 3 6直 加蓋器272呈現至列印頭積體電路3 0。然後升高 ，直到周圍密封274嚙合列印頭匣2。 圖26顯示包括擦拭器刮片清潔墊1 52。如同 實施例所述，清潔墊152安裝在印表機內，使得 盤150旋轉時，擦拭器刮片268運動經過墊152 藉由設置清潔墊152的位置，使得底座23 6須從 體電路30縮回，以允許擦拭器刮片268接觸清 以相對高速的速率轉動底座2 3 6，用以廣泛地清 卡在擦拭 擦拭更有 成用於在 轉的數目 數。程式 器272呈 器，以較 材料形成 276共同 噴嘴乾掉 側之間的 以吸力塡 呼吸器孔 成的吸力 到列印頭 底座236 上文第一 當維護轉 的表面。 列印頭積 潔墊，且 潔擦拭器 -25- 200932563 刮片268，而和列印頭積體電路30無任何損害性接觸。再 者，可用介面活性劑濕潤清潔墊1 52，以更容易從擦拭器 刮片表面移除污物。 圖27獨立地顯示射出成型底座236。底座相對於穿過 中心縱長軸線282而延伸的二平面呈對稱。此對稱是重要 的，因爲，如果沿著頁寬列印頭之長度而延伸的射出成型 底座236不對稱，則當其冷卻時，有變形和彎曲的傾向。 〇 因爲具有對稱的剖面，所以當底座冷卻時，其收縮也是對 稱的。 底座236具有形成在其外部表面的四個維護站安裝承 座276，該等承座276都相同，所以其能容至各種維護站 206、266、262、272其中任何一個。以此方式，各維護站 變成可互換的模組，且可改變各維護站呈現至列印頭的順 序，以適合不同的印表機。再者，如果修改各維護站本身 ，則其標準承座確保維護站只須最少的設備更換便能容易 〇 地倂入現有的生產線內。以黏劑將維護站固定在承座內， 但是其他的方法（例如超音波點熔接或機械式相互嚙合） 也合適。 如圖28所示，模具設有四個滑塊278和一個中央芯 部288。每一滑塊278具有柱狀構造280以形成導管，該 導管將纖維芯墊連接至中心凹穴內的多孔材料219。用於 每一滑塊的拉引線是從底座236輻射狀地向外，而芯部 288是縱向地縮回（可瞭解的是’芯部不是精密的圓柱， 而是截頭圓錐，以提供需要的通氣）。聚合物組件的射出 -26- 200932563 成型非常適合於大量且低成本的生產。再者’底座的對稱 構造和均勻收縮維持良好的公差，以保持維護站平行於列 印頭積體電路而延伸。但是其他的製造技術也可能，例如 壓縮聚合物粉末的衝擊波或類似者。再者，增加親水性的 表面處理，可幫助墨水流至毛細管252，且終極地流至底 座23 6內的多孔材料210。在一些印表機設計中，建構底 座用於連接真空源，以從多孔材料2 1 0週期性地排出墨水 五個維護站實施例 圖34顯示列印頭維護轉盤150的實施例，其具有五 個不同的維護站：列印壓盤206、列印頭擦拭器266、列 印頭加蓋器272、塡注站262、和集墨器284。集墨器284 (獨立地顯示在圖33 )具有相對簡單的構造…-集墨器面 2 84呈現平坦至列印頭，且具有孔（未示）供與保持在其 Ο 塑膠基座內的纖維元件250呈流體連通。 五站維護轉盤150附加一個集墨器284，以允許印表 機使用主要的墨水淨化當作維護系統的一部分。圖22-25 的四站轉盤，使用列印壓盤206和/或加蓋器272提供次 要的墨水淨化或「吐出循環（spitting cycle)」。在列印 工作期間，於噴嘴面擦拭以後或當頁間吐出（inter-page spit )時’使用次要吐出循環，以保持噴嘴潮濕。但是如 果列印頭需要從去除塡注、嚴重的顔料混合、大尺寸的噴 嘴乾掉等情況回復，則可能需要主要的吐出循環-…因爲該 -27- 200932563 情況已超出壓盤或加蓋器的能力。 集墨器284具有在其面286內的大孔或一系列的保持 肋，以將纖維芯材料250保持在應塑膠基座內。此將纖維 元件250保持非常開放於潛在的墨水密集噴灑。纖維元件 250的一個面壓抵著毛細管252，以增加流至底座236之 中心凹穴內的多孔材料2 5 4。 五承座底座236是使用彼此成72度的五個滑塊或彼 〇 此成60度的六個滑塊而射出成型。類似地，具有超過五 個站的維護轉盤也可能。如果噴嘴面有聚集乾掉墨水的傾 向’則指單獨使用擦拭器仍難以移除。在這些情況時，印 表機可需要一個用於將墨水溶劑或其他清潔流體噴射至噴 嘴面上的站（未示）。然而，此能倂入或附加至集墨器。 擦拭器變化例 圖35至46顯示擦拭器能採用的一系列不同構造。擦 〇 拭列印頭的噴嘴面試移除紙塵、溢出墨水、乾掉墨水、或 其他污物的有效方式。一般的工作者會瞭解，可能有無數 的不同擦拭器構造’其中多數不適合用於任何特殊的印表 機。功能性的效率（亦即清潔列印頭）必須權衡生產成本 、希望的作業壽命、尺寸及重量限制條件、和其他考量因 素。 單一接觸刮片 圖35顯示具有安裝在硬塑膠基座270內之單一彈性 -28- 200932563 體刮片290的擦拭器維護站266，使得刮片垂直於媒介饋 給方向延伸。沿著噴嘴陣列之長度延伸的單一擦拭器刮片 ，是具有低生產和組合成本的單純擦拭配置。有鑑於此， 單一刮片擦拭器適合於印表機和價格範圍的底端。較高的 生產量需要有效率的製造技術和印表機組件的簡易組裝。 此必須對單元的作業壽命、或擦拭器清潔列印頭的速率及 效率做一些妥協折衷。但是單一刮片設計是袖珍的，且如 〇 果刮片不能一次橫越中有效率地清潔噴嘴表面，則維護驅 動裝置能簡單地重複擦拭作業，直到列印頭乾淨爲止。 多個接觸刮片 圖36、43 A、43B、和46顯示具有多個平行刮片的擦 拭器維護站266。在圖36中，兩個相同的平行刮片292垂 直於媒介饋給方向延伸。兩個刮片292分離地安裝至硬塑 膠基座270，以獨立地作業。在圖46中，各刮片並不相同 〇 。第一和第二刮片（分別爲294和296 )具有不同寬度（ 或不同的橫截面輪廓）和硬度計値（硬度和黏彈性）。可 將每一刮片最佳化，以移除特殊類型的污物。但是各刮片 分離地安裝在硬塑膠基座270中，用於獨立地作業。相對 地，圖43 A和43B之多個刮片元件具有較小且較短的刮片 300，其全部安裝之共同的彈性體基座29 8，該彈性體基座 298固定至硬塑膠基座270。此爲大致更順應的構造，其 在每一擦拭中有相對大的表面積接觸噴嘴面。但是細且軟 的刮片比較大且較堅固的刮片磨耗損壞的速率更快。 -29- 200932563 由於多個平行刮片擦過噴嘴面，所以擦拭器構 一次橫越會聚集更多的塵和污物。雖然多刮片的設 一刮片較不袖珍，但是每一擦拭作業較快且更有效 此’在列印工作期間，在各頁之間能擦拭列印頭； 印工作之前所執行的初期維護事項，在短時間內完月 單一歪斜刮片 〇 圖37顯示具有安裝在硬塑膠基座270之單一刮 的擦拭器維護站270，使得刮片3 02相對於擦拭方 斜。可瞭解的是，擦拭方向垂直於塑膠基座270的 伸。 單一擦拭器刮片是具有低生產和組合成本的簡 配置。再者，藉由將刮片安裝成歪斜於擦拭方向， 拭器構件橫越期間的任何時間，噴嘴面只和刮片的 段接觸。由於只有一個區段接觸噴嘴面，所以刮片 〇 爲沿著其整個長度的不一致接觸壓力而弄皺或捲曲 保擦拭器刮片和全部的噴嘴面之間足夠的接觸壓力 須精密地對齊刮片使其完全平行於噴嘴面。此允許 製造公差，以致可使用較大量的低成本生產技術。 對增加擦拭器構件必須行經的距離以清潔列印頭做 協折衷。增加該距離因此每一擦拭作業所需的時間 降低製造成本比這些潛在的缺點更重要。 獨立的接觸刮片 件的單 計比單 率。因 且在列 片302 向呈歪 縱長延 單擦拭 則在擦 一個區 不會因 。此確 ，且不 寬鬆的 此必須 —些妥 。但是 -30- 200932563 圖38顯示具有安裝在硬塑膠基座270內之二 的刮片3 04的擦拭器維護站266。每一個別的刮 3 06組成安裝在硬塑膠基座2 70內的完整刮片304 彼此相對地獨立運動。將每一刮片3 04中的個別刮 306設置成相對於擦拭方向彼此不對齊。以此方式 位於兩刮片區段3 06之間的間隙內而未被第一刮片 拭的噴嘴，會被第二刮片304內的刮片區段306擦ί 〇 以單一長刮片擦拭頁寬列印頭的噴嘴面會無效 片和噴嘴面之間不一致的接觸壓力，會造成刮片沿 的某些區段彎曲或捲曲。在這些區段中的接觸壓力 ，或者刮片和噴嘴面之間能沒有接觸。被分割成個 區段的擦拭器刮片，能解決此問題。每一區段能相 相鄰區段而運動，所以接觸力的任何不一致性不會 片之其他區段的彎曲或捲曲。以此方式，接觸壓力 在噴嘴面，且噴嘴面是乾淨的。 ◎ 具有多個歪斜刮片的噴嘴面擦拭器 在圖39中，擦拭器維護站26 6具有安裝在硬 座270內的一系列獨立刮片3 08，以致該等刮片傾 拭方向。設置各刮片308使得每一刮片（相對於擦 )的橫向範圍（X)和其相鄰刮片的橫向範圍（Υ 些重疊（Ζ)。藉由將擦拭器刮片安裝成歪斜於擦 ，則在擦拭器構件橫越期間的任何時間’噴嘴面只 的一個區段接觸。由於只有一個區段接觸噴嘴面， 被分段 片區段 ，用於 片區段 ，因爲 304擦 率。刮 其長度 會不足 別刮片 對於其 造成刮 被維持 塑膠基 斜於擦 拭方向 )有一 拭方向 和刮片 所以刮 -31 - 200932563 片不會因爲沿著其整個長度的不一致接觸壓力而弄駿或捲 曲。此確保擦拭器刮片和全部的噴嘴面之間足夠的接觸壓 力，且不須對齊刮片使其精密地平行於噴嘴面。此允許寬 鬆的製造公差，以致可使用較大量的低成本生產技術。單 一歪斜刮片可達到此目的，但是會增加擦拭器構件必須行 經的距離以清潔列印頭，因此增加每一擦拭作業所需的時 間。有鑑於此’本發明使用一系列相鄰的歪斜刮片，每一 0 個別刮片擦拭噴嘴陣列的對應部份。在某些應用中，多個 刮片比單一刮片涉及較高的製造成本，但是袖珍設計和較 快的作業比這些潛在的缺點更重要。 具有陣列墊的擦拭器 在圖40和44中，擦拭器維護站266使用陣列的接觸 墊3 1 0，而不是任何的刮片構造。個別墊3 1 2可爲個別安 裝進入硬塑膠基座270內之一組短圓柱彈性體材料、或類 Ο 似於常常使用於矽晶圓清潔用之格式的圓柱狀軟纖維刷。 如上所述，以單一長接觸表面擦拭頁寬列印頭的噴嘴表面 會無效率。擦拭表面和噴嘴面之間的不一致接觸壓力，會 使接觸壓力不足或不存在某些區域內。 使用已被分割成陣列310之個別接觸墊的擦拭表面， 允許每一墊相對於相鄰墊運動，所以不一致的接觸力會改 變其量，使每一墊個別地壓縮和變形。一個墊的相對高壓 縮，不須傳輸壓縮力致其相鄰的墊。以此方式，均勻的接 觸壓力被維持在噴嘴面，且更有效率地清潔噴嘴面。 -32- 200932563 正弦刮片 在圖41所示的擦拭維ΐ 裝進入硬塑膠基座270，使 ，以單一長接觸表面擦拭頁 。擦拭表面和噴嘴面之間的 力不足或不存在某些區域內 〇 理由是：擦拭器表面相對於 擦拭作業期間的整個行程長 造不完全平行於噴嘴面，則 當地被清潔。如同在歪斜安 拭器刮片的位置設置爲相對 面成傾斜，則可避免上述問 任何時間，只有一部分的擦 刮片和擦拭方向之間的小角 〇 。當刮片呈傾斜地在噴嘴面 更多的接觸點，進行更佳的 接觸壓力所造成的任何問題 要擦拭器刮片行經更長的行 對於噴嘴面的不準確運動， 加擦拭器行程的長度，不利 使用具有鋸齒形（Ζ形 傾斜於媒介饋給方向的多個 造也使得擦拭器構件相對於 簍站266中’單一刮片314安 刮片跟隨正弦路徑。如前所述 寬列印頭的噴嘴面會沒有效率 不一致接觸壓力’會使接觸壓 。接觸壓力會變化的其中一個 噴嘴面的不準確運動。如果在 度中，用於擦拭表面的支撐構 低接觸壓力的區域可能無法適 裝刮片的相關解釋，藉由將擦 於饋給擦拭方向和列印頭噴嘴 題。以此方式，在擦拭作業的 拭器刮片接觸噴嘴面。此外， 度，改善了擦拭的清潔和效率 上運動時，刮片和噴嘴面之間 污物移除。此改善了不一致之 ，但是於每一擦拭作業中，需 程。如上所述，擦拭器表面相 是不足之接觸壓力的來源。增 於袖珍設計。 )或正弦形的擦拭器刮片，以 擦拭器區段擦拭噴嘴面。此構 列印頭的行程長度，小得足以 -33- 200932563 保持準確和袖珍。 具有非線性接觸表面的單一刮片 圖42顯示的擦拭維護站266，其具有二線性區段彼此 成一角度且歪斜於擦拭方向地安裝在硬塑膠基座27〇上。 如即所述’以單一長接觸表面擦拭頁寬列印頭的噴嘴面， 會造成在某些區域內接觸壓力不足或不存在。使刮片相對 〇 於擦拭方向和列印頭噴嘴面成角度，意指在擦拭作業期間 的任何時間’只有一部分的擦拭器刮片接觸噴嘴面。此使 得接觸壓力更均勻，但是在每一擦拭作業中，擦拭器刮片 需要行經更長的行程。如上所述，擦拭器表面相對於噴嘴 面的不準確運動，是接觸壓力不足的來源。增加擦拭器行 程的長度，只增加此不準確的風險。 藉由使用具有角形或彎曲形的擦拭表面，使得以傾斜 於媒介饋給方向的擦拭器區段擦拭大部份的噴嘴面，同時 © 減少擦拭器構件相對於列印頭的行程長度。一般的工作者 會瞭解，接觸刮片可具有淺V形或U形。再者，如果刮 片318的前緣是兩直線區段（或U形刮片之彎曲區段）的 交點，則申請人已發現刮片有較少的磨損，因爲對和噴嘴 面接觸的初始點提供額外的支撐。 纖維墊 圖45顯示具有安裝至硬塑膠基座270之纖維墊320 的列印頭擦拭器維護站266。纖維墊320用於擦拭噴嘴面 -34- 200932563 特別有效。墊呈現許多和噴嘴面接觸的點，使得 械性嚙合固體污物，且藉由毛細作用將例如墨水 體污物吸掉。但是，一旦纖維墊已清潔噴嘴面， 纖維墊移除污物。在很多次的擦拭作業以後，纖 許多的污物’且不再有效率地清潔噴嘴面。但是 有短作業壽命的印表機或允許更換擦拭器的印表 纖維墊會提供最有效率的擦拭器。 〇 組合式擦拭器維護站 可瞭解的是，藉由具有上述擦拭構造的組合 印頭設計會被最有效率地清潔。例如單一刮片組 歪斜刮片、或具有纖維墊在其間的一系列平行刮 依據個別的優點和強度而選擇特定的擦拭構造， 組合式擦拭器維護站。 〇 列印頭維護設施驅動系統 圖47至50較詳細地顯示媒介饋給驅動裝置 維護驅動裝置。圖48獨立地顯示列印頭維護轉ί 驅動系統。所顯示的維護轉盤1 5 0是以擦拭器刮 現至列印頭（未示）。圖4 8所示的透視圖顯露 導件322引導至排出驅動輥178。在擦拭器刮片 —側，顯示主驅動輥軸桿186從主驅動輥皮帶輪 。此皮帶輪被主驅動輥皮帶192驅動，主驅動華 嚙合媒介饋給馬達190。媒介饋給驅動皮帶182 纖維能機 溢流等流 則難以從 維墊裝滿 就希望具 機而言， ，一些列 合一系列 片。藉由 可推導出 和列印頭 g 150 和 片162呈 紙排出引 1 62的另 3 3 0延伸 昆皮帶19 使主驅動 -35- 200932563 輥186和排出輥178的旋轉同步。 圖4 9的分解透視圖較詳細地顯不個別組件。特別是 此透視圖最佳地圖解已平衡的轉盤舉升機構。轉盤舉升驅 動軸桿160在兩個相同的轉盤舉升凸輪之間延伸。轉盤舉 升軸桿160的一端以鍵固定至轉盤舉升正齒輪174。正齒 輪174咬合蝸輪176，轉盤舉升馬達324驅動蝸輪176。 轉盤舉升旋轉感測器3 34提供回饋至列印引擎控制器（未 Ο 示），其能藉由凸輪172的角位移決定轉盤從列印頭的位 移。 轉盤舉升凸輪172藉由凸輪嚙合輥168而接觸個別的 轉盤舉升臂158 (可瞭解的是，凸輪嚙合輥可爲低摩擦材 料的表面，例如高密度聚乙烯（HDPE ))。因爲各凸輪 172相同，且同樣安裝至轉盤舉升軸桿160，所以轉盤舉 升臂158的位移也相同。圖47是取自圖2A之線7-7的剖 視圖，且移除列印頭匣2和列印頭維護轉盤1 5 0。此圖提 ® 供轉盤舉升正齒輪174、其鄰接的舉升凸輪172、和對應 的轉盤舉升臂158的清楚視圖。因爲各舉升臂158和轉盤 150的中點等距離，所以當舉升和降下轉盤時，轉盤舉升 驅動完全地平衡和對稱。此用於保持各種類印頭維護站平 行於列印頭積體電路的縱長向。 轉盤旋轉驅動最佳地圖解在圖50之放大局部分解透 視圖。轉盤旋轉馬達326安裝至轉盤舉升構造170的側面 。步進馬達感測器328提供關於馬達326之速率和旋轉的 回饋至列印引擎控制器（PEC )。轉盤旋轉馬達326驅動 -36- 200932563 惰輪3 32，惰輪3 32驅動在轉盤舉升構造170之遮掩側上 的減速齒輪（未示）。減速齒輪咬合轉盤正齒輪212，以 鍵將轉盤正齒輪212安裝至轉盤底座以旋轉。 因爲轉盤旋轉和轉盤舉升是由分離的獨立驅動所控制 ，且每一驅動是由提供關於馬達速率和旋轉之回饋給列印 引擎控制器的步進馬達供給動力，所以印表機具有廣範圍 的維護程序供選擇。可用兩方向其中的任一方向和以可變 〇 速率驅動轉盤旋轉馬達326，因此可在兩方向其中的任一 方向擦拭噴嘴面，且擦拭器刮片可在兩方向中抵著吸收性 墊1 52而被清潔。此會特別有用，如果紙塵和其他污物傳 到噴嘴面而和噴嘴面上的表面不規則性機械式地嚙合。在 相反方向的擦拭，常常會去除掉此等機械式地嚙合。當擦 拭器刮片1 62和噴嘴面進行接觸時降低擦拭器刮片1 62的 速率，然後當刮片脫離噴嘴面時才增加其速率，此方式也 有用。當擦拭器刮片和噴嘴面初始接觸時確實能減緩其速 〇 率，然後在擦拭時才增加速率。 類似地，擦拭器刮片162運動通過刮刀154的速率可 比擦拭器刮片運動通過清潔墊152上方的速率更快。可在 兩方向且在其中任一方向以任何次數的迴轉擦拭擦拭器刮 片1 62。再者，各維護站呈現至列印頭的順序，可容易地 程式化於列印引擎控制器內，和/或留給使用者裁量。 此處僅以例子的方式描述本發明。一般的工作者可容 易地認知未脫離寬廣發明槪念之精神和範圍的許多變化和 修飾。 -37- 200932563 【圖式簡單說明】 現在藉由只當作例子的方式，並參考附圖，描述本發 明的較佳實施例，其中： 圖1是印表機流體工學系統的示意槪要視圖； 圖2A是安裝在印表機之列印引擎之本發明列印頭匣 的透視圖； 〇 圖2B顯示沒有安裝列印頭匣的列印引擎，以暴露入 口和出口墨水耦合器； 圖3是本發明完整列印頭匣的透視圖； 圖4顯示圖3之列印頭匣，且已移除保護蓋； 圖5是圖3之列印頭匣內列印頭組合體的局部分解透 視圖； 圖6是沒有入口或出口其管或頂蓋模組之列印頭組合 體的分解透視圖； 〇 圖7是取自圖2A之線7-7的列印引擎剖面透視圖； 圖8是取自圖2A之線7-7的列印引擎剖視圖，顯示 維護轉盤拉著擦拭器刮片通過刮刀； 圖9是顯示維護轉盤拉著擦拭器刮片通過吸收性清潔 墊以後的剖視圖； 圖1 〇是顯示舉升維護轉盤以使加蓋器維護站蓋住列 印頭的剖視圖； 圖11是顯示降下維護轉盤以除去列印頭之蓋子的剖 視圖； -38- 200932563 圖1 2是顯示擦拭器刮片擦拭列印頭之噴嘴面的剖視 圖； 圖13是顯示維護轉盤轉回其圖8所示之起始位置的 剖面視圖，其中擦拭器刮片已被拉過刮刀，以彈掉尖端區 域的污物； 圖1 4是顯示擦拭器刮片已被拉過吸收性清潔墊的剖 視圖； ¢) 圖15是顯示轉動維護轉盤以將列印頭加蓋器呈現至 列印頭的剖視圖； 6 1視 圖剖 的 頭 圖 印 列 至 現 呈 盤 壓 印 列 將 以 盤 轉 護 rlnl 維 升 舉 示 顯 是 s一ml ipr 體 積 頭 印 列 封 密 器 蓋 加 使 以 盤 轉 升 舉 ·’ 示圖 顯視 是剖 7 的 1式 圖方 之 路 是 9 8 1 1 輪 圖圖齒 正 ΏΠΠ1 盤 轉 護 »cb 維 之 離 隔 盤 轉 護 rl 二 1 維 之 离 隔 是 區 壤 盤 轉 示 顯 圖 視 ;透 圖 一 視另 透的 的 圖圖圖 維 之 • ’ 一 圖視 視立π 透的 解點 分間 的中 盤之 轉度 護長 盤 轉 離過 隔經 是是 護 rt… 維 圖 視 咅 意 示 的 盤 轉 護 維 之 例 施 實二 第 是 列 且 圖 視 剖 意 示 的 盤 轉 護 .’ 