Electromagnetically controlled capper assembly for capping a pagewidth printhead cartridge
View Patent ↗A capping assembly for capping a pagewidth printhead of an inkjet printer comprising: a body configured to extend the length of the printhead; a capping element housed within the body and having a rim portion adapted to cap at least a portion of the printhead; a displacement assembly housed within the body for moving the capping element between a first position where the rim portion of the capping element extends from said body, and a second portion where the portion of the capping element is contained within the body; wherein, the displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet which determines the position.
1. A capping assembly of an inkjet printhead cartridge for capping a pagewidth printhead of the inkjet printhead cartridge, the capping assembly comprising:
a capping element having a rim portion adapted to cap at least a portion of the printhead;
a displacement assembly for moving the capping element between a first position at which the rim portion of the capping element caps the printhead, and a second position at which the rim portion of the capping element is spaced from the printhead;
wherein, the printhead cartridge is configured to be removably engaged with a printer cradle unit so that the displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet of the cradle unit which determines the position.
2. A capping assembly according to claim 1 wherein activation of said electromagnet causes said capping element to move between said first and second positions.
3. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein activation of the electromagnet is controlled by a control system of the cradle unit.
4. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the body is mounted to said printhead such that a gap is provided between said printhead and said body, said gap being sufficient to enable print media to pass therethrough for printing by said printhead.
5. A capping assembly according to claim 4 , wherein when said capping element is in said first position the portion of the capping element which extends from the body spans said gap to cap at least a portion of said printhead.
6. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the body opposite the printhead has a slot formed therein, through which the rim portion extends.
7. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said body includes a spring element which biases said capping element into said first position.
8. A capping assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said spring element extends substantially the length of the body and said capping element is supported on said spring element.
9. A capping assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the spring element is one or more resilient metal plates.
10. A capping assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the resilient plates are pressed from the body.
11. A capping assembly according to claim 7 , wherein in moving from said first position to said second position, the capping elements moves against the spring element.
12. A capping assembly according to claim 11 , wherein when said capping element is in said second position the rim portion retracts into said body such that it does not project beyond the slot into said gap.
13. A capping assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said capping element contains a magnetic material and movement from the first position to said second position is due to magnetic attraction between the capping element and the electromagnet of the cradle unit.