Service station for use with inkjet printing apparatus, including

Abstract

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.