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:
Sep. 01, 2015
Filed:
Feb. 29, 2012
Randal S Williamson, Georgetown, KY (US);
Gregory Leon Hutchison, Shelbyville, KY (US);
Jonathan Andrew Wharton, Lexington, KY (US);
Brian Michael Langness, Shelbyville, KY (US);
Lane Thomas Butler, Lexington, KY (US);
Randal S Williamson, Georgetown, KY (US);
Gregory Leon Hutchison, Shelbyville, KY (US);
Jonathan Andrew Wharton, Lexington, KY (US);
Brian Michael Langness, Shelbyville, KY (US);
Lane Thomas Butler, Lexington, KY (US);
Funai Electric Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
A wiper for a maintenance station of an imaging device includes a foundational body and a flexible blade. The body rigidly attaches to the maintenance station. The blade attaches to the body. The blade scrapes fluid and debris from a printhead during use. The blade comprises a flexible material having terminal sections intervened by a central section. Each terminal section connects to the body with a thicker expanse of flexible material, whereas the central section connects to the body with a thinner expanse. The connection provides the terminal sections with a higher wiping force and a shorter effective beam length for wiping an encapsulant of the printhead and gives while the central section a lower wiping force and a longer effective beam length for wiping a nozzle plate of the printhead. The embodiments note curved surfaces with variable radiuses where the expanses of flexible material connect to the body.