摘要 |
A capping device seals against a print chip (12) of a printhead (11) fixed within a housing (10) of a hand-held portable printer. The capping device can be moved manually by a user or automatically by internal mechanisms to reveal the print chip for printing. The capping device includes a capper arm (13) with an activating region (15) and a perpendicular leg (28) with an elastomeric pad (16) that seals against the chip (12). The capping device can be moved by mechanisms such as a fulcrum or pivot point (14), a friction clutch (19) with peg (20), an eccentric cam (23) or an internal solenoid (26). The capper arm can be formed of a resilient, elastically deformable material such as metal or plastics. In a non-printing mode, the capping device seals the print chip to prevent evaporation of ink, drying or blockages.
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