Printhead drip management using indexing cleaning web-backed flexure chute

摘要

A printhead cleaning device is configured to use a cleaning web to absorb the residual ink left on the faceplate of the printhead. The cleaning web is supplied from a feed cartridge and taken up by a take-up cartridge. The cartridges include indexing mechanisms that are configured to dispense and pull-in, respectively, a predetermined length of the cleaning web during each maintenance cycle of the printhead.

主权项

1. A printhead cleaning device for use in an inkjet printer comprising:
a flexure chute having a first end and a second end; an ink receptacle in which the second end of the flexure chute is positioned to enable ink to flow from the first end of the flexure chute along one side of the flexure chute into the ink receptacle; a length of absorbent material positioned near the first end of the flexure chute, the length of the absorbent material being approximately a same distance as a width across the printhead array; a first rotatable member about which a portion of the absorbent material is wound; a second rotatable member about which another portion of the absorbent material is wound; at least one actuator operatively connected to the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member; and a switch operatively connected to the at least one actuator, the switch being configured to activate the at least one actuator to unwind a second length of the absorbent material from the first rotatable member and to wind the length of the absorbent material onto the second rotatable member.