雜 頭之 印例 列施 至實 盤二 壓第 印是 歹 3 現2 呈圖 盤 轉 擦 且 圖 視 咅 意示 的 盤 轉 護 rll 二 維 之 ; 例 頭施 印實 列二 合第 嚙是 站 4 注2 塡圖 頭 印 拭器刮片嚙合列印頭； 39 200932563 圖2 5是第二實施例之維護轉盤的示意剖視圖，且集 墨器呈現至列印頭； 圖26是第二實施例之維護轉盤的示意剖視圖，且當 擦拭器刮片在吸收性墊上被清潔時，列印壓盤呈現至列印 頭； 圖27是用在第二實施例之維護轉盤內之射出成型芯 部的剖視圖； Q 圖28是從第二實施例之維護轉盤的新部移除射出成 型模具的示意剖視圖； 圖29是隔離地顯示列印壓盤維護站的剖視圖； 圖3 0是隔離地顯示列印頭加蓋器維護站的剖視圖； 圖3 1是隔離地顯示擦拭器刮片維護站的剖視圖； 圖32是隔離地顯示列印頭塡注站的剖視圖： 圖3 3是隔離地顯示吸墨站的剖視圖； 圖34是第三實施例維護轉盤的示意剖視圖； 〇 圖35是第一實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖36是第二實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖37是第三實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖38是第四實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖39是第五實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖40是第六實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖41是第七實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖42是第八實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖43 A和43B是第九實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； -40- 200932563 圖44是第十實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖45是第十一實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖46是第十二實施例擦拭器構件的示意圖； 圖47是列印引擎的剖面透視圖，且無列印匣供維護 轉盤用； 圖48是顯示列印引擎所用之獨立驅動組合體的透視 圖； Ο 〇 圖49是圖48所示獨立驅動組合體的分解透視圖；和 圖50是圖49所示之分解透視圖左端的放大視圖。 &要元件符號說明 2:列印頭組合體（列印頭匣） 3:列印引擎 4 :墨水罐 6 :規制器 8 :上游墨水管線 1 0 :關閉閥 12 :泵 1 6 :下游墨水管線 U :廢墨水罐 20 :液晶聚合物模組 22 :媒介基板（媒介饋給路徑 24 :主通道 26 :凹穴 -41 - 200932563 28 :細通道 3 0 :列印頭積體電路 3 3 :接點 36 :入口 38 :出口 42 :保護罩 44 :頂模組（頂罩） ❹ 4 6 :入口圍板 47 :出口圍板 48 :入口歧管 5 0 :出口歧管 52 :入口嘴 54 :出口嘴 56 :蓋體 5 8 :夾持表面 〇 66:晶粒附接薄膜 68 :通道模組 72 :凹穴模組 120 :承座（流體耦合器） 122 :孔 124 :嵌入口 126 ：閂 128:補強支承表面 1 5 0 :列印頭維護轉盤 -42 200932563 152 :清潔墊 154 :刮刀 156:管狀驅動軸桿（舉升構造軸桿） 158 :(凸輪）舉升臂 160 :轉盤驅動軸桿（舉升軸桿） 162 :擦拭器刮片 166:轉盤驅動軸桿（中心軸桿；管狀底座） 0 168:凸輪嚙合表面（輥） 170 :(轉盤）舉升構造 172 :(轉盤）舉升凸輪 174:轉盤舉升正齒輪 176 :轉盤舉升蝸輪 1 7 8 :排出饋給輥（驅動軸桿） 180 :排出驅動皮帶輪 182 :媒介饋給皮帶 〇 184 :驅動皮帶輪感測器 186:主驅動輥（軸桿） 188:編碼器碟（主驅動皮帶輪） 190 :媒介饋給馬達 192:輸入驅動皮帶 194 :主印刷電路板 196:受壓金屬殼體 1 98 :列印頭加蓋器（加蓋維護站） 200 :第一轉盤旋轉感測器 -43- 200932563 202 :第二轉盤旋轉感測器 204 :維護編碼器碟（轉盤編碼器碟） 206 :列印壓盤維護站 208 :吸收性材料 2 1 〇 :多孔材料 212 :轉盤正齒輪 2 1 4 :擦拭器刮片外部底座組件 〇 2 1 8 :集污器/吸墨器外部底座組件 2 1 9 :多孔材料 220 :吸收性集墨器/吸墨器構件 226 :鎖固耳部 228 :孔 230 :耳鎖固槽 236 :底座 236:射出成型底座（轉盤底座） G 23 8 :紙引導件 240 :囊狀物（材料） 242 :可撓印刷電路板 244 :列印間隙 246 :引導表面 248 :中心凹穴 2 5 0 :(吸收性）纖維元件 2 5 2 :毛細管 2 5 4 :多孔材料 -44- 200932563 2 5 6 :彈性體裙部 25 8 :塡注接觸墊 260 :基座 262 :列印頭塡注站 264 :流動孔 266:擦拭站（擦拭器維護站） 268 :(彈性體）擦拭器刮片 0 270 :硬塑膠基座 272 :列印頭加蓋器 2 7 4 :周圍密封 2 76:硬塑膠基座（維護站安裝承座） 278 :空氣呼吸器孔（滑塊） 2 8 0 :柱狀構造 2 8 2 :中心縱長軸線 284 :集墨器 2 8 6 :面 28 8 :中央芯部 290 :刮片 292 :刮片 294 :第一刮片 296 :第二刮片 2 9 8 :彈性體基座 300 :刮片 302 :刮片 -45- 200932563 3 〇 4 :被分段的刮片 3 0 6 :刮片區段 3 0 8 :刮片 310 :接觸墊 3 1 2 :墊 3 1 4 :單一刮片 3 1 8 :刮片 〇 3 20 :纖維墊 322 :紙排出引導件 3 24 :轉盤舉升馬達 326 :轉盤旋轉馬達 328 :步進馬達感測器 330:主驅動輥皮帶輪 3 3 2 :惰輪 3 34 :轉盤舉升旋轉感測器 〇 -46 -200932563 ★ IX. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly to a maintenance apparatus for an ink jet printer. [Prior Art] Applicants have developed a wide range of printers that use a pagewidth printhead instead of a conventional reciprocating printhead 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 list of images. Page Width The print head simply deposits ink on the medium as it moves through the medium at high speed. These printheads have been able to perform a 1 600 dpi resolution print at a rate of about 60 pages per minute, which is a rate previously unattainable by conventional inkjet printers. A high print rate requires a large ink feed flow rate. Not only is the flow rate high, but the ink distribution along the entire length of the page width print head is more complicated than feeding the ink to a relatively small reciprocating print head. In order to extend the life of the print head, most inkjet printers break into some types of maintenance equipment. This is as simple as adding a cover when not using the printhead. Capping the print head stops the ink on the nozzle from drying out. However, the cover does not remove any paper dust or other contaminants, which may cause the nozzle face to slip. The most efficient way to remove these particles is to wipe the nozzle face with a suitable surface. The tiny nozzle construction is relatively fine, so the wiping surface needs to have a light surface contact. However, the contact needs to be strong enough to remove dirt and dust. -5- 200932563 The Applicant has developed a printing engine that uses a printhead maintenance device with a wiper blade. The blade is made of an elastic material, and the blade deflects when the blade contacts the nozzle face, so the contact pressure does not cause damage, but the contact pressure is sufficient to collect the dried ink and paper dust. Once the dirt has been transferred to the wiper blade, the maintenance device must be able to clean the wiper blade before the wiper blade contacts the nozzle face again. A microfiber cleaning pad can be used to clean the wiper blade. However, this method sometimes pulls dirt through the edges of the squeegee such that dirt collects on the uncontacted sides of the blade. These contaminants continue to accumulate until dirt deposits on the nozzle face. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a printhead maintenance apparatus for an inkjet print head, the printhead maintenance apparatus comprising: a wiper member for contacting a nozzle face on the inkjet print head, the wipe The member has an elastic blade having a distal edge that is configured to flex when the blade is in contact with the nozzle face; the blade is disposed parallel to the elastic blade of the wiper member And extending; and maintaining the drive device, constructing the maintenance drive to move the wiper member through the nozzle face and then passing the blade such that the elastic blade is required to flex to pass the blade; wherein the elastic blade and the elastic blade When the blade is disengaged, the elastic blade springs back to its resting shape, thereby throwing dirt away from the surface of the elastic blade. The present inventors have discovered that the use of a doctor blade is an effective way to clean the wiper blade -6 - 200932563 because the doctor blade not only scrapes off dirt on the wiper blade surface, but also causes the wiper blade to bounce off any non-contact side of the blade Dirty or dirt. The scraper can be used in conjunction with a wipe pad and can be used for a wider range of cleaning. Preferably, the maintenance drive is constructed to rotate the wiper member in an arcuate manner such that the wiper blade contacts the nozzle face prior to engaging the blade. Preferably, the maintenance drive is constructed to move the wiper member' such that the resilient wiper passes through the nozzle face in a direction parallel to the media feed direction. Preferably, the maintenance drive is constructed to selectively move the wiper member in the media feed direction or in the media feed direction. In a particularly preferred form, the printer has a pagewidth printhead such that the nozzle face defines an array of nozzles extending across the width of the media substrate. Preferably, the wiper member has a plurality of wiper blades extending over the length of the page wide printhead. In another preferred form, the wiper blades are disposed in a plurality of parallel rows. In a particularly preferred form, each of the plurality of rows has a series of wiper blades that are aligned in the transverse direction of the © feed direction, and the wipers in adjacent columns are scraped The sheets are staggered relative to each other in the feeding direction. In a particularly preferred form, the maintenance device further includes an absorbent pad for contacting the wiper blade to remove dirt and absorb residual ink. In some embodiments, the maintenance drive is constructed to rotate the wiper member' the wiper member rotates about an axis extending transversely of the media feed direction. Preferably, the maintenance drive is reversible so that the wiper member can wipe the nozzle face in both directions during the maintenance cycle. The maintenance drive is preferably constructed to move the 200932563 wiper member past the nozzle face at a variable rate. In another preferred form, the maintenance drive is constructed to lift or lower the wiper member. In this form, the drive mechanism for lifting or lowering the wiper member is independent of the drive mechanism that rotates the wiper member. In another preferred form, the pagewidth printhead is provided in the form of a user removable