The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 24, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 04, 1997
Tsutomu Kawai, Yokohama, JP;
Hisashi Morioka, Ushiku, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention enables a more reliable and stable recovery operation on an ink jet head in which a shoulder is formed on a discharge port surface thereof. In the recovery operation, the discharge portion surface having an inclined surface portion constituting the shoulder is cleaned by a blade which is a rubber-like elastic member and which is movable on an axis on which discharge ports are arrayed on the discharge port surface. A distal end portion of the blade is parallel to the inclined surface portion and has a width which allows at least one edge of the blade to be within the inclined surface portion. Consequently, the blade can be pressed against the discharge port surface under a uniform contact pressure, and excellent cleaning can thus be achieved. In a structure in which a fence portion is provided on the discharge port surface having a shoulder or in which a balloon portion is provided in a cap portion, the contact between the cap and the discharge port surface is improved, and ink leakage which would occur during capping can be avoided.