A capping device for a printhead assembly of a pagewidth drop on demand ink jet printer is formed of spring steel and includes an elastomeric onsert having a series of recesses which create chambers positioned over air inlet and exhaust holes of each printhead module of the assembly. These allow the air to flow from one inlet to the next outlet. When the capping device is moved to its capped position, the airways are sealed off so as to prevent air from drying out and therefore blocking the delicate nozzles of the printheads. Another function of the molding is to cover and clamp against nozzle guards of the assembly to protect against drying out and also to keep foreign particles such as paper dust from entering and damaging the printer nozzles.
CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention: 09/575,141, 09/575,125, 09/575,108, 09/575,109.
The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference.
A printhead assembly for an ink jet printer includes an elongate ink supply assembly which defines a plurality of ink conduits The ink supply assembly is operatively engageable with a supply of ink so that ink can pass through the ink conduits, each ink conduit terminating at an exit hole. At least one printhead chip has a plurality of ink inlets and is mounted on the ink supply assembly such that each ink inlet is in fluid communication with a respective ink conduit. A support structure defines a channel in which the ink supply assembly is received and is configured to impart structural rigidity to the printhead assembly.
A capping device (12) for a printhead assembly (10) of a pagewidth drop on demand inkjet printer is formed of spring steel and includes an elastomeric onsert (47) having a series of recesses (56) which create chambers positioned over air inlet and exhaust holes (30) of each printhead module (11) of the assembly. These allow the air to flow from one inlet to the next outlet. When the capping device is moved to its capped position, the airways (32) are sealed off so as to prevent air from drying out and therefore blocking the delicate nozzles (62) of the printheads. Another function of the molding is to cover and clamp against nozzle guards (24) of the assembly to protect against drying out and also to keep foreign particles such as paper dust from entering and damaging the printer nozzles (62).
A printhead assembly includes a carrier. An ink distribution arrangement is mounted on the carrier. At least one inkjet printhead chip is mounted on the ink distribution arrangement to receive ink from the ink distribution arrangement. A capping device is mounted on the carrier and is displaceable between an operative position in which the capping device serves to cover the, or each, printhead chip and an inoperative position in which ink can be ejected from the, or each, printhead chip. A displacement mechanism is engaged with the capping device to displace the capping device between the operative and inoperative positions.
A pagewidth printhead assembly includes an elongate channel member having a floor and a pair of opposed sidewalls and being of a resiliently flexible material. An elongate ink distribution member is positioned on the floor and defines a number of longitudinally extending ink conduits for conveying respective inks and defining sets of apertures. The apertures of each set are in fluid communication with respective conduits. A series of inkjet printhead modules is mounted on the ink distribution member. Each inkjet printhead module has an ink distribution assembly in fluid communication with respective sets of the apertures. A printhead integrated circuit is mounted on the ink distribution assembly to receive ink. Each printhead module is dimensioned to be retained in position in the channel due to an inward bias of the sidewalls.