cartridge. In a particularly preferred form, the page wide printhead includes a series of print head integrated circuits. Preferably, the print head integrated circuits are aligned such that they extend in the transverse direction of the media feed direction. Preferably, the wiper member comprises a tubular metal body for supporting a plurality of wiper blades. Preferably, the tubular metal body supports the printing platen, and the printing platen is positioned such that the printing platen is presented to the printing head after the wiper blades have wiped the nozzle face. [Embodiment] Printer Fluid Engineering System © Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the fluid engineering used in the printing engine described in Figs. 2A and 2B. As previously mentioned, the print engine has the primary mechanical construction of an inkjet printer. Construct perimeter structures (such as housings, feeder trays, paper trays, etc.) to fit specific columns of printers (such as photo printers, network printers, or printers) Printing requirements. The applicant discloses a photo printer of USSN 1 1 /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 application in this common genus are incorporated herein by reference. The operation of the system and its individual components are described in detail in USSN 11/872719 (our case number SBF 009US) 200932563, 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 via an upstream ink line 8. Waste ink is discharged to the waste ink tank 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 chestnut 1 2 is also used to establish a negative pressure in the ink tank 4. The negative pressure is maintained by the bubble point controller 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 3 are fixed by a viscous die attach film (not shown). 0. The print head integrated circuit 30 has an array of ink ejecting nozzles for ejecting ink droplets to the media substrate 22 being passed. The nozzle is a microelectromechanical construction that prints at a true 1600 dpi (ie, a nozzle pitch of 1600 npi) or greater resolution. The fabrication and construction of a suitable printhead integrated circuit 30 is described in detail in US Ser. No. 1 1/246,687, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The liquid crystal polymer module 20 has a main channel 24 extending between an inlet 36 and an 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 ablation hole in the die attach film. Above the main passage 24 is a series of unfilled air pockets 26. -9- 200932563 These pockets were designed to confine a bag of air during the marking of the print head. These air bags give the system some compliance to absorb and damp the high pressure points 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 quickly consumes ink' and abruptly ends the printing job or even the end of a page, meaning that a line of ink moving toward (and past) the print head assembly 2 must stop almost instantaneously. If there is no compliance provided by the air pockets 26, the momentum of the ink will overflow the nozzles of the column head integrated circuit 30. Furthermore, the subsequent "reflected waves" produce a strong negative pressure sufficient to remove the nozzle. Print Engine Figure 2A shows the print engine 3 using the Print 匣2 type. The print engine 3 is the internal construction of the ink jet printer, so it does not include any outer casing, ink tank, or media feed and collection tray. The user raises or lowers the latch 1 26 to insert or remove the print head 匣2. The print engine 3 and the contacts on the print head Ο 2 are electrically connected and fluidly coupled by the socket 120, the inlet manifold 48, and the outlet manifold 50, respectively. The media sheet is fed to the print engine by the main drive roller 186 and the discharge feed roller 178. The main drive roller 186 is driven by the main drive pulley and the encoder disc 188. The discharge feed roller 178 is driven by the discharge drive pulley 180. The discharge drive pulley 180 and the main drive pulley 188 are synchronized by the medium feed belt 182. The medium feed motor 190 supplies power to the main drive pulley 188 via the input drive belt 192. The main drive pulley 188 has an encoder disc, and the drive pulley sensor -10- 200932563 184 reads the encoder disc. The number of revolutions of the drive shafts 186, 178 and related information are sent to the print engine controller (PEC). A printer (not shown) is mounted to the main printed circuit board (PCB) 194 for controlling the main microprocessor of the printer. Figure 2B shows the hole 122 in the print engine 3' after each printhead has been removed. Each of the apertures 122 houses one of the nozzles 52 on the inlet manifold manifold (see Figure 5). As mentioned above, © has any position and configuration, but is simply connected to the hollow insertion opening 124 at the rear of the inlet coupling seat 120 (see Figure 8). The insertion port 124 at the rear of the dispenser is connected to the waste ink tank 18 (see the waste ink outlet of the drawing. The reinforcing support surface 128 is fixed to the pressure body 1 96 of the printing engine 3. These are provided for the print head匣 Set at the print engine test point. They are also set to provide the opposite bearing surface for the load acting on 匣 2 during installation. When the manifold nozzle (described below) is used to close the valve in the engine (described below) When the fluid coupler 120 pushes the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. The pressure of the latch 126 on the crucible 2 is opposite to the bearing surface 128. The bearing surface 128 is provided such that the compressive load in the direct phase 2 can reduce the inside of the crucible Bending and deformation. Finally, the aided nozzle is positioned relative to the medium feed path. It is also protected from damage by a weakly protected mechanism. Print head Figure 3 is a perspective view of the complete print head 。 2. The engine control of the printhead speed is used to expose the coupling between the tube and the outlet tank. 1) The compression open column of the reference in the metal shell is opposite to the crucible, which is opposite to the crucible. -11 - 200932563 Top module 44 and removable The protective cover 42. The top module 44 has a central web for constructive stiffness and is used to provide a textured gripping surface 58 to manipulate the weir during insertion and removal. The bottom of the protective cover 42 protects the print head integrated circuit (not shown) and the entire array of contacts before being installed in the printer. The cover 56 is integrally formed at the bottom and covers the ink inlet and outlet (see Figs. 5 and 5 and 5 2). Figure 4 shows the printhead assembly 2 with the protective cover 42 removed to expose the printhead integrated circuit on the bottom surface and the entire array of 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. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the print head assembly without the inlet or outlet manifold or cap 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 is bonded to the bottom of the channel module 68. The die attach film 66 mounts the print head integrated circuit 30 to the channel module such that the thin channel on the underside of the pass--12-200932563 track module 68 passes through the small laser across the film and the print head assembly Circuit 30 is in fluid communication. Because of the stiffness and thermal expansion coefficient of the liquid crystal polymer, both the track module 68 and the top cover module 72 are of a liquid crystal polymer type, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the liquid crystal polymer matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the crucible. It will be appreciated that, for example, the relatively long configuration of the pagewidth printhead minimizes the difference in thermal expansion between the tantalum substrate of the printhead integrated circuit 30 and its support structure. Printhead Maintenance Dial Referring to Figure 7, a cross-sectional perspective view is shown. This profile is through the lines 7-7 shown. The print head cartridge 2 is inserted into the print engine 3 such that the manifold 50 and the insertion port 124 are in fluid communication, the insertion