Hewlett-packard Company

Xiuting C Man

Steven B Elgee

Trudy L Benjamin

Timothy L Weber

Iue-Shuenn Chen

Wen-Li Su

Thomas F Uhling

Michael Thomas Dangelo

Bruce A Axten

James Walter Pearson

Kerry J Lundsten

Tamara L Hahn

Bryan D Woll

Jack L Burkman

Nicholas R Manwell

A monitoring system monitors a pressure wave developed in the surrounding ambient environment during inkjet droplet formation. The monitoring system uses either acoustic, ultrasonic, or other pressure wave monitoring mechanisms, such as a laser vibrometer, an ultrasonic transducer, or an accelerometer sensor, for instance, a microphone to detect droplet formation. One sensor is incorporated in the printhead itself, while others may be located externally. The monitoring system generates information used to determine current levels of printhead performance, to which the printer may respond by adjusting print modes, servicing the printhead, adjusting droplet formation, or by providing an early warning before an inkjet cartridge is completely empty. During printhead manufacturing, an array of such sensors may be used in quality assurance to determine printhead performance. An inkjet printing mechanism is also equipped for using this monitoring system, and a monitoring method is also provided.

Acoustic and ultrasonic monitoring of inkjet droplets

A fiber wiper cleaning system is provided for removing ink residue from a wiper after wiping an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. A service station supports the wiper while removing ink residue from the printhead through relative motion of the wiper and printhead. The service station has a fiber wiper cleaner that contacts and cleans the wiper to present the printhead with a fresh wiping surface during the next wiping stroke. Any auxiliary flaps used to clean areas adjacent the printhead are also cleaned using this system. Interaction of the wiper and cleaner pumps ink residue from between the cleaner fibers to ready the fibers for the next cleaning cycle. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a fiber wiper cleaning system is also provided, along with a method of wiping accumulated ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in an inkjet printing mechanism.

Fiber cleaning system for inkjet printhead wipers

A monitoring system monitors a pressure wave developed in the surrounding ambient environment during inkjet droplet formation. The monitoring system uses either acoustic, ultrasonic, or other pressure wave monitoring mechanisms, such as a laser vibrometer, an ultrasonic transducer, or an accelerometer sensor, for instance, a microphone to detect droplet formation. One sensor is incorporated in the printhead itself, while others may be located externally. The monitoring system generates information used to determine current levels of printhead performance, to which the printer may respond by adjusting print modes, servicing the printhead, adjusting droplet formation, or by providing an early warning before an inkjet cartridge is completely empty. During printhead manufacturing, an array of such sensors may be used in quality assurance to determine printhead performance. An inkjet printing mechanism is also equipped for using this monitoring system and a monitoring method is also provided.

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Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Xiuting C Man