EP0832746B1 - Inkjet printer having print head and maintenance system alignment - Google Patents
Inkjet printer having print head and maintenance system alignment Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0832746B1 EP0832746B1 EP19970116568 EP97116568A EP0832746B1 EP 0832746 B1 EP0832746 B1 EP 0832746B1 EP 19970116568 EP19970116568 EP 19970116568 EP 97116568 A EP97116568 A EP 97116568A EP 0832746 B1 EP0832746 B1 EP 0832746B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- head
- print head
- maintenance
- indicator
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 title claims description 98
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims description 30
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 21
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013519 translation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000037452 priming Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
- G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
- B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
- B41J2/16544—Constructions for the positioning of wipers
- B41J2/16547—Constructions for the positioning of wipers the wipers and caps or spittoons being on the same movable support
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
- G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
- G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
- G07B2017/00556—Ensuring quality of print
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to inkjet printer apparatus having an inkjet print head and a maintenance head, and to methods of cleaning and maintaining an inkjet head.
- the invention is applicable to postage meters.
- JP-A-56 077159 and US-A-5,040,000 describe ink jet printing apparatus having a nozzle cleaning device.
- the latter shows a cleaning device movable in a plane parallel to the scanning direction of the printhead.
- Another maintenance head is shown in EP-A- 0 552 030.
- Print heads are used in many applications today, and inkjet print heads are often preferred. Such print heads spray small drops of ink on paper and typically travel along an axis of transport. When inkjet print heads are not in use they are moved to a maintenance station where a cleaning and maintenance procedure is effected which includes wiping, priming, spitting and capping. Typically, the maintenance system is spaced in axial alignment with the path of travel of the print head. In this manner, the axis of transport of the print head must necessarily extend beyond the range where printing is to occur.
- inkjet printers such as in a postage meter or mailing machine
- moving the print head along more than one axis to accommodate the maintenance system would be excessively complex.
- use of an inkjet printer having the print head and maintenance system in axial alignment is difficult to effect in some applications.
- An object of the invention is to provide a maintenance system which does not require additional space for the maintenance station and thus permits use of the inkjet printer in applications such as postage meters where it might otherwise not be feasible.
- inkjet printer apparatus comprising an inkjet print head having a plurality of nozzles and translatable in a first direction; means for translating said print head to a cleaning station; and an inkjet maintenance head translatable in at least second and third directions defining a plane, wherein said plane is perpendicular to said first direction; characterized by means for translating said maintenance head in said at least two directions in said plane to engage said print head at said cleaning station and hermetically seal said nozzle.
- a method of cleaning and maintaining an inkjet print head with a maintenance head comprising translating an inkjet print head having a plurality of nozzles in a first direction to a cleaning station; characterized by translating an inkjet maintenance head in at least second and third directions defining a plane to mating engagement with said print head at said cleaning station to hermetically seal the printhead nozzles, said first direction being perpendicular to said plane.
- the reliable positioning of the print and maintenance heads in proper mating relationship is achieved by:
- the method further includes:
- a method comprising the steps of positioning a print head and a maintenance head of an inkjet printer into proper mating relationship; driving the print head to a hard stop; measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating relationship position to the print head hard stop; and storing the print head distance indicator in a memory.
- a postage meter 8 having an inkjet printing system generally designated 10 which includes an inkjet print head 12, an inkjet maintenance head 14 for servicing and cleaning the print head 12 and suitable framework (not shown) for supporting the various components of the inkjet printing system 10.
- the print head 12 is used for printing a postage indicia on an envelope 16, which travels in the direction indicated by the arrow, and also on tape 18 passing therebelow in a path parallel to the path of the envelope 16 as explained in further detail hereinbelow.
- the print head 12 includes a pair of rollers 20 and 22 which ride on a pair of rails 24 and 26 respectively.
- a lead screw 28 is driven by a drive motor 30 and threadingly engages the top of the print head 12 in order to translate the print head 12 back and forth along the rails 24 and 26.
- a conventional encoder system 130 is operatively connected to the drive motor 30 for providing signals indicative of the position of the print head 12 along the lead screw 28, such as a light source (not shown), a light detector (not shown) and a vane (not shown) fixably mounted to the shaft of the motor 30 and operatively located between the light source and the light detector to alternatively block and unblock the light source.