port 124 being a waste ink tank in the finished product of the printer (usually located in the print engine. Liquid crystal polymer module) 20 supports the print head integrated circuit 30 in the immediate vicinity of the media feed path 22 through the print engine. The print head maintenance carousel 150 and its associated drive mechanism are fed on the opposite side of the path 22. The printhead maintenance carousel 15 rotates about the tubular drive shaft 156, and the printhead maintenance carousel 150 is configured to move toward and away from the printhead integrated circuit 30. The disk 150 faces the print head integrated circuit 30, the turntable A plurality of column guard stations on the exterior are presented to the print head. The maintenance carousel 150 is rotatably mounted on the build 170, which is mounted to the lift configuration shaft 156 so that it can pivot the rest of the configuration of the engine 3. The construction 170 includes a cut-out hole so that the mold is made tightly, and any 2A should be guided to the base by the outlet thereof. The extension is used in the medium 0 for the lifted transfer head to be lifted relative to the lift. -13- 200932563 Arm 158 (only one is shown The lifting arm, the other lifting arm is provided at the opposite end of the shaft 156 is configured to lift). Each lift arm 158 has a cam engaging surface 168' such as a low friction material roll or pad. A cam (described in detail below) is fixed to the turntable drive shaft 160 for rotation with the shaft 160. The lift arm 158 is biased into engagement with a cam on the turntable lift drive shaft 160 such that the turntable lift motor (described below) can move the turn toward and away from the print head by rotating the shaft 160.维护 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. As the turntable is advanced toward the printhead, the wiper blade 162 moves through the media feed path 22 to wipe the printhead integrated circuit 30. When the carousel 150 is withdrawn from the print head, the carousel 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. Ο 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 a 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). As the lift arm 158 pulls the lift structure 170 downward, the maintenance turntable 150 is withdrawn from the print head integrated circuit 30. In this position, when the turntable 50 is rotated -14 - 200932563, 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. The doctor blade 154 works in conjunction with the cleaning pad 152 to extensively clean the wiper blade 162. The cleaning pad 152 wipes the paper dust and the dried ink from the wiping contact surface of the wiper blade 162. However, small ink beads and dirt can form the tip of the blade 162 that does not contact the surface of the cleaning pad 152. In order to remove this ink and dust, the blade 1 54 is mounted in the printing engine 3 to contact the blade 154 after the blade 1 62 wipes the head integrated circuit 30 but before contacting the cleaning pad 152. 162. When the wiper blade 1 62 contacts the blade 1 54 , the wiper blade 1 62 is flexed into an arc for passage. Because the wiper blade 162 is an elastomeric material, as soon as it is disengaged from the blade 154, it bounces back to its stationary straight shape. Quickly bounces back to its still shape, projecting dust and other contaminants from the wiper blade 1 62 (especially from the tip). Conventional workers will appreciate that the wiper blade 162 will also flex when it contacts the cleaning pad 152, and will again bounce back to its resting shape once the wiper blade 162 is released from the pad. However, the scraper 154 is radially mounted closer to the center shaft 166 of the turntable 150 and further away from the cleaning pad 152. This configuration makes it more curved when the wiper blade 162 passes, and gives more momentum to the dirt when it bounces back to a stationary shape. Since the cleaning pad 152 contacts the leading blade so that the trailing blade is improperly wiped over the cleaning pad -15-200932563 152', it is impossible to simply move the cleaning pad 52 closer to the turntable shaft 166 to make the wiper The blade 162 is more curved. Cleaning Pad The cleaning pad 152 is an absorbent foam that is formed into an arc corresponding to the circular path of the wiper blade 162. The pad 152 is more efficiently cleaned by covering the pad 1 52 ' with a woven material to provide a plurality of dense gathered contact points when wiping the blade. Therefore, the size of the thread of the woven material should be relatively small, for example less than 2 denier. Microfiber materials with a wire size of about 1 denier work particularly well. The cleaning pad 1 52 extends the length of the wiper blade 1 62 and the wiper blade 162 also extends the length of the page width print head. The page width cleaning pad 152 simultaneously cleans the entire length of the wiper blade, which reduces the time required for each wiping operation. Moreover, the length of the page wide cleaning pad inherently provides a large volume of absorbent material for holding a relatively large amount of ink. Since there is a large absorption of ink, it is less necessary to replace the cleaning pad 152 frequently. Capping on the Print Head Figure 9 shows the first stage of the capped print head integrated circuit 30 with the capped maintenance station 198 mounted to the maintenance carousel 150. When the lift cam 172 is pushed down on the lift arm 158, the maintenance dial 150 is withdrawn from the print head integrated circuit 30. The maintenance carousel 150 is rotated along with the maintenance encoder disk 204 until the first carousel rotation sensor 200 and the second carousel rotation sensor 220 determine: the print head capper face-to-face print head integrated circuit 3 0 . -16- 200932563 As shown in Fig. 10, the lift shaft 160 rotates the cam 172 such that the lift arm 158 moves upward to advance the maintenance dial 150 toward the print head integrated circuit 30. The capper maintenance station 198 engages the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 20 to seal the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit 30 in a relatively humid environment. Ordinary workers will understand that this prevents (at least prolongs) the nozzle from being dry and blocked. © Remove the print head cover Figure 1 1 shows the print head integrated circuit 3 0 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 body electric power that is 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 blades 1 62 are formed of an elastomeric material so that they elastically flex and bend 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. -17- 200932563 Wiper Blade Cleaning (Cleaning) Figures 13 and 14 show the wiper blade 162 being cleaned. As shown in FIG. 13, after the wiper blade 1 62 wipes the print head integrated circuit 30, the 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 blade 1 54 , any residual dust and dirt adhering to the wiper blade is removed by the absorbent pad 1 52. 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 turntable can be lifted by rotating the lift cam 172 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 202 and the porous material 210 in the central pocket of the turntable 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) 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 -18-200932563 2 06 so that it is not soiled by excessive ink spray. The absorbable material 208 is disposed in the recessed portion of the printing platen 206 by any oversprayed ink (usually about 1 on both sides of the paper leaving the surface of the contactable media substrate. At the end of the printing job or at the printer The standby standby turntable 150 is withdrawn from the print head integrated circuit 30 during rotation, and the head capping maintenance station 1 98 is again presented to the print head. As shown in the figure, the lift shaft 160 rotates the lift cam 158, so that the lift cam head is added. The cover maintenance station moves into engagement with the liquid crystal polymer module 20. Printhead Maintenance Dial Figure 18, 19, 20, and 21 show isolated maintenance turns! Display wiper blade 1 6 2 and print platen 2 0 6 Perspective view. The print head capper 1 9 8 and the wiper blade 1 6 2 are transparent; 1 Ο is an exploded view showing the components of the maintenance carousel. Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled components. There are four printhead maintenance stations: a print squeegee member 162, and a spittoon/ink cleaner maintenance station mounted to its own external base assembly. The outer base is around the turntable tubular shaft 166, And meshing with each other on the rod. At one end of the tubular shaft 166 It is the rotary encoder disk spur gear 212, and the rotary spur gear 212 is driven by the following rotary disk. The tubular shaft is fixed to the spur gear or it is understood that, within the portion, so that the millimeter) is protected before the mode, so that the print 7 shows that the lower seal will be printed on the lower side of the print. Figure 18 is a view of Figure 19. Figure 2 shows the Tpc complete set of 206, wipe 220. Each assembly is mounted to lock to the shaft 204 and the turntable motor (not rotated. The -19-200932563 printhead maintenance station is rotated with the tubular shaft by its secure compression clamp on the outside of the shaft. The wiper blade outer base assembly 2 14 is an aluminum extruded article (or other suitable alloy) that constructs the wiper blade outer base assembly 214 to securely hold the wiper blade 1 62. Similarly, other external base assemblies It is a metal extruded product for the secure mounting of softer elastomers and/or absorbent porous materials of individual maintenance stations. External base assembly for printing platen 2 16 and print head capper 〇1 9 8 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 latching slots has an ear access opening 228 that abuts the ear locking slot 230. 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 Component to It is locked to the base tubular shaft 166. In order to improve the friction and the locking engagement between each maintenance station and the base plate shaft 166, each of the print head maintenance stations is provided with an element having a member formed therein. An arcuate shaft engaging surface 234 on one side. The ink collector/ink extractor outer base assembly 218 has a relatively large absorbent ink collector/ink extractor member 220 that also has an arc formed on its inner face The shaft rod engages the surface 234. 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. Understand that the use of interlocking construction to clamp the external base to the internal base minimizes machining and assembly time and maintains tight tolerances for precision installation of the maintenance station configuration. External base assembly -20- 200932563 Different configurations can be combined. The wiper blade outer base assembly 2 1 4 and the ink collector/ink extractor base assembly 2 can be changed. Similarly, the print head capper 198 and the print platen 206 Exchangeable. In this way, the maintenance station It can be combined in an optimum manner for mounting in a special printer. Injection Molding Polymer Turntable Base Figures 22 through 28 show another embodiment of the print head maintenance carousel. These drawings are only showing the carousel and the print head 匣A schematic cross-section of the lower portion. It should be understood that the maintenance drive system requires a simple and straightforward modification to accommodate the turntable of this embodiment. Figure 22 shows the liquid crystal of the print head 匣 2 adjacent to the printhead maintenance turntable 150. The polymer module 20, the turntable 105 is presented to the printhead integrated circuit 30 by the print platen 206. For the sake of clarity, Figure 29 shows the print platen 206 in isolation. In use, along the media feed The path 22 is fed to a sheet-shaped medium substrate. Between the nozzle of the print head integration circuit 30 and the medium feed path 22 〇 is a print gap 244. In order to maintain print quality, the gap 244 between the nozzle face of the print head unit circuit and the media surface should be as close as possible to the nominal 値 defined during design. 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. 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" (over-spraying), in which the ejected ink is not sprayed on the edge of the media substrate -21 - 200932563, but 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 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 ink staining by the out-of-bound spray 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 3, to accurately maintain the gap 244 between the nozzle and the medium surface. Some printers in the applicant's range use this technique to provide 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. The power and data are transferred to the printhead integrated circuit 30 by a flexible printed circuit board 242 安装 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 that covers the leadframe. This allows the printing gap 2 4 4 to be further reduced. The print platen 206 has a recess or central recess 248 which 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 06. Keep away from the rest of the platen and form a depression in this area -22-200932563 to ensure that the media substrate is not soiled by wet, cross-border 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 member 250 and is drawn into the porous material 254 via the tube 252 by capillary action. Fig. 2 shows the rotation of the turntable 150, so that the print head scanning station 2 6 2 is 0 to the print head integrated circuit 30. Figure 30 shows the isolated printhead station 2 72 and its construction features. The printhead dispensing station has an elastomeric skirt 256 surrounding the immersion contact pad 258, which is formed of a porous material. The elastomeric skirt and the infusion contact pad are molded together with the rigid polymer base 260, and the J-type polymer base 260 is securely mounted to the injection-shaped base 236. When the print head 匣 2 is replaced, It needs to be inked. It is well known that the beating process is wasteful because the ink is usually forced through the nozzle until the entire printhead configuration has drained any air bubbles. When removing air from many of the conduits that extend through the tantalum printhead During the period, a very large amount of ink has been wasted. To solve this problem, the maintenance dial 150 is raised so that the contact pad 25 8 covers the nozzle of the print head integrated circuit 30. When the nozzle array is inflated under pressure, Keeping the contact pad 25 8 against the nozzle greatly reduces the amount of ink that flows through the nozzle. The porous material partially blocks the nozzle to limit the flow of ink. However, the air flow from the nozzle is less restricted, so the entire injection process is No delay due to flow obstruction by the porous material. The elastomeric skirt 256 sealingly abuts against the underside of the liquid crystal polymer module 22, -23-200932563 Excess ink flowing out of the lower side of the contact pad 258. A flow aperture 264 formed in the rigid polymer susceptor 260 allows the ink absorbed by the pad 258 and any excess ink to flow to the absorbent fibrous element 250 (and The printing platen 206 is used the same. As with the printing platen 206, the ink in the fiber element 250 is drawn into the porous material 254 in the forming base 236 by the capillary 252. By using the print head 2 6 2, greatly reducing the amount of wasted ink. If there is no injection station, the amount of ink wasted by each pigment is usually about 2 ml when the page is widened; if there is a station 262, the amount of ink wasted by each pigment was reduced to about 0. 