IP Library Granted Patent US 11,931,758
Granted Patent B2
US 11,931,758 · App. 17/805,499 · Granted Mar 19, 2024

Revolving maintenance station for fluid ejection device

Inventor: Adam D. Carrithers (Lexington, KY)
Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
B05B15/52B05B15/14B08B1/143
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,931,758
App. No.
17/805,499
Granted
Mar 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid ejection device that includes a housing, a fluid reservoir disposed in the housing and a fluid ejection head. A revolving maintenance station that includes an ejection head wiper and an ejection head capping device is movably attached to the housing and is configured for rotation to selectively position the ejection head wiper or the ejection head capping device adjacent to the fluid ejection head.

Claims (22)

1. A fluid ejection device comprising:

a housing, a fluid reservoir disposed in the housing and a fluid ejection head configured for ejecting a fluid supplied from the fluid reservoir; and

a revolving maintenance station comprising an ejection head wiper blade and a separate ejection head capping device having a vent therein, wherein the revolving maintenance station is movably attached to the housing and is configured for rotation to selectively abut the fluid ejection head with the ejection head wiper blade and the ejection head capping device.

2. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the ejection head capping device is configured to protect the fluid ejection head and to maintain an environment that prevents the fluid from evaporating from the fluid ejection head.

3. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the revolving maintenance station further comprises at least one tab on an inside wall thereof.

4. The fluid ejection device of claim 3 , wherein the housing further comprises a circular wall having at least one groove on an outside portion thereof for mating with the at least one tab of the revolving maintenance station.

5. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the revolving maintenance station is configured to be manually rotated relative to housing.

6. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the revolving maintenance station is configured to be automatically rotated relative to the housing.

7. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the ejection head wiper blade comprises an elastomeric wiper blade.

8. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the ejection head capping devices comprises an elastomeric capping device.

9. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the ejection head wiper blade comprises an absorbent wiper blade.

10. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the revolving maintenance station further comprises a fluid ejection port therein.

11. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , further comprising a central shaft configured to movably attach the revolving maintenance station to the housing.

12. A handheld fluid ejection device comprising:

a housing, a fluid reservoir disposed in the housing and a fluid ejection head configured for ejecting a fluid supplied from the fluid reservoir; and

a revolving maintenance station comprising an ejection head wiper blade, ejection head capping device having a vent therein, and a fluid ejection port therein, wherein the revolving maintenance station is movably attached the housing and is configured for rotation to selectively abut the fluid ejection head with the ejection head wiper blade, the ejection head capping device, and the fluid ejection port.

13. The handheld fluid ejection device of claim 12 , wherein the revolving maintenance station is configured to be manually rotated relative to the housing.

14. The handheld fluid ejection device of claim 12 , wherein the revolving maintenance station further comprises at least one V-shaped tab on an inside wall thereof.

15. The handheld fluid ejection device of claim 14 , wherein housing further comprises a circular wall having at least one V-shaped groove on an outside portion thereof for mating with the at least one V-shaped tab of the revolving maintenance station.

16. The handheld fluid ejection device of claim 15 , wherein the revolving maintenance station is biased toward the housing.

17. The handheld fluid ejection device of claim 12 , further comprising a central shaft attached to the housing, wherein the revolving maintenance station is movably attached to the central shaft.

18. The handheld fluid ejection device of claim 12 , further comprising magnets disposed on the housing, on the revolving maintenance station, or on the housing and the revolving maintenance station configured to selectively position the revolving maintenance station.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2025
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: BRADY WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 070724/0640 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2023
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064093/0487 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 063815 FRAME: 0716. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jun 2, 2023
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063843/0907 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2023
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063815/0716 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2022
From: CARRITHERS, ADAM D
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060106/0580 →
Continuity (1)
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