Method of capping printhead with two-stage capping mechanism
View Patent ↗A method of capping a printhead is provided in which a carrier is moved from a non-capping position, through a transition position, to a capping position at which a capping member carried by the carrier caps the printhead, and pivoting of the capping member is effected relative to the carrier during transitional movement of the carrier between the transition and capping positions.
1. A method of capping a printhead comprising the steps of:
moving a carrier from a non-capping position, through a transition position, to a capping position at which a capping member carried by the carrier caps the printhead; and
effecting pivoting of the capping member relative to the carrier during transitional movement of the carrier between the transition and capping positions.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transitional movement of the carrier is less than the movement of the carrier between the non-capping and capping positions.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier is pivotally mounted to a support by way of a pivotal element having a first pivot axis, and the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier by way of a pivoting arrangement having a second pivot axis that is located parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the capping member has a capping element that is radially displaced from the second pivot axis, and the radial displacement of the capping element from the second pivot axis is small relative to the spacing between the first and second pivot axes.
5. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the ratio of the transitional movement of the carrier to the total pivotal movement of the carrier between the non-capping and capping positions is within the range 1:12 to 1:20.
6. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the capping element is arranged to engage with a face portion of the carrier when the carrier is located in the non-capping position whereby a recessed portion of the capping element is effectively closed against loss of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
7. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the capping element incorporates a lip which is formed from an elastomeric material, wherein the lip is configured to locate about the inkjet nozzles of the printhead when the capping member is in the capping position, and wherein the lip is arranged to engage with a face portion of the carrier when the carrier is located in the non-capping position whereby a recessed portion of the capping element is effectively closed against loss of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the capping member is provided with at least one first stop member that is arranged to contact the printhead and thereby to effect pivoting of the capping member relative to the carrier as the carrier makes the transitional movement from the transition position to the capping position.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the capping member is provided with at least one second stop member that is arranged to contact the carrier and thereby prevent pivoting of the capping member relative to the carrier as the carrier moves from the transition position to the non-capping position.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one abutment is located adjacent the printhead and is operable to effect pivoting of the capping member when the carrier approaches the non-capping position, whereby the capping member is moved away from a print media feed path.