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 pad 258 needs to have a special surface roughness. The surface of the nozzle face of the mating print head integrated circuit 30 should be rough on a 2 to 4 micron scale, but smooth and smooth on a 20 micron scale. This type of surface roughness allows air to escape from the 喷嘴 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 2 70. In order to wipe the nozzle face of the print head integrated circuit 30, the turntable base 23 is raised and then rotated, so the wiper blade 268 is wiped over the nozzle face. The turntable base 236 is typically rotated such that the wiper blade 2 68 is wiped toward the bladder beads. As discussed in the application number of the applicant's file number RRE015US (into the cross-reference), the contours of the capsular beads can be designed to aid the dust and dirt scraper. On the face of 268. However, if efficiency is demonstrated in both directions, the maintenance drive can be easily (not) constructed to rotate the base 236 in both directions. Similarly, by changing the spin, it is easy to change the secondary design maintenance drive that wipes through the printhead integrated circuit 30 to perform each wiping operation. The print head of the maintenance carousel 150 is shown in Figure 25: φ to the print head integrated circuit 3 0. Figure 3 2 shows the capping independently, clearly illustrating its construction. The capper 272 has a perimeter seal 274 that is made of 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 2 78 so that the nozzle does not overflow due to the tampering of the print head cover. In order to cover the print head, the rotary base 2 3 6 straight capper 272 is presented to the print head integrated circuit 30. It is then raised until the surrounding seal 274 engages the print head 匣2. Figure 26 shows a wiper blade cleaning pad 152 including a wiper blade. As described in the embodiment, the cleaning pad 152 is mounted in the printer such that when the disk 150 is rotated, the wiper blade 268 is moved past the pad 152. By providing the position of the cleaning pad 152, the base 23 must be shrunk from the body circuit 30. Back to allow the wiper blade 268 to contact the clear base at a relatively high speed to rotate the base 2 3 6 for extensive card cleaning in the wiping wipe more useful for the number of turns. The programmer 272 is formed to form a suction between the sides of the common nozzle 276 and the suction port of the respirator to the print head base 236. Print the head pad and clean the wiper -25- 200932563 blade 268 without any damaging contact with the print head integrated circuit 30. Alternatively, the cleaning pad 154 can be wetted with an intervening agent to more easily remove dirt from the wiper blade surface. Figure 27 shows the injection molding base 236 independently. The base is symmetrical with respect to two planes extending through the central longitudinal axis 282. This symmetry is important because if the injection-molded base 236 extending along the length of the page-width print head is asymmetrical, there is a tendency to deform and bend as it cools. 〇 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, 262, 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 the maintenance stations themselves are modified, their standard seating ensures that the maintenance station can easily break into existing production lines 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 leads for each slider are 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 of polymer components -26- 200932563 Molding is very suitable for large-scale and low-cost production. Furthermore, the symmetrical construction and uniform shrinkage of the base maintains good tolerances to keep the maintenance station extending parallel to the print head 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 base 23 6 . In some printer designs, a base is constructed for attaching a vacuum source to periodically eject ink from the porous material 210. Five Maintenance Station Embodiments FIG. 34 shows an embodiment of a printhead maintenance carousel 150 having five A different maintenance station: print platen 206, print head wiper 266, print head capper 272, picking station 262, and ink collector 284. The ink collector 284 (shown separately in Figure 33) has a relatively simple construction... - the ink collector face 2 84 presents a flat to print head and has holes (not shown) for retention and retention in its plastic base The fiber element 250 is in fluid communication. A five-station maintenance carousel 150 is attached to an ink collector 284 to allow the printer to use the primary ink purge as part of the maintenance system. The four station turntable of Figures 22-25 provides a secondary ink purge or "spitting cycle" using the print platen 206 and/or the capper 272. During the printing operation, a secondary discharge cycle is used after wiping the nozzle face or when inter-page spit is used to keep the nozzle wet. However, if the print head needs to be recovered from removal of the sputum, severe pigment mixing, large size nozzles, etc., the main discharge cycle may be required - because the -27-200932563 situation has exceeded the platen or capper ability. The ink collector 284 has a large aperture or series of retaining ribs in its face 286 to retain the fiber core material 250 within the plastic base. This keeps the fiber element 250 very open to potential ink intensive spraying. One face of the fiber member 250 is pressed against the capillary 252 to increase the flow of the porous material 2 5 4 into the central pocket of the base 236. The five-seat base 236 is injection molded using five sliders that are 72 degrees from each other or six sliders that are 60 degrees apart. Similarly, a maintenance carousel with more than five stations is also possible. If the nozzle face has a tendency to gather away from 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 ejecting ink solvent or other cleaning fluid onto the nozzle face. However, this can be broken in or attached to the ink collector. Wiper Variations Figures 35 through 46 show a range of different configurations that the wiper can take. Wipe 喷嘴 The nozzle of the print head is an effective way to remove paper dust, ink spills, ink, or other contaminants. The average worker will understand that there may be countless different wiper configurations, many of which are not suitable for use with any particular printer. Functional efficiency (ie, cleaning the print head) must weigh production costs, desired operating life, size and weight constraints, and other considerations. Single Contact Blade Figure 35 shows a wiper maintenance station 266 having a single resilient -28-200932563 body blade 290 mounted within a hard plastic base 270 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 end of the printer and price range. Higher throughput requires efficient manufacturing techniques and easy assembly of printer components. This must compromise some of the unit's operational life, or the speed and efficiency of the wiper cleaning the printhead. However, the single blade design is compact, and if the blade cannot clean the nozzle surface efficiently in one traverse, the maintenance drive can simply repeat the wiping operation until the print head is clean. Multiple Contact Blades Figures 36, 43 A, 43B, and 46 show a wiper maintenance station 266 having a plurality of parallel blades. In Figure 36, two identical parallel wipers 292 extend perpendicular to the media feed direction. Two blades 292 are separately mounted to the hard plastic base 270 to operate independently. In Fig. 46, the respective blades are not the same. The first and second blades (294 and 296, respectively) have different widths (or different cross-sectional profiles) and durometers (hardness and viscoelasticity). Each wiper can be optimized to remove a particular type of dirt. However, the blades are separately mounted in the hard plastic base 270 for independent operation. In contrast, the plurality of wiper elements of Figures 43 A and 43B have smaller and shorter wipers 300, all of which are mounted with a common elastomeric base 29 8 that is secured to a rigid plastic base 270. This is a substantially more compliant configuration with 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. -29- 200932563 Since the multiple parallel wipers wipe the nozzle face, the wiper will converge more dust and dirt at a time. Although a multi-blade blade is less compact, each wiping operation is faster and more efficient. This can wipe the print head between pages during the printing process; the initial maintenance performed before the printing job Matter, a single skewed blade in a short period of time Figure 37 shows a wiper maintenance station 270 having a single wiper mounted on a hard plastic base 270 such that the wiper 302 is skewed relative to the wiper. 