- the print head 12 can be stopped in one of three positions.
- Fig. 1 shows the print head 12 stopped at station. 1, indicated by arrow 32, at which the print head 12 can print on the tape 18 in conventional manner.
- the print head 12 can also be stopped at station 2, indicated by the arrow 34, at which the print head 12 can print on the envelope 16 in conventional manner.
- the home or resting position of the print head 12 is at station 3 indicated by the arrow 36.
- the print head 12 further includes an alignment tab 110 having an alignment hole 112 located therethrough.
- the alignment tab 110 is located on a vertical wall of the print head 12 near the bottom of the print head 12.
- the maintenance head 14 has a camming surface 19 which sits on a track 38 and is translatable along the track 38 by means of a pin 40 which engages an aperture (not shown) in the maintenance head 14
- the track 38 is vertically aligned with the print head station 3.
- the pin 40 is seated in a block 42 which threadingly engages a lead screw 44 which in turn is driven by a drive motor 46.
- the track 38 includes a slot 48 in which the pin 40 is translated.
- the track 38 includes a horizontal path or section 50, an angled, cam section 52, and a second, horizontal section 54 at the end thereof.
- the cam section 52 is shown angled at a diagonal, but other angles or shapes could be employed.
- the maintenance head 14 is shown at its home or resting position which is station 4 indicated by the arrow 56.
- the maintenance head 14 is situated at station 4 whenever the print head 12 is being used to print the envelopes 16 or the tape 18.
- the maintenance head 14 further includes an alignment tab 120 having an alignment hole 122 located therethrough.
- the alignment tab 120 is located on a vertical wall of the maintenance head 14 near the top of the maintenance head 14.
- a conventional encoder system 146 is operatively connected to the drive motor 46 for providing signals indicative of the position of the maintenance head 12 along the lead screw 44.
- the print head 12 Whenever the print head 12 is not being used to print envelopes 16 or tape 18, the print head 12 is translated by the lead screw 28 to the position of station 3 and remains stationary at station 3. Whenever the print head 12 is stationary at station 3, the inkjet printing system 10 is programmed to move the maintenance head 14 to station 5 indicated by the arrow 57 into a docked position which is in mating relationship with the print head 12, as shown in Fig. 3, i.e. the maintenance head 14 is moved below the print head 12.
- the movement of the maintenance head 14 along the track 38 to the station 5 will now be described.
- the maintenance head 14 moves in a single, vertical plane which is aligned with the print head home station 3.
- the initial movement of the maintenance head 14 along the track 38 is from left to right on the first horizontal path 50.
- the drive motor 46 causes the maintenance head 14 to approach the cam section 52, at which point the camming surface 19 of the maintenance head 14 engages the cam section 52 to thereby lift the maintenance head 14 as it is being translated from left to right.
- the camming surface 19 has finished traversing the cam section 52, the maintenance head 14 is elevated and continues to move from left to right along the second horizontal track section 54 to the cleaning position seen in Fig. 3.
- the maintenance head 14 experiences lateral and vertical movement in being moved from its home position at station 4 to its cleaning position at station 5 where the top surface of the maintenance head 14 engages the bottom surface of the print head 12.
- the lateral movement takes place along the horizontal track sections 50 and 54, and both lateral and vertical movement takes place along the cam section 52.
- the movement along the horizontal track sections 50 and 54 comprises movement in one direction and the movement along the cam section 52 comprises movement in a second direction.
- the two directions of movement will comprise elements of both lateral and vertical movement. Since both lateral and vertical movement of the maintenance head 14 are required to move it into its cleaning position at station 5, movements other than what is shown in Figs. 1-3 could be employed, e.g. one direction of movement could be purely horizontal and another direction of movement could be purely vertical.
- the wiper (not shown) of the maintenance head 14 wipes the nozzles (not shown) on the bottom of the print head 12 in conventional manner.
- the capping device (not shown) of the maintenance head 14 hermetically seals the nozzles of the print head 12 when the maintenance head 14 is stopped from further translation along the track 38, and a vacuum can be applied to the maintenance head 14 to remove ink from the nozzles. Additionally, the nozzles of the print head 12 can be fired into a spittoon (not shown) or capping device of the maintenance head.
- the inkjet printing system 10 further includes a control system 200 having a memory 202.
