A device to cap a thermal ink jet printhead, without the need of moving the printhead or the paper transport is described. The capping device has a resilient gasket which contains magnetic material and is attached to the printhead by a relatively thin flexible boot or sleeve. A steel bar is disposed in sliding contact beneath a paper transport belt. The belt is adjacently spaced parallel to the printhead. The paper transport belt is flat and smooth and has a hole-free surface. During operation of the printer, an electromagnet disposed on the printhead is energized and attracts the magnetic gasket, resulting in the attraction of the gasket above the printhead nozzles to enable printing. When the printhead is not in operation, the electromagnet is de-energized, allowing the steel bar to attract the magnetic gasket and seal the gasket to the belt, capping the printhead. The capping device eliminates the need for movement of the printhead or moving the paper transport. Also, the capping device provides capping protection in case of a power failure.
A printing head suitable for imaging a ferroelectric printing form is sealed relative to the printing form by a spring-elastic seal. In the discharge chamber of the printing head, at a low pressure, preferably less than 10 hPa, and especially in the presence of a gas with high ionization probability, a discharge plasma is created, from which charge carriers emerge onto the printing form as the result of activation between electrodes, with simultaneous focussing by the application of electric and/or magnetic fields between plates.
An aerosol extraction system for a fluid-ejection device is disclosed that includes a print zone, a servicing zone, a vacuum, and a switching mechanism. The print zone is that in which a print head of the fluid-ejection device ejects fluid onto media to form images thereon. The servicing zone is that in which the print head is serviced. The vacuum is fluidically connectable to both the print zone and the servicing zone. The switching mechanism is to fluidically connect and disconnect at least one of the print zone and the servicing zone to the vacuum.
The present invention provides a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus which permits downsizing of the liquid ejecting head and cost reduction, and furthermore, provides a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus which permits size reduction of the liquid ejecting head, improvement of reliability of the electrical mounting section, and cost reduction.
An integral seal for priming or maintaining the nozzles or orifices of an ink jet printhead in an ink jet printer. The ink jet printhead includes a plurality of ink ejecting orifices arranged on a surface of the printhead and includes a seal integral with the surface which surrounds the ink ejecting orifices. The seal member is located within a recess formed in the surface and has a contacting surface which can be recessed from the ink ejecting orifices so that cleaning operations of the surface which, for instance, use a wiping blade, are not impeded. A capping member on a maintenance station contacts and slightly compresses the seal member to provide an airtight seal during priming/maintenance operations.
The present invention enables a more reliable and stable recovery operation on an ink jet head in which a shoulder is formed on a discharge port surface thereof. In the recovery operation, the discharge portion surface having an inclined surface portion constituting the shoulder is cleaned by a blade which is a rubber-like elastic member and which is movable on an axis on which discharge ports are arrayed on the discharge port surface. A distal end portion of the blade is parallel to the inclined surface portion and has a width which allows at least one edge of the blade to be within the inclined surface portion. Consequently, the blade can be pressed against the discharge port surface under a uniform contact pressure, and excellent cleaning can thus be achieved. In a structure in which a fence portion is provided on the discharge port surface having a shoulder or in which a balloon portion is provided in a cap portion, the contact between the cap and the discharge port surface is improved, and ink leakage which would occur during capping can be avoided.