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 crumpled or crimped for inconsistent contact pressure along its entire length. The contact pressure between the wiper blade and the entire nozzle face must be precisely aligned with the wiper. Make it 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. The single-hand ratio of the individual contact blades is single. Because it is wiped in the area of the sheet 302, it will not cause a problem in the rubbing of one area. This is true, and it is not lenient. However, -30-200932563 Figure 38 shows a wiper maintenance station 266 having a wiper blade 310 mounted in a hard plastic base 270. Each individual wiper 106 forms a complete wiper blade 304 mounted within the hard plastic base 2 70 that 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. The nozzle that is located in the gap between the two blade segments 306 in this manner without being wiped by the first blade is wiped by the blade segment 306 in the second blade 304 to wipe the page width with a single long blade. The nozzle face of the printhead will have inconsistent contact pressure between the sheet and the nozzle face, causing some sections of the blade to bend or curl. There is no contact between the contact pressure in these sections or between the wiper and the nozzle face. A wiper blade that is divided into segments can solve this problem. Each segment can move adjacent to the segment, so any inconsistency in contact forces will not bend or curl the other segments of the segment. In this way, the contact pressure is on the nozzle face and the nozzle face is clean. ◎ Nozzle Face Wiper with Multiple Skew Blades In Fig. 39, the wiper maintenance station 26 6 has a series of individual blades 308 mounted in the hard seat 270 such that the blades are tilted. Each of the blades 308 is disposed such that the lateral extent (X) of each blade (relative to the wipe) and the lateral extent of its adjacent blade (some overlaps (Ζ). By mounting the wiper blade to be skewed to the wipe Then, at any time during the traversal of the wiper member, only one segment of the nozzle face is in contact. Since only one segment contacts the nozzle face, the segmented segment is used for the sheet segment because of the wiping rate. It will be insufficient to scrape the sheet to cause the scraping to be maintained. The plastic base is oblique to the wiping direction.) There is a wiping direction and a blade. Therefore, the sheet will not be springed or curled 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 achieves this, but increases the distance that the wiper member must travel to clean the printhead, thus increasing the time required for each wipe. In view of this, the present invention uses a series of adjacent skewed blades, each of which wipes a corresponding portion of the nozzle array. 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 assembled into a set of short cylindrical elastomeric materials in the hard plastic base 270, 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 way, uniform contact pressure is maintained on the nozzle face and the nozzle face is more efficiently cleaned. -32- 200932563 Sinusoidal Scraper The wiper shown in Figure 41 is loaded into the hard plastic base 270 so that the page is wiped with a single long contact surface. The force between the wiping surface and the nozzle face is insufficient or does not exist in some areas. 理由 The reason is that the wiper surface is not completely parallel to the nozzle face relative to the entire stroke during the wiping operation, and the area is cleaned. Just as the position of the skewer wiper blade is set to be inclined to the opposite side, the above-mentioned question can be avoided at any time, only a small angle between the wiper blade and the wiping direction. When the blade is inclined at the contact point of the nozzle surface, any problem caused by the better contact pressure is required for the wiper blade to travel through the longer row for the inaccurate movement of the nozzle face, plus the length of the wiper stroke, The disadvantageous use has a zigzag shape (a plurality of turns that are inclined to the media feed direction also causes the wiper member to follow the sinus path with respect to the 'single blade 314' in the station 266. As described above, the wide print head The nozzle face will have no efficiency inconsistent contact pressure 'will make contact pressure. Contact pressure will change the inaccurate movement of one of the nozzle faces. If in the degree, the area of the support structure for wiping the surface with low contact pressure may not be suitable for scraping The relevant explanation of the sheet is made by rubbing the feed wiping direction and the print head nozzle. In this way, the wiper blade of the wiping operation contacts the nozzle face. In addition, the cleaning improves the cleaning and efficiency of the wipe. At the time, the dirt is removed between the blade and the nozzle face. This improves the inconsistency, but in each wiping operation, the process is required. As described above, the wiper surface phase is Insufficient source of contact pressure. Increased in pocket design.) Or sinusoidal wiper blade to wipe the nozzle face with a wiper section. The length of the stroke of this configuration print is small enough -33- 200932563 to be accurate and compact. Single Wiper with Non-Linear Contact Surface Figure 42 shows a wiping maintenance station 266 having two linear sections at an angle to each other and mounted on a hard plastic base 27〇 obliquely to the wiping direction. If the wiper face of the page width print head is wiped with a single long contact surface, the contact pressure may be insufficient or absent in some 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 angled or curved shape, most of the nozzle faces are wiped with a wiper section that is inclined toward the media feed direction 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 -34- 200932563. The pad presents a plurality of points in contact with the nozzle face, mechanically engaging the solid dirt, and sucking, for example, ink dirt by capillary action. However, once the fiber mat has cleaned the nozzle face, the fiber mat removes dirt. After many wiping operations, a lot of dirt is removed and the nozzle face is no longer effectively cleaned. However, printers with short operating life or printer discs that allow replacement of the wiper provide the most efficient wiper.组合 Combined wiper maintenance station It is understood that the combined printhead design with the above-described wiping construction will be most efficiently cleaned. For example, a single blade set skewed blade, or a series of parallel scrapers with a fiber mat therebetween, select a particular wiper configuration according to individual advantages and strengths, a combined wiper maintenance station. 〇 Printhead Maintenance Facility Drive System Figures 47 through 50 show the media feed drive maintenance drive in more detail. Figure 48 shows the printhead maintenance transfer drive system independently. The displayed maintenance carousel 150 is a wiper that is scraped to the print head (not shown). The perspective display guide 322 shown in Fig. 48 is guided to the discharge driving roller 178. On the wiper blade side, the main drive roller shaft 186 is shown from the main drive roller pulley. This pulley is driven by a main drive roller belt 192 which is driven by a main drive medium feed motor 190. Media feed drive belt 182 Fiber energy machine Flows such as overflow are difficult to fill from the mat. It is desirable to have a series of sheets. The rotation of the main drive -35-200932563 roller 186 and the discharge roller 178 is synchronized by deriving and printing the head g 150 and the sheet 162 as the other 3 0 0 extension of the paper discharge guide 1 62. 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. The turntable lift rotary sensor 3 34 provides feedback to a print engine controller (not shown) that can determine the position 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 illustration 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 328 provides feedback to the print engine controller (PEC) regarding the rate and rotation of motor 326. The turntable rotary motor 326 drives the -36-200932563 idler 3 32, and the idler 3 32 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 Maintenance procedures are available for selection. The turntable rotation motor 326 can be driven in either of two directions and at a variable idle speed so that the nozzle face can be wiped in either direction, and the wiper blade can be placed against the absorbent pad 1 in both directions 52 was 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 1 62 when the wiper blade 1 62 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 doctor blade 154 can be faster than the rate at which the wiper blade moves past the cleaning pad 152. The wiper blade 1 62 can be wiped in both directions and in any of the directions in any number of revolutions. 