- the control system 200 is in operative communication with the encoder systems 130 and 146 and the motors 30 and 46 for receiving input signals from the encoder systems 130 and 146, respectively, and outputting control signals to the motors 30 and 43, respectively, for positioning the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14 along their respective lead screws 28 and 44.
- the control system 200 is further in communication with any suitable interface 300, such as a keyboard and LCD or CRT display, which allows the operator to receive information from and provide inputs to the postage meter 8.
- the control system 200 may include any suitable combination of hardware, software and processors.
- an alignment calibration routine is performed.
- the alignment calibration routine may take place during the manufacturing process or during installation at the user location and is used to establish station 3 for the print head 12 and station 5 for the maintenance head 14 so that during normal operation the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14 are in proper mating relationship.
- the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14 are brought into proper mating relationship. This is accomplished by repositioning the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14 along their respective lead screws 28 and 44 until the capping device properly covers the nozzles of the print head 12.
- the alignment tabs 110 and 120 are provided. Since the alignment tabs 110 and 120 are manufactured with close tolerance to the remaining features of the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14, respectively, they can be used to assist in properly aligning the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14 by inserting a pin (not shown) through the alignment holes 112 and 122.
- the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14 are driven along their respective lead screws 28 and 44 until they each reach a fixed hard stop (not shown) on one end of each lead screw 28 and 44.
- the fixed hard stops provide a known reference location from which the distance to the station 3 and station 5 can be measured.
- the controller 200 counts the number of encoder pulses from the proper mating relationship position to each respective hard stop for both the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14. These respective values, print head encoder pulse count (station 3 count) and maintenance head encoder pulse count (station 5 count), are then stored in memory 202 for later use.
- this routine establishes a reference point for the print head 12 from its hard stop which can be used in repeating accurately the proper position of the print head 12 in station 3.
- this routine establishes a reference point for the maintenance head 14 from its hard stop which can be used in repeating accurately the proper position of the maintenance head 14 in station 5.
- a proper mating relationship can be repeatably achieved. Therefore, any tolerancing problems between different postage meters 8 will be accounted for since the encoder pulse counts are unique to each postage meter 8.
- the print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count are preferably stored in a nonvolatile type memory 202. In this manner, these counts will not be lost due to power loss in the postage meter 8.
- the hard stops may merely be on the end of the lead screw 28 and 44, respectively. In which case the respective encoder pulses are counted until the motors 30 and 46, respectively, stall.
- a mechanical switch or optical sensor could be employed to signal the controller 200 to stop counting encoder pulses.
- the controller 200 when the postage meter 8 is turned on the controller 200 instructs the inkjet printing system 10 to print on the envelope 16, then the print head is driven to station 2 while the maintenance head 14 is driven to station 4. After completing printing, the controller 200 returns the print head 12 to station 3 and the maintenance head 14 to station 5 using the print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count, respectively. At predetermined intervals and/or upon the occurrence of a particular event, the controller 200 drives the print head 12 and the maintenance head 14 to their respective hard stops so as to prevent "drift" or "wander" of the system.
- the print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count which are stored in memory 202 continue to serve as accurate indicators of reference points where a. proper mating relationship occurs.
- stepper motors are utilized, then it is possible to count motor pulses instead of encoder pulses. Also, it is preferable that the print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count are stored in a nonvolatile type memory 202. In this manner, these counts will not be lost due to power loss in the postage meter 8.
- the inkjet printing system 10 described hereinabove is arranged in such a way that it occupies a minimum of space and thus can be used in many applications which otherwise lack sufficient space for an inkjet printer.
- a postage meter is just one example of the many applications for which the foregoing inkjet printing system 10 is suitable.
- the operator is allowed to independently manipulate the station 1-and station 2 counts so as to reposition the postage indicia on the envelope 16 or the tape 18.
- the postage indicia can be adjusted along the envelope 16 or tape 18 in a direction which is transverse to the path of travel.
- Prior art systems only allow adjustment of the postage indicia in a direction parallel to the path of travel.
- Any suitable combination of hardware and software could serve as the interface 300 and controller 200.
- the operator may be presented with a visual indication on the LCD of the position of the postage indicia on the envelope 16.
- the operator may reposition the postage indicia where each depression of a respective arrow key either subtracts or adds a predetermined incremental number of counts to the station 2 count.
- the same technique could be employed to adjust the station 1 count.
- the interface 300 provides a menu system where the operator can select whether to adjust the position of the postage indicia on the envelope 16 or the tape 18.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Ink Jet (AREA)
Description
- The present invention generally relates to inkjet printer apparatus having an inkjet print head and a maintenance head, and to methods of cleaning and maintaining an inkjet head. The invention is applicable to postage meters.
- JP-A-56 077159 and US-A-5,040,000 describe ink jet printing apparatus having a nozzle cleaning device.
- The latter shows a cleaning device movable in a plane parallel to the scanning direction of the printhead. Another maintenance head is shown in EP-A- 0 552 030.
- Print heads are used in many applications today, and inkjet print heads are often preferred. Such print heads spray small drops of ink on paper and typically travel along an axis of transport. When inkjet print heads are not in use they are moved to a maintenance station where a cleaning and maintenance procedure is effected which includes wiping, priming, spitting and capping. Typically, the maintenance system is spaced in axial alignment with the path of travel of the print head. In this manner, the axis of transport of the print head must necessarily extend beyond the range where printing is to occur.
- In some applications of inkjet printers, such as in a postage meter or mailing machine, there is not enough room along the axis of transport to dock the print head. Additionally, moving the print head along more than one axis to accommodate the maintenance system would be excessively complex. Thus, use of an inkjet printer having the print head and maintenance system in axial alignment is difficult to effect in some applications.
- An object of the invention is to provide a maintenance system which does not require additional space for the maintenance station and thus permits use of the inkjet printer in applications such as postage meters where it might otherwise not be feasible.
- According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided inkjet printer apparatus comprising an inkjet print head having a plurality of nozzles and translatable in a first direction; means for translating said print head to a cleaning station; and an inkjet maintenance head translatable in at least second and third directions defining a plane, wherein said plane is perpendicular to said first direction; characterized by means for translating said maintenance head in said at least two directions in said plane to engage said print head at said cleaning station and hermetically seal said nozzle.
- According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of cleaning and maintaining an inkjet print head with a maintenance head, comprising translating an inkjet print head having a plurality of nozzles in a first direction to a cleaning station; characterized by translating an inkjet maintenance head in at least second and third directions defining a plane to mating engagement with said print head at said cleaning station to hermetically seal the printhead nozzles, said first direction being perpendicular to said plane.
- It is important to align the print head and the maintenance head accurately so that the print head and the maintenance head are in proper mating relationship. Proper mating relationship is important to ensure that: (1) the print head is not exposed to ambient air which tends to cause excessive evaporation of ink resulting in clogging of the print head; and (2) ink is not sprayed on other components of the inkjet printer during a maintenance cycle. Generally, the difficulties associated with aligning both the print head and the maintenance head are associated with a number of factors, such as: manufacturing tolerances and precision positioning in two separate directions.
- In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reliable positioning of the print and maintenance heads in proper mating relationship is achieved by:
- positioning the print head and the maintenance head of an inkjet printer into proper mating relationship;
- driving the print head to a hard stop;
- measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating relationship position to the print head hard stop; and
- storing the print head distance indicator in a memory.
-
- Preferably, the method further includes:
- driving the maintenance head to a hard stop;
- measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating relationship position to the maintenance head hard stop; and
- storing the maintenance head distance indicator in the memory.
-
- It is then possible to use the print head distance indicator to repeatably return the print head to the proper mating relationship position; and/or to use the maintenance head distance indicator to repeatably return the maintenance head to the proper mating relationship position.
- According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising the steps of positioning a print head and a maintenance head of an inkjet printer into proper mating relationship; driving the print head to a hard stop; measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating relationship position to the print head hard stop; and storing the print head distance indicator in a memory.
- For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a postage meter having an inkjet printer showing the print head and maintenance head in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 2 is a schematic, side, elevational view of the maintenance head in its home position;
- Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 but shows the maintenance head in the capping position adjacent the print head; and
- Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the inkjet printer including a control system.
