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:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
May. 12, 2000
Juan B. Belon, San Diego, CA (US);
Jeremy F. Mayer, Gainsville, FL (US);
Sergio Escobedo, San Diego, CA (US);
William H. Schwiebert, San Diego, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A shuttle system transfers an ink-jet pen between a carriage and a shuttle access location on a printer front panel. When a pen load button is pushed, the shuttle will move to an access position. In the access position, the shuttle will open a door and come beyond the front face of the printer. This allows the user to drop the pen(s) into place on the shuttle. Then when the button is pushed again, the pen shuttle will transfer the pens back into the printer, with the door closing, and automatically loads the pen(s) into the printer carriage without manual user intervention. The pen shuttle will then move to a rest position for normal printer operation. If the pen load button is pressed again, the pen shuttle moves back to the carriage and unloads the pen(s) automatically. The pen shuttle again opens the access door and presents the pens to the user. The shuttle has pen wipers and capping structures mounted for movement with the shuttle, allowing for pen service functions to be performed without the need for an additional service station.