Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Hewlett-packard Company

Ah Chong Tee

Bee Bee Ang

Cherng Linn Teo

Cheng Tee Tang

Xiaoxi Huang

Kok Chai Chong

Tzy Woei Chu

Dennis Chua

Chee Chuan Chew

Seng Lim Wu

Keng Aik Alan Boo

Mylene Angele Kit-Njoek Tjin Wong Joe

Simon Walsh

Bo Pu

A media diversion apparatus for a printing system is described. In an example implementation, the apparatus comprises a media diverter to route media printed by a print assembly of a printing system. The media diverter, in a first position, is to route cut-sheet media from the print assembly to a first output region. The media diverter, in a second position, is to route roll media from the print assembly to a second output region.

Media diversion apparatus

A printer includes a print zone, and a media output guide assembly downstream of the print zone to curve media between media side edges. The media output guide assembly includes: an inner guide; and a pair of outer guides, the media to pass between the inner guide and the outer guides with the inner guide above the media and the outer guides below the media. The media passing between the guides has, in a direction perpendicular to a media output direction, outer edges that droop around and below a top of the outer guides, elevated points at the tops of the outer guides and a central low point under the inner guide and between the outer edges.

Media output guide assembly

A modular service station assembly for use with an inkjet printer having a housing with front and rear ends having a print zone and one or more carriage assemblies adapted to accommodate at least one print cartridge having a print head. The service station assembly has at least one ink spittoon. The service station also includes a wiping station having at least one wiper for cleaning the print head. The at least one ink spittoon and the wiping station are separately disposed to one side of the print zone. The service station further includes a capping station having at least one cap for sealing the print head disposed within the print zone. These discrete modules are arranged to minimize the width of the printer housing.

Modular service station assembly

A mobile, color printer capable of printing on letter-size plain paper and standard-size photo paper has a fold-up paper feeder that acts as a cover during travel. Such also serves as a storage tray for several sheets of paper to allow automatic feeding from a vertical stack. A slotted door hinged to the back of the printer, and under the hinges for the fold-up paper feeder/cover, can be flipped up or down. In the down position, a slot on the right side guides the user to feed in photo paper in the correct location. In the up position, letter-size plain paper has full-width access to the printing mechanism, and a sliding adjustable guide on the left allows letter, A4, and other size papers to be lightly corralled on both sides.

Mobile printer and paper feeder

A printer comprises an inkjet printhead capping assembly that raises up on an elevator to seal the printheads between uses. Such sealing prevents drying of the ink on the printhead nozzles that would otherwise cause clogging and poor operation. The elevator rides up and down on four ramps located at each corner of a cap carriage platform. A rack and pinion gear pushes pins riding on each ramp laterally to translate into the needed up and down elevator motion.

Inkjet capping elevator

An inkjet printhead squeegee is split on one side so that its wiping force on a printhead is highest on the front stroke and much lighter on the backstroke when the surface is dry. Alternatively, the split can be arranged so that the front stroke is light enough to leave the printhead wet, and then the backstroke is much firmer to completely squeegee the printhead dry. The result is high pressure strokes on a dry printhead are avoided.

Inkjet printhead squeegee

In a method for independently wiping a first and a second printhead of an inkjet printing device, a first and a second wiping assembly separated from each other are provided in the printing device. When the first wiping assembly wipes the first printhead, the second wiping assembly is separated from the second printhead so that the second wiping assembly does not simultaneously wipe the second printhead. When the second wiping assembly wipes the second printhead, however, the first wiping assembly is separated from the first printhead so that the first wiping assembly does not simultaneously wipe the first printhead.

Independent wiping of printhead

A method for wiping a printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism is provided. During a wiping process, firstly, a first amount of wiping force is exerted on the printhead for wiping the printhead in a first direction. Subsequently, a smaller amount of wiping force is exerted on the printhead for wiping the printhead in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The potential damages on the printhead by a dry wiping can thus be decreased by controlling the wiping force on the printhead.

Wiping mechanism

A method for wiping a printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism is provided. The printhead surface defines a printhead plane. In the method, firstly a wiper is moved substantially parallel to the printhead plane for wiping a first portion of the printhead surface. After the first portion of printhead surface is wiped, the wiper is moved away from the printhead plane for wiping a second portion of the printhead surface.

An inkjet printing device comprising first and second pens and first and second service stations, the first and second service stations being arranged in a split servicing configuration and being arranged to service the first and second pens respectively, the device being adapted to detect the failure of a said pen and to print in a reserve mode in response to the detection, the device being further adapted to implement a modified servicing routine during reserve mode printing, the modified servicing routine being adapted to omit servicing of the failed pen.

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Ah Chong Tee