Printer ink capping mechanism
View Patent ↗When a printhead is not in use, it remains filled with ink. In order to prevent evaporation of the ink through the nozzles of the printhead, and the consequential depositing of ink components in and around the ink nozzles, the invention provides capping of the nozzle during the non printing modes of the printer. The capping mechanism uses a page width elastomeric seal, which can move between a first capping position, in which it seals said nozzles of the printhead in an air tight manner, and a second position in which the elastomeric seal moves away from said print head to allow paper to be printed upon by said print head.
1. In a Printer having a print head assembly with a print head located on one face of said print head assembly; a capping assembly comprising:
a capping support;
a page width elastomeric seal located on said capping support;
arms connecting said capping support to a pivotable shaft;
a cam rigidally connected to said pivot shaft;
a drive wheel, adapted to engage said cam,
whereby in a nonprinting mode the capping assembly adopts an uncapping mode, in which the drive wheel rotates said cam, in a first direction, moving said elastomeric seal away from the printhead, thus allowing paper to flow through said printer and allowing the printhead to print upon said paper, and in the non printer mode of the printer, adopts a capping mode in which the drive wheel rotates said cam in a second direction moving said elastomeric seal to abut against said one face to seal said printhead, in an air tight manner.
2. In a printer according to claim 1 , including a biasing mechanism to bias said elastomeric seal into its first position.
3. In a printer according to claim 2 wherein the biasing mechanism is said arms and they are made of a resilient material.
4. In a printer according to claim 1 , wherein an absorbent material is positioned in said capping mechanism to catch ink discharged from said printhead, during non printing modes.