-
- In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention, reference is made to the drawings, wherein there is seen in Fig. 1 a
postage meter 8 having an inkjet printing system generally designated 10 which includes aninkjet print head 12, aninkjet maintenance head 14 for servicing and cleaning theprint head 12 and suitable framework (not shown) for supporting the various components of theinkjet printing system 10. Theprint head 12 is used for printing a postage indicia on anenvelope 16, which travels in the direction indicated by the arrow, and also ontape 18 passing therebelow in a path parallel to the path of theenvelope 16 as explained in further detail hereinbelow. Theprint head 12 includes a pair ofrollers rails lead screw 28 is driven by adrive motor 30 and threadingly engages the top of theprint head 12 in order to translate theprint head 12 back and forth along therails conventional encoder system 130 is operatively connected to thedrive motor 30 for providing signals indicative of the position of theprint head 12 along thelead screw 28, such as a light source (not shown), a light detector (not shown) and a vane (not shown) fixably mounted to the shaft of themotor 30 and operatively located between the light source and the light detector to alternatively block and unblock the light source. - The
print head 12 can be stopped in one of three positions. Fig. 1 shows theprint head 12 stopped at station. 1, indicated byarrow 32, at which theprint head 12 can print on thetape 18 in conventional manner. Theprint head 12 can also be stopped atstation 2, indicated by thearrow 34, at which theprint head 12 can print on theenvelope 16 in conventional manner. The home or resting position of theprint head 12 is at station 3 indicated by thearrow 36. - The
print head 12 further includes analignment tab 110 having analignment hole 112 located therethrough. Thealignment tab 110 is located on a vertical wall of theprint head 12 near the bottom of theprint head 12. - The
maintenance head 14 has acamming surface 19 which sits on atrack 38 and is translatable along thetrack 38 by means of apin 40 which engages an aperture (not shown) in themaintenance head 14 Thetrack 38 is vertically aligned with the print head station 3. Thepin 40 is seated in a block 42 which threadingly engages alead screw 44 which in turn is driven by adrive motor 46. Thetrack 38 includes aslot 48 in which thepin 40 is translated. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, thetrack 38 includes a horizontal path orsection 50, an angled,cam section 52, and a second,horizontal section 54 at the end thereof. Thecam section 52 is shown angled at a diagonal, but other angles or shapes could be employed. In Figs. 1 and 2, themaintenance head 14 is shown at its home or resting position which is station 4 indicated by thearrow 56. Themaintenance head 14 is situated at station 4 whenever theprint head 12 is being used to print theenvelopes 16 or thetape 18. - The
maintenance head 14 further includes analignment tab 120 having analignment hole 122 located therethrough. Thealignment tab 120 is located on a vertical wall of themaintenance head 14 near the top of themaintenance head 14. - Additionally, a
conventional encoder system 146 is operatively connected to thedrive motor 46 for providing signals indicative of the position of themaintenance head 12 along thelead screw 44. - Whenever the
print head 12 is not being used to printenvelopes 16 ortape 18, theprint head 12 is translated by thelead screw 28 to the position of station 3 and remains stationary at station 3. Whenever theprint head 12 is stationary at station 3, theinkjet printing system 10 is programmed to move themaintenance head 14 to station 5 indicated by thearrow 57 into a docked position which is in mating relationship with theprint head 12, as shown in Fig. 3, i.e. themaintenance head 14 is moved below theprint head 12. - The movement of the
maintenance head 14 along thetrack 38 to the station 5 will now be described. Themaintenance head 14 moves in a single, vertical plane which is aligned with the print head home station 3. The initial movement of themaintenance head 14 along thetrack 38 is from left to right on the firsthorizontal path 50. Continued translation of thepin 40 by thedrive motor 46 causes themaintenance head 14 to approach thecam section 52, at which point thecamming surface 19 of themaintenance head 14 engages thecam section 52 to thereby lift themaintenance head 14 as it is being translated from left to right. When thecamming surface 19 has finished traversing thecam section 52, themaintenance head 14 is elevated and continues to move from left to right along the secondhorizontal track section 54 to the cleaning position seen in Fig. 3. Thus, themaintenance head 14 experiences lateral and vertical movement in being moved from its home position at station 4 to its cleaning position at station 5 where the top surface of themaintenance head 14 engages the bottom surface of theprint head 12. The lateral movement takes place along thehorizontal track sections cam section 52. The movement along thehorizontal track sections cam section 52 comprises movement in a second direction. Thus, there is movement by themaintenance head 14 in two directions. Clearly, the two directions of movement will comprise elements of both lateral and vertical movement. Since both lateral and vertical movement of themaintenance head 14 are required to move it into its cleaning position at station 5, movements other than what is shown in Figs. 1-3 could be employed, e.g. one direction of movement could be purely horizontal and another direction of movement could be purely vertical. - When the
