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:
Jun. 17, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 13, 2001
Masaru Takahashi, Nagano, JP;
Hitoshi Hayakawa, Nagano, JP;
Kojiro IIzuka, Nagano, JP;
Mitsugu Ota, Nagano, JP;
Takashi Akase, Nagano, JP;
Hideki Okumura, Nagano, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A cap member ( ) which is brought into contact with a nozzle forming surface of a recording head ( ) to seal up the nozzle forming surface, and a wiping member ( ) which may be brought into sliding contact with the nozzle forming surface of the recording head ( ) are disposed on a cap holder ( ). With progress of a cleaning operation in which ink is placed under a negative pressure, and sucked and discharged from the recording head, a cap retaining member ( ) is moved upward and placed to a set state, whereby blocking the slanting and downward movement of the cap member ( ). Then, the wiping member ( ) located on the cap holder ( ) slides on the nozzle forming surface to wipe the nozzle forming surface. To a flushing operation, the cap retaining member ( ) is moved downward and placed to a reset state. In this state, the wiping member ( ) does not slide on the nozzle forming surface.