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:
Jan. 20, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2002
Masayuki Arakawa, Nagoya, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
In an ink-jet printer, a support member includes a wiper cleaning zone provided upstream of a wiping direction of a nozzle surface. The wiper cleaning zone includes a cleaning wall, a first surface, and a plurality of grooves. The cleaning wall protrudes from the support member. The first surface extends in a direction reverse to the wiping direction, continuously from the cleaning wall. The plurality of grooves are provided in the first surface, extending from the cleaning wall. The grooves are formed at a predetermined distance from each other and hold ink therein by capillary action. Ink, adhered to a wiper by wiping operation, is rubbed by the cleaning wall provided in the wiper cleaning zone, and the collected ink is held by the grooves continuously formed from the cleaning wall. A similar, but reversed, structure is found on the other side of the nozzle surface in the wiping direction.