maintenance head 14 moves past theprint head 12 located thereabove, the wiper (not shown) of themaintenance head 14 wipes the nozzles (not shown) on the bottom of theprint head 12 in conventional manner. The capping device (not shown) of themaintenance head 14 hermetically seals the nozzles of theprint head 12 when themaintenance head 14 is stopped from further translation along thetrack 38, and a vacuum can be applied to themaintenance head 14 to remove ink from the nozzles. Additionally, the nozzles of theprint head 12 can be fired into a spittoon (not shown) or capping device of the maintenance head. - Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the
inkjet printing system 10 further includes acontrol system 200 having amemory 202. Thecontrol system 200 is in operative communication with theencoder systems motors encoder systems motors 30 and 43, respectively, for positioning theprint head 12 and themaintenance head 14 along their respective lead screws 28 and 44. Thecontrol system 200 is further in communication with anysuitable interface 300, such as a keyboard and LCD or CRT display, which allows the operator to receive information from and provide inputs to thepostage meter 8. Thecontrol system 200 may include any suitable combination of hardware, software and processors. - With the structure of the
inkjet printing system 10 described as above, attention will now turn to the operational characteristics of aligning theprint head 12, while in the home position at station 3, with themaintenance head 14, while in the cleaning position at station 5. - Before the
postage meter 8 is completely installed at a user location, an alignment calibration routine is performed. The alignment calibration routine may take place during the manufacturing process or during installation at the user location and is used to establish station 3 for theprint head 12 and station 5 for themaintenance head 14 so that during normal operation theprint head 12 and themaintenance head 14 are in proper mating relationship. - To begin the alignment calibration routine the
print head 12 and themaintenance head 14 are brought into proper mating relationship. This is accomplished by repositioning theprint head 12 and themaintenance head 14 along their respective lead screws 28 and 44 until the capping device properly covers the nozzles of theprint head 12. To assist in this step, thealignment tabs alignment tabs print head 12 and themaintenance head 14, respectively, they can be used to assist in properly aligning theprint head 12 and themaintenance head 14 by inserting a pin (not shown) through the alignment holes 112 and 122. - Once the proper mating relationship has been established, the
print head 12 and themaintenance head 14 are driven along their respective lead screws 28 and 44 until they each reach a fixed hard stop (not shown) on one end of eachlead screw controller 200 counts the number of encoder pulses from the proper mating relationship position to each respective hard stop for both theprint head 12 and themaintenance head 14. These respective values, print head encoder pulse count (station 3 count) and maintenance head encoder pulse count (station 5 count), are then stored inmemory 202 for later use. - It should now be apparent that this routine establishes a reference point for the
print head 12 from its hard stop which can be used in repeating accurately the proper position of theprint head 12 in station 3. Similarly, this routine establishes a reference point for themaintenance head 14 from its hard stop which can be used in repeating accurately the proper position of themaintenance head 14 in station 5. Thus, a proper mating relationship can be repeatably achieved. Therefore, any tolerancing problems betweendifferent postage meters 8 will be accounted for since the encoder pulse counts are unique to eachpostage meter 8. - The print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count are preferably stored in a
nonvolatile type memory 202. In this manner, these counts will not be lost due to power loss in thepostage meter 8. - Those skilled in the art will recognize that the hard stops may merely be on the end of the
lead screw motors controller 200 to stop counting encoder pulses. - when the
postage meter 8 is turned on thecontroller 200 instructs theinkjet printing system 10 to print on theenvelope 16, then the print head is driven tostation 2 while themaintenance head 14 is driven to station 4. After completing printing, thecontroller 200 returns theprint head 12 to station 3 and themaintenance head 14 to station 5 using the print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count, respectively. At predetermined intervals and/or upon the occurrence of a particular event, thecontroller 200 drives theprint head 12 and themaintenance head 14 to their respective hard stops so as to prevent "drift" or "wander" of the system. Thus, the print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count which are stored inmemory 202 continue to serve as accurate indicators of reference points where a. proper mating relationship occurs. - Those skilled in the art will further recognize that if stepper motors are utilized, then it is possible to count motor pulses instead of encoder pulses. Also, it is preferable that the print head encoder pulse count and the maintenance head encoder pulse count are stored in a
