An ink ejection head is moved to an inoperative position when the apparatus is de-energized. An electrical solenoid moves the cap to a retracted position as the ink ejection head approaches the inoperative position and another electrical solenoid or a spring moves the cap into injection orifice sealing engagement with the ink ejection head when the ink ejection head reaches the inoperative position. Damping means are disclosed for preventing impact of the cap against the ink ejection head which ...

An ink printing unit includes a platen for supporting a record carrier, an ink printing head movable along a path of travel parallel to the platen. The ink printing head has nozzles and a nozzle outlet area through which ink is ejected onto the record carrier. The unit further has a sealing device for periodically closing off the nozzles by engaging an end face of the ink printing head in the zone of the nozzle outlet area. The sealing device comprises a sealing cushion; a mounting carrying the ...

A high deflection capping system has an elastomeric sealing member with a sealing lip that, when viewed in cross section, forms a smiling-shaped seal against an inkjet printhead to provide improved printhead sealing, particularly when sealing over surface irregularities on the printhead. This high deflection sealing member may be onsert molded onto a support frame. A series of these sealing lips being molded on a single flexible frame to simultaneously seal several adjacent inkjet printheads, wi...

An ink jet type recording apparatus in which two recording heads are mounted on one and the same carriage in such a manner that their spatial relationship is fixed, and the heads are positively sealed simultaneously by a capping means. A first cap member 13 adapted to seal the first recording head is provided near an end, proximate to the printing region, of a slider 20, which lifts a base stand according to the movement of a carriage. The first cap member has an air communication hole, and an i...

The invented non-clogging cap and service station include a cap that encloses and defines a cavity around a printhead. The cap includes a basin to collect liquid discharged from the printhead and a vent to prevent changes of pressure within the cavity. Capillary spaces are constructed within the cap from walls and ridges in such a way that liquid collecting in the basin moves away from the vent to prevent the vent from clogging. The basin, vent, walls and ridges are typically constructed from a ...

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 o...

A recording apparatus is disclosed which is improved in operability by linking a printing head protection device with a switch mechanism. The printing head comprises an ink jet head and the switch mechanism comprises a power source switch, print switch etc.

An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having an ink discharge opening for discharging ink, a suction system for applying negative pressure to the ink discharge opening to suck ink therefrom to recover proper discharge of ink, and a first capping member for capping the ink discharge opening, the member being connected to the suction system to apply negative pressure to the discharge opening when it is capped. The apparatus also includes an ink retaining portion for retaining in...

Slits are cut in a nozzle tape and aligned with encapsulant beads on a printhead. The slits mechanically decouple portions of the tape stuck to the beads from a central portion of the tape stuck to a nozzle plate, and thereby prevent lifting of the tape off the nozzle plate in the event that the tape subsequently contracts. A method of attaching the tape to the printhead aligns blades with the beads on the printhead, so that the blades cut slits in the tape that are aligned with the beads. The t...

A capping device for an ink-jet printhead having a nozzle opening defined in a surface thereof. A deformable member is urged into engagement with the surface at a predetermined pressure, causing a portion of the deformable member to be deformed into the nozzle opening to seal the nozzle opening of the printhead.