Hewlett-Packard Company

Noriyoshi Fujimori

Alan Shibata

Chan K Nguyen

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. 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

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

Shiojiri, Japan

Noriyoshi Fujimori