nonvolatile type memory 202. In this manner, these counts will not be lost due to power loss in thepostage meter 8. - The
inkjet printing system 10 described hereinabove is arranged in such a way that it occupies a minimum of space and thus can be used in many applications which otherwise lack sufficient space for an inkjet printer. A postage meter is just one example of the many applications for which the foregoinginkjet printing system 10 is suitable. - Also stored in the
memory 202 are counts from the print head hard stop tostation 1 andstation 2, respectively. Unlike the count for station 3 which is derived empirically as discussed above, thestation 1 count and thestation 2 count are set to nominal default values without measurement since these counts do not have the same accuracy requirements as the station 3 count discussed above. - By using the
interface 300, the operator is allowed to independently manipulate the station 1-andstation 2 counts so as to reposition the postage indicia on theenvelope 16 or thetape 18. In this manner, the postage indicia can be adjusted along theenvelope 16 ortape 18 in a direction which is transverse to the path of travel. Prior art systems only allow adjustment of the postage indicia in a direction parallel to the path of travel. Any suitable combination of hardware and software could serve as theinterface 300 andcontroller 200. For example, the operator may be presented with a visual indication on the LCD of the position of the postage indicia on theenvelope 16. Then, using up arrow and down arrow keys or other conventional input device, the operator may reposition the postage indicia where each depression of a respective arrow key either subtracts or adds a predetermined incremental number of counts to thestation 2 count. The same technique could be employed to adjust thestation 1 count. To accommodate this, theinterface 300 provides a menu system where the operator can select whether to adjust the position of the postage indicia on theenvelope 16 or thetape 18. - Therefore, it is now apparent that the present system substantially overcomes the disadvantages associated with aligning print heads and maintenance heads. Additional advantages are set forth in the foregoing description and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
- While the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent, as noted above that variations and modifications may be made therein. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize a wide variety of structures which could be substituted for the
alignment tabs print head 12 with themaintenance head 14, such as a pin on theprint head 12 and a receiving slot on themaintenance head 14. It is, thus, intended in the following claims to cover each variation and modification that falls within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
Claims (20)
- Inkjet printer apparatus comprising:an inkjet print head (12) having a plurality of nozzles and translatable in a first direction;means (28,30) for translating said print head (12) to a cleaning station (36); andan inkjet maintenance head (14) translatable in at least second and third directions defining a plane, wherein said plane is perpendicular to said first direction; andmeans (40,44,46) for translating said maintenance head (14) in said at least two directions in said plane to engage said print head (12) at said cleaning station (36) and hermetically seal said nozzles.
- The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said first direction is horizontal.
- The apparatus of Claim 1 or 2, wherein said plane is vertical.
- The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said print head (12) includes a bottom surface and said maintenance head includes a top surface, and said maintenance head top surface is arranged for engagement with said print head bottom surface at the cleaning station (36).
- A postage meter having inkjet printer apparatus for cleaning and maintaining an inkjet print head (12) with a maintenance head (14) according to any one of the preceding claims.
- A method of cleaning and maintaining an inkjet print head with a maintenance head, comprising:translating an inkjet print head (12) having a plurality of nozzles in a first direction to a cleaning station (36); andtranslating an inkjet maintenance head (14) in at least second and third directions defining a plane to mating engagement with said print head (12) at said cleaning station (36) to hermetically seal the printhead nozzles, said first direction being perpendicular to said plane.
- The method of Claim 6, wherein said first direction is horizontal.
- The method of Claim 6 or 7, wherein said plane is vertical.
- A method according to any one of Claims 6 to 8 further comprising:driving the print head (12) to a hard stop;measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating position to the print head hard stop; andstoring the print head distance indicator in a memory.
- The method of Claim 9 comprising the steps of:driving the maintenance head (14) to a hard stop;measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating position to the maintenance head hard stop; andstoring the maintenance head distance indicator in the memory.
- The method of Claim 9 or 10 further comprising the step of:using the print head (12) distance indicator to repeatedly return the print head to the proper mating relationship position.
- The method of Claim 11, as dependent on Claim 10, further comprising the step of:using the maintenance head distance indicator to repeatedly return the maintenance head (14) to the proper mating position.