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. 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 [0009] 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: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a printer fluid engineering system Figure 2A is a perspective view of the print head cartridge of the present invention mounted on the printer of the printer; Figure 2B shows the print engine without the print head cartridge to expose the inlet and outlet ink couplers; 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 cross-sectional perspective view of the print engine taken from line 7-7 of Figure 2A; 8 is a cross-sectional view of the printing engine taken from line 7-7 of FIG. 2A, showing the maintenance dial pulling the wiper blade through the scraper; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the maintenance dial after the wiper blade is passed through the absorbent pad; Figure 1 〇 shows the lift maintenance dial so that the capper maintenance station covers the column Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the lowering of the maintenance dial to remove the cover of the print head; -38- 200932563 Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the nozzle face of the wiper wiper wiping head; Figure 13 is a view showing the maintenance dial Turning back to its cross-sectional view of the starting position shown in Figure 8, where the wiper blade has been pulled through the blade to explode the dirt in the tip region; Figure 14 shows the wiper blade has been pulled through the absorbent Cross-sectional view of the cleaning pad; ¢) Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the rotation of the maintenance dial to present the print head capper to the print head; 6 1 view of the cross-section of the head print to the current disc embossed column will be turned护 rlnl dimension lift display is s a ml ipr volume head printed sealer cover plus to turn uplift · ' diagram display is section 7 of the 1 type diagram square road is 9 8 1 1 wheel map Tooth ΏΠΠ ΏΠΠ 1 盘 转 »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» π 透Rotation of the guard plates of the length through the compartment turned away from the nurse via a RT-dimensional view of the disc Pou ... intended to show dimensions of the guard turn embodiment is applied to the first two columns of the real and intended to show a sectional view of FIG disc rotation protection. ' The print of the miscellaneous head is applied to the second plate of the real plate. The first print is 歹3. 2 The plate is rotated and the image is shown in the figure. The disk is transferred to the rll two-dimensional; Yes station 4 Note 2 塡 印 印 刮 刮 啮合 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 39 A schematic cross-sectional view of the maintenance carousel of the embodiment, and when the wiper blade is cleaned on the absorbent pad, the print platen is presented to the print head; Figure 27 is an injection molding core used in the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment Figure 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the injection molding die removed from the new portion of the maintenance carousel of the second embodiment; Figure 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the printing plate maintenance station in isolation; Figure 30 is an isolated display A cross-sectional view of the printhead capper maintenance station; Figure 31 is a cross-sectional view showing the wiper blade maintenance station in isolation; Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view showing the printhead inspection station in isolation: Figure 3 3 shows the suction display in isolation a cross-sectional view of the ink station; Figure 34 is a third embodiment Figure 37 is a schematic view of the 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 third embodiment; 4 is a schematic view of a wiper member of a fifth embodiment; FIG. 40 is a schematic view of a wiper member of a sixth embodiment; and FIG. 41 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the seventh embodiment; 4 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the ninth embodiment; -40-200932563 is a schematic view of the wiper member of the tenth embodiment; BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 46 is a schematic view of a wiper member of a twelfth embodiment; FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the print engine, and is not printed for maintenance dial; FIG. 48 is a display print engine A perspective view of the independent drive assembly used; Ο Figure 49 is an exploded perspective view of the independent drive assembly shown in Figure 48; and Figure 50 is an enlarged view of the left end of the exploded perspective view of Figure 49.& component symbol description 2: print head assembly (print head 匣) 3: print engine 4: ink tank 6: regulator 8: upstream ink line 1 0: shut-off valve 12: pump 1 6: downstream ink Pipeline U: Waste ink tank 20: Liquid crystal polymer module 22: Media substrate (Media feed path 24: Main channel 26: Pocket-41 - 200932563 28: Fine channel 3 0: Print head integrated circuit 3 3 : Contact 36: inlet 38: outlet 42: protective cover 44: top module (top cover) ❹ 4 6 : inlet shroud 47: outlet shroud 48: inlet manifold 50: outlet manifold 52: inlet nozzle 54: Outlet nozzle 56: cover body 5 8 : clamping surface 〇 66: die attach film 68 : channel module 72 : pocket module 120 : socket (fluid coupler) 122 : hole 124 : insertion port 126 : latch 128: Reinforced bearing surface 1 50: Printhead maintenance dial-42 200932563 152: Cleaning pad 154: Scraper 156: Tubular drive shaft (lifting structure shaft) 158: (Cam) Lift arm 160: Turntable drive shaft Rod (lifting shaft) 162: wiper blade 166: turntable drive shaft (central shaft; tubular base) 0 168: cam engagement surface (roller) 170 : (turn Lifting structure 172: (turntable) lifting cam 174: turntable lifting spur gear 176: turntable lifting worm wheel 1 7 8 : discharge feed roller (drive shaft) 180: discharge drive pulley 182: medium feed belt 〇 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 -43- 200932563 202 : Second turntable rotation sensor 204 : Maintenance encoder disc (rotary encoder disc) 206 : Printing platen maintenance station 208: Absorbent material 2 1 〇: Porous material 212: Carousel spur gear 2 1 4 : Wiper blade external base assembly 〇 2 1 8 : Dust collector / ink absorber external base assembly 2 1 9 : porous material 220 : absorbent ink collector / ink absorber member 226 : locking ear 228 : hole 230 : ear lock groove 236 : base 236 : injection molding base (drum base) G 23 8 : paper guide Piece 240: bladder (material) 242: flexible printed circuit board 244: printing gap 246: cited Guide surface 248: central pocket 2 5 0 : (absorbent) fiber element 2 5 2 : capillary 2 5 4 : porous material - 44 - 200932563 2 5 6 : elastomer skirt 25 8 : contact pad 260 : base Seat 262: Print head 站 station 264: Flow hole 266: Wipe station (wiper maintenance station) 268: (Elastomer) wiper blade 0 270: Hard plastic base 272: Print head capper 2 7 4: Surrounding seal 2 76: Hard plastic base (maintenance station mounting bracket) 278: Air breathing apparatus hole (slider) 2 8 0 : Columnar structure 2 8 2 : Center longitudinal axis 284: Ink collector 2 8 6: face 28 8 : central core 290 : blade 292 : blade 294 : first blade 296 : second blade 2 9 8 : elastomer base 300 : blade 302 : blade -45 - 200932563 3 〇4: Segmented blade 3 0 6 : Blade section 3 0 8 : Blade 310 : Contact pad 3 1 2 : Pad 3 1 4 : Single blade 3 1 8 : Blade 〇 3 20 : Fiber pad 322 : paper discharge guide 3 24 : turntable lift motor 326 : turntable rotation motor 328 : stepper motor sensor 330 : main drive roller pulley 3 3 2 : idler 3 34 : turntable lift rotary sensor 〇 - 46 -