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:
Mar. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 16, 1999
Gilbert A. Hawkins, Mendon, NY (US);
Michael E. Meichle, Rochester, NY (US);
Ravi Sharma, Fairport, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
Multi-fluidic cleaning for an ink jet print head (,) and a method for assembling the same. The print head (,) has a surface (,) defining at least one orifice (,) therethrough, the at least one orifice (,) being susceptible to being obstructed by contaminants. A cleaning assembly (,) of the invention is disposed proximate the surface (,) for directing a flow of fluid along the surface (,) and across the at least one orifice (,) to clean contaminants from the surface (,) and the at least one orifice (,). The cleaning assembly (,) includes a cup (,) sealingly surrounding the at least one orifice (,), the cup (,) defining a cavity (,) therein. The cleaning assembly (,) further includes a valve system (,) in fluid communication with the cavity (,) for allowing a fluid flow stream (,) consisting of alternating segments (,) of at least one liquid cleaning agent from a liquid cleaning agent source (,) and another element such as a gas from a gas source (,) or a second liquid cleaning agent from a liquid cleaning agent source (,) into the cavity (,).