公开(公告)号：US5786829A

公开(公告)日：1998-07-28

申请号：US673479

申请日：1996-07-01

申请人： Donald J. Pasciak, Jr. ,  Mark E. Klino

发明人： Donald J. Pasciak, Jr. ,  Mark E. Klino

IPC分类号： B41J2/165 ,  B41J2/17

CPC分类号： B41J2/1707 ,  B41J2/16552

摘要： A method and apparatus is provided for cleaning an ink jet printhead following a print operation. A housing assembly which includes the printhead is clamped into a fixed position, and a vacuum source is applied to the printhead nozzle face via a resilient sealing cap member. The printhead manifold is connected to a cleaning assembly which circulates a cleaning mixture comprising a cleaning liquid, such as water, and a gas, such as nitrogen, into the printhead manifold. This water and gas mixture is forced through the interior channels of the printhead and out the nozzles carrying ink and particulate matter into a waste receptacle. The flushing procedure continues until all ink is removed from the printhead. The cleaning operation is completely automated resulting in an effective and thorough cleaning operation. Optionally, a second vacuum is brought into close contact with the printhead nozzle face following the cleansing step to remove residual ink from the nozzle face.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于在打印操作之后清洁喷墨打印头的方法和装置。 包括打印头的壳体组件被夹紧在固定位置，并且真空源通过弹性密封盖构件施加到打印头喷嘴面。 打印头歧管连接到清洁组件，该清洁组件将包括清洁液体（例如水）的清洁混合物和诸如氮气的气体循环到打印头歧管中。 这种水和气体混合物被迫穿过打印头的内部通道，并从携带墨水和颗粒物质的喷嘴排出到废物容器中。 冲洗过程继续，直到从打印头中取出所有墨水。 清洁操作完全自动化，从而进行有效和彻底的清洁操作。 可选地，在清洁步骤之后，第二真空与打印头喷嘴面紧密接触以从喷嘴面去除残留的墨。