U-shaped printhead capping device
View Patent ↗A capping device for a printhead comprises a metal body having a U-shaped transverse profile and defining a plurality of holes through an upper surface thereof; an integral spring constructed from a side wall of the metal body, the integral spring adapted to bias the capping device away from a side of a channel in which the capping device is installed; and an elastomeric seal attached to an inner side of the upper surface of the metal body, said elastomeric seal keyed to the metal body by the holes.
1. A capping device for a printhead, the capping device comprising:
a metal body having a U-shaped transverse profile and defining a plurality of holes through an upper surface thereof;
an integral spring constructed from a side wall of the metal body, the integral spring adapted to bias the capping device away from a side of a channel in which the capping device is installed; and
an elastomeric seal attached to an inner side of the upper surface of the metal body, said elastomeric seal keyed to the metal body by the holes.
2. The capping device of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric seal includes a number of rectangular air chambers therein, the air chambers located so as to coincide with an air inlet and exhaust pair of the printhead when the capping device is in an uncapped position.
3. The capping device of claim 1 , further comprising bosses attached to the inner side of the upper surface of the metal body, said bosses configured to ride over a portion of the printhead during a capping procedure and cause the upper surface of the metal body to flex upwards.
4. The capping device of claim 1 , wherein the metal body is formed such that the upper surface and a lower surface of the metal body apply a compressive force therebetween.