Printer having rotatable capping/purging mechanism for dual printheads
View Patent ↗A printer is provided which has two pagewidth printheads arranged to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles disposed along the respective pagewidth onto opposite surfaces of print media being transported therepast, and a capping/purging mechanism. The capping/purging mechanism has two rotatable turrets arranged so that each turret is associated with a respective one of the printheads and an actuating mechanism for selectively rotating and moving each turret. Each turret has located on respective faces thereof, a capping member, platen and purging chamber connected in fluid passage communication with a suction device. The actuating mechanism selectively rotates each turret to align the respective capping member, platen and purging chamber with the respective printhead and selectively moves each turret to engage the respectively aligned capping member or purging chamber with the respective printhead.
1. A printer comprising:
two pagewidth printheads arranged to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles disposed along the respective pagewidth onto opposite surfaces of print media being transported therepast; and
a capping/purging mechanism having:
two rotatable turrets arranged so that each turret is associated with a respective one of the printheads, each turret having located on respective faces thereof, a capping member, platen and purging chamber connected via a tube to a suction pump; and
an actuating mechanism for selectively rotating each turret to align the respective capping member, platen and purging chamber with the respective printhead and for selectively moving each turret to engage the respectively aligned capping member or purging chamber with the respective printhead.
2. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each capping member is formed effectively as a one-piece member and has a length corresponding substantially to that of the respective printhead.
3. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each capping member comprises conjoined member portions having an aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the respective printhead.
4. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each capping member comprises a body portion, a lip portion formed from an elastomeric material and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally configured to surround the nozzles of the respective printhead when the capping member is engaged therewith.
5. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each purging chamber comprises a longitudinally extending member and has a length corresponding substantially to that of the respective printhead.
6. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each purging chamber comprises conjoined member portions having an aggregate length corresponding substantially to that of the respective printhead.
7. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each purging chamber comprises a body portion, a lip portion formed from an elastomeric material and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, and wherein the lip portion is peripherally configured to surround the nozzles of the respective printhead when the purging chamber is engaged therewith.
8. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each turret has three faces defined by a triangular cross-section.
9. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein each capping member has a lip portion that is formed integrally with a body portion, and a cavity surrounded by the lip portion, the lip portion being peripherally configured to surround the nozzles of the respective printhead when the capping member is engaged therewith, and the body portion having a length corresponding substantially to that of the respective printhead.