- A method comprising the steps of:positioning a print head (12) and a maintenance head (14) of an inkjet printer into proper mating relationship;driving the print head (12) to a hard stop;measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating position to the print head hard stop; andstoring the print head distance indicator in a memory.
- A method according to Claim 13 further comprising using the print head distance indicator to repeatedly return the print head to the proper mating position.
- The method of Claim 13 or 14 comprising the steps of:driving the maintenance head to a hard stop;obtaining an indicator of a distance from the proper mating relationship position to the maintenance head hard stop; andstoring the maintenance head distance indicator in the memory.
- The method of Claim 15 comprising the step of:using the maintenance head distance indicator to repeatably return the maintenance head to the proper mating relationship position.
- The method of Claim 16 comprising the steps of:storing an indicator of a distance from the proper mating position to a print position for the print head in the memory; andusing the print position distance indicator to drive the print head to the print position.
- The method of Claim 17 comprising the steps of:providing a user interface for allowing an operator to adjust the print position to a new print position; andstoring an indicator of the new print position in the memory for use in subsequently driving the print head to the new print position.
- The method of any one of Claims 13 to 18 comprising the steps of:storing an indicator of a distance from the proper mating position to a print position for the print head in the memory; andusing the print position distance indicator to drive the print head to the print position.
- The method of Claim 19 comprising the steps of:providing a user interface for allowing an operator to adjust the print position to a new print position; andstoring an indicator of the new print position in the memory for use in subsequently driving the print head to the new print position.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US786383 | 1985-10-10 | ||
US710795 | 1991-06-05 | ||
US08/710,795 US5889535A (en) | 1996-09-23 | 1996-09-23 | Postage meter including an inkjet printer which has an ink-jet maintenance head translating transverse to the movement of the inkjet print head |
US08/786,383 US5760801A (en) | 1997-01-16 | 1997-01-16 | Ink jet printer having print head and maintenance system alignment |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0832746A1 EP0832746A1 (en) | 1998-04-01 |
EP0832746B1 true EP0832746B1 (en) | 2001-11-28 |
Family
ID=27108529
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19970116568 Expired - Lifetime EP0832746B1 (en) | 1996-09-23 | 1997-09-23 | Inkjet printer having print head and maintenance system alignment |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0832746B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69708570T2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10913277B2 (en) | 2017-02-16 | 2021-02-09 | Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. | Printing system for printing to a recording medium, and method for cleaning print heads of a printing system |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE69829911T2 (en) * | 1997-05-28 | 2006-03-02 | Neopost Ltd., Romford | Secure pusher with a removable printhead |
FR2783338B1 (en) * | 1998-09-14 | 2000-11-17 | Secap | COMPACT POSTAGE MACHINE WITH INK JET AND MANUAL INSERTION |
DE10114541A1 (en) | 2001-03-21 | 2002-10-02 | Francotyp Postalia Ag | Device for printing |
ES2420029B1 (en) * | 2012-01-16 | 2014-09-03 | Tkt Brainpower, S. L. | DEVICE FOR CLEANING AND CLOSURE OF PRINT CARTRIDGES AND CLOSURE ELEMENT FOR PRINT CARTRIDGES |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5677159A (en) * | 1979-11-30 | 1981-06-25 | Fujitsu Ltd | Cleaner for ink jet nozzle |
JPS60240454A (en) * | 1984-05-16 | 1985-11-29 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Ink jet recording apparatus |
US5040000A (en) * | 1988-05-12 | 1991-08-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording apparatus having a space saving ink recovery system |
US5517219A (en) * | 1992-01-16 | 1996-05-14 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording apparatus having an improved capping mechanism |
US5467709A (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1995-11-21 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Mailing machine utilizing ink jet printer |
US5627573A (en) * | 1995-01-04 | 1997-05-06 | Brother International Corporation | Maintenance device in an ink jet printing apparatus |
-
1997
- 1997-09-23 EP EP19970116568 patent/EP0832746B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-09-23 DE DE1997608570 patent/DE69708570T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10913277B2 (en) | 2017-02-16 | 2021-02-09 | Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. | Printing system for printing to a recording medium, and method for cleaning print heads of a printing system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69708570D1 (en) | 2002-01-10 |
DE69708570T2 (en) | 2002-07-25 |
EP0832746A1 (en) | 1998-04-01 |
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