US4401990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nozzle cleaning device in an ink jet system printer
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1981-08-14
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet system printer of the charge amplitude controlling type includes a carriage travelling across the printing region. A nozzle for emitting ink droplets and a slidable member are disposed on the carriage. The slidable member supports a charging tunnel and a cleaning pad for cleaning the front surface of the nozzle. When the carriage is positioned at the leftmost position before initiating the actual printing operation, the slidable member is slided on the carriage so that the cleaning pad contacts the front surface of the nozzle for cleaning purposes. Thereafter, the slidable member is held stationary on the carriage at a position wherein the charging tunnel confronts the nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiko Aiba
- 👤 Yoichi Yamamoto
- 👤 Hiroji Iwai
- 👤 Ikuo Umeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:37
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/165; B41J2/16517; B41J2/16535; B41J2/17; B41J2/18; B41J2/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A nozzle cleaning device in an ink jet system printer which includes a nozzle for emitting ink droplets, comprising: a liquid absorptive pad; a support member for supporting said liquid absorptive pad and also supporting a charging tunnel for charging the ink droplets in accordance with print information; shift means for shifting said support member in front of said nozzle; and control means for activating said shift means so that said liquid absorptive pad contacts a front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle does not emit the ink droplets, and that said liquid absorptive pad is held away from said front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle emits the ink droplets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A nozzle cleaning device in an ink jet system printer which includes a nozzle for emitting ink droplets, comprising: a liquid absorptive pad; a support member for supporting said liquid absorptive pad and also supporting a charging tunnel for charging the ink droplets in accordance with print information; shift means for shifting said support member in front of said nozzle; and control means for activating said shift means so that said liquid absorptive pad contacts a front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle does not emit the ink droplets, and that said liquid absorptive pad is held away from said front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle emits the ink droplets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The nozzle cleaning device of claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: first means for shifting said support member to a first position wherein said liquid absorptive pad contacts the front surface of said nozzle; and second means for holding said support member at a second position wherein said charging tunnel confronts said nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The nozzle cleaning device of claim 2, wherein said first means is energized at a time when a main power supply switch of the ink jet system printer is thrown.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The nozzle cleaning device of claim 3, wherein said second means includes a spring for depressing said support member in a predetermined direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
A nozzle cleaning device in an ink jet system printer which includes a nozzle for emitting ink droplets, comprising: a liquid absorptive pad; a support member for supporting said liquid absorptive pad and also supporting a charging tunnel for charging the ink droplets in accordance with print information; shift means for shifting said support member in front of said nozzle in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the emitting ink droplets; and control means for activating said shift means so that said liquid absorptive pad contacts a front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle does not emit the ink droplets, and that said liquid absorptive pad is held away from said front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle emits the ink droplets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A nozzle cleaning device in an ink jet system printer which includes a nozzle for emitting ink droplets, comprising: a liquid absorptive pad; a support member for supporting said liquid absorptive pad and also supporting a charging tunnel for charging the ink droplets in accordance with print information; shift means for shifting said support member in front of said nozzle in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the emitting ink droplets; and control means for activating said shift means so that said liquid absorptive pad contacts a front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle does not emit the ink droplets, and that said liquid absorptive pad is held away from said front surface of said nozzle when said nozzle emits the ink droplets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The nozzle cleaning device of claim 5, wherein said control means comprises: first means for shifting said support member to a first position wherein said liquid absorptive pad contacts the front surface of said nozzle; and second means for holding said support member at a second position wherein said charging tunnel confronts said nozzle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The nozzle cleaning device of claim 6, wherein said first means is energized at a time when a main power supply switch of the ink jet system printer is thrown.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The nozzle cleaning device of claim 7, wherein said second means includes a spring for depressing said support member in a predetermined direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4199767A
Cited
US4300145A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |