Hewlett-packard Company

Chan K Nguyen

Alan Shibata

Noriyoshi Fujimori

Lynn D Palmer

Glenn W Gaarder

David W Leong

Samuel A Stodder

Dan Scott Caputo

A service station for use in servicing one or more inkjet print cartridges includes a service station sled assembly movably attached to a service station chassis. The sled assembly includes at least one wiper and at least one cap. In one embodiment, the service station includes a cam and cam follower that interact to move the sled assembly. The cam is shaped so that movement of the cam to a first position causes each cap to contact a printhead of a corresponding inkjet print cartridge. Movement of the cam to a second position causes the cap to move away from the printhead and moves the wiper into a wiping position. In another embodiment, a service station according to the invention for use with a facsimile machine including inkjet printing apparatus includes a motor that is positioned so as to minimize the footprint of the service station. A method according to the invention includes the steps of positioning a print carriage adjacent to a service station including a sled assembly, and rotating a cam of the service station such that a cam follower of the sled assembly interacts with the cam to cause movement of the sled assembly.

Positioning of service station sled using motor-driven cam

A service station for use in servicing one or more inkjet print cartridges includes a service station sled assembly detachably attached to a service station chassis. The service station according to the invention can be used with either a facsimile machine that uses thermal inkjet printing, or with a thermal inkjet printer. In one embodiment, a mechanism for detaching the sled assembly is easily activated by a lever extending from the service station chassis. The invention enables a user to easily detach the sled assembly from and attach the sled assembly to the remainder of the service station, thereby allowing the user to easily replace the sled assembly without necessity to replace the remainder of the service station.

Removable service station sled for inkjet printer

A service station for use in servicing one or more inkjet print cartridges includes a service station sled assembly movably attached to a service station chassis. In one embodiment, the service station includes a sled assembly that includes a cap for enclosing a printhead of a print cartridge, a sled carrier on which the sled assembly is positioned, a cam follower structure including a cam follower, a cam positioned to interact with the cam follower, a mechanism for compliantly attaching the cam follower structure to the sled carrier, and a motor adapted to move the cam. The mechanism for compliantly attaching provides a compliant support for the sled assembly that enables the sled assembly to be positioned in a capping position that ensures adequate contact between the cap and printhead, but that alleviates excessive forces that may otherwise build up between the sled assembly and the print carriage during capping as a result of moving the sled assembly too far in a direction toward the printhead. The cam is shaped so that movement of the cam to a first position causes each cap to contact a printhead of a corresponding inkjet print cartridge. Movement of the cam to a second position causes the cap to move away from the printhead and moves the wiper into a wiping position. In yet another embodiment, a service station includes a motor that is positioned so as to minimize the footprint of the service station.

Service station for use with inkjet printing apparatus, including

A service station for use in servicing one or more inkjet print cartridges includes a service station sled assembly movably attached to a service station chassis. The service station can be used with either a facsimile machine that uses thermal inkjet printing, or with a thermal inkjet printer. In one embodiment, the service station includes an alignment mechanism for aligning a print carriage with respect to the sled assembly during capping to achieve improved alignment, relative to previous service stations, of a cap with respect to a corresponding print cartridge printhead. In another embodiment, the service station includes a positioning mechanism for positioning the print carriage with respect to the sled assembly during wiping such that, viewed in a direction parallel to the direction of motion of the print carriage, the edge of a wiper distal from a sled base extends beyond the print cartridge printhead by a predetermined amount in order to achieve optimum wiping performance. In another embodiment, the service station includes both the alignment mechanism and the positioning mechanism.

Cap alignment and wiper positioning for inkjet printer service station

A multiple-function printing device provides for picking pages from a stack of sheets in an input feeder for roller-driven movement along a first path through a printing station to an output, and for picking pages from a stack of documents in an input feeder for roller-driven movement along a second path through a scanning station to an output, with at least a portion of the first and second paths being commonly shared, with a document deflector which, in a document scanning mode of operation, is pivoted into a lowered position generally parallel to a print station platen to constrain the top and bottom of curled documents exiting from the scan station so as to prevent an incipient paper jam. The deflector is actuated by a drive mechanism including a ball link and cranks connected to a common motor in a service station for capping and wiping print cartridges in the printing station.

Multiple-function printer document deflector actuation coupled to

An apparatus and method are provided to prevent the overflow of waste ink from a primary spittoon used in a service station of a thermal ink-jet device, such as a facsimile machine. An opening is defined in a wall of the primary spittoon such that when the waste ink level within the primary spittoon reaches the opening, the waste ink issues from the opening for collection by a secondary spittoon. A passageway may be employed to route the ink from the opening to the secondary spittoon, with the passageway preferably represented by a rib formed externally on the primary spittoon wall. By employing the method of the present invention, one avoids the potential contamination of the internal workings of the thermal ink-jet device caused by the unchecked overflow of ink from the primary spittoon.

Use of a secondary spittoon for wasted ink containment

Wetting an absorber material in the bottom of a spittoon in a service station employed in a thermal ink-jet device, such as a facsimile machine, prevents formation of stalagmites of ink and ensures trouble-free operation of the service station. The absorber, which comprises a material having a high capacity for absorbing the liquid ink, is wetted with a sufficient quantity of a liquid having both a low vapor pressure and capable of wetting the absorber material. Such a liquid comprises a hydrocarbon material, such as a paraffin oil.

Spittoon absorber wetting agent

Facsimile machine

Structure according to the invention simultaneously controls operation of a sled assembly for servicing of an inkjet print cartridge and a mechanism for controlling advancement of a print medium into a printing path. The structure according to the invention can be used with either a facsimile machine that uses thermal inkjet printing, or with a thermal inkjet printer. In one embodiment, the structure includes a sled assembly which further includes at least one wiper and at least one cap, a paper pick pressure plate, and a mechanism for simultaneously controlling movement of the sled assembly and the pressure plate. The paper pick pressure plate is controlled to selectively contact a paper pick roller such that the print medium is advanced through the printing path when the pressure plate contacts the pick roller and the print medium is not advanced through the printing path when the pressure plate does not contact the pick roller. In a further embodiment, the mechanism for simultaneously controlling further comprises a dual cam mechanism. A cam ring of the dual cam mechanism interacts with a cam follower to move the sled assembly and a cam of the dual cam mechanism contacts the pressure plate to move the pressure plate directly.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Chan K Nguyen