INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MANOEVERABLE MAINTENANCE CHASSIS

摘要

An inkjet printing system includes: a plurality of print head cartridges; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges; a lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the print head chassis between a printing position, a transition position, and a maintenance position; and a maintenance chassis supporting a chassis sub-frame having a corresponding plurality of maintenance cradles; and a sub-frame movement mechanism for slidably moving the chassis sub-frame with respect to the maintenance chassis. In the transition position, the print head chassis is held at a height, relative to a platen, that allows the maintenance chassis to be moved from a storage position to an operational positional under the print head chassis. Further, in the operational position, the sub-frame movement mechanism aligns a capper or a wiper with a respective printhead.

主权项

1. An inkjet printing system comprising:
a plurality of print head cartridges, each extending across a direction of print media propagation and spaced apart along the direction of print media propagation, each print head cartridge having a respective inkjet printhead; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges; a lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the print head chassis between a printing position, a transition position, and a maintenance position; and a maintenance chassis supporting a chassis sub-frame having a corresponding plurality of maintenance cradles mounted thereon, each maintenance cradle maintaining a respective printhead, the chassis sub-frame being slidably movable with respect to the maintenance chassis; and a sub-frame movement mechanism for slidably moving the chassis sub-frame with respect to the maintenance chassis,wherein:
each maintenance cradle comprises a capper and a wiper for maintaining a respective printhead; in the transition position, the print head chassis is held at a height, relative to a platen, that allows the maintenance chassis to be moved from a storage position to an operational positional under the print head chassis; and in the operational position, the sub-frame movement mechanism is configured to slidably move the chassis sub-frame with respect to the maintenance chassis so as to align each capper or each wiper